LEXINGTON, Ky. — A prime opportunity to earn a major boost to its NCAA Tournament résumé slipped through Kentucky’s grasp Saturday night in Rupp Arena.
Reigning national champion Kansas came to town ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press poll and sitting at No. 9 in the NCAA’s NET ratings, and the Jayhawks left Lexington with a 77-68 victory, enduring UK’s most raucous home crowd of the season and putting an end to the Wildcats’ four-game winning streak.
Rupp Arena was packed 15 minutes before tipoff, and the Cats rode that early energy in the opening segments of the game, leading for much of the first half but never putting much distance between themselves and the Jayhawks.
