MEN’S NCAA TOURNAMENT

Kentucky freshmen make hype seem right

INDIANAPOLIS - The shot came from NBA range, and if things play out as expected, Aaron Harrison and a lot of those Kentucky kids will be playing in that league soon enough.

First, they’re heading to the Final Four - a trip to Big D courtesy of Harrison’s unforgettable big shot.

Harrison, a 6-6 forward, made a three-pointer from about 24 feet with 2.3 seconds left Sunday to lift the Wildcats and all those freshmen to a 75-72 victory over Michigan and the program’s 16th trip to the Final Four.

He backpedaled slowly, almost expressionless, after ball hit twine. Teammates Dakari Johnson and Julius Randle chased him down.

“Making that shot and seeing my teammates so happy and turning toward me, it’s the best feeling in the world,” Harrison said.

Michigan’s Nik Stauskas missed a desperation heave at the buzzer, and eighth-seeded Kentucky became the first team with an all-freshman starting lineup to make the Final Four since the Fab Five at Michigan in 1992.

The Wildcats (28-10) will play Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“They made a great shot,” said Stauskas, who led the second-seeded Wolverines with 24 points. “I thought we did a pretty good job contesting it. It’s part of basketball.”

The Wolverines (28-9) were attempting to reach a second consecutive Final Four.

Kentucky’s season is on the upswing after suffering a late-season lull that dropped it to No. 8 seed. The Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the preseason with an all-new collection of McDonald’s All-Americans who were touted as the team that could go 40-0, then dismissed when bad losses and basketball piled up in January and February.

Coach John Calipari got things turned around by March, and for the second consecutive game in the Midwest Regional, Harrison made the shot that gave the Wildcats the lead for good. On Friday, he made the key three in Kentucky’s 74-69 victory over Louisville. Kentucky is the first team to knock the defending champion and runner-up out of the same tournament.

Harrison took a handoff from his twin brother, Andrew, in the corner and dribbled three times to the top left of the arc. He was standing a good 3 feet behind the line when he elevated over Caris LeVert and took a bit of contact on the hand from the Michigan guard as he shot. No matter. The ball rattled in.

Aaron Harrison scored 12 points off four 3-pointers over the last 8:05 and was Calipari’s choice to take the game-winner.

“I’ve been around guys who make these kind of plays,” Calipari said. “I’ve always said,‘You cannot be afraid to miss.’ He’s not afraid to miss. That’s the whole thing about making those kind of plays. And if he does miss, he’s going to shoot it again.”

When Harrison was shut down early, it was Marcus Lee - surprisingly - keeping the Wildcats in the game.

Lee, another of the McDonald’s All-American freshmen on Calipari’s roster, had scored a total of nine points since the beginning of January, relegated to the bench after an early season illness.

But he got minutes Sunday that would have normally gone to the injured Willie Cauley-Stein, and finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Eight of those points came on put-back dunks that were part of Kentucky’s 18 offensive rebounds.

Harrison’s first three-pointer gave Kentucky a 58-55 lead as the Wildcats outscored theWolverines 10-0 to make it 62-55 with 6:30 left.

The Wolverines fought back, and the teams traded baskets during a nine-possession stretch.

The next stop gave the Wolverines the ball with about a minute left, trailing 72-70.

Stauskas missed a layup and a three-pointer, then Derrick Walton missed an open three-point attempt. But the fourth attempt went in with 31 seconds left and got credited to Jordan Morgan on a scramble under the basket, though it was Randle’s hand that tipped the ball in.

Calipari called a timeout. Michigan burned a foul. The ball went to Harrison with 10 seconds left and it was clear he was going to take the shot.

“In that stage, that atmosphere, that game, to make that shot and send us to the Final Four, it’s just amazing. I was proud of him and it wasshocking at the same time,” ’ Randle said.

Randle finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. He’s a Dallas kid and will play in the sport’s biggest spectacle not far from home.

Randle is considered lottery pick material if he decides to go to the NBA, as expected. Others could join him in the NBA, the latest group of one-and-done Wildcats that Calipari has put together.

They’ll deal with that in 10 days or so.

Regional finals SUNDAY’S RESULTS EAST REGIONAL Connecticut 60, Michigan State 54 MIDWEST REGIONAL Kentucky 75, Michigan 72 Final Four All times Central AT&T STADIUM, ARLINGTON, TEXAS SATURDAY’S SEMIFINALS (TBS) Florida vs. Connecticut, 5:09 p.m.

Wisconsin vs. Kentucky 40 minutes following conclusion of first game MONDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP (CBS) Semifinal winners, 8:10 p.m.

Sports, Pages 13 on 03/31/2014

Upcoming Events