Jan. 21, 2002
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
No. 8/9 Kentucky Wildcats (12-4, 2-2)vs.Auburn Tigers (9-7, 1-4)
Jan. 22, 2002
9 p.m. ET
Beard-Eaves Coliseum (10,500)
Auburn, Ala.
UK RADIO NETWORK
90+ stations: Tom Leach, Mike Pratt and Dave Baker.
TELEVISION
ESPN (Live): Brad Nessler, Dick Vitale
UKathletics.com
Official site carries live audio from the UK Radio Network for each game. Enhanced coverage includes live statistics for all home games. Also adds the latest on the 2001-02 Wildcats including season statistics, photos and records.
Series Information
Series Record: UK leads 74-17
In Lexington: UK leads 39-2
In Auburn: UK leads 22-13
At Neutral Sites: UK leads 13-2
Last Game: Feb. 28, 2001 – UK 90, AU 78
AU Website: auburn.edu/athletics
Probable Starters
WILDCATSNo. NamePos.Ht.Wt.Cl.PpgRpgHometownLast Game21Tayshaun PrinceF6-9215Sr.17.16.4Compton, Calif.9 pts, 5 rebs, 5 assts, 3 stls 40Jules CamaraF6-11225Jr.5.13.8Dakar, Senegal4 pts, 3 rebs, 1 blks4Gerald FitchG6-3185So.8.65.4Macon, Ga.6 pts, 2 rebs10Keith BogansG6-5205Jr.12.85.2Alexandria, Va.23 pts, 5 rebs, 5-8 3FGs 1Cliff HawkinsG6-1185So.8.0*4.6Dumfries, Va.7 pts, 5 rebs, 6 assts
TIGERSNo. NamePos.Ht.Wt.Cl.PpgRpgHometownLast Game13Brandon RobinsonF6-8215Fr.10.15.9New Market, Ala.10 pts, 5 rebs34Kyle DavisC6-10220So.6.45.8Blakely, Ga.10 pts, 8 rebs, 4 blks3Marquis DanielsG6-6200Jr.11.84.7Orlando, Fla.5 pts, 1 reb11Derrick BirdG6-4180Jr.11.63.3Ypsilanti, Mich. 4 pts, 1 reb21Adam HarringtonG6-5200Jr.9.63.6Bernardston, Mass.14 pts, 6 rebs*Assists
Wildcats Return to League Play in Super Tuesday Showdown
After finishing the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 72-65 road win over Notre Dame on Saturday, the Cats return to Southeastern Conference play at Auburn, which has dropped back-to-back league decisions to Vanderbilt and LSU on the road. Auburn’s last win came over 14th-ranked Alabama at home on Jan. 12. The Tigers are 8-2 in Beard-Eaves Coliseum this season. But at LSU Saturday, AU shot 32.1% from the field and committed 22 turnovers before falling, 75-58.
Kentucky extended its winning streak to three games with the victory at South Bend Saturday. It was the Cats’ second-consecutive road victory. The Auburn game marks UK’s third with a Western-division foe this season. Last year, the Wildcats went 3-3 against the West in the regular season, and are 1-1 this season.
The ESPN showdown follows Michigan State at Iowa and is the second of three consecutive Super Tuesday matchups for the Wildcats on the network.
Series History
* This marks the 92nd meeting between the two teams. Kentucky has won 15 of the last 16. Auburn snapped Kentucky’s 14-game series’ win streak on the Wildcats’ last trip to Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum on Jan. 11, 2000. Last season, the Wildcats took a 90-78 win on Senior Day in Lexington. The win clinched a tie for UK’s 41st SEC Championship and clinched the No. 1-seed in the league tournament.
* Kentucky holds a 22-13 advantage over the Tigers in Auburn and has won five of the last six meetings in Beard-Eaves Coliseum. In the last game there between the two teams, fourth-ranked Auburn got 57 points from Doc Robinson, Chris Porter and Daymeon Fishback to hand No. 20 UK a 66-63 loss.
* Cliff Ellis holds a 1-9 record against the Wildcats with the win coming in Auburn two seasons ago. Tubby Smith is 5-2 all-time against Auburn, including a 3-1 mark while at UK.
* UK athletic trainer David Kindy served on Coach Ellis’ staff at Auburn for two years before joining the Wildcats in August ’98.
* Kentucky players Rashaad Carruth, Jules Camara and Cliff Hawkins all played high school basketball with Auburn’s Abdou Diame at Oak Hill Academy (Va.). Diame, a sophomore on this year’s Tiger squad, graduated with Hawkins in 2000 and hails from Camara’s home country of Senegal.
Bench Production
The Cats have utilized their deep bench this season and for good reason. The bench has contributed 27.9 ppg and 15.4 rpg.
In the win over Notre Dame, the reserves contributed 23 points and 12 rebounds to the Irish’s five points and seven boards. In the 12 wins, UK has averaged 30.0 points and 17.7 rebounds per game from its bench. In the four losses, the average is 21.8 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Outstanding bench performances include:
OpponentPts.Rbs.Marshall 45 25VMI 4123North Carolina3613Kentucky State4625Duke 319Indiana 2115Louisville2712Tulane 2916Georgia 3213Ole Miss 35 13
Bogans’ Back
Keith Bogans broke out of a four-game shooting slump when he hit 8-of-12 shots from the field including 5-of-7 three-pointers to total a season-high 23 points in the Wildcats’ win over Notre Dame last Saturday. The junior had hit 11-of-33 from the field the past four outings. He hadn’t totaled a 20-point effort this season since the Morehead State game on Nov. 24.
His three-point shooting effort also bolted him into UK’s top 10 for all-time 3FG made. He now has 150, which ranks ninth.
Wounded Cat
Adam Chiles missed Saturday’s game with Notre Dame due to bruised ribs. His status is uncertain.
Swatfest?
The Kentucky-Auburn game features two of the top three SEC teams in blocked shots. In all games, Auburn leads the league averaging 5.8 bpg while No. 3 UK trails Florida with 5.0 bpg.
The Tigers’ Kyle Davis leads the SEC with 3.9 bpg while UK’s Jules Camara (1.9 bpg) and Marquis Estill (1.5 bpg) ranks second and third, respectively. Davis ranked ninth nationally last week.
In SEC play only, the Wildcats are leading the league in blocks (7.0 bpg) while Jules Camara ranks first (3.0 bpg).
Stylin’
Coach Tubby Smith ranks No. 2 in the nation in the “fashion index” for coaches, according to collegeinsider.com. Smith ranks second behind Memphis’ John Calipari.
Writes Angela Lento of Smith, “…This season the coat has been staying on and so he continues to move up in the rankings. He looks poised to take a long stroll in his Cole Hahn shoes down the ‘Runway to the Fashionable Final Four’ in March.”
UK’s Reggie Hanson ranks ninth among assistant coaches with a “hip and yet sophisticated look.” Lento writes that UK could earn the title as the nation’s “best-dressed staff.”
Tone Setter
Gerald Fitch has been referred to more than once by Tubby Smith as the Cats’ heart and soul. Pound-for-pound (6-3, 188), he may be the best rebounder in the nation.
The sophomore guard recorded his second double-double of the season against Ole Miss on Jan. 15, totaling 13 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes. With the injured JP Blevins out of the rotation, Fitch also has seen time at point guard lately, backing up Cliff Hawkins.
For the season, Fitch is fourth on the team in scoring (8.6 ppg), second in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and tied for second in steals (22). In SEC play, he’s second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg) and leads UK in rebounding (6.0 rpg).
Steals Up
Midway through the season, the Wildcats’ defense is averaging 8.1 spg. That’s up from last year’s 6.7 spg and the best at UK since the ’98 champs averaged 8.7 spg.
Power Polls
To start the new year, Kentucky is ranked among the top teams in the nation in two popular power polls. Strength of schedule ratings are listed in parenthesis:
CollegeRPI.comSagarinKentucky8th (5th) 8th (9th)Auburn93rd (82nd)108th (188th)
The Southeastern Conference is rated as the nation’s toughest conference by CollegeRPI.com and Sagarin. All but one team has a winning record.
1. SEC2. ACC3. PAC-10
Milestones
* Tayshaun Prince’s 19-point performance against Ole Miss moved him past three legendary Wildcats — Johnny Cox (1957-59), Pat Riley (1965-67) and Cliff Hagan (1952-52, 54). Prince now ranks 14th on UK’s all-time scoring list. He needs 10 points to catch Melvin Turpin (1981-84) for 13th. Prince currently has 1,489 points, just 86 short of UK’s top 10 scorers. He needs 11 points to reach 1,500 in his career.
* Keith Bogans’ 23 points against Notre Dame moved him past Wayne Turner (1996-99) and into 34th on the scoring list. He needs eight to reach 1,200. Bogans currently has 1,192 points and with 16 can tie Rodrick Rhodes (1993-95) for 33rd.
* Prince and Bogans are high on UK’s list of all-time 3FG attempts. Prince ranks third with 523, while Bogans ranks fourth with 452 attempts. Bogans’ five made threes against the Irish moved him into ninth on UK’s list of made 3FGs. He currently has 150, while Prince ranks fourth on the list with 171.
SouleyQuis
Jules Camara and Marquis Estill have become a solid tandem down low for UK. In the four SEC games, the pair has shot 28-of-40 from the field (70.0%), 12-for-14 (85.7%) from the foul line and blocked 20 shots. Camara leads the league in blocks during SEC games, averaging 3.0 pg. Estill is second with 2.3 pg.
Camara scored a career-high 16 points against Georgia with three swats. He had 12 points vs. Miss. State in the Cats’ league opener. His five blocks against Ole Miss matched his career high set against Duke in December.
Estill has hit 23-of-30 from the field over the last seven games. He had 15 points, three boards and two blocks against Ole Miss. For the season, he continues to lead the team in FG percentage, hitting 67.4%, which would rank second in the nation and lead the SEC if he met the minimum of five FG attempts per game.
Big Draw
This season, the Cats have played in front of five of the top six crowds in the nation, including four at home. Statistics courtesty of the NCAA:
Game (Site)Attendance1. UK-Indiana (N) 29,3792. UK-Louisville (H)24,3303. UK-North Carolina (H)23,1534. Missouri-Illinois (N)22,1535. UK-Georgia (H) 21,7076. UK-Western Ky. (H)21,104
Kentucky’s matchup with Duke in the Meadowlands was eighth this season after drawing 20,029 fans.
Cats in the NCAA
In the NCAA statistics released Jan. 14, the Wildcats ranked 11th in scoring (82.8 ppg) and 17th in scoring margin (+15.1 ppg). UK was tied for sixth in the nation in rebounding margin, outrebounding opponents by an average of 10.1 rpg.
Cats in the SEC
In the latest Southeastern Conference rankings for all games played, UK’s Tayshaun Prince is fifth in the league in scoring (17.7 ppg) while Cliff Hawkins ranks fifth in assists (4.6 apg). Jules Camara ranks second in blocked shots (1.9 pg) while Marquis Estill ranks third (1.5 pg). Prince also ranks 14th in rebounding (6.4 rpg).
The Wildcats are second in scoring (82.4 ppg), first in rebounding (42.8 rpg), rebounding margin (+8.6 rpg) and offensive rebounds (16.8 orpg).
In SEC games only, Hawkins leads the league in assists (5.8 apg) and sixth in steals (2.5 spg) while teammate Gerald Fitch is tied for eighth (2.3 spg). Camara leads the league lead in swats with 3.0 bpg, while Estill is second with 2.3 bpg. Estill is ninth in FT shooting (83.3%) and freshman Chuck Hayes is second in assist-to-turnover ratio (4:1).
Defensive Pride
Coach Tubby Smith asked for pride in his defense prior to the Ole Miss game and the Cats responded. UK held the SEC’s top 3FG shooting team to 16.7% from beyond the arc and just 33.3% from the field.
Through 16 games, UK opponents have combined to shoot 39.5% from the field. Indiana and South Carolina both shot 32.1% from the field, the best defensive efforts of the season for the Wildcats. Georgia (54.1%) is the only team to shoot better than 50% against the Cats since Southern Cal (52.8%, 3-22-01) upset the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament last year.
In SEC play only, UK leads the league in FG percentage defense (39.7%) and in blocks (7.0 bpg) while ranking second in scoring defense (69.0 ppg).
More Offense
Despite scoring just 52 points against Western and 51 against South Carolina, the Cats are averaging 82.8 ppg this season, the most since the Cats averaged 82.4 ppg during the 1997 NCAA runner-up season.
SEC Domination
* Kentucky is in its 69th season of SEC play. A charter member, the Cats have been the most dominant team in the league through the years, recording a 772-208 mark (78.8%). No other team has won more than 636 games (Alabama) and no other team has a better winning percentage. UK has averaged 11.3 wins and 3.0 losses per season during its SEC tenure.
* The Wildcats have won 41 SEC titles and 23 SEC Tournament Championships, more titles than the other teams combined.
* Kentucky has won eight of the last 10 SEC Tournament titles.
TUB-BEE, TUB-BEE!
* In the past four seasons, since Orlando “Tubby” Smith took the coaching reins at Kentucky, the Wildcats have won three SEC Championships and three SEC Tournament titles. While the tournament success continues a string of titles the past decade, UK’s success in winning the regular-season crown hasn’t been achieved since the Wildcats won three of the four titles between 1983-86.
* Smith is 51-17 (75.0%) in SEC regular season play since taking over at Kentucky.
* Smith has an amazing 13-3 (81.3%), record in the SEC Tournament which includes his two seasons at Georgia.
* Last season, Smith’s Cats captured a share of the SEC Eastern Division crown, his third in the last four years and the second straight.
Depth
Tubby Smith has a deep roster this season which allows him multiple lineups. In the first eight games of the season, Smith used four different lineups.
Only Tayshaun Prince, Gerald Fitch and Keith Bogans have started all 16 games. Cliff Hawkins has started 13 games at the point while injured running mate J.P. Blevins has three starts. Jules Camara (9), Marquis Estill (5) and former Cat Marvin Stone (2) have all split time inside.
The lineup has remained the same since the Duke game when Camara got the starting nod at center.
Three Mania
Kentucky has hit a three-pointer in 457 consecutive games. UK trails UNLV, Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech, which all have similar streaks. UNLV, Vanderbilt and Princeton have hit a three-pointer in every game since the rule was adopted in 1987, but Princeton has yet to play 450 games.
The Wildcats’ last game without a three-pointer came 13 years ago against Seton Hall on Nov. 26, 1988, a “three-point” loss in the Great Alaska Shootout.
Vs. Ranked Opponents
No. 1 Duke was the first ranked opponent the Cats faced this season.
UK in January
The Wildcats hold a 508-175 all-time record in the month of January for a .743 winning percentage. Last season, UK went 7-2 in the year’s first month for a .777 mark.
Next Game
UK returns to Rupp Arena after two road contests to take on No. 14 Alabama. The Crimson Tide enjoy a seven-day break before coming to Lexington for the ESPN showdown. The Tide defeated Mississippi State 85-73 in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. This marks UK’s second ranked opponent of the season.
Last Time Out
Keith Bogans broke out of a four-game shooting slump to tally 15 first-half points en route to a game-high 23 as UK beat Notre Dame, 72-65. UK hit 42.9% of its three-pointers to hold off the Irish.
National Polls
UK began the season ranked fourth in both major polls.
After losing its season opener, UK dropped to 13th in the AP poll and 14th in the Coaches poll. After climbing back into the top 10 for most of this season, the Cats fell to 12th in both polls after splitting last week’s league games.
In the coaches poll released this week, UK has jumped back into the top 10 for the seventh week this season. The AP poll had not been released at the time these notes were completed.
Double-Doubles
Gerald Fitch had his second double-double of the year with 13 points and 11 rebounds against Ole Miss after a 16-10 performance against Tulane earlier this month. He has recorded three double-doubles in his career.
Tayshaun Prince posted his third double-double of the season against the Hoosiers with 17 points and 11 rebounds. He had back-to-back double-doubles last month against VMI and North Carolina.
Jules Camara had his best effort of the season against Duke, scoring 10 points while grabbing 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and the fourth of his career.
Current Wildcats who have recorded double-doubles in their career include:
CatCareer DoublesKeith Bogans2Jules Camara4Marquis Estill1Gerald Fitch3Jason Parker2Tayshaun Prince10
National Exposure
The Auburn game marks Kentucky’s seventh appearance on national television this season and the second in a series of five consecutive national broadcasts. Kentucky will appear six times on ESPN, including the next three games, and a record seven times on CBS, according to 17-year veteran producer Bob Dekas.
Overtime Trials
The Wildcats have played two overtime games already this season, losing to Duke, 95-92, and Miss. State, 74-69.
Kentucky has now played 80 overtime games in 99 seasons, and owns a 44-36 record in those contests.
In the Tubby Smith era, the Cats won their first seven overtime games but have lost their last three.
The most OT games UK has ever played in one season was five — 1978-79.
SEASON NOTES
Eight in a Row
Kentucky continued its dominance at the UCA Cheerleading Championships on Jan. 12 when the Wildcats took the title for the eighth consecutive year. It was the 12th title overall for the team. The UK squad is coached by Saleem Habash with advisor T. Lynn Williamson.
Central Florida finished second in the event which was held at MGM Grand Studios in Orlando, Fla.
Kentucky has won the event in 1985, ’87, ’88, ’92, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’01 and ’02.
Three-Point Show
Kentucky set a school record when nine different Wildcats made a three-point field goal in UK’s win over Tulane on Jan. 2. Since the three-point shot was implemented in 1987, no UK squad had ever had nine different Cats can a three in the same game. The nine different “lives” splashed in 16 total treys against the Green Wave, the most in a game in the Tubby Smith Era at Kentucky. It also marked the most since UK canned 16 against UNC Asheville in Dec. 1996.
Prince Named SEC Player of the Week
The Southeastern Conference named Kentucky senior Tayshaun Prince its Player of the Week for Dec. 24-Jan. 1.
The 6-9 senior was very consistent in late December, tallying 17 points and nine rebounds against Duke, 17 and 11 against the Hoosiers and 18 and nine against the Cardinals. The double-double against Indiana was his third this season and the 10th of his career.
It was his first SEC Player of the Week honor this season and the first by a Cat. Prince won the award once as a sophomore and twice last season.
Blevins Out
Point guard J.P. Blevins broke his right wrist against Indiana and will be out of action for 4-6 weeks. UK physicians successfully inserted a screw in his right wrist Dec. 27.
Blevins suffered the injury during a lay-up attempt in the first half against the Hoosiers.
He has played in seven games this season with three starts, averaging 2.7 points and 1.4 assists per game. He missed the first two games of the season – the NABC Classic – with a severely sprained right ankle that he injured in the Athletes in Action game (exh.) on Nov. 11.
Stone Dismissed
Marvin Stone was dismissed from the Kentucky men’s basketball team on Dec. 27. The 6-10 junior failed to return from the holiday break and became the first player to be dismissed from the Wildcats’ basketball team in Smith’s five seasons.
Stone averaged 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He saw action in all nine contests, starting the first two, and averaged 13.9 minutes per game.
The Huntsville, Ala., native totaled 397 points and 314 rebounds in his career after playing in 75 games with 11 starts.
He transferred to Louisville.
Prince On Wooden List
Tayshaun Prince was among the Top 30 candidates for the Wooden Award in its midseason poll released Dec. 28. Prince was a Wooden All-American last year. This year’s honors will be announced March 26 and include the 10-member All-America team and college basketball’s Most Outstanding Player.
Cawood’s Court
The new floor at Rupp Arena was named “Cawood’s Court” in ceremonies before the Louisville game. The tribute honors Cawood Ledford, who was the beloved “Voice of the Wildcats” for 39 years (1953-92). Ledford passed away in early September following a long battle with cancer.
The ceremony included the unveiling of a logo courtside not far from where he called all the action and a donation by two area businesses to the Cawood Ledford Scholarship Fund at UK. The fund was established in 1992 to assist former student-athletes in completing their degrees.
Hawk’s Shooting Eye
Cliff Hawkins recorded back-to-back career highs in December.
The sophomore tallied 15 points against Duke including nine of the Cats’ first 11 in overtime. He then returned to score 17 points against Indiana four days later. For the week, he averaged 16 ppg and 4.0 apg.
Within the Borders
Kentucky’s 20-point win over Louisville closed out a four-game schedule this season with Kentucky schools. UK finished with a 3-1 record in those games. It was the most games with instate schools since the 1920-21 season.
The Cats fell to Western Kentucky and defeated Morehead State, Kentucky State and Louisville. They faced Kentucky Wesleyan, Cumberland, Georgetown and Centre during the ’21 season, posting a 5-1 record in the meetings.
Carruth Burned Devils
Rashaad Carruth broke out against Duke, taking control of the offensive end during the first half to total 14 points in the period after scoring 12 all season.
He finished the game with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and set or tied career highs in every category.
Carruth missed the first month of the season with a high ankle sprain and played in only three games prior to the Duke contest.
Cats vs. No. 1 Teams
After falling to top-ranked Duke, 95-92, in overtime on Dec. 18, Kentucky fell to 4-9 against No.1-ranked teams in the AP poll since 1949.
The Wildcats played Duke two other times when the Blue Devils were ranked No. 1 in the country. Duke won both games, 80-55 on Nov. 19, 1988 and 104-103 in overtime on March 28, 1992.
Kentucky’s last win over a top-ranked team was an 81-74 victory against UMass at the Meadowlands in the NCAA Semifinals on March 30, 1996.
December to Remember
Kentucky kicked off a highly anticipated December schedule of great rivalries on Dec. 8 with a 79-59 rout of North Carolina. After 118-63 win over Kentucky State, the Wildcats lost a thrilling overtime game to No. 1 Duke, 95-92, in the Jimmy V Classic. After holding Indiana to 32.1% shooting in a 66-52 win in the RCA Dome, the Cats finished off the Rick Pitino-coached Louisville Cards, 82-62.
TREY-Shaun’s Game
Tayshaun Prince’s effort vs. UNC won’t soon be forgotten. Along with his three-point shooting display, Prince totaled 31 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. He matched his career scoring and steals totals. It was his second consecutive double-double, the ninth of his career.
Prince’s streak of five three-pointers on five straight possessions to start the North Carolina game were the first of seven for the game, all coming in the opening half. His fifth, just a few inches inside the “U” at center court, measured nearly 30′.
His seven 3FGs in a half tied Derrick Miller for the most threes scored in a half at Kentucky. Miller also drained seven to start the Kansas game on Dec. 9, 1989 before finishing with eight threes in the game.
Prince’s seven, however, were the most treys recorded by a Wildcat in Rupp Arena as Miller’s came in the Jayhawks’ storied Allen Field House.
Queen City Mark
In November, Kentucky played its fifth consecutive season at the Firstar Center in Cincinnati, defeating Kent State, 82-68. The Wildcats are now 6-1 all-time in the arena.
Season Openers
Kentucky is 81-18 in season openers after its loss to Western Kentucky in the NABC Classic. Last season, the Cats were upset in New York by St. John’s, 62-61. Tubby Smith is 8-3 in season openers during his head coaching career.
Home Openers
Kentucky is 84-15 all-time in home openers after the loss to WKU. Nine of those losses occurred before Adolph Rupp began coaching in 1930. The Cats are 65-6 since 1930, losing the home opener in 1955 to Temple, 1962 to Va. Tech, 1972 to Iowa, 1988 to Northwestern State, 2000 to Penn State and this season to Western Kentucky.
UK now stands at 23-3 in home openers at Rupp Arena.
PRESEASON NOTES
AP Names Prince All-American
Forward Tayshaun Prince added yet another honor to his resume in November as he was named to the The Associated Press Preseason All-America team, the only senior on the list.
Prince joined Duke’s Jason Williams, Stanford’s Casey Jacobsen, Missouri’s Kareem Rush and Illinois’ Frank Williams.
Prince is just the second Wildcat to earn the preseason honor from the AP since the national news organization began naming a preseason team in 1985. Jamal Mashburn was a preseason All-American prior to the 1992-93 season.
Prince also was named first-team Preseason All-America by collegeinsider.com, Athlon Sports, Blue Ribbon Basketball, The Sporting News and Basketball News.
He was a second-team selection by AP at the end of last season.
Conference Supremacy
Kentucky was picked to finish first in the SEC by a media vote at the conference’s annual media day on Nov. 1.
Tayshaun Prince also was predicted to repeat as SEC Player of the Year, while he and Bogans both were named first-team Preseason All-SEC.
Men's Basketball PredictionsChampion - Kentucky (20), Florida (3).
Eastern Division1. Kentucky (20)262. Florida (3)433. Tennessee764. South Carolina985. Georgia1056. Vanderbilt123
Western Division1. Alabama (15)332. Arkansas (5)603. Ole Miss (2)664. Auburn (1)785. LSU1216. Mississippi State125
All-SEC First TeamG – Brett Nelson, Florida17G – Keith Bogans, Kentucky15C – Udonis Haslem, Florida22F – Tayshaun Prince, Kentucky22G/F – Rod Grizzard, Alabama11
Prince, Bogans on Wooden List
Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans were both named to the preseason Wooden Award Candidate list for 2001-02.Only 50 college basketball players make the prestigious list, which culminates in the presentation of the Wooden Award for the nation’s best collegiate basketball player each April.
The award was started in 1976 and has seen past winners that include Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Tim Duncan. No Kentucky Wildcat has ever claimed the honor.
Parker Injury
Jason Parker underwent his second ACL surgery on his right knee in four months when he had a patella tendon autograft performed by team physicians Darren Johnson and Scott Mair on Nov. 1. Parker injured the knee June 24 in a pickup basketball game and had his initial surgery July 2. He retore the ligament prior to introductions for Big Blue Madness on Oct. 12.
Parker will miss the 2001-02 season as a redshirt. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Production Return
Kentucky lost one senior from last year, returning 12 lettermen and four starters from a team that finished as co-champions of the Southeastern Conference and won the league tournament. With the loss of Jason Parker for the season, the numbers change to three returning starters. The statistics below reflect the returning production, excluding Parker:
Points80.6%Rebounds82.4%Assists71.4%Blocks83.4%Steals72.1%
Their Old Kentucky Home
This season’s roster boasts six products from the Bluegrass State, the most since the 1991 season.
J.P. Blevins (Edmonton), Marquis Estill (Richmond), Cory Sears (Corbin), Matt Heissenbuttel (Lexington), Josh Carrier (Bowling Green) and Adam Chiles (Louisville) all hail from within the state’s borders.
In ’91, Reggie Hanson, Richie Farmer, John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus, Michael Parks and Todd Bearup all came from Kentucky. Much like Sears and Heissenbuttel, Parks and Bearup were both walk-ons 11 seasons ago.
Face Lift
Fans attending UK home games will recognize changes at floor level. In addition to the new floor that was purchased last summer, courtside fan seating has been added as well. Currently, 20 new “scholarship seats” have displaced some traditional media seating and been installed on press row. The 20 seats were sold for $313,000 a pair and the revenue generated will go to endow all 13 men’s basketball scholarships. There are still four pairs remaining to be sold.
Kentucky celebrated its 25th season in the first built-for-basketball arena last year, playing for a quarter of a century on the original floor. Pieces of the original floor were auctioned off prior to the charity game, “A Night of True Champions,” on Aug. 11, raising more than $38,000. The money was split between the UK Basketball Museum, the KHSAA and the Lexington Civic Center for the purchase of the new floor.
The new floor was designed by UK in conjunction with Lexington Civic Center officials. It was constructed by Robbins, Inc., in Cincinnati, Ohio at a cost of $125,000.
BIG BLUE MANIA
Back In Town
Several former Wildcats have appeared back in the Bluegrass in recent weeks. Jeff Sheppard, the 1998 Final Four MVP, is back from his professional playing career in Italy. He was spotted updating his resume in CATS a few weeks ago. He’s living in London, Ky., with his wife Stacey, a former star of the women’s team, and their daughter, Madison.
Allen Edwards, a teammate of Sheppard’s, is back in school on the Cawood Ledford Scholarship fund. He’s one of three Wildcats taking advantage of the fund, which allows former student-athletes to return to school after their eligibility has expired to complete their degree requirments. Also enrolled is Derrick Miller (’90) and Dale Brown (’93).
Jared Prickett (’97) returned from his professional career in Argentina due to the South America country’s severe recession. He’s hoping to return to Europe later this season.
Keightley In 41st Season
Kentucky equipment manager Bill Keightley is in his 41st season in the UK program. The beloved Mr. Wildcat has served UK since 1961-62, watching the Cats roll to a 956-293 record during that era.
Keightley, who has a jersey retired in the rafters of Rupp Arena, has worked under five different head coaches at UK — Rupp, Hall, Sutton, Pitino and Smith.
Wiggins Passes 1,200
Big Blue fan Bob Wiggins continues his amazing streak of following the basketball Cats. In all, he’s in his 49th season watching Kentucky play in person and through his own record keeping, has attended 1,207 UK games.
Wiggins, who is retired and lives in Falmouth, Ky., saw 615 consecutive games — home and away — from 1977 until he suffered a heart attack just before the 1996 Great Alaska Shootout. It’s the second-longest streak on record at UK.
The illness forced him to miss four games, but he has since returned to see every contest in person, a streak of 193 games.
Meanwhile, his home court streak is still intact. Wiggins has not missed a home game in 41 years, a streak spanning 584 games. During that period, which dates back to 1960-61, UK has a home record of 519-65.
UK’s NBA Players
To start the 2001-02 NBA season, the following Wildcats were active:Derek AndersonPortlandTony DelkPhoenixWalter McCartyBostonJamaal MagloireCharlotteJamal MashburnCharlotteRon MercerChicagoNazr MohammedAtlantaScott PadgettUtahMark PopeMilwaukeeAntoine WalkerBoston
In addition, former UK assistant coach Jim O’Brien is the head coach of the Boston Celtics while former UK All-American Pat Riley coaches the Miami Heat.
— Go Cats —
