Kentucky fans dance around a fire on State Street as they celebrate Kentucky's 69-61 win over Louisville in an NCAA Final Four semifinal college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 31, 2012, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/The Courier-Journal, Amy Wallot) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; NO ARCHIVE; MANDATORY CREDIT
Kentucky fans dance around a fire on State Street as they celebrate Kentucky's 69-61 win over Louisville in an NCAA Final Four semifinal college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 31, 2012, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/The Courier-Journal, Amy Wallot) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; NO ARCHIVE; MANDATORY CREDIT
Kentucky fans uproot a traffic sign on the corner of Elizabeth and State Streets as they celebrate Kentucky's 69-61 win over Louisville in an NCAA Final Four semifinal college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 31, 2012, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/The Lexington Herald-Leader, Jonathan Palmer)
Kentucky fans flip a car on State Street as they celebrate Kentucky's 69-61 win over Louisville in an NCAA Final Four semifinal college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 31, 2012, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/The Lexington Herald-Leader, Jonathan Palmer)
Kentucky fans burn furniture and dance in the middle of State Street as they celebrate Kentucky's 69-61 win over Louisville in an NCAA Final Four semifinal college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 31, 2012, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/The Lexington Herald-Leader, Jonathan Palmer)
Police said Sunday that they are satisfied with their work to control the crowds that spilled onto the street after the University of Kentucky defeated crosstown rival Louisville, despite the images of rowdy revelers burning couches and a car that had been flipped over.
So while authorities are evaluating how things went as they prepare for the possibility of more celebrations ahead of Monday night's Final Four Championship game, they aren't anticipating big changes to their plans.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that police had to dodge beer bottles while putting out dozens of fires in the streets.
Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts said there were less than 20 people arrested, no serious injuries and no serious property damage. She said nothing happened that wasn't anticipated and that police were "very pleased."
"I think we did pretty good, all things considered," she said.
She said the department would meet Sunday afternoon to evaluate things and determine whether any adjustments are needed Monday, when the Wildcats play in the championship.
Kentucky guard Doron Lamb said he wasn't surprised to hear about the mayhem.
"I knew it was going to happen," he said. "Our fans are real crazy about us. If we win tomorrow, it'll be even more crazy."
Police had braced for the possibility of post-game violence and resorted to pepper spray, though large amounts weren't needed before they ultimately began dispersing the throngs, Roberts said.
She said 150 officers deployed on the streets at one point to quell what she called "a very dangerous situation" with the fires and violence that dragged on for hours.
The scene was similar in 1998 when Kentucky won the national championship game. That year, 300 officers in full riot gear lined downtown streets as a mob of nearly 15,000 fans celebrated.
Police made 10 arrests, and 25 people were treated for minor injuries.
Two years prior to that, though, chaos ensued following Kentucky's championship game ? officers were pelted with beer bottles, and a television news crew's van was overturned.
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Associated Press Writer Colin Fly contributed to this report from New Orleans.
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