First-half rampage helps Kentucky bury Baylor

ATLANTA - Kentucky could've cut the nets down at halftime.

Actually, the Wildcats probably would've been good skipping the ceremony altogether.

A South Regional title is fine, but what matters to this bunch of future NBA stars is breaking out the scissors in the Big Easy.

Top-seeded Kentucky advanced to the Final Four for the second year in a row with a 82-70 blitzing of Baylor, setting up a Bluegrass showdown with rival Louisville in the national semifinals Saturday at New Orleans.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 19 points, Anthony Davis added 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Terrence Jones dazzled in all the overlooked areas to lead the Wildcats (36-2) on Sunday. For all the hoopla sure to surround the next game in its basketball-crazed state, Kentucky won't consider the season a success unless it wins two more games - culminating in a national title.

"I'm not satisfied yet," Kidd-Gilchrist said.

This group sure has the look of a champion, shaking off an early blow by the Bears (30-8) - a very good team with a daring fashion sense that was simply no match for coach John Calipari's latest group of Fab Freshmen. Kentucky took control with an early 16-0 run and led by 20 at halftime.

"This team is better than I thought," Baylor coach Scott Drew said. "This is the best team we faced all year ... probably in a couple of years."

Two years ago, Baylor lost to eventual national champion Duke in another regional final.

"Duke was a good team," Drew said, "but Kentucky is better."

The Wildcats beat Louisville 69-62 on New Year's Eve, but now they'll meet with the highest stakes ever. Kidd-Gilchrist shrugged when someone asked about playing the Cardinals.

"I'm just worried about us," he said. "That's it. I don't worry about anybody else."

At one point, Kidd-Gilchrist had as many points as Baylor's entire team: 17 apiece. Kentucky led 42-22 at the break and Baylor never got any closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

"It's kind of hard to play us," Davis said. "We're very long and very athletic. It makes it tough on the other team."

Quincy Acy led Baylor with 22 points, and former College of Southern Idaho point guard Pierre Jackson added 21. Not enough. Not nearly enough.

"They're a great team," Acy said. "They've got some good dudes down there."

Baylor's Heisman Trophy winner, Robert Griffin III, cheered on the Bears from the stands. Too bad RGIII couldn't suit up for the Bears, who couldn't wear the neon-green home uniforms they had specially made for the tournament. As the lower-seeded team, they switched to another special uniform, this one black and camouflage with neon trim.

Turns out, blue was the dominant color.

BAYLOR (30-8)

Acy 7-11 8-8 22, Miller 1-6 0-0 3, Jones III 6-14 4-5 17, Heslip 1-2 1-2 4, Jackson 9-19 2-2 21, Franklin 0-1 0-0 0, Ellis 0-0 0-0 0, Bello 1-3 1-2 3, Walton 0-4 0-0 0, Jones 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 25-64 16-19 70.

KENTUCKY (36-2)

Jones 3-7 6-12 12, Kidd-Gilchrist 7-10 4-4 19, Davis 6-9 6-8 18, Lamb 3-7 7-12 14, Teague 2-4 3-4 8, Miller 2-6 4-4 8, Vargas 0-0 0-0 0, Wiltjer 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 24-45 30-44 82.

Halftime_Kentucky 42-22. 3-Point Goals_Baylor 4-14 (Jones III 1-2, Miller 1-2, Heslip 1-2, Jackson 1-7, Walton 0-1), Kentucky 4-9 (Teague 1-1, Kidd-Gilchrist 1-1, Wiltjer 1-1, Lamb 1-3, Jones 0-1, Miller 0-2). Fouled Out_Franklin, Kidd-Gilchrist. Rebounds_Baylor 34 (Acy, Jones III 8), Kentucky 32 (Davis 11). Assists_Baylor 15 (Jackson 5), Kentucky 15 (Jones 6). Total Fouls_Baylor 32, Kentucky 18. A_24,035.