John Calipari has this year's installment of the Wildcats where he couldn't get last year's: in the Final Four. After losing to West Virginia in last season's Elite Eight, Calipari's team lost six players to the NBA. It seemed unlikely that they would make it as far as last year's star studded squad, but by besting North Carolina 76-69 the 'Cats have made that a reality.
Kentucky controlled the entire basketball game and were led by freshman phenom point guard Brandon Knight who finished with a game high 22 points. Knight had North Carolina on their heels all afternoon, pushing the temp and taking advantage of 13 Tar Heel turnovers. Knight's opposite, Carolina freshman star Harrison Barnes, also had a great game, scoring 18 points, many when his team needed them the most. Barnes rattled off six straight points late in the second half to tie the game, but the Tar Heels couldn't ever get over the hump.
Kentucky's 76-69 victory wins them a date next Saturday night in Houston with the Connecticut Huskies from the Big East conference.