Kentucky mauls Mountaineers on the way to 37-0 and another Elite Eight

It’s not like undefeated Kentucky needed any further motivation entering Thursday night’s Sweet 16 game in the NCAA tournament against West Virginia.

The Wildcats were only four wins away from a perfect 40-0 season and second national championship in three seasons. But the added motivation came just the same.

the most significant blow to the beehive came from West Virginia freshman Daxter Miles Jr., who foolishly predicted Kentucky would be 36-1 after facing the Mountaineers. About halfway through the first half, it was clear it was no contest and the Wildcats eventually ran away to a 78-39 victory to advance to the Elite Eight.

The other extra boost in their tanks came from the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Association honoring Virginia’s Tony Bennett with its National Coach of the Year award this season instead of coach John Calipari, who is now two wins away from leading his team to the national title game in three consecutive seasons. This is the fifth consecutive year the Wildcats have played in the Elite Eight.