Fourth-seeded Kentucky advanced to the Final Four for the first time in 13 years, taking out No. 2 North Carolina (UNC), 76-69, in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Region Finals on March 27 in Newark, N.J.
Led by freshman star guard Brandon Knight’s 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists, Kentucky outscored and outhustled the Tar Heels (29-8). The Wildcats made 48 percent of their shots from the field, and 54 percent from behind the three-point line, compared to UNC’s 18 percent from the arc.
Every one of Kentucky’s starting lineup scored double-digits, including senior forward Josh Harrellson and junior guard DeAndre Liggins with 12 points each. Freshman forward Terrance Jones and junior guard Darius Miller both added 11 points.
Junior forward Tyler Zeller led the Tar Heels with 21 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
Kentucky head coach John Calipari joins Louisville head coach Rick Pitino as the only coaches in NCAA men’s basketball history to lead three different schools to the Final Four.
