Tuesday, March 11, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
The defending national champions, the No. 1 seed in the West Regional, might have to play Utah or Wake Forest in the regional final. Last season the Wildcats beat Utah 101-70 and Wake Forest 83-63 in the semifinal and final of the Midwest Regional.
"I know it's an oversight on their part because they (NCAA selection committee) never would have done it," Pitino said Monday night. "How can you have the same 1-2-3 teams in the same region the following year. You'd never do that in a million years if you knew it was there."
Kentucky (30-4) opens play against No. 16-seed Montana (21-10) in Salt Lake City on Thursday night.
"The flip side of it is that maybe none of us will get to that point where it would matter," Pitino said.
But No. 2 seed Utah and No. 3 Wake Forest could meet in the regional semifinals in San Jose, with the winner facing Kentucky for the regional title.
"As a matter of fact, three out of four years, the three of us have been in the same region," Pitino said. "Variety is the spice of life, except with this committee."
But he added that the Wildcats are happy to be a top seed in the West.
"We're not going to complain because we could be Syracuse or Michigan right now," said Pitino, referring to schools that didn't make it to the 64-team field. "They're the ones that have the complaints, not us."
Pitino says it's unlikely injured star Derek Anderson will see action in the tournament.
Anderson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Auburn on Jan. 18.
"I'd have to get five or six different opinions," Pitino said. "After getting those opinions, I'd probably still not play him."
He added that the consequences of re-injury would make it difficult to put Anderson on the floor, and that's something he's not willing to take a chance on now.
"'I don't think I could coach again, emotionally, if something happened," Pitino said. "It's too much of a risk."
There will be no chance of playing him this week since Anderson will remain in Lexington.
"He's not ready to play, and he's got schoolwork that is more important than basketball," Pitino said.
Fifth-ranked Kentucky rolled through the Southeastern Conference tournament, whipping Georgia 95-68 in the final on Sunday.
Pitino credited a quicker lineup with Wayne Turner starting at point guard and Jared Prickett and Scott Padgett on the front line for the team's success. Turner penetrated defenses while Prickett and Padgett made teams suffer for sagging inside defensively.
Montana, which finished second in the Big Sky Conference regular season, is making its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament.
"That's the only game I get concerned with," Pitino said. "I worry about (the Wildcats) because they're a little green and we're not playing a name team."
If the Wildcats defeat Montana on Thursday and the Iowa-Virginia winner Saturday, the next stop will be the West Region semifinals and finals.
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