COLLEGE BASKETBALL / MEN’S FINAL FOUR NOTES : KENTUCKY

Kentucky has gone through the NCAA tournament at a pace rarely seen. The Wildcats have an average margin of victory of 31 points and were able to start each game with a run opponents from which couldn’t recover.

“I think we’re playing with great confidence,” Pitino said. “I think it’s more due to the defense than anything else. Your defense has got to key that kind of run.”

After three seasons at Division II Northern Kentucky, senior walk-on Todd Svoboda is living a dream at Kentucky. He is the most visible player on the bench, with his cheering, and he spends a lot of time there after talking his way on the team.

Svoboda, a 6-foot-9 center, transferred to Kentucky for his senior season to finish requirements for a degree in chemical engineering after three years at Northern in which he became 10th on the school’s all-time scoring list.

Pitino let him on the team only after viewing game tapes and his work at practice. Svoboda has played in 13 games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 2.9 minutes, and played in all four Wildcat routs in the NCAA tournament.

“I got more out of this program than what I expected,” he said. “It’s been a great experience I’ll never forget. I didn’t expect all of this.

“I kind of like what’s going on here.”