Kentucky's Cauley-Stein out for title game

DAVE SKRETTA

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein has been ruled out for Monday night's national championship game against Connecticut with the same ankle injury that has caused him to miss the last two games.

Forward Alex Poythress, however, told The Associated Press on Sunday he will be ready to go after tweaking his left knee during the celebration of the Wildcats' semifinal win over Wisconsin the previous night.

Cauley-Stein hurt his ankle in Kentucky's NCAA tournament opener against Kansas State, but he played through the pain in a victory over Wichita State. The 7-foot shot-blocker aggravated it against Louisville in the regional semifinals. He did not play against Michigan or Wisconsin.

He said earlier in the week he hoped to play at some point during the Final Four.