Kemba Walker scored 18 points Saturday night to lift Connecticut to its 10th straight victory since finishing off a .500 regular season, a 56-55 win over cold-shooting Kentucky that moved the Huskies a victory away from their third, and most improbable, NCAA title.
Walker, a quick-handed junior from the Bronx, added seven assists to help UConn (31-9) extend a winning streak that started with a five-wins-in-five-nights leg-drainer at the Big East tournament and now includes five more at the tournament that really counts.
The third-seeded Huskies - lowest seed left in a tournament that has been as unpredictable as any in history - will face No. 8 Butler, a 70-62 winner over 11th-seeded VCU in the first semifinal, on Monday.
"We've got a heck of a challenge on Monday night, but the fact that we're playing Monday night, that's beautiful," Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said.
This one was not pretty on either end.
Fourth-seeded Kentucky (29-9) shot 33.9 percent for the game and went 5:39 without a point late in the second half. UConn wasn't much better, but Walker, Alex Oriakhi and Shabazz Napier all made baskets to turn a 48-48 tie into a 54-48 lead with 2:29 left.
DeAndre Liggins made a 3-pointer for the Wildcats to cut the deficit to three, and Kentucky had its chances. But Brandon Knight, one of John Calipari's three sensational freshmen, barely drew iron on a 3-pointer. After Kentucky got the rebound, Liggins drew a foul but only hit one of two free throws.
Kentucky forced one more turnover and went for the win, but this time, it was Liggins whose 3-pointer was short. Napier made two free throws to make it 56-52, then Knight ended the game with a 3-pointer at the buzzer - a meaningless make and a cruel close to what has otherwise been a remarkable season for Calipari and Co. - Kentucky's first trip to the Final Four since winning it all in 1998.
"It's an amazing feeling," Walker said. "It's a little surreal right now, but hopefully we can bring it back to Storrs."
Connecticut's Jeremy Lamb shoots as Kentucky's Terrence Jones defends during the first half of a men's NCAA Final Four semifinal college basketball game on Saturday in Houston. / photo: Associated Press
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