Kentucky ready to battle SEC rival Auburn

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kentucky is the closest thing possible to college basketball royalty, a mainstay in the NCAA Tournament and a frequent visitor to the Final Four.

Tyler Herro’s swagger might be off-putting to opposing fans, but he gives Kentucky fans every reason to love him. He was voted AP newcomer of the year in the Southeastern Conference and has knocked down too many big shots to count late in games. He’s expected to play a big role again in today’s game.

Auburn is the brash, new kid on the block, the team that shoots 3-pointers by the handful and has never before reached the final weekend of the tournament.

The teams meet for the Midwest Region title on Sunday, and a berth in the Final Four next weekend is at stake.