MIDWEST REGIONAL

* What is Kentucky’s motivation after blowing out three opponents by an average of 31 points? Think back to last year’s Southeast Regional final, when the top-seeded Wildcats reverted to selfish ball hogs and shot 28% in a 74-61 loss to North Carolina. “That North Carolina loss has been a rallying cry for our basketball team,” Coach Rick Pitino said Friday. With a victory over Wake Forest, the Wildcats can avenge last season’s loss, make the Final Four for the first time since 1993 and pass the Tar Heels on college basketball’s all-time victory list. The schools are tied with 1,647 victories.

Wake Forest would appear to be the kind of team that could give Kentucky trouble. The Demon Deacons have a dominant center in All-American Tim Duncan, who had 27 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots in the victory over Louisville. Kentucky suffered both of its defeats against teams with dominant centers--Massachusetts with Marcus Camby, and Mississippi State with Erick Dampier.

However, the Demon Deacons lack the depth to keep pace with the 10-deep Wildcats and will be without point guard Tony Rutland, who tried to play against Louisville on a sprained knee but lasted only three minutes. Rutland’s backup, sophomore Jerry Braswell, is a solid defender but not a great ballhandler, which does not bode well against Kentucky’s pressing defense.