Nov. 22, 1999
LEXINGTON, Kty. – Kentucky and Maryland advanced to the Preseason National Invitation Tournament at Madison Square Garden after winning two games each last week on their respective home courts.
The Wildcats earned wins over Pennsylvania and Utah while the Terrapins make the short trip north to Manhattan after wins over San Francisco and Tulane.
The Wildcats are clawing for their first Preseason NIT Championship. UK has participated in the event only once since the event began in 1985. UK finished the 1992 tournament with a 1-1 record after beating West Virginia, 106-80, in the first round before losing to Pittsburgh, 85-67. The Wildcats’ record in the Preseason NIT is now 3-1.
In the postseason NIT, UK has participated seven times, but only once since 1950. The Cats won the NIT in 1946, when it was still considered the “national” championship, and again in 1976, after failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. UK has an 11-5 record in postseason NIT action.
America’s Team of the Century Posts #1,750
Kentucky, the winningest college basketball team in the nation, became the first team to record 1,750 wins with its victory over Utah last Friday. UK is in its 97th season of college basketball, and its record number of victories include seven NCAA Championships, two (postseason) NIT titles, a record 84 NCAA Tournament victories and 39 Southeastern Conference Championships, more than all the other league teams combined.
The Skinny on the Terps
Much like Kentucky, Maryland lost three starters from last year’s team, including seniors Laron Profit and Terrell Stokes, and Player of the Year candidate Steve Francis, a highlight-maker who left after his junior season. Also gone is Obinna Ekezie, who started against UK in the regular-season match-up, but who later was injured during the season.
But returning is Terence Morris, a 6-9, 205-pound swingman who was second on the team in scoring last season, averaging 15.3 ppg and 7.1 rpg. The preseason All-American leads a roster loaded with four sophomores and two freshmen. (In comparison, UK returns one starter, and its roster includes five sophomores and two freshmen, but no preseason All-American.)
The Series
The Wildcats own a 6-3 record against Maryland. The series began in 1928 with a 37-7 win by Maryland. UK has met the Terps twice in tournament play at the Southern Conference Tournament in Atlanta. In 1930, UK beat the Terrapins in the first round, before losing to Maryland in the 1931 championship game, 29-27. UK has a three-game win streak over UM, including two victories in the 1990s: a 96-84 win at the 1995 Tip-Off Classic, and a 103-91 win in Rupp Arena last December (see box score). UK also earned a win over Maryland in the 1988 NCAA Tournament, but the victory was scratched from UK’s record book due to NCAA violations in the Kentucky program.
Kentucky and Maryland could have met in the Puerto Rico Shootout Championship last November, but Pittsburgh spoiled the party, handing UK a semifinal loss. Maryland went on to win the event.
The two teams will meet again Dec. 11 at Cole Field House in College Park. The game, also on ESPN, will be UK’s first return to Coach
Tubby Smith‘s home state since he took over the program two years ago. It also will mark UK’s first trip back to Cole Field House since its 1966 NCAA Championship defeat to Texas Western.
Gary Williams is 0-2 against Kentucky while Smith is 2-0 against Maryland, including a victory in Hawaii over the Terps in Dec. 1996 while he was still coaching Georgia.
The Cats Play Friday…
If the Wildcats beat Maryland, they will advance to the championship game against the winner of the Notre Dame-Arizona contest on Friday at 9 p.m. Should the Cats lose, UK will play the ND-UA loser in the consolation game on Friday at 6 p.m.
Against Arizona, UK is 2-2, all games occurring at neutral sites. Its first meeting occurred on March 16, 1946, in the first round of the NIT. UK beat Arizona, 77-53, at Madison Square Garden en route to its first national championship — the 1946 NIT title. The two teams met again in the 1993 Maui Invitational Championship that saw Jeff Brassow tip-in a last second shot to give UK a 93-92 win.
Arizona returned the favor three seasons later in Indianapolis, handing the Big Blue an 84-79 loss in the 1997 NCAA Championship game. For the UK Wildcats, only seniors Jamaal Magloire and Steve Masiello remain from that game in which both saw action. Magloire had four rebounds in 14 minutes, and like several of his teammates, was hampered by foul trouble (4) in the contest. The following November, Arizona again handed Kentucky an 89-74 loss in the semifinals of the 1997 Maui Invitational. After finishing third in the Thanksgiving event, UK went on to win the NCAA title that season.
Against Notre Dame, UK is 37-17, having played the Fighting Irish more times than any other non-conference opponent (outside current and former members of the Southeastern Conference). The Wildcats are 28-9 against Notre Dame at neutral sites, including 32 games played in Louisville. The series dates back to 1929, and the ol’ warriors played annually from 1936-52, and from 1958-82.
The two teams have not met since Dec. 14, 1996, an 80-56 UK victory, the Cats’ sixth straight win in the series. Two Kentuckians play for the Irish — Harold Swanagan, who played for University Heights in western Kentucky and David Graves, a Lexington native who played at Catholic and whose father is a supporter of UK athletics.
Smith Nearly a Terp
Coach Tubby Smith had planned on playing his college basketball at Maryland before a coaching change took place. Smith, who hails from Scotland, Md., had accepted an offer to become a Terrapin, but a coaching change was made bringing Lefty Driesell to the helm. The move sent Smith to High Point (N.C.) College where he became an All-Conference performer.
Magloire’s Career Blocks
Jamaal Magloire recorded seven blocks in his first two games and has moved >from fourth place on the all-time blocks chart into a tie for second with current UK radio broadcast analyst Sam Bowie. Magloire’s 218 blocks leave him only nine from breaking Melvin Turpin’s record set in 1984.
Familiar Turf
Kentucky owns a 31-7 record in Madison Square Garden, dating back to a 44-38 win over St. John’s on Dec. 30, 1943. The Wildcats have played NIT games, NCAA Tournament games, ECAC games and qualified for the 1948 Olympics in the famed structure.
In postseason NIT action, UK is 11-4 in the Garden. Its last trip to MSG ended in the 1995 ECAC Holiday Classic Championship, earning wins over Rider and Iona. Overall, the Cats have won their last 11 games at MSG.
Did You Know?
Did you know that on March 24, 1947, Utah defeated Kentucky, 49-45, in the NIT Championship game before a record crowd at Madison Square Garden of 18,493?
Team Comparisons
| UK | MU | |
| Record | 2-0 | 2-0 |
| Scoring Off. | 61.5 | 74.5 |
| Scoring Def. | 49.0 | 65.5 |
| Scoring Margin | +12.5 | +9.0 |
| FG % | 41.8 | 50.5 |
| Def. FG % | 35.3 | 42.5 |
| 3FG % | 23.3 | 38.5 |
| Def. 3FG % | 28.3 | 23.1 |
| FT Pct. | 64.9 | 58.0 |
| Reb. Avg. | 37.0 | 30.0 |
| Opp. Reb. Avg. | 33.5 | 41.5 |
| Rebound Margin | +3.5 | -11.5 |
| TO Avg. | 11.0 | 19.0 |
| Opp. TO | 17.5 | 25.0 |
| TO Margin | +6.5 | +6.0 |
| Blocks Avg. | 5.5 | 11.5 |
| Steals Avg. | 7.0 | 14.0 |
Coaching Comparisons
Orlando “Tubby” Smith (High Point ’73)
| Overall (9th year) | 189-75 | (71.6%) | |
| at UK (3rd year) | 65-13 | (83.3%) | |
| SEC Tournament (4 yrs.) | 10-2 | (83.3%) | |
| NCAA Tournament (6 yrs.) | 15-5 | (75.0%) | |
| vs. Maryland | 2-0 | ||
| vs. Arizona | 0-1 | ||
| vs. Notre Dame | 0-0 |
MARYLAND
Gary Williams (Maryland ’68)
| Overall (22nd year) | 401-246 | (62.0%) | |
| at Maryland (11th year) | 194-118 | (62.2%) | |
| vs. Kentucky | 0-2 |
ARIZONA
Lute Olson (Augsburg College ’58)
| Overall (27th year) | 589-212 | (73.5%) | |
| at Arizona (17th year) | 397-120 | (76.8%) | |
| vs. Kentucky | 2-1 |
NOTRE DAME
Matt Doherty (North Carolina ’84)
| Overall (1st year) | 2-0 | (100.0%) | |
| at Notre Dame | same | ||
| vs. Kentucky | 0-0 |
NR ~ #22 Maryland Terrapins (2-0)
vs.
#14 ~ #10 Kentucky Wildcats (2-0)
Preseason NIT – Semifinals Nov. 24, 1999 – 8:34 p.m. EST Madison Square Garden (18,000) – New York
UK Radio Network — 7 p.m. ET
Ralph Hacker, Sam Bowie, Dave Baker
ESPN
John Saunders, Dick Vitale
To follow the Wildcats in cyberspace, log onto www.ukathletics.com. Live stats, notes and information on this year’s team is available.
Probable Starters
KENTUCKY
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Ppg | Rpg | Hometown | |
| 21 | G/F | 6-9 | 215 | So. | 10.0 | 7.5 | Compton, Calif. | ||
| 40 | Jules Camara | F | 6-11 | 223 | So. | 8.5 | 5.0 | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 42 | Jamaal Magloire | C | 6-10 | 260 | Sr. | 13.0 | 5.5 | Toronto, Ontario | |
| 11 | G | 6-2 | 175 | Jr. | 7.5 | *3.0 | Athens, Ga. | ||
| 32 | G/F | 6-5 | 214 | So. | 8.0 | 4.5 | Tampa, Fla. |
Key Cats Off The Bench
| 3 | G | 6-2 | 181 | So. | 3.0 | 1.5 | Edmonton, Ky. | ||
| 24 | F/C | 6-10 | 256 | Fr. | 8.5 | 5.5 | Huntsville, Ala. | ||
| 12 | G | 6-2 | 183 | So. | 1.0 | 0.5 | Paintsville, Ky. | ||
| 10 | G | 6-5 | 2-5 | Fr. | 1.0 | 1.0 | Hyattsville, Md. |
MARYLAND
| 44 | Terence Morris | F | 6-9 | 205 | Jr. | 18.0 | 7.0 | Frederick, Md. | |
| 35 | Lonny Baxter | F | 6-8 | 225 | So. | 14.5 | 8.5 | Silver Spring, Md. | |
| 15 | Danny Miller | F | 6-8 | 205 | So. | 5.0 | 1.5 | Mt. Holly, N.J. | |
| 25 | Steven Blake | G | 6-3 | 170 | Fr. | 6.0 | *8.5 | Miami, Fla. | |
| 3 | Juan Dixon | G | 6-3 | 152 | So. | 22.5 | 5.0 | Baltimore, Md. |
* Assists per game
Preseason NIT Final Four*
Nov. 24
Notre Dame vs. Arizona6 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Maryland vs. Kentucky8:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Nov. 25
ThanksgivingAll Day
Nov. 26
Semifinal Losers6 p.m. EST
Semifinal Winners9 p.m. EST (ESPN)
*A complete bracket is included in these notes.
Last Meeting
#5 Kentucky 103 – #2 Maryland 91
Dec. 12, 1998 – Lexington, Ky.
Rupp Arena – Att: 24,321
The Wildcats used a stifling defense and a ferocious offense to race past the second-ranked Terrapins, 103-91.
The two teams battled early before UK used a 14-6 spurt en route to a 54-41 halftime lead. Heshimu Evans scored 18 of his career-high 31 points in the first half as Kentucky dominated both ends of the floor. UK pulled ahead by as many as 17 before the Terrapins rallied back to trail by only four points with 38 seconds left to play, but the Cats were 14-of-16 from the foul line down the stretch to seal the victory.
Scott Padgett poured in a career-high 25 points and 13 rebounds. The three UK seniors ? Evans, Padgett and Wayne Turner ? totaled 73 points, 22 rebounds and 14 assists as the Wildcats notched their fifh straight win and their 11th straight over a ranked opponent. The loss was Maryland’s first of the year, snapping the Puerto Rico Shootout champs’ 13-game regular-season win streak.
| Maryland | FG | 3FG | FT | R | F | A | TO | B | S | TP |
| Laron Profit | 4-10 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Terrell Stokes | 2-5 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Steve Francis | 9-20 | 2-4 | 5-8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 25 |
| Terence Morris | 10-18 | 1-3 | 5-5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 26 |
| Obinna Ekezie | 7-16 | 0-0 | 5-7 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 |
| Juan Dixon | 1-5 | 0-2 | 5-5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Mike Mardesich | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Miller | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lonny Baxter | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Norman Fields | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | 1 | |||||||||
| Totals | 33-78 | 5-14 | 20-25 | 35 | 28 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 91 |
| Kentucky | FG | 3FG | FT | R | F | A | TO | B | S | TP |
| Heshimu Evans | 8-17 | 4-8 | 11-14 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
| Scott Padgett | 8-11 | 4-4 | 5-5 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| Michael Bradley | 1-2 | 0-0 | 3-6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Wayne Turner | 4-9 | 0-1 | 9-12 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| Tayshaun Prince | 6-13 | 1-5 | 0-1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Jamaal Magloire | 3-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Saul Smith | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jules Camara | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Ryan Hogan | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Desmond Allison | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Team | 3 | 1 | ||||||||
| Totals | 32-59 | 9-18 | 30-41 | 43 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 9 | 6 | 103 |
Halftime: UK 54, MD 41
FG%: UK 54.2, MD 42.3
3FG%: UK 50.0, MD 35.7
FT%: UK 73.2, MD 80.0
Officials: Clougherty, Wood, Hess
Techs: None.
Preseason Tournaments
This is the fourth straight year Kentucky has played in a preseason tournament during November. In 1996, UK won the Great Alaska Shootout and in 1997, the Cats finished third in the Maui Invitational. Last season, UK also finished third in the Puerto Rico Shootout.
Rupp Arena
The Kentucky Wildcats, in their 24th season of basketball at Rupp Arena, is 305-35 (89.7%) in the facility.
UK has recorded seven perfect home seasons and four years with only one defeat since Rupp Arena opened in 1976-77. The Big Blue earned its 300th victory in the 23,000-seat gymnasium on Jan. 30, 1999, an 86-62 win over LSU. Kentucky was 12-1 in the facility last year.
Season Openers
After its win over Penn last week, Kentucky has now won 10 of its last 11 season openers. UK’s one defeat came at the hands of Clemson, a 79-71 overtime loss in the BCA Classic double-header at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis on Nov. 15, 1996.
UK has not lost a home opener since Northwestern State upset the Cats in 1988-89, a streak of 11 consecutive victories.
Home In November
Since 1980, Kentucky has only lost two home games in November, establishing a mark of 18-1 during the past two decades including its victories over Penn and Utah last week. The only defeat? To Pittsburgh in the second round of the Preseason NIT in Nov. 1991.
Overall in November, UK is 44-8 all-time, including a 28-1 mark at home, a 3-0 record on the road and a 13-7 slate at neutral sites.
The NBA Connection
Kentucky led all Southeastern Conference teams with 10 Wildcats on 1999-2000 opening day NBA rosters. No other SEC team had more than six former players in the league. For UK, the Cats had Derek Anderson (Clippers), Tony Delk (Kings), Rex Chapman (Suns), Jamal Mashburn (Heat), Ron Mercer (Nuggets), Nazr Mohammed (76ers), Walter McCarty, Antoine Walker and Wayne Turner (Celtics) and Scott Padgett (Jazz). Turner has since been waived.
Cats Short on Experience, Long on Talent
Seven of the 11 Wildcats on the ’99-2000 roster are freshmen or sophomores. UK lost its top four scorers, its top three rebounders and its top three assists men. The Cats’ leading returning scorer and rebounder is senior Jamaal Magloire, who averaged 7.0 ppg and 4.4 rpg, while the leading returning assist man is Saul Smith, who averaged 1.6 apg last season. The only returning starter is Desmond Allison.
Returning production includes:
| Points: | 35.8% | |
| Rebounds: | 38.9% | |
| Assists: | 33.1 % | |
| Blocks | 63.8% | |
| Steals: | 37.8% |
Latest Rankings
Kentucky is ranked 10th in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 this week, moving back into the top 10 after a preseason ranking at No. 12. The Wildcats were ranked 14th in the latest AP poll (Nov. 15), where it began in the preseason rankings. It marked the first time since the 1990-91 season the Wildcats began the season outside the AP top 10. UK has only spent five weeks outside the AP top 10 since late in the ’92 season, including one week during the ’94 season and two weeks last season.
The Cats finished the 1999 season ranked eighth in the final AP poll and fifth in the Coaches rankings. It was the Wildcats’ 34th finish in the AP top 10, a national record. Overall, UK has appeared in the AP top 10 in 126 of the last 130 weeks, dating back to March 2, 1992. UK has appeared in the AP poll 609 times out of a possible 798 weeks since the poll began in 1948-49. The Wildcats have spent 87 weeks at No. 1 and have appeared at the top of the final regular-season polls on seven occasions.
The top-10 finish in the Coaches poll last season was UK’s 30th top-10 finish, the most by any team.
Consecutive Threes
The Cats have hit three-pointers in 376 consecutive games. The last time UK was held without a three-point field goal was Nov. 26, 1988, a “three-point” loss to Seton Hall in the Great Alaska Shootout (63-60). UK’s current streak ranks fourth nationally. UNLV, Vanderbilt and Princeton have had a three-pointer in every game since the rule was implemented in 1986-87.
Magloire Earns Preseason All-SEC Honor
In early November, media members at the Southeastern Conference Media Days in Birmingham picked the Wildcats to finish second in the Eastern Division behind Florida and selected Jamaal Magloire to the preseason All-SEC team. Auburn, which returns Chris Porter and Doc Robinson from last year’s Sweet 16 team, was chosen to win the regular-season crown.
SEC Media Day Predictions
| Champion | Votes |
| Auburn | 29 |
| Florida | 10 |
| Kentucky | 5 |
| Eastern Division | Western Division | ||
| Florida (30) | 227 | Auburn (40) | 240 |
| Kentucky (3) | 188 | Arkansas | 177 |
| Tennessee (7) | 181 | Alabama | 142 |
| Vanderbilt | 100 | Miss. State | 121 |
| Georgia | 85 | LSU | 67 |
| South Carolina | 56 | Ole Miss | 58 |
All-SEC
| G – Tony Harris, Tennessee | 27 |
| G – Doc Robinson, Auburn | 41 |
| F – Chris Porter, Auburn | 49 |
| F – Mike Miller, Florida | 37 |
| C – Jamaal Magloire, Kentucky | 17 |
SEC Player of the Year
| Chris Porter, Auburn | 45 |
| Doc Robinson, Auburn | 1 |
| Mike Miller, Florida | 1 |
Exhibition Games
In UK’s first exhibition game of the season on Nov. 2, the Wildcats edged the California All-Stars, 73-66, after leading by 15 points inside the final five minutes.
Tayshaun Prince led Kentucky in scoring, finishing with 19 points and five rebounds. Jamaal Magloire tallied 17 points and 13 rebounds, and led UK in blocked shots with six. His mark would have tied his career high had the game not been an exhibition. The Wildcats also would have broken the school record for blocks in a game with 18.
The All-Stars were led by Mark Sanford’s 23 points and 14 rebounds. Sanford was a college star at Washington, who had joined the squad after participating with the Sacramento Kings during the NBA preseason. Last week, he led the All-Stars to a wins over Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech.
UK held the athletic All-Stars to 32.8 percent shooting and forced the group into 25 turnovers. But the young Cats were outrebounded 50-47 and committed 23 turnovers.
Nine days later, UK ousted Athletes in Action, 98-77, putting together a 55-point second half to roll to victory. Prince again led the Cats in scoring with 22 points. He also had five assists and committed his first turnover in the two exhibition games. Magloire added 17 points and eight rebounds while Saul Smith and Keith Bogans both added 11. After a first half that ended in a tie, 43-43, Smith sparked UK’s second stanza, canning two of his three three-pointers early in the half.
UK shot 56.9 percent from the field, including 43.5 percent from three-point range against AIA.
Rule Changes
Timeout format for radio/TV games — five 30-second timeouts for the game. The first called by either team will be 75 seconds. Four timeouts can be carried over to the 2nd half. In overtime, an additional timeout will be granted. TV timeouts will continue to occur after the 16-, 12-, 8- and 4-minute marks.
The “held-ball rule” was rescinded after one season. Now, all held balls will be awarded according to the possession arrow.
Uniform numbers “1” and “2” are now legal.
A three-foot coaching line will extend onto the floor to enable the officials to clearly monitor the coach’s box.
After a double foul, the team in possession of the ball at that time shall have the opportunity to put the ball in play from a spot nearest to where the foul occurred. Previously, the possession arrow was used.
Administrative technical fouls now include artificial noisemakers during a live ball and the use of a laser pointers by a fan at any time.
Points of emphasis: calling the intentional foul, particularly in the closing minutes, rough, low-post play, rough play away from the ball, palming and the coaching box.
Team of the Decade
Kentucky staked its claim for the title of “Team of the Decade” during the 1990s. Only two NCAA Division I schools can claim two national titles during the last 10 years, UK and Duke.
| NCAA Championships | 2 | |
| Final Four Appearances | 4 | |
| NCAA Runner-up | 1 | |
| NCAA Tourney Record (App.) | 31-6 (8) | |
| NCAA Tourney Winning % | 83.8% | |
| Decade Wins (Pct.) | 282 (81.7%) | |
| 30-Win Seasons | 4 | |
| Losing Seasons | 0 | |
| AP Top-10 Finishes | 9 | |
| All-Americans | 3 | |
| NBA Draft Picks (1st Rd.) | 10 (8) | |
| SEC Championships | 3 | |
| SEC Tournament Titles | 7 |
News from the Summer Drought
The ’99-2000 schedule includes 17 teams that played in the 1999 NCAA Tournament, including Final-Four qualifier Michigan State. There will be 14 home dates during the regular season since Kentucky advanced in the Preseason NIT. The Cats could appear on national TV 18 times, including 12 times on ESPN or espn2 and five games on CBS. SEC games televised on “Super Tuesdays” by ESPN will begin at 9 p.m. instead of 9:30 p.m.
Tubby Smith spent nearly all of July as an assistant coach for the 1999 USA Senior National Team. After winning the Tournament of the Americas in Puerto Rico, the squad qualified for the 2000 Olympics next September in Sydney, Australia. Smith will continue to serve on that staff as well, coaching such NBA greats as Tim Hardaway, Kevin Garnett, Steve Smith and Gary Peyton.
Point guard Saul Smith competed for the SEC All-Stars, which toured Japan in August. Smith helped the team to a 4-1 record against the Japan National Team.
Steve Masiello was awarded a scholarship for his senior season. The former walk-on from White Plains, N.Y. has been a member of UK’s ’97 NCAA runner-up squad, its ’98 NCAA Championship team and the Elite-Eight qualifier last season.
Jamaal Magloire declared his intentions for the NBA Draft in May, but withdrew one week before the event and decided to return to UK for his senior season.
Scott Padgett became the seventh Wildcat in the last four years to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft when he was taken 28th by the Utah Jazz. Padgett was one of 11 Wildcats on NBA rosters as of opening day. In addition, seven other Cats are playing professionally, including Heshimu Evans, who is participating in a French league this winter. (See pages 154-157 of the 2000 UK Media Guide.)
Fall Signees
Cliff Hawkins, a 6-1, 180-pound guard at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., and Michael Southall, a 6-10, 225-pound forward/center from West Salem, Wis., have both signed national letters-of-intent during the fall signing period to play their college basketball at the University of Kentucky.
Hawkins, a native of Dumfries, Va., helped the Warriors to a perfect 32-0 record last season and a final No. 1 ranking by USA Today, ESPN and The Associated Press, earning the crown of national champions.
“Cliff is a tough and tenacious defender who’s been an important part of a championship program,” Coach Smith said. “He understands what teamwork is all about and works to make others better. He’s not interested in padding his own stats, which was one of the first things that attracted us to him. He’s a point guard that knows how to push the ball up the court and he’s been well-schooled in the game, thanks to Coach Steve Smith at Oak Hill.”
As a junior, Hawkins averaged 11.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game last season while starting every contest. The southpaw, who his coach called the “best on-the-ball defender he’s ever coached,” also led the team in steals, averaging 3.9 per game. He shot 50.0 percent from the field, 62.5 percent from the foul line and 30.0 percent from three-point range during the ’99 season.
Hawkins played his sophomore season at Potomac High School, leading the squad to a state runner-up finish. In the state semifinals, he held Ronald Curry, the 1998 National Player of the Year, to six points, while tallying 31 in the winning effort. He earned first-team Class AAA All-State honors before transferring to Oak Hill.
Hawkins, who chose UK over New Mexico, played on the 1998 DC Team Assault summer AAU squad with current Wildcat Keith Bogans.
Southall, who plays at West Salem High School, was the Coulee Conference and Region Player of the Year last season, averaging 20.7 points and 13.0 rebounds per game. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and earned third team All-State honors from the Lacrosse Tribune after leading his squad to a 14-8 record. He shot 65.0 percent from the field, 66.0 percent from the foul line and recorded 146 blocked shots (6.7 bpg) last season.
“Michael is a player that exemplifies the student-athlete we want in our program,” Coach Smith said. “He has set high goals and ambitions and has a great work ethic. With the loss of Jamaal Magloire to graduation next season, he’ll make an immediate impact. He’s a player that possesses excellent hands and agility and will obviously keep a shot-blocking presence on our front line.”
Southall also was named team MVP during his sophomore year, averaging 13.7 points and 12.0 rebounds a game while leading West Salem to the sectional final.
He chose UK over Utah, Georgia Tech, Michigan and Ohio State.
The fall signing period ended Nov. 17.
Smith’s Overtime Success
With an exciting 92-88 victory over Kansas in the second round of the 1999 NCAA tourney, the Wildcats won all three overtime games last season. UK also defeated host Georgia, 91-83, and Indiana, 70-61.
The Cats are 5-0 in overtime games since Tubby Smith took over as coach. In ’98, the Wildcats earned overtime victories over Arkansas, 80-77, and Stanford, 86-85. The Cats had lost seven of their last eight overtime games prior to the five-game win streak.
Overall, UK is 42-33 in overtime games, dating back to Feb. 12, 1907.
Smith is 13-3 in overtime games during his eight-year coaching career. He’s 5-0 at UK, 2-1 at Georgia and 6-2 at Tulsa, which includes a 2-1 mark in double overtime. His one overtime loss at Georgia was an 83-81 defeat to Syracuse in the 1996 NCAA Tournament and one of his OT defeats at Tulsa came at the hands of top-ranked Arkansas in 1994.
UPDATED PLAYER BIOS
DESMOND ALLISON
His baseline jumper with 1:07 remaining gave UK a four-point lead over Utah… Recorded a career high in rebounds against Penn with seven while also tying his mark for steals in a game with four.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 12 | Arkansas | 2/20/99 |
| FG Made | 4 | Six times | |
| FG Atts | 8 | Three times | |
| 3FG Made | 2 | Five times | |
| 3FG Atts | 4 | Three times | |
| FT Made | 5 | Arkansas | 2/20/99 |
| FT Atts | 6 | Arkansas | 2/20/99 |
| Rebounds | 5 | Four times | |
| Assists | 6 | Arkansas | 2/20/99 |
| Turnovers | 3 | Wright State | 11/23/98 |
| Blocks | 2 | N. Mexico St. | 3/12/99 |
| Steals | 4 | Georgia | 1/26/99 |
| Minutes | 32 | Arkansas | 2/20/99 |
J.P. BLEVINS
With a career-long 13 minutes vs. Penn, set new career highs in FGM (2), FGA (4), 3FGM (2), 3FGA (3), and points (6) and he tied his career best with two rebounds.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 6 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| FG Made | 2 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| FG Atts | 4 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| 3FG Made | 2 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| 3FG Atts | 3 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| FT Made | 0 | ||
| FT Atts | 1 | Vanderbilt | 2/24/99 |
| Rebounds | 2 | Twice | |
| Assists | 1 | Three times | |
| Turnovers | 2 | Twice | |
| Blocks | 0 | ||
| Steals | 1 | EKU | 11/17/98 |
| Minutes | 12 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
KEITH BOGANS
Saw first collegiate action against Penn… Scored his first collegiate points vs. Utah.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 2 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| FG Made | 1 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| FG Atts | 6 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| 3FG Made | 0 | ||
| 3FG Atts | 4 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| FT Made | 0 | ||
| FT Atts | 0 | ||
| Rebounds | 1 | Twice | |
| Assists | 0 | ||
| Turnovers | 0 | ||
| Blocks | 0 | ||
| Steals | 2 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| Minutes | 20 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
JULES CAMARA
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 15 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| FG Made | 7 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| FG Atts | 10 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| 3FG Made | 1 | Three times | |
| 3FG Atts | 5 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| FT Made | 2 | Six times | |
| FT Atts | 4 | Twice | |
| Rebounds | 11 | EKU | 11/17/98 |
| Assists | 2 | Twice | |
| Turnovers | 3 | Three times | |
| Blocks | 4 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| Steals | 4 | Tennessee State | 12/29/98 |
| Minutes | 23 | EKU | 11/17/98 |
NATE KNIGHT
Scored his first points as a Wildcat against his home-state school Utah.
UK Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 1 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| FG Made | 3 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| FG Atts | 1 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| 3FG Made | 0 | ||
| 3FG Atts | 0 | ||
| FT Made | 0 | ||
| FT Atts | 1 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| Rebounds | 2 | Twice | |
| Assists | 0 | ||
| Turnovers | 0 | ||
| Blocks | 0 | ||
| Steals | 0 | ||
| Minutes | 9 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
JAMAAL MAGLOIRE
Tied Sam Bowie for second on UK’s all-time blocked shot list after tallying seven in the first two games… His 218 are eight shy of the school record held by Melvin Turpin (226)… Leading the team in scoring through the first two games (13.0 ppg).
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 18 | Missouri | 11/26/97 |
| FG Made | 7 | Twice | |
| FG Atts | 13 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| 3FG Made | 0 | ||
| 3FG Atts | 0 | ||
| FT Made | 6 | Syracuse | 11/28/96 |
| FT Atts | 8 | Twice | |
| Rebounds | 17 | Missouri | 11/26/97 |
| Assists | 3 | Auburn | 2/25/98 |
| Turnovers | 5 | Tennessee | 1/24/98 |
| Blocks | 6 | Five times | |
| Steals | 3 | Twice | |
| Minutes | 34 | Tennessee | 1/12/99 |
STEVE MASIELLO
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 6 | South Carolina | 3/8/98 |
| FG Made | 2 | South Carolina | 3/8/98 |
| FG Atts | 4 | Canisius | 1/9/97 |
| 3FG Made | 1 | Four times | |
| 3FG Atts | 2 | Three times | |
| FT Made | 3 | Indiana | 12/7/96 |
| FT Atts | 4 | Indiana | 12/7/96 |
| Rebounds | 2 | Five times | |
| Assists | 2 | Three times | |
| Turnovers | 2 | Canisius | 12/10/97 |
| Blocks | 1 | Auburn | 3/7/97 |
| Steals | 1 | Five times | |
| Minutes | 9 | Wright State | 11/23/98 |
TAYSHAUN PRINCE
Second on the team in scoring (10.0 ppg) and first in rebounding (7.5 rpg)… In the opener against Penn, tied his career high for rebounds with eight.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | |||
| Points | 15 | Colorado | 11/26/98 | |
| FG Made | 7 | Colorado | 11/26/98 | |
| FG Atts | 13 | Maryland | 12/12/98 | |
| 3FG Made | 3 | UCLA | 11/28/98 | |
| 3FG Atts | 6 | Twice | ||
| FT Made | 6 | Georgia | 2/17/99 | |
| FT Atts | 6 | Georgia | 2/17/99 | |
| Rebounds | 8 | Five times | ||
| Assists | 6 | Arkansas | 3/7/99 | |
| Turnovers | 3 | Twice | ||
| Blocks | 3 | Twice | ||
| Steals | 4 | Florida | 1/2/99 | |
| Minutes | 33 | Maryland | 12/12/98 |
SAUL SMITH
His steal and contested jumper with 1:58 to play against Utah gave the Cats a convincing four-point lead… Tied his career high for steals with four against the Utes… Made his first career start at point guard vs. Penn.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 17 | Ole Miss | 1/16/99 |
| FG Made | 5 | Ole Miss | 1/16/99 |
| FG Atts | 10 | Ole Miss | 1/16/99 |
| 3FG Made | 3 | Twice | |
| 3FG Atts | 7 | Twice | |
| FT Made | 5 | Ole Miss | 1/16/99 |
| FT Atts | 6 | Colorado | 11/26/98 |
| Rebounds | 6 | Kansas | 12/1/98 |
| Assists | 5 | Three times | |
| Turnovers | 6 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| Blocks | 1 | Three times | |
| Steals | 4 | Twice | |
| Minutes | 34 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
MARVIN STONE
Scored 12 points in his collegiate debut vs. Penn, shooting 4-of-6 from the field… Earned Player of the Game honors… Also added six points, three assists, a block and no turnovers.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | |||
| Points | 12 | Penn | 11/17/99 | |
| FG Made | 4 | Penn | 11/17/99 | |
| FG Atts | 6 | Twice | ||
| 3FG Made | 0 | |||
| 3FG Atts | 0 | |||
| FT Made | 4 | Penn | 11/17/99 | |
| FT Atts | 6 | Penn | 11/17/99 | |
| Rebounds | 6 | Penn | 11/17/99 | |
| Assists | 3 | Penn | 11/17/99 | |
| Turnovers | 0 | |||
| Blocks | 1 | |||
| Steals | 0 | |||
| Minutes | 20 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
TODD TACKETT
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 3 | Four times | |
| FG Made | 1 | Four times | |
| FG Atts | 6 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| 3FG Made | 1 | Twice | |
| 3FG Atts | 2 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| FT Made | 1 | Twice | |
| FT Atts | 2 | Twice, | |
| Rebounds | 6 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| Assists | 1 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| Turnovers | 2 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| Blocks | 0 | ||
| Steals | 1 | LSU | 1/30/99 |
| Minutes | 12 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
