By ADAM ZAGORIA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The most important player on the Kentucky basketball team sat on the bench Saturday afternoon wearing a blue sweatsuit and a cast on his left leg.
Due to a sprained foot, P.J. Washington was helpless to contribute as No. 2 Kentucky pulled out a 62-56 win over No. 7 Wofford at Jacksonville Memorial Arena to advance to the Sweet 16 in the Midwest Region. The Wildcats will play No. 3 Houston after the Cougars took out No. 11 Ohio State, 74-59, on Sunday night.
“It’s very tough for him,” freshman forward E.J. Montgomery told me in the Kentucky locker room. “Every time we play, he’s like, ‘Dang, I just want to get out there with the guys.’ And he’s just ready to get back out there.”