For the 17 University of Kentucky students who showed up at the UK ticket office on Monday, snagging a ticket to see the Cats play at New Orleans in the NCAA Tournament was a lot easier than getting tickets during the regular season.

"The lotteries are wild. We're usually there three hours" waiting to buy tickets, said Gavin Ellis, a graduate student. But when the ticket window opened at 5 p.m. for the student distribution, Ellis had a voucher in hand within minutes.

"This was fantastic," said his friend Brandon Jutras.

The distribution for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament was quiet because many students are out of town, basking in the Florida sun during spring break.

Distance plays a role in the turnout as well, said Barb Osborne, UK ticket manager.

"We had more tonight than I expected because it's so far away," she said. "We have to be pleased."

She said there have been years in which only two students showed up to buy tickets to the tournament.

UK had 100 tickets available for students; about 25 had sold by 5:22 p.m. Because there were so few takers, UK allowed those present to purchase one extra ticket for another student.

Osborne said a few students had called from vacation spots to ask whether they could get tickets, and UK will probably try to help the students get them. Whatever is left, she said, probably will be distributed to top-level donors.

Senior Barrett Singleton said he's never been to New Orleans and "can't wait" to hit Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, even though he'll be getting up at 3 or 4 a.m. to drive down Thursday.

He said it beats Milwaukee, where he had already booked a room before the tournament schedule was announced.

"It's gonna be a great weekend," he said.