Nashville, Tenn. ? Rick Majerus still reminisces about the hug from Ashley Judd. Ahh.

The rest of his Kentucky memories? Ugh.

If it’s March, it must be time for Utah vs. Kentucky. These two schools, which have little in common beyond their love of hoops, will meet today in a second-round game at the Midwest Regional — their fifth NCAA Tournament encounter in the past 11 years.

“It seems like we always end up in the same region, the same bracket,” Kentucky coach Tubby Smith.

And the Wildcats always come out on top, winning those four tourney games by an average of 181¼2 points. Which brings us to Majerus, the lovable, roly-poly coach of the Utes (25-7).

He remembers each loss in detail — especially the 78-69 defeat to Kentucky in the 1998 national title game. The Utes led by 10 at halftime, only to get stung by the greatest comeback in championship history.

But Majerus does have one pleasant recollection from that night at the Alamodome. Judd, the striking actress who graduated from Kentucky in 1990, consoled the losing coach when it was over.

“I’m such a pathetic figure,” Majerus said. “Ashley Judd came over and gave me a big hug. I think she felt sorry for me. That was the story of my sex life for the next two or three years.”

While top-seeded Kentucky (30-3) has a 24-game winning streak and its eyes on a third national title in seven years, Majerus finds himself still lamenting his chance at glory five years ago — only to see it slip through his fingers.

Kentucky guard Keith Bogans fiddles with an NCAA symbol during a news conference. The Wildcats play Utah today in Nashville, Tenn.

The Wildcats beat Utah by 21 in the second round of the ’93 tournament. Three years later, Kentucky rolled to a 31-point victory in the regional semifinals. The next season, the Wildcats knocked off the Utes by 13 to earn a trip to the Final Four.

In the other game today at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, No. 6 seed Maryland (20-9) meets No. 3 Xavier (26-5) in the South Regional.

Maryland, the defending national champion, managed to keep its season going on a miracle three-pointer by Drew Nicholas. The senior guard drove nearly the length of the court and swished a 25-footer off one foot with a defender in his face, giving the Terrapins a 75-73 victory over North Carolina-Wilmington in the opening round.

“When I woke up this morning, I was still kind of astonished by what happened,” Nicholas said, sitting at his locker before an off-day practice. “Maybe down the line, they’ll be talking about it. But it will always be in my memory how special it was.”