As far as Kentucky is concerned, it was the perfect time for a loss.
"As great as people make us out to be, we couldn't have made a great run in the (NCAA) tournament unless we lost tonight because things have come too easy," coach Rick Pitino said after Mississippi State beat the Wildcats 84-73 Sunday to win the Southeastern Conference tournament championship.Kentucky (28-2) was trying for its fourth consecutive conference tournament title. The Wildcats, who dropped from first to second in the final poll of the season, hadn't lost since their second game, a 92-82 defeat to Massachusetts (31-1), the team that moved up to No. 1.
"The loss will help us. It shows us we're not invincible," Pitino said.
"You could see they were surprised to be that far down. They were playing in a hurry, rushing and doing things they don't usually do," said Mississippi State's Dontae Jones, who scored 28 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. "We had nothing to lose. We relaxed and played hard."
At New Orleans, Mississippi State became the first SEC team to beat Kentucky since winning 76-71 at Lexington, Ky., on Feb. 14, 1995.
"If I had a choice to come back and win by one, I'd much rather have taken a loss," Pitino said. "I think it will benefit us more."
No. 17 Iowa St. 56, No. 4 Kansas 55
At Kansas City, Mo., Dedric Willoughby made two free throws with 5.5 seconds left.
Willoughby, who finished with 20 points, was fouled by Jacque Vaughn after Raef LaFrentz had given the Jayhawks a one-point lead with 7.1 seconds remaining.
Vaughn then took the inbounds pass and dribbled the length of the floor before missing a short bank shot. Time ran out as players fought for the rebound.
No. 9 Wake Forest 75,
No. 13 Georgia Tech 74
At Greensboro, N.C., Tim Duncan scored 27 points and grabbed 22 rebounds, and Jerry Braswell made four clutch free throws in the final minute as the Demon Deacons became the ACC's first repeat tournament champion in 14 years.
Georgia Tech, which trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half, closed to 71-70 on Michael Maddux's 3-pointer with 50 seconds left.