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Nevada Wolf Pack shock Cincinnati Bearcats: UK Basketball now unquestioned favorite to win South Region

UK is now officially the favorite to win the South Region and advance to the Final Four.

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Second Round-Cincinnati Bearcats vs Nevada Wolf Pack Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The NCAA Tournament is officially insane, and the Kentucky Wildcats are the biggest benefactor.

When the tournament began, there was really no question UK was in the Region of death, as the Cats would have to face No. 1 overall seed Virginia, Arizona with No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton, then one of Cincinnati and Tennessee waiting in the Elite Eight if UK somehow made it that far.

Well, less than four full days into the tournament, UK is now the highest seed left in the South Region. That’s because the Nevada Wolf Pack just shocked the 2-seeded Cincinnati Bearcats, 77-73. The Pack did so after rallying back from a 22-point deficit to stun the 31-win Bearcats and advance to the Sweet 16. They’ll now face Loyola-Chicago on Thursday in Atlanta at the Phillips Arena.

Along with Virginia, Tennessee and Arizona all also going down, UK can make the Final Four while avoiding the top four seeds in the South Region.

That’s virtually impossible to do, especially since it took a 16 seed beating a 1 seed for the first time in NCAA Tournament history.

But that happened, and now UK can make the Final Four by beating Davidson, Buffalo then two of Kansas State, UMBC, Loyola-Chicago and Nevada.

Here’s a look at Nevada hitting the game-winning shot against the Bearcats:

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