Cincinnati challenges Kentucky as Villanova exits

The Kentucky Wildcats did beat Cincinnati by 13 points, but nothing came easy for these first-ranked Wildcats.  Kentucky didn’t flinch when Cincinnati came within three points.  In fact, they built a double-digit lead by physically playing better than the Bearcats.  With that victory Kentucky became the first men’s college basketball team to go 36-0 and they are chasing the accomplishment of becoming the first team to go 40-0 since the Indiana Hoosiers in 1976.

Aaron Harrison scored 13 points, Trey Liles slashed 11 point with 11 rebounds, and the Kentucky Wildcats beat the Cincinnati 64-51.  The Wildcats only shot 37% and they were out rebounded 45-38, but always was controlling because of the amount of times that Cincinnati didn’t get their offensive rebounds. ” I always like it when my team shoots 35, 36, 37 percent and wins in double digits,” Kentucky coach told an Associated Press reporter. ”  It shows them they don’t have to make shots to win.  You can miss them all.  No, you can’t miss them all.  You can miss most of them, and you can still win games if you defend, you rebound and make your free throws, and they did.”

Kentucky took their sixth straight double digits victory, surpassing Wichita State’s team last year for most wins to start a season. The Wildcats beat Wichita State in the third round last season, and if they didn’t Wichita State and Kentucky would be tied for the record.  Kentucky looks to squash Maryland or West Virginia and the Wildcats will play one of them in the Sweet Sixteen on Thursday.

The Wildcats succeeded on 20 of their 28 free throws and got to the line mostly because they drove toward the lane.  Cincinnati made 9 of their 14 from the line, but they didn’t get a chance to shoot free throws until the early second half.  ” We had finished better down the stretch with some point-blank shots that we had, had we made some free throws, we’d have made it very interesting,” said Cincinnati associate head coach Larry Davis.

The sixth seeded Xavier Musketeers beat Georgia State 75-67 as Jalen Reynolds and Myles Davis scord a combined 38 points from the bench.  Xavier will advance to the Sweet Sixteen for the third time under coach Chris Mack.  The Georgia State Panthers upset Baylor on Thursday, but couldn’t hold on to a victory against Xavier.

Utah just advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in a decade. Brandon Taylor scored 14 points and Delon Wright added 12 points for the fifth seeded Utes.  L.J Peak led Georgetown with 19 points for the Hoyas.

The N.C State Wolfpack beat the Villanova Wildcats, making Villanova the first one seed to exit the tournament.  Trevor Lacey led N.C State with 17 points and Cat Barber added 13 for the Wolfpack.  Darrun Hilliard scored 27 points for the Wildcats.