Dominic James

Dominic James, a junior guard, was a preseason All-American pick for Marquette by Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook. His scoring average is down to 13 points per game this year but he had 25 points against Villanova and 23 against Notre Dame. He's also a nifty passer and recently had 12 assists against Pittsburgh. He did sprain his wrist in early January and also sprained his ankle late in the season, but he did not miss any games. Jerel McNeal, another junior, was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Dominic James, a junior guard, was a preseason All-American pick for Marquette by Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook. His scoring average is down to 13 points per game this year but he had 25 points against Villanova and 23 against Notre Dame. He's also a nifty passer and recently had 12 assists against Pittsburgh. He did sprain his wrist in early January and also sprained his ankle late in the season, but he did not miss any games.Jerel McNeal, another junior, was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year last season.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Senior Joe Crawford emphasized how being an underdog could help Kentucky because it would possibly take some pressure off the Cats' younger players. Finally, though, Crawford admitted that today's NCAA Tournament game with Marquette does present some extra pressure for him. "I am putting the most pressure on myself because I know every game could be my last," Crawford said before Wednesday's practice at the Honda Center. "I'm not ready for my Kentucky career to end. So if that means putting extra pressure on myself, then that is what I am going to do. " Crawford's past NCAA performances could also be putting pressure on him. He has only shot 28.6 percent (14-for-49)

Kentucky has been selected for its nation-leading 49th appearance in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, earning a No. 11 seed, and will face sixth-seeded Marquette Thursday in Anaheim, Calif. UK will be making its 17th-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky (18-12, 12-4 SEC) faces Marquette (24-9, 11-7 Big East) in the first round of the South Region. Marquette and the Wildcats have faced off 13 times since 1938, with UK owning a 7-6 record over the Golden Eagles.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky guard Ramel Bradley had a different reaction when he found out Sunday that he would be playing in his fourth straight NCAA Tournament. "Everyone was happy and started congratulating one another. The previous three years we knew we were in, and it was just where were we going to be (playing)," said Bradley, one of UK's two seniors. "This year was a little different. We felt like we were a new team to the tournament and we all are really excited to make it to the Big Dance.

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Marquette coach Tom Crean offered Louisville's Jerry Smith a scholarship when he was in eighth grade. It's apparent why after Smith made a 3-pointer as time expired to give the Cardinals a 61-59 comeback victory over the No. 12 Golden Eaqles. "I'm just speechless," said Smith, a freshman who played in high school at suburban Wauwatosa East. "I never dreamed about this. " Smith scored all nine of his points on 3-pointers in the final 3:04 as Louisville (19-8, 9-4)

While some might still question whether Kentucky belongs in the NCAA Tournament field, Marquette coach Tom Crean made it clear Monday that he's not one of them. After watching a day's worth of tape now, there is absolutely no question Kentucky is playing great basketball," said Crean, who has Marquette in the NCAA for the third straight year. "They have done a great job going through change they had to make under a new coach and they are really hitting on all cylinders. They had a tough game against Georgia (in the SEC Tournament)

Senior guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley were the catalysts to get Kentucky into the NCAA Tournament. However, if UK is going to beat Marquette on Thursday in its first-round matchup in Anaheim, Calif., the Wildcats are going to need major help from other players. Kentucky lost its third big-time option when freshman Patrick Patterson went down with a season-ending stress fracture four games ago. Jodie Meeks is the other player with the potential to score big, but he's played in only five of the last 17 games because of a hip injury and even if he could play, he likely would not be overly effective.

Senior guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley were the catalysts to get Kentucky into the NCAA Tournament. However, if UK is going to beat Marquette Thursday in its first-round matchup in Anaheim, Calif., the Cats are going to need major help from other players. Kentucky lost its third big-time option when freshman Patrick Patterson went down with a season-ending stress fracture four games ago. Jodie Meeks is the other player with the potential to score big, but he's played in only five of the last 17 games because of a hip injury and even if he could play, he likely would not be overly effective.

Senior guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley were the catalysts to get Kentucky into the NCAA Tournament. However, if UK is going to beat Marquette Thursday in its first-round matchup in Anaheim, Calif., the Cats are going to need major help from other players. Kentucky lost its third big-time option when freshman Patrick Patterson went down with a season-ending stress fracture four games ago. Jodie Meeks is the other player with the potential to score big, but he's played in only five of the last 17 games because of a hip injury and even if he could play, he likely would not be overly effective.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Senior Joe Crawford emphasized how being an underdog could help Kentucky because it would possibly take some pressure off the Cats' younger players. Finally, though, Crawford admitted that today's NCAA Tournament game with Marquette does present some extra pressure for him. "I am putting the most pressure on myself because I know every game could be my last," Crawford said before Wednesday's practice at the Honda Center. "I'm not ready for my Kentucky career to end. So if that means putting extra pressure on myself, then that is what I am going to do. " Crawford's past NCAA performances could also be putting pressure on him. He has only shot 28.6 percent (14-for-49)

While some might still question whether Kentucky belongs in the NCAA Tournament field, Marquette coach Tom Crean made it clear Monday that he's not one of them. After watching a day's worth of tape now, there is absolutely no question Kentucky is playing great basketball," said Crean, who has Marquette in the NCAA for the third straight year. "They have done a great job going through change they had to make under a new coach and they are really hitting on all cylinders. They had a tough game against Georgia (in the SEC Tournament)

Senior guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley were the catalysts to get Kentucky into the NCAA Tournament. However, if UK is going to beat Marquette on Thursday in its first-round matchup in Anaheim, Calif., the Wildcats are going to need major help from other players. Kentucky lost its third big-time option when freshman Patrick Patterson went down with a season-ending stress fracture four games ago. Jodie Meeks is the other player with the potential to score big, but he's played in only five of the last 17 games because of a hip injury and even if he could play, he likely would not be overly effective.

Senior guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley were the catalysts to get Kentucky into the NCAA Tournament. However, if UK is going to beat Marquette Thursday in its first-round matchup in Anaheim, Calif., the Cats are going to need major help from other players. Kentucky lost its third big-time option when freshman Patrick Patterson went down with a season-ending stress fracture four games ago. Jodie Meeks is the other player with the potential to score big, but he's played in only five of the last 17 games because of a hip injury and even if he could play, he likely would not be overly effective.

Dominic James, a junior guard, was a preseason All-American pick for Marquette by Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook. His scoring average is down to 13 points per game this year but he had 25 points against Villanova and 23 against Notre Dame. He's also a nifty passer and recently had 12 assists against Pittsburgh. He did sprain his wrist in early January and also sprained his ankle late in the season, but he did not miss any games.Jerel McNeal, another junior, was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Dominic James, a junior guard, was a preseason All-American pick for Marquette by Blue Ribbon Basketball Yearbook. His scoring average is down to 13 points per game this year but he had 25 points against Villanova and 23 against Notre Dame. He's also a nifty passer and recently had 12 assists against Pittsburgh. He did sprain his wrist in early January and also sprained his ankle late in the season, but he did not miss any games. Jerel McNeal, another junior, was the Big East Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Senior guards Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley were the catalysts to get Kentucky into the NCAA Tournament. However, if UK is going to beat Marquette Thursday in its first-round matchup in Anaheim, Calif., the Cats are going to need major help from other players. Kentucky lost its third big-time option when freshman Patrick Patterson went down with a season-ending stress fracture four games ago. Jodie Meeks is the other player with the potential to score big, but he's played in only five of the last 17 games because of a hip injury and even if he could play, he likely would not be overly effective.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky guard Ramel Bradley had a different reaction when he found out Sunday that he would be playing in his fourth straight NCAA Tournament. "Everyone was happy and started congratulating one another. The previous three years we knew we were in, and it was just where were we going to be (playing)," said Bradley, one of UK's two seniors. "This year was a little different. We felt like we were a new team to the tournament and we all are really excited to make it to the big dance.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky guard Ramel Bradley had a different reaction when he found out Sunday that he would be playing in his fourth straight NCAA Tournament. "Everyone was happy and started congratulating one another. The previous three years we knew we were in, and it was just where were we going to be (playing)," said Bradley, one of UK's two seniors. "This year was a little different. We felt like we were a new team to the tournament and we all are really excited to make it to the Big Dance.

Kentucky has been selected for its nation-leading 49th appearance in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, earning a No. 11 seed, and will face sixth-seeded Marquette Thursday in Anaheim, Calif. UK will be making its 17th-consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky (18-12, 12-4 SEC) faces Marquette (24-9, 11-7 Big East) in the first round of the South Region. Marquette and the Wildcats have faced off 13 times since 1938, with UK owning a 7-6 record over the Golden Eagles.