The Kentucky Wildcats defeated in-state rival Louisville tonight by a score of 69-61. The Wildcats were once again led by Anthony Davis, who scored 18 points, adding in 14 rebounds and five blocks. Kentucky will play Kansas for the national championship on April 2nd.
The Wildcats pulled off this win despite being outrebounded 40-33, including getting outdone 19-6 on the offensive glass. What put Kentucky over the top was their lights-out shooting, making 57% of their field goals.
Kentucky jumped out to an early lead, and held a 13-point lead early in the second half, but Louisville wouldn’t go down without a fight. The Cardinals went on a 15-2 run to tie the game at 49 with 9:11 to play. Two baskets by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist gave the Wildcats room to breathe.
This is Kentucky’s first time in the championship game since 1998, when they won the title. Calipari faced the Jayhawks in the title game once before in 2008, where his Memphis Tigers lost to the Jayhawks in overtime.