With the Bearcats and Musketeers fallen, the Tristate has one remaining hope for the Sweet Sixteen, the Elite Eight, the Final Four, the Victory Dance.

        Kentucky fans made plans to watch their Wildcats take on Maryland at 10 p.m. tonight in Syracuse, N.Y. Maryland, the East's Region's top seed and Atlantic Coast Conference champion, has won 15 of its last 16 games.

Linda Polacek of Anderson Township shops for her son at Kentucky Korner in Florence Mall. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        Even a program like Kentucky has to give such a team its proper respect.

        Still, Kentucky fans cheer like crazy, hoping Tayshaun Prince can have another performance like his career-high 41-point game against Tulsa.

        Jo Ann Lovensheimer, 33, of Florence, planned to drive through the night to make it to Syracuse for the big game.

        “We are nuts, I know,” she said. “This is a spur of the moment road trip.”

        Her brother, who lives in New Jersey, got the tickets last week.

        “The regular season has been disappointing,” she said. “But when they do good in the tournament, it makes it worthwhile. And when they do show up to play, they are one of the top teams in the country.”

        Susan Mason, 31, of West Chester, planned to leave at 3 a.m. today to drive to Syracuse.

        “It's a good 10-hour trip, but I hear they might be getting snow, so who knows how long it will take?” she said.

        She, too, got tickets through a connection of her brother's.

        “I don't know where the seats are,” she said. “It doesn't really matter. It wouldn't matter if we were on the rafters, just as long as we are there.”

        She believes Kentucky— a fourth seed with a 22-9 record — is in a position to pull off an upset.

        “It seems that UK is peaking at the right time,” she said. “As long as they keep the momentum up, I think we are in good shape.”

        Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith has taken eight teams to the NCAA Tournament and reached the Sweet Sixteen six times — including a national championship in 1998.

        Dave Draper, 31, of Covington, will have to be satisfied with watching the game with six to eight other diehard fans at Dickman's Cafe in Fort Wright.

        “If they (UK) can get past Maryland,” he said, “they have a good chance to make it to the finals. But the whole team has to show up and play. If one player slacks off, they are done.”

        Mr. Draper showed up for work Thursday in the signature “Tubby Smith look,” a suit with a blue shirt and white collar.

        Gayle Stewart, 67, runs a barbershop in Union frequented by Wildcats fans.

        Mr. Stewart, who has followed UK for 51 years, plans to watch the game from his recliner at his Florence home.

        He believe Kentucky's strength is Keith Bogans. “He is going to be the difference,” he said. Mr. Stewart said the Terrapins surely will double guard Mr. Prince, and that will leave Mr. Bogans open.

        “I love Kentucky,” he said. “That's why I follow the Wildcats.

        “You know what they say: If you are not going to heaven, be sure to go to Kentucky. You don't want to miss both.”
       

Floods don't rise to occasion
3 issues threaten profiling suit deal
Lawyers view church records
Pope's comment welcome locally
Tug-of-war for Hyundai facility
Village officials face obstruction charges
Haitian pleads family hardship
Metro outlines its terminal upgrades
State won't yield city right-of-way
Tristate A.M. Report
UK fans set for sweet victory
Workers to turn in or justify use of cars
BRONSON: No deal
HOWARD: Some Good News
SMITH AMOS: Chief Streicher
WELLS: The Roach report
Ohio House passes concealed weapons bill
School funding talks collapse
Garbage tax OK'd by panel
Ky. senator prepares legal battle
Slot machine proposal waiting on Senate for start