Wildcats, Tar Heels meet with Final Four at stake

Kentucky’s Brandon Knight (12) reacts after making the game winning shot to end an East regional semifinal game against Ohio State in the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 25, 2011, in Newark, N.J. Kentucky won the game 62-60.

Julio Cortez, Associated Press

1 of 2

Marquette Golden’s Chris Otule (42) drives past North Carolina’s Kendall Marshall (5) during the first half of an East regional semifinal game in the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 25, 2011, in Newark, N.J.

Frank Franklin II, Associated Press

2 of 2

NEWARK, N.J. — In an NCAA tournament full of upsets and newcomers, Kentucky and North Carolina have turned the East region into an oasis of sanity.

The fourth-seeded Wildcats (28-8) face the second-seeded Tar Heels (29-7) on Sunday for a chance to return to a familiar destination: the Final Four. College basketball's two winningest programs have combined for 31 trips to the national semifinals and a dozen national titles.

North Carolina edged the Wildcats 75-73 in December, but both schools look vastly different now. Freshman point guard Kendall Marshall has stabilized the Tar Heels with his steady play.

Kentucky, which couldn't win a close game two months ago, has become unflappable in the clutch behind brilliant shotmaking by freshman guard Brandon Knight.

Next Up In U.S. and world

Fed raises interest rates by 0.5%, the highest rise since 2000

Here are the 14 inductees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Why was President Biden talking about Utah’s 2002 Winter Games at the White House?

CDC reinstates mask recommendation for planes, trains

While U.S. hits new job quitting record, this man set his own record — 84 years at the same company

The U.S. housing market is historically overvalued. Moody’s says these cities may see prices drop up to 10%