Cats to start NCAA Tournament on rival turf

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)- Undefeated and overall No. 1 seed Kentucky will start the NCAA tournament in the Bluegrass State.

The perennial SEC champion Wildcats (34-0), trying to be the first undefeated national champion since 1976, play their NCAA Midwest Region opener Thursday against a No. 16 seed in Louisville, Kentucky. They face Manhattan or Hampton, who play Tuesday in Dayton, Ohio.

Kansas, which won its 11th Big 12 regular-season title in a row before losing to Iowa State in the conference tournament final, is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest. The Jayhawks (26-8) play New Mexico State (23-10) on Friday in Omaha, Nebraska.

Unless there is an unprecedented upset, Kentucky will then play No. 8 seed Cincinnati (22-10) or No. 9 Purdue (21-12), the other Midwest Region matchup Thursday in Louisville.