Kentucky basketball season ends in 2nd round of NCAA Tournament with loss to Kansas State
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Oscar Tshiebwe and Lance Ware faced their lockers. CJ Fredrick had tears in his eyes. Aside from the shuffling of feet, silence reigned inside Kentucky's locker room at Greensboro Coliseum Sunday evening.
The sixth-seeded Wildcats' 2022-23 campaign ended at the hands of No. 3-seed Kansas State, 75-69, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
It brought an end to an underachieving season for UK (22-12). The Wildcats returned the reigning unanimous player of the year in Tshiebwe, experienced complementary pieces around him and another stellar recruiting class — starting the year as a top-five squad with hopes of making an 18th Final Four and winning a ninth national title.
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It’s yet another disappointing early exit for Kentucky.
Last season, the Wildcats lost to Saint Peter’s in a 15-over-2 upset in the first round. And UK failed to qualify for the Big Dance during the 2020-21 season. The last time Kentucky appeared in the Sweet 16 was 2019. (The NCAA Tournament was canceled in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.)
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"I understand what this program is about," said Calipari, following the end of his 14th season on the job. "That's what makes it what it is, and that's why I tell players, 'This isn't for everybody,' because the expectations are so high."
Kentucky lost to a Kansas State (25-9) team that was picked to finish last in the 10-team Big 12 under first-year coach Jerome Tang and exceeded all expectations to make the Sweet 16 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, where it will face Michigan State.
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Wallace, who had 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting, in the second half showcased why he is a projected first-round NBA draft pick should he choose to declare. He made all seven shots he took after halftime for 13 points while pulling down five rebounds and dishing out two assists.
Livingston had 11 points and seven rebounds. He made his share of plays down the stretch as UK tried to rally.
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Tshiebwe's individual accomplishments at Kentucky the past two seasons could fill a binder, but the lack of team success — no regular-season or conference tournament championships, just one NCAA Tournament win — was the only thing on his mind.
"I'm sorry to the BBN (Big Blue Nation) because I came here to do something great," Tshiebwe said. "Two years later it did not happen."
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