NCAA NOTES

In the wake of last season’s disheartening loss in the Southeast Regional final to North Carolina, Kentucky Coach Rick Pitino played soothsayer for his wife, Joanne, and the rest of his family.

“Last year, when we didn’t go to Seattle [for the Final Four],” Pitino said Monday night, “I told every family member, ‘I don’t know why you’re looking at it so negatively. Don’t you think it would be a lot better to win it in New Jersey where we’re all from?’

“And [Joanne] said, ‘You really believe that?’ And I said, ‘Without question, we’re going to win it.’ Did I believe it? Absolutely not. But I said it to make them feel better.”

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Kentucky’s 38.4% field-goal shooting (28 for 73) was the lowest percentage by a champion since 1963, when Loyola (Illinois) shot 27.4% (23 of 84) in a 60-58 overtime victory over Cincinnati.

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Kentucky won its sixth national championship, and is second on the all-time title list, trailing only UCLA’s 11 championships. The Wildcats are 6-2 in title games.

Indiana is third with five championships.

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Delk, who tied an NCAA championship-game record with seven three-point baskets, is from Brownsville, Tenn.

Brownsville’s previous claim to fame: It’s the hometown of singer Tina Turner.

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No more than 15 minutes after winning the game, Pitino said: “I’m not relieved. Recruiting is on my mind right now. We’ve got to get a big man.

“If you know of a good, quick, 6-11 guy, I would love to have that guy. That’s the missing link next season for us.”

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THE STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

First Half

Field goals

Kentucky: 15-35 (42.9%)

Syracuse: 13-26 (50%)

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Free throws

Kentucky: 4-4 (100%)

Syracuse: 3-6 (50%)

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Rebounds

Kentucky: 17

Syracuse: 19

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Turnovers

Kentucky: 8

Syracuse: 13

Second Half

Field Goals

Kentucky: 13-38 (34.2%)

Syracuse: 13-26 (50%)

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Free throws

Kentucky: 4-9 (44.4%)

Syracuse: 6-7 (87.7%)

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Rebounds

Kentucky: 23

Syracuse: 19

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Turnovers

Kentucky: 7

Syracuse: 11

NCAA Championship Breakdown

A glance at Kentucky’s past NCAA championships in men’s basketball.

1948--beat Baylor, 58-42. MVP--Alex Groza.

1949--beat Oklahoma A&M;, 46-36. MVP--Alex Groza.

1951--beat Kansas State, 68-58. MVP--None selected.

1958--beat Seattle, 84-72. MVP--Elgin Baylor of Seattle.

1978--beat Duke, 94-88. MVP--Jack Givens.

1996--beat Syracuse, 76-67. MVP--Tony Delk.

Most NCAA championships won

11--UCLA

6--Kentucky

5--Indiana

3--North Carolina

2--Cincinnati, Duke, Kansas, Louisville, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State, San Francisco.