For large swaths of No. 2 Kentucky’s 65-62 win over No. 10 Wichita State, the proceedings could be best described as basketball-like substance. With multiple future professional basketball players on the floor and one of the most under-seeded teams in the tournament in Wichita State, this game went to halftime at 26-24 with neither team shooting over 33 percent. The Wildcats are going to the Sweet 16 for the 42nd time.
March Madness bracket update: Kentucky beats Wichita State in another banger
The Wildcats are back in the Sweet 16.
Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images
It ended in exciting fashion befitting of the narrative. The polar opposite nature of the perception of each program came together on the court and gave us high drama. While Kentucky’s brand is a cobbled together batch of one-and-dones, the Shockers get portrayed as the consummate team. Today talent won out just like it did in 2014.
Before the game, the Shockers even gave the Wildcats some bulletin board material.
Of course Wichita State isn’t going to be intimidated by UK, but in the end it was edged out by the bigger program. But it’s not like the Shockers were demonstrably worse than the Wildcats by any stretch. The end was razor thin, with Wichita State bringing the ball up the court with a chance to take the lead in the game’s penultimate possession and tie in the final one.
Both times, UK sent shot attempts by the Shockers packing with big blocks, including Bam Adebayo’s huge swat at the buzzer.
In earlier action, Michigan beat Louisville, 73-69, and the Wolverines continue their wild and wacky March Madness journey that has taken them all the way from a plane crash to a Big Ten tourney title. Now they’re in the NCAA tourney’s second weekend as well.
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