Frank Burlison

  NEW ORLEANS

   Game One

Kentucky 69, Louisville 62

   Why Kentucky won: The Wildcats never could really create enough distance to secure the outcome until the closing minute, largely because Anthony Davis was the only Kentucky player to perform at an elite level for the entire contest. But Terrence Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist all came through in big ways when John Calipari’s crew was most threatened in the second half.

   The Turning Point: Davis scored as the Wildcats beat the Cardinals’ full-court pressure to go up, 65-58, with 1:09 to go.

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NEW ORLEANS – Jae Crowder of Marquette put his Big East Player of the Year skills on display Friday afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

He scored 25 points (nine of 16 from the field) to go with five rebounds, three assists, three steals and no turnovers to help the East to a 103-99 victory over the West in the NABC Reese’s College All-Star Game.

And if product placement/mention is a story pays dividends these days, you can guess what I hope to see parked in front of my house when I return to glorious Laguna Niguel Tuesday evening .

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No. 2 seed Ohio State (31-7) vs. No. 2 Kansas (31-6)

Approximately 8:50 p.m. ET

Against the tourney field: Ohio State 15-5, Kansas 15-6

Tourney trail: Ohio State – Loyola-Maryland 78-59, Gonzaga 73-66, Cincinnati 81-66, Syracuse 77-70; Kansas – Detroit 65-50, Purdue 63-60, North Carolina State 60-57, North Carolina 80-67

When they met before: Kansas prevailed, 78-67, in Lawrence on Dec. 10. Thomas Robinson scored 21 points while Elijah Johnson added 15 for the host Jayhawks. The Buckeyes played without Jared Sullinger (sore back). William Buford (21) and Deshaun Thomas (19) combined for 40 points for the Buckeyes.

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No. 1 seed Kentucky (36-2) vs. No. 4 Louisville (30-9)

6:09 p.m. ET

Against the tourney field: Kentucky 15-2, Louisville 15-8

Tourney trail: Kentucky – Western Kentucky 81-65, Iowa State 87-71, Indiana 102-90, Baylor 82-70; Louisville – Davidson 69-62, New Mexico 59-56, Michigan State 57-44, Florida 72-68

When they met before: Kentucky prevailed, 69-62, in Lexington on Dec. 31. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (24 and 19) and Anthony Davis (18 and 10) combined for 42 points and 19 rebounds for the Wildcats, with Davis blocking six shots. Sophomore Russ Smith came off the bench to score a game-high 30 points for the Cardinals.

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The second half of the Final Four field was filled Sunday in not totally unexpected fashions.

*The Kentucky Wildcats are far and away the favorites to win the national title on April 2.

As if more proof was needed, Coach John Calipari’s squad deliveredit  in forceful fashion, 82-70.

If only the outcome of that South Regional final in Atlanta was as in doubt as the final margin might suggest.

The Wildcats led by 20 points by intermission and should be given major props for not getting disinterested and snapping on Final Four caps with 10 minutes to go.

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