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Kentucky-Nebraska Preview

Mar 27, 2010 - 9:56 PM By DOUG TUCKER AP Sports Writer

Kentucky (27-7) at Nebraska (32-1), 9:30 p.m. EDT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Kentucky and Nebraska are so similar in so many ways, it's almost as if they'll be looking at themselves in the mirror when they meet in the Kansas City regional semifinals on Sunday.

Both top-seeded Nebraska (32-1) and No. 4 Kentucky (27-7) have rebounded from disappointing seasons to break the school record for victories. Each team boasts its conference's coach of the year and player of the year.

Both are energized by standout freshman guards, and both must avoid a letdown because they've already advanced as far or farther in the NCAA tournament than any other team in their school's history.

"It's kind of like playing yourself in a way," said Nebraska senior Cory Montgomery.

With Kelsey Griffin sidelined last season by an ankle injury, the Huskers struggled to a 15-16 record and were not expected to do much this year. Kentucky last year was 16-16 and picked 11th in this year's Southeastern Conference preseason poll.

But the 6-2 Griffin came roaring back for her senior season, averaging 20 points and almost 12 rebounds for a team whose only loss was to Texas A&M in the Big 12 tourney and is now in its first regional semifinals.

While Griffin was being handed the Big 12 player of the year award, Kentucky's Victoria Dunlap was accepting the same honor from the Southeastern Conference. Dunlop averaged 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals to lead the Wildcats to their first regional semifinals since the inaugural NCAA tournament in 1982. They've never been to the next round.

"There's no question a lot of parallels there," said Nebraska's Connie Yori, the Big 12 coach of the year. "Two teams that got it turned around."

The many similarities have not been lost on Kentucky's Matthew Mitchell.

"I think it makes for one of the most interesting match-ups we've had in the tournament," said the SEC coach of the year. "I know how hard our team has worked this year and how committed they've been, and I know Nebraska could not be where they are now had they not had something similar to that."

Griffin and Dunlap both led their teams in scoring and rebounding and figure to see a lot of each other when their game tips off.

"Coach has already talked about that," said Dunlop, a year younger and an inch shorter than her Nebraska counterpart. "I will start out on her during the game."

Griffin sees a similarity between her and Dunlop in size.

"That by no means means she won't be able to score in the low block," Griffin said. "She's very quick off the dribble, a versatile player. Not only that, she can also get up and defend as well."

Size and experience may be tilt toward the Huskers. But Kentucky may be a bit quicker. The Wildcats may give Nebraska problems with a pressing man-to-man defense that's created 30 turnovers in their first two NCAA games.

"I think they're a little bit better 3-point shooting team," said Mitchell. "We may cause a few turnovers. But other than that, the scoring is pretty close, the points allowed are pretty close. It seems like it ought to be a heck of a game."

Kentucky's A'dia Mathies, the SEC's freshman of the year, has the quickness and athletic ability to cause problems defensively and offensively. In her tournament debut against Liberty, the 5-9 Mathies scored a career-high 32 points and had four steals. Only Dunlop's 33-point effort against Butler in November was better among the Wildcats this season.

"Just coming out and playing as hard as I can is basically all I really try to do," she said. "I just go out there and play and be aggressive like coach wants me to."

Key to Nebraska's handling of the Kentucky press will be 5-9 Lindsey Moore, who averaged almost 9.5 points and eight assists and was named to the Big 12's all-freshman team.

But the primary concern for every Nebraska opponent is always Griffin.

"She is amazing," said Mitchell. "She takes so much contact at the basket, and a lot of players can do that. Not a lot can finish the way she does with contact. She's very, very physical and tough."