Kentucky Defeats Wake Forest, Demons of Being No. 1

NEW ORLEANS -- While one No. 1 seed was exposed Saturday, the Kentucky Wildcats seemed to get stronger in the second round as they dispatched Wake Forest with ease, 90-60, at the New Orleans Arenas.

The Wildcats, the No. 1 seed in the East Region and the new favorites to win the Final Four after Kansas faltered, were in full stride Saturday against the ninth-seeded Demon Deacons. They got production and minutes from 13 players with guard Darius Miller leading four players in double figures with 20 points.

Kentucky now moves on to the Sweet 16 round in Syracuse for the first time since 2005. More importantly, the bull's eye seems affixed on the Wildcats as they attempt to make a run with a very young team in coach John Calipari's first season in Lexington.

"I don't think that adds any pressure," Miller said of overall No. 1 seed Kansas losing. "As long as we come out and play the best we can, that's all we can control."

Though the competitions goes up a notch or two from here, if Saturday's performance against a respectable ACC team is any indication then the Wildcats are in for a long run in the tournament.

In addition to Miller, freshman center DeMarcus Cousins had a big night with 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting, while point guard John Wall added 14 points and seven assists and guard Eric Bledsoe contributed 13 points and five assists.

Then defensively and rebounding the Wildcats got it done against an athletic Demon Deacons team. Two nights after senior point guard Ishmael Smith lit up Texas and hit the game-winning shot, he was limited to two points on two of nine shooting while committing three turnovers.

Wake Forest, which led 6-0 to start the game, shot just 29 percent from the field in the second half and 33 percent for the game. The Demon Deacons were also outrebounded 42-34 after dominating the Longhorns on the boards in the first round.

GAME BALL GOES TO
Kentucky freshman DeMarcus Cousins had the kind of game the Wildcats need from him in order to claim the Final Four championship game. He was a force inside, while also finishing some thunderous fastbreaks. Cousins finished with 19 points on 9 of 10 shooting while also grabbing eight rebounds.

HEART GOES OUT TO
Two days after hitting the game-winning shot to defeat Texas in the opening round, Wake Forest senior point guard Ishmael Smith was limited to just two points on 1 of 9 shooting against the Wildcats on Saturday. Smith also had nearly as turnovers (three) as he did assists (four).

KEY ELEMENT
UK coach John Calipiari's decision to use DeAndre Liggins to guard Ishmael Smith for much of the game proved huge. His length (6-foot-6) and athleticism made it hard for Smith all game.

WHERE TO FROM HERE
The Wildcats have likely become the favorites to win the national championship and move on to the Sweet 16 in Syracuse.

WHO'S GOT NEXT?
Kentucky has advances to the Sweet 16 where it awaits the winner of Sunday's matchup between No. 4 Wisconsin and No. 12 Cornell.

SOUNDBITE
"I don't know if we are the overwhelming favorite, everybody was picking us to lose, today being a tough game. They were also saying we'd be the first No. 1 out. So how do they change those talking heads overnight?"

-- Kentucky coach John Calipari on the Wildcats being the new favorite to win the national championship after overall No. 1 seed Kansas lost Saturday to Northern Iowa in the second round.