Jan. 4, 2000
LEXINGTON, Kty. – The Kentucky Wildcats, winners of their last four games, open the 21st century in Louisville against Georgia Tech. “America’s Team of the Century,” according to Lexington Herald-Leader’s Billy Reed and ESPN’s Dick Vitale, plays game No. 2,300 when UK takes the Freedom Hall floor in its annual trip to the Derby City. UK completed the 20th century with a 1,756-542-1 record, the winningest program in college basketball between Jan. 1, 1900 and Dec. 31, 1999. Now in its 97th season, the Wildcats are 8-4 overall after completing December with a convincing 70-53 victory over upstart Missouri at the Sugar Bowl Classic last Thursday.
In games played through Jan. 1, an RPI ranking rates UK third nationally behind Arizona and Cincinnati. The RPI also listed UK’s strength of schedule second overall behind Howard. Iowa has the third toughest schedule followed by Arizona. Kentucky’s 11 Div. I opponents have a combined 92-37 record, which includes UNC Asheville’s 1-11 start.
Game No. 13 of Kentucky’s 1999-2000 slate is the last game prior to the start of the Wildcats’ Southeastern Conference schedule. Visiting Vanderbilt tips off UK’s 67th season of SEC basketball on Saturday at Rupp Arena. The game has been moved (change made in September) to a 5 p.m. ET tip-off on Fox Sports Net South.
When the Cats and Jackets face off, it will mark Coach Tubby Smith’s 275th game as a head coach. Smith is 195-79 (71.2%) in his nine years coaching Division I basketball.
UK will have one non-conference game remaining on its schedule. The Wildcats visit Miami (Fla.) on Jan. 29. Kentucky has survived a rugged pre-conference schedule that included six Top-25 opponents in a nine-game stretch and eight of their first 10 games against 1999 NCAA Tournament teams. UK is 3-3 against ranked opponents.
After a three-week absence, Kentucky reappeared in the AP poll at No. 25 this week. Last week, UK jumped back into the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll where it ranks No. 24 this week. Georgia Tech is unranked in both polls.
Kentucky is ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 56.8 ppg. The Wildcats held Alaska-Anchorage to a season-low 42 points, the fifth opponent to score 50 points or less against UK this season.
CATS ON THE AIR
>UK Radio Network — 5:30 p.m. ET
Ralph Hacker, Sam Bowie, Dave Baker
ESPN
Brad Nessler, Dick Vitale
Westwood One Radio Network — Nationwide
Tony Roberts, Kevin Grevey
To follow the Wildcats in cyberspace, log onto www.ukathletics.com. Live stats, notes andinformation 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. | 13.8 | 6.1 | Compton, Calif. | ||
| 32 | G/F | 6-5 | 214 | So. | 6.2 | 2.8 | Tampa, Fla. | ||
| 42 | C | 6-10 | 260 | Sr. | 11.9 | 8.1 | Toronto, Ontario | ||
| 11 | G | 6-2 | 175 | Jr. | 7.4 | *3.0 | Athens, Ga. | ||
| 10 | G | 6-5 | 2-5 | Fr. | 8.8 | 2.6 | Alexandria, Va. |
Key Cats Off The Bench
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Ppg | Rpg | Hometown | |
| 3 | G | 6-2 | 181 | So. | 4.1 | *1.0 | Edmonton, Ky. | ||
| 40 | Jules Camara | F | 6-11 | 223 | So. | 6.7 | 3.7 | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 24 | F/C | 6-10 | 256 | Fr. | 5.6 | 5.5 | Huntsville, Ala. |
GEORGIA TECH
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Ppg | Rpg | Hometown | |
| 52 | Jason Collier | F | 7-0 | 260 | Sr. | 18.8 | 9.5 | Springfield, Ohio | |
| 34 | Jason Floyd | F | 6-6 | 205 | Sr. | 11.0 | 3.7 | Hampton, Ga. | |
| 4 | Alvin Jones | C | 6-11 | 265 | Jr. | 12.5 | 8.4 | Lakeland, Fla. | |
| 3 | Tony Akins | G | 5-11 | 182 | So. | 12.5 | *4.7 | Lilburn, Ga. | |
| 11 | Shaun Fein | G | 6-3 | 205 | Jr. | 11.5 | *3.9 | Centerville, Mass. |
* Assists per game
Team Comparisons
| UK | GT | |
| Record | 8-4 | 7-4 |
| Scoring Off. | 66.3 | 80.2 |
| Scoring Def. | 56.8 | 73.8 |
| Scoring Margin | +9.5 | +6.4 |
| FG % | 41.9 | 43.7 |
| Def. FG % | 38.2 | 42.8 |
| 3FG % | 27.3 | 35.6 |
| Def. 3FG % | 31.2 | 38.2 |
| FT Pct. | 70.2 | 71.9 |
| Reb. Avg. | 38.8 | 41.9 |
| Opp. Reb. Avg. | 33.4 | 34.5 |
| Rebound Margin | +5.4 | +7.4 |
| TO Avg. | 16.3 | 16.8 |
| Opp. TO | 17.3 | 14.8 |
| TO Margin | +1.0 | -2.0 |
| Blocks Avg. | 6.5 | 5.8 |
| Steals Avg. | 7.7 | 7.0 |
Coaching Comparisons
Orlando “Tubby” Smith (High Point ’73)
| Overall (9th year) | 195-79 | (71.2%) | |
| at UK (3rd year) | 71-17 | (80.7%) | |
| SEC Tournament (4 yrs.) | 10-2 | (83.3%) | |
| NCAA Tournament (6 yrs.) | 15-5 | (75.0%) | |
| vs. Georgia Tech | 3-1 |
Bobby Cremins (South Carolina ’70)
| Overall (25th year) | 448-294 | (60.4%) | |
| at Ga. Tech (19th year) | 348-224 | (60.8%) | |
| vs. Kentucky | 1-5 |
The Skinny on Tech
It’s been a season of streaks for Georgia Tech. The Ramblin’ Wreck began the season with three wins, advancing to the championship game of the Great Alaska Shootout before losing to Kansas. Losses to Michigan, Georgia (on a controversial tip-in allowed at the buzzer) and Stanford (in overtime) followed. Since then, Tech has beaten Kyle Macy’s Morehead State squad by six, Wofford, UNC Greensboro and Lafayette.
Jason Collier, the Indiana transfer, now in his second season at Tech, leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 18.8 ppg and 9.5 rpg. All five starters average double-figures in scoring and guards Tony Akins and Shaun Fein combine to average 8.6 apg. The Yellow Jackets also possess one of the most potent shot blockers in college basketball — Alvin Jones — who averages 2.9 bpg.
The teams have not played a common opponent.
Series Facts
Overall Record: UK leads 55-14
In Louisville: UK leads 5-0
In Lexington: UK leads 31-4
In Atlanta: UK leads 16-10
At Neutral Sites: UK leads 8-0
Kentucky has won the last five meetings between the two teams and seven of the last eight. In the ’90s, the teams played six times, and Tech won the first meeting, Dec. 21, 1991, 81-80 in the Omni. Last season, UK clamped down defensively, holding Georgia Tech to 24.2 percent shooting in the Georgia Dome en route to an 80-39 victory. UK outscored GT from the start, 25-2. Tech’s 39 points was the lowest point total by a UK opponent all season.
The series began in 1924 with a 33-27 UK victory in Lexington. Tech was a charter member of the SEC for 32 years, withdrawing after the 1964 season. The Jackets won 49.3 percent of their league games and the 1938 SEC Championship.
Coach Tubby Smith is 3-1 against Georgia Tech while Bobby Cremins is 1-5 against Kentucky. At Georgia, Smith split the two games with the Bulldogs’ archrival, winning 94-70 in ’95-96 and losing 62-61 the following season.
Kentucky vs. ACC
The Wildcats are 1-1 against Atlantic Coast Conference teams this season. Both games were against Maryland. Overall, UK is 110-50 against ACC teams.
Magloire Named SEC Player of the Week
University of Kentucky center Jamaal Magloire was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week after leading the Wildcats to wins over Louisville, then-No. 5-ranked Michigan State, Alaska-Anchorage and Missouri, it was announced Monday by the league office.
Magloire averaged 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game over the holidays, tallying four double-doubles in the last five games and becoming the first Wildcat since 1990 to string together three double-doubles in a row. The Toronto native had 12 points and 10 rebounds vs. U of L, 18 points and 11 boards against Michigan State, 10 points and three rebounds vs. Alaska-Anchorage and a career-high 21 points and 13 rebounds against Missouri. He shot 52.5 percent from the field and 86.4 percent from the foul line while becoming the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots.
For the season, the 6-10, 260-pounder is second on the team in scoring (11.9 ppg), first in rebounding (8.1 rpg) and blocked shots (2.0 bpg).
It’s Magloire’s first SEC Player of the Week honor and UK’s first since Wayne Turner and Heshimu Evans won back-to-back awards in December ’98.
Tickets Available
Nearly 2,000 tickets remain for the UK-Georgia Tech game at Freedom Hall in Louisville. Seats are $20 each and can be purchased at the Freedom Hall box office or the UK ticket office in Memorial Coliseum. Tickets also can be charged by phone by calling 800-928-CATS or 502-367-5144.
Home-Sweet-Louisville
UK has built an impressive record playing in Louisville. The Wildcats have won an NCAA title (1958), nine SEC Tournament titles, and have beat some of the top teams in the nation there.
The Cats began playing in the Derby City in 1908, when the Cats lost to Louisville Coliseum, 30-18. Most of the early games were played in the Armory downtown before Freedom Hall opened in 1957. The Cats then christened the new facility by capturing the 1958 NCAA Championship with victories over Temple and Elgin Baylor-led Seattle. The spacious arena has played host to Kentucky teams every year since.
In Louisville, UK is 108-29, beating Georgia Tech there in all five meetings at the Armory. In Freedom Hall, UK is 45-15 all-time. This will be UK and Georgia Tech’s first meeting in Freedom Hall.
The Cats appeared in Freedom Hall twice last season, beating Indiana, 70-61 in overtime, before losing to host Louisville, 83-74.
More than 30,000 UK alumni live in the Louisville area. The state’s largest city is just 71 miles west of Lexington on I-64.
Cats in the ’90s
While Kentucky completed the decade with 282 wins (NCAA recognizes 1989-90 thru 1998-99), the Wildcats were 285-62 (82.1%) between Jan. 1, 1990 and Dec. 31, 1999.
The Blevins Factor
J.P. Blevins received his first starting assignment last week against Missouri and promptly tallied a career-high 13 points and three assists in 31 minutes as UK won, 70-53.
In the last three games, the sophomore guard has averaged 24.3 minutes per game and 9.7 ppg. His chief weapon? The three-point shot, where he’s hit six of his last 11 attempts.
He’s the team’s top threat from outside the arc, hitting 35.7 percent this season.
Cats at the Line
Kentucky is shooting 70.2 percent from the foul line this season, the highest mark since a season-ending 71.3 percent accuracy in 1996. Jamaal Magloire has hit 25 of his last 30 (83.3%), and for the season, is averaging 6.4 attempts per game while converting 4.3 times per game.
Six Wildcats are shooting better than 70 percent from the stripe led by Saul Smith’s 87.0 percent. For the season, Magloire is shooting 66.2 percent from the line.
Power Rankings
The Wildcats are ranked 14th this week in the Jeff Sagarin Power Rankings and 3rd by an independent RPI ratings service. Both rankings list UK’s schedule among the nation’s top 10, with Sagarin pegging the Wildcats with the fifth toughest schedule and RPI listing UK at No. 2 nationally.
According to Sagarin’s poll, UK has played six teams in its top 30. No other team in America has played more than five — Cincinnati, Michigan State and Wisc.-Milwaukee.
Y2K Trends
No team has come back to win against Kentucky when the Cats entered the final five minutes of the contest with the lead, a mark that has occurred eight times in the 12 games. In addition, UK is 7-1 when leading at halftime.
The only glitch has been offensively, where UK has shot better than 50 percent >from the field only once — 59.6% vs. Louisville.
Three Straight Doubles
Jamaal Magloire’s three consecutive double-doubles in December was a rarity. Not since Reggie Hanson accomplished the feat 10 years ago has another Wildcat had at least three straight in a season. Hanson had 24 points and 14 rebounds vs. Ohio, 13 and 11 vs. Indiana, 19 and 10 against Mississippi State and 18 and 10 against Tennessee Tech to start the 1989-90 season, reeling off four consecutive double-doubles.
Magloire followed up with a 21-point, 13-rebound performance vs. Missouri in the Sugar Bowl Classic to run his streak of double-doubles to four of the last five games.
“Show Me” Magloire
Jamaal Magloire said after UK beat Missouri last week, “Maybe they should join the SEC.” And why not? The senior had just tallied a career-high 21 points and 13 rebounds in UK’s 17-point victory. Two years ago, at the start of his sophomore season, Magloire tallied a then career-high 18 points and 17 rebounds against the Tigers in Maui. His two-game Missouri totals: 19.5 ppg and 9.3 rpg.
UK vs. Top 25
Kentucky is 3-3 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 this season. UK has wins over No. 16 Utah, No. 24 Maryland in the Preseason NIT, and No. 5 Michigan State. The Cats have lost to No. 8 Arizona, No. 23 Indiana and at No. 21 Maryland (Dec. 11). AP rankings were current at the time of the game.
While Kentucky has played six teams ranked in the Top 25 prior to its conference slate, all the other Southeastern Conference teams combined to play eight. Auburn lost to No. 2 Stanford, Florida lost to No. 24 Purdue in Maui, Georgia fell to No. 8 Kansas and beat No. 25 Wake Forest, and South Carolina has lost to both No. 5 Michigan State and No. 19 DePaul. Arkansas lost to No. 23 Wake Forest and Mississippi State played No. 1 Stanford. Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt did not face a ranked opponent prior to the league schedule. In the eight games the SEC teams have played against ranked opponents, they have a combined record of 1-7.
Back in the Top 25
With an 8-4 record against some of the nation’s top competition, the Wildcats reappeared in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after a three-week absence. On Dec. 13, UK was out of the AP poll for the first time since Dec. 4, 1990. The streak ended at 164 consecutive weeks in the rankings, the fifth-longest streak on record. UCLA owns the most consecutive weeks in the poll with 221 between 1966-80, followed by North Carolina’s 171 (1972-82), North Carolina’s current streak of 170 and Marquette’s mark of 166 weeks (1969-79).
The Wildcats, who bounced back into the Coaches’ poll last week after a two-week absence, currently rank 24th.
Lineup Changes
Three times this season Coach Tubby Smith has altered the starting lineup. Against Louisville, he inserted freshman Keith Bogans at shooting guard, moved Desmond Allison to small forward and Tayshaun Prince to power forward, and brought Jules Camara off the bench. The move earned wins over Louisville, No. 5 Michigan State and Alaska Anchorage.
Against Indiana on Dec. 4, Nate Knight earned the start at power forward and J.P. Blevins got his first start against Missouri. Both moves were in response to disciplinary measures.
Rupp Arena
The Kentucky Wildcats, in their 24th season of basketball at Rupp Arena, are 309-35 (89.8%) 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.
With a 6-0 record at Rupp this season, the Wildcats have won 12 straight games in the facility. Vanderbilt is UK’s next home opponent on Jan. 8.
With Kentucky’s win over Alaska-Anchorage last week, the Cats finished the ’90s with a 54-2 record at home against non-conference opponents.
December Results
At home in December, the Wildcats are 271-37 all-time, a winning percentage of 88.0 percent. Overall — home, away and neutral — UK is 418-98 (81.0%).
Youthful Contributions
Sophomore Tayshaun Prince is the Wildcats’ leading scorer, averaging 13.8 ppg. If Prince finishes the season as the top scorer, he’ll become the fourth UK sophomore in the last decade to accomplish that feat, joining Jamal Mashburn, Tony Delk and Ron Mercer. He’s led UK in scoring in five games and twice tallied at least 20 points this season.
Freshman Keith Bogans is third on the team in scoring averaging 8.8 ppg. The 6-2 guard could become the first frosh since Jamal Mashburn to finish in the top three in scoring. Mashburn averaged 12.9 ppg during his first season in 1991, good for third on the team.
Consecutive Threes
The Cats have hit three-pointers in 385 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.
Double-Doubles
The following Wildcats have recorded double figure points and rebounds in the same game this season:
| Opponent | Date | Pts.-Rebs. |
| Maryland | 12/11/99 | 12-16 |
| Louisville | 12/18/99 | 12-10 |
| Michigan St. | 12/23/99 | 18-11 |
| Missouri | 12/30/99 | 21-13 |
(Career Total: 9)
| Opponent | Date | Pts.-Rebs. |
| UNC Asheville | 12/7/99 | 12-10 |
(Career Total: 1)
’99-2000 Trends
| 7-1 | When leading at halftime | |
| 0-0 | When tied at halftime | |
| 1-3 | When trailing at halftime | |
| 8-2 | When UK scores first | |
| 0-2 | When opponent scores first | |
| 8-0 | When leading with 5 minutes to play | |
| 0-3 | When trailing with 5 minutes to play | |
| 0-1 | When score tied with 5 minutes to play | |
| 8-0 | When leading with 2 minutes to play | |
| 0-4 | When trailing with 2 minutes to play | |
| 0-0 | When score tied with 2 minutes to play | |
| 2-1 | In games decided by three points or less | |
| 1-2 | In games decided by 4-10 points | |
| 0-0 | When UK shoots 60% or better FG | |
| 1-0 | When UK shoots 50% or better FG | |
| 7-4 | When UK shoots less than 50% FG | |
| 2-2 | When UK shoots less than 40% FG | |
| 2-1 | When UK makes more 3FG | |
| 5-1 | When opponent makes more 3FG | |
| 1-2 | When 3FG made are the same | |
| 5-3 | When UK outrebounds opponent | |
| 3-1 | When opponent outrebounds UK | |
| 0-0 | When rebounds are the same | |
| 6-4 | When playing on national TV | |
| 0-0 | When playing on regional TV | |
| 1-2 | When playing on the weekend | |
| 7-2 | When playing on a weekday | |
| 0-0 | When starting after 10 p.m. ET | |
| 1-2 | When starting after 9 p.m. ET | |
| 6-1 | When game starts between 7-9 p.m. | |
| 1-1 | With an afternoon start | |
| 0-0 | In overtime games | |
| 3-2 | In November | |
| 5-2 | In December | |
| 0-0 | In January | |
| 0-0 | In February | |
| 0-0 | In March | |
| 8-2 | In home white uniforms | |
| 0-2 | In away blue uniforms |
Wildcats vs. Conferences
| 0-1 | vs. Atlantic 10 | |
| 1-1 | vs. Atlantic Coast | |
| 1-0 | vs. Big 12 | |
| 1-0 | vs. Big South | |
| 1-1 | vs. Big Ten | |
| 1-0 | vs. Conference USA | |
| 1-0 | vs. Ivy | |
| 1-0 | vs. Mountain West | |
| 0-1 | vs. Pac-10 | |
| 1-0 | vs. Pacific West |
Record vs. Lineup
| 4-3 | Prince, Camara, Magloire, Smith, Allison | |
| 0-1 | Prince, Knight, Magloire, Smith, Allison | |
| 3-0 | Prince, Allison, Magloire, Smith, Bogans | |
| 1-0 | Prince, Allison, Magloire, Blevins, Bogans |
Season Highs/Lows
| Category | Kentucky | Opponent | ||
| 1st Half Points | High | 41 vs. UNCA | 45 by Indiana | |
| Low | 25 vs. Arizona | 16 by UNCA | ||
| 2nd Half Points | High | 45 vs. UNCA | 38 Twice | |
| Low | 21 vs. Maryland (G1) | 12 by Louisville | ||
| Total Points | High | 86 vs. UNCA | 83 by Indiana | |
| Low | 51 vs. Arizona | 42 by Alaska | ||
| FG Made | High | 31 Twice | 29 by Indiana | |
| Low | 18 vs. Mich. State | 15 Twice | ||
| FG Attempts | High | 68 vs. UNCA | 62 by Maryland (G1) | |
| Low | 47 Twice | 44 Twice | ||
| FG Percentage | High | 59.6 vs. Louisville | 54.7 by Indiana | |
| Low | 35.6 Twice | 25.4 by Alaska | ||
| 3FG Made | High | 7 Twice | 8 by Alaska | |
| Low | 1 Twice | 2 by UNCA | ||
| 3FG Attempts | High | 23 Twice | 29 by Alaska | |
| Low | 10 Twice | 8 by UNCA | ||
| 3FG Percentage | High | 50.0 Twice | 54.5 by Indiana | |
| (min. 8) | Low | 5.9 vs. Alaska | 22.7 by Louisville | |
| FT Made | High | 25 vs. Indiana | 19 by Indiana | |
| Low | 3 vs. Arizona | 4 by Alaska | ||
| FT Attempts | High | 33 vs. Indiana | 28 by Indiana | |
| Low | 8 vs. Arizona | 7 by Utah | ||
| FT Percentage | High | 86.4 vs. UNCA | 87.5 by Louisville | |
| Low | 37.5 vs. Arizona | 43.8 by Penn | ||
| Off. Rebounds | High | 21 vs. Maryland (G1) | 19 by Maryland (G1) | |
| Low | 9 vs. Arizona | 6 by Indiana | ||
| Def. Rebounds | High | 33 vs. Missouri | 31 by Arizona | |
| Low | 20 vs. Utah | 13 by Louisville | ||
| Rebounds | High | 44 Twice | 46 by Alaska | |
| Low | 28 vs. Mich. State | 24 by Louisville | ||
| Assists | High | 16 vs. UNCA | 21 by Maryland (G2) | |
| Low | 7 vs. Mich. State | 4 by Louisville | ||
| Turnovers | High | 21 vs. Arizona | 29 by UNCA | |
| Low | 7 vs. Utah | 9 by Missouri | ||
| Blocked Shots | High | 9 Three times | 4 Twice | |
| Low | 2 vs. Mich. State | 0 Twice | ||
| Steals | High | 11 vs. Alaska | 15 by Arizona | |
| Low | 5 Three times | 2 by Penn | ||
| Fouls | High | 25 vs. Indiana | 26 by Indiana | |
| Low | 10 Twice | 14 by Louisville |
Individual Superlatives
Points
| 21 |
Tayshaun Prince vs. Maryland |
11/24/99 | |
| 21 |
Jamaal Magloire vs. Missouri |
12/30/99 | |
Field Goals
| 8 |
Tayshaun Prince vs. Louisville |
12/18/99 | |
Field Goal Attempts
| 18 |
Tayshaun Prince vs. Maryland (G1)/Arizona |
|
Field Goal Percentage (5 made min.)
| 100.0 |
Desmond Allison (5-5) vs. UNC Ash. |
12/7/99 | |
Three-Point FG
| 5 |
Saul Smith vs. Maryland |
12/11/99 | |
Three-Point FG Attempts
| 10 |
Saul Smith vs. Maryland |
12/11/99 | |
3FG Percentage (2 made min.)
| 100.0 |
Desmond Allison (3-3) vs. UNC Asheville |
12/7/99 | |
| 100.0 |
Saul Smith (2-2) vs. Penn |
11/17/99 | |
| 100.0 | Keight Bogans (2-2) vs. Louisville | 12/18/99 | |
Free Throws
| 9 |
Jamaal Magloire vs. Indiana, Missouri |
|
Free Throw Attempts
| 13 |
Jamaal Magloire vs. Indiana |
12/4/99 | |
Free Throw Percentage (6 made min.)
| 90.0 |
Jamaal Magloire vs. Missouri |
12/30/99 | |
Rebounds
| 16 |
Jamaal Magloire vs. Maryland |
12/11/99 | |
Assists
| 6 |
Saul Smith vs. Maryland |
12/11/99 | |
Steals
| 4 |
Saul Smith vs. Utah, Alaska |
||
| 4 |
Desmond Allison vs. Penn |
11/17/99 | |
| 4 |
Keith Bogans vs. Alaska |
12/27/99 | |
Blocks
| 5 |
Tayshaun Prince vs. Louisville |
12/18/99 | |
SEASON REVIEW
Preseason NIT Final Four Results
Kentucky earned wins over Penn, Utah and Maryland before losing in the championship of the Preseason NIT to Arizona. It was the “western” Wildcats third straight win over UK, dating back to an overtime win in the 1997 NCAA Championship game. UK finished second in the 16-team tournament field that included Ohio State, Notre Dame and Tulane. The final four results from New York’s Madison Square Garden:
Nov. 24
Arizona 76, Notre Dame 60
Kentucky 61, Maryland 58
Nov. 26
Maryland 72, ND 67
Arizona 63, Kentucky 51
Prince Makes All-Tourney
Tayshaun Prince, UK’s leading scorer and rebounder, had a career-high 21 points and nine rebounds in the Cats’ win over Maryland in the semifinals and followed up with an 18-point, five-rebound performance against Arizona to earn All-Tournament team honors at the Preseason NIT.
Joining Prince on the All-Tournament team were Notre Dame’s Troy Murphy, Maryland’s Lonny Baxter and Arizona’s Jason Gardner and Richard Jefferson. The MVP was Arizona’s Gilbert Arenas.
America’s Team Wins #1,750
The Wildcats became the first team to record 1,750 wins with their victory over Utah on Nov. 19.
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 Wildcats own an unparalleled tradition of success. Since 1903, the University of Kentucky has fielded 97 basketball teams. The first national championship was an NIT title in 1946. The first NCAA Championship came in 1948 and the latest, No. 7, occurred in 1998. No other program can claim the unparalleled success that matches the Wildcats’ efforts throughout the century.
Highlights include:
- Seven NCAA titles (1948, ’49, ’51, ’58, ’78, ’96, ’98),
- The all-time winningest team in college basketball.
1. Kentucky 1,756 2. North Carolina 1,742 3. Kansas 1,698 - The highest all-time winning percentage in college basketball — 76.4% (1,756-542-1),
- Three NCAA runner-up trophies,
- 13 Final Four appearances,
- A national-record 40 NCAA tournament appearances,
- 39 SEC Championships,
- 22 SEC Tournament titles,
- 10 30-win seasons,
- 37 players chosen All-American 54 times,
- 86 Wildcats drafted by the NBA.
November Blues
For the fifth consecutive year, UK lost a game in the month of November. In 1995, UK lost to UMass in the Great Eight. In ’96, the Cats fell to Clemson in the BCA Classic. In ’97, Arizona knocked UK into the loser’s bracket of the Maui Invitational. Last season, Pittsburgh sent the Cats to the third-place game of the Puerto Rico Shootout. This November, Arizona earned a win over UK in the Preseason NIT final before the Cats fell to Dayton.
For the 11th time in the last 12 seasons, the Cats lost one of their first five games of the season. The dubious streak began in 1988-89 with a loss to Duke in the Tip-Off Classic.
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. The only defeat? To Pittsburgh in the second round of the Preseason NIT in Nov. 1991.
All-time in November, UK is 45-10, including a 28-1 mark at home, a 3-0 record on the road and a 14-9 slate at neutral sites.
Season Openers
After its Penn victory, 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.
PRESEASON CAT SCRATCHES
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% |
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.
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 |
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 will 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.”
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.
Updated Player Bios
DESMOND ALLISON
G/F – 6-5 – 214 – So. – Tampa, Fla. (Robinson)
Will be named Tampa’s “High School Basketball Player of the Decade” by the Tampa Tribune later this month… Currently suffering through a 1-for-11 shooting slump since his 6-for-9 performance against Louisville… Tallied a career-high 16 points against Louisville after 15 points vs. UNC Asheville… Against Asheville, shot 5-5 FG, 3-3 3FG and 2-2 FT… Made his first start at small forward vs. U of L, and has started the last four games at that position… Against Arizona in the Preseason NIT final, scored 12 points and grabbed a career-high six rebounds… His baseline jumper with 1:07 remaining gave UK a four-point lead in the win over Utah… Recorded a career-high seven rebounds against Penn while also tying his mark for steals in a game with four.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 16 | Louisville | 12/18/99 |
| FG Made | 6 | Louisville | 12/18/99 |
| FG Atts | 9 | Twice | |
| 3FG Made | 3 | UNCA | 12/7/99 |
| 3FG Atts | 4 | Four times | |
| FT Made | 5 | Arkansas | 2/20/99 |
| FT Atts | 6 | Arkansas | 2/20/99 |
| Rebounds | 6 | Arizona | 11/26/99 |
| Assists | 6 | Arkansas | 2/20/99 |
| Turnovers | 4 | Arizona | 11/26/99 |
| Blocks | 2 | N. Mexico St. | 3/12/99 |
| Steals | 4 | Georgia | 1/26/99 |
| Minutes | 32 | Twice |
Career Stats
| Year | G-S | Min.-Avg. | FG-A/Pct. | 3FG-A/Pct. | FT-A/Pct. | Reb.-Avg. | PF | AT | TO | BS | St | TP-Avg. |
| 98-99 | 36-17 | 553-15.4 | 64-128/.500 | 21-54/.389 | 21-32/.656 | 72-2.0 | 49-0 | 45 | 30 | 12 | 20 | 170-4.7 |
| 99-00 | 12-12 | 278-23.2 | 26-60/.433 | 8-26/.308 | 14-19/.737 | 34-2.8 | 31-0 | 29 | 19 | 2 | 11 | 74-6.2 |
| Totals | 48-29 | 831-17.3 | 90-188/.479 | 29-80/.363 | 35-51/.686 | 106-2.2 | 80-0 | 74 | 49 | 14 | 31 | 244-5.1 |
J.P. BLEVINS
G – 6-2 – 181 – So. – Edmonton, Ky. (Metcalfe Co.)
Has played in all 12 games… Made his first collegiate start against Missouri, finishing with a career-high 13 points and three assists while hitting two of three three-point shots… He also had no turnovers in 31 minutes of play… He’s the Cats’ leading three-point shooter, hitting 35.7 percent from beyond the arc… His lone three-pointer against Alaska-Anchorage kept UK’s three-point streak alive at 384 games… Career night against Michigan State: nine points behind three three-point field goals, four rebounds and two steals… His third three-pointer gave UK the lead for good against the Spartans, 50-49, with 7:21 remaining… Against Dayton, tallied nine points in 22 minutes, thanks to a 4-for-4 effort from the foul line… Played 20 minutes with a personal-best two assists vs. Maryland in the Preseason NIT semifinals.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 13 | Missouri | 12/30/99 |
| FG Made | 4 | Missouri | 12/30/99 |
| FG Atts | 6 | Twice | |
| 3FG Made | 3 | Michigan State | 12/23/99 |
| 3FG Atts | 4 | Twice | |
| FT Made | 4 | Dayton | 11/29/99 |
| FT Atts | 4 | Dayton | 11/29/99 |
| Rebounds | 4 | Michigan State | 12/23/99 |
| Assists | 3 | Missouri | 12/30/99 |
| Turnovers | 2 | Three times | |
| Blocks | 0 | ||
| Steals | 2 | Michigan State | 12/23/99 |
| Minutes | 31 | Missouri | 12/30/99 |
Career Stats
| Year | G-S | Min.-Avg. | FG-A/Pct. | 3FG-A/Pct. | FT-A/Pct. | Reb.-Avg. | PF-D | AT | TO | BS | St | TP-Avg. |
| 98-99 | 13-0 | 64-4.9 | 4-12/.333 | 3-9/.333 | 0-1/.000 | 6-0.5 | 5-0 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 11-0.8 |
| 99-00 | 12-1 | 179-14.9 | 16-45/.356 | 10-28/.357 | 7-8/.875 | 17-1.4 | 10-0 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 49-4.1 |
| Totals | 25-1 | 243-9.7 | 20-57/.351 | 13-37/.351 | 7-9/.778 | 23-0.9 | 15-0 | 15 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 60-2.4 |
KEITH BOGANS
G – 6-5 – 205 – Fr. – Alexandria, Va. (DeMatha Catholic)
Has played in all 12 games, starting the last four at shooting guard… Third on the team in scoring, averaging 8.8 ppg and has scored in double figures six times… With a career-high four steals against Alaska, is second on the team in thefts with 18 this season… Made his first collegiate start against Louisville, tallying 12 points and a career-high four assists… Had six points and three assists in a career-high 31 minutes vs. Michigan State… Scored in double-figures in four straight games — 11 vs. IU, 12 vs. UNC Asheville, 14 at Maryland and 12 against U of L… Scored eight of his 11 points in the first half vs. Indiana… Followed up with a solid outing vs. UNC Asheville — 12 points, three rebounds, one block and three steals… Break-out game came against Maryland in the Preseason NIT, finishing with 17 points, including a 6-of-7 performance from the foul line… Saw first collegiate action against Penn… Scored his first collegiate points vs. Utah.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 17 | Maryland | 11/24/99 |
| FG Made | 6 | Missouri | 12/30/99 |
| FG Atts | 12 | UNCA | 12/7/99 |
| 3FG Made | 2 | Twice | |
| 3FG Atts | 5 | Twice | |
| FT Made | 8 | Maryland | 12/11/99 |
| FT Atts | 11 | Maryland | 12/11/99 |
| Rebounds | 6 | Missouri | 12/30/99 |
| Assists | 4 | Louisville | 12/18/99 |
| Turnovers | 4 | Four times | |
| Blocks | 1 | UNCA | 12/7/99 |
| Steals | 4 | Alaska Anchorage | 12/27/99 |
| Minutes | 31 | Michigan State | 12/23/99 |
JULES CAMARA
F – 6-11 – 223 – So. – Dakar, Senegal (Oak Hill Academy)
Played in all 12 games with seven starts… Had six boards and four blocks vs. Alaska in 15 minutes… Played a career-high 31 minutes at Maryland, finishing with nine points and three rebounds… Solid performance vs. UNC Asheville: 11 points, seven rebounds and three steals… Tallied 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks against Indiana off the bench… Had 10 first-half points against Dayton before finishing with 12… Tied his career high with four blocks against Arizona… Made his first career start against Penn.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 15 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| FG Made | 7 | Mercer | 11/19/98 |
| FG Atts | 11 | UNCA | 12/7/99 |
| 3FG Made | 1 | Four times | |
| 3FG Atts | 5 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| FT Made | 5 | UNCA | 12/7/99 |
| FT Atts | 6 | UNCA | 12/7/99 |
| Rebounds | 11 | EKU | 11/17/98 |
| Assists | 2 | Four times | |
| Turnovers | 3 | Five times | |
| Blocks | 4 | Twice | |
| Steals | 4 | Tennessee State | 12/29/98 |
| Minutes | 31 | Maryland | 12/11/99 |
Career Stats
| Year | G-S | Min.-Avg. | FG-A/Pct. | 3FG-A/Pct. | FT-A/Pct. | Reb.-Avg. | PF | AT | TO | BS | St | TP-Avg. |
| 98-99 | 37-0 | 415-11.2 | 73-137/.533 | 2-8/.250 | 14-27/.519 | 118-3.2 | 34-0 | 16 | 35 | 25 | 18 | 162-4.4 |
| 99-00 | 12-7 | 233-19.4 | 30-72/.417 | 2-8/.250 | 18-24/.750 | 44-3.7 | 16-0 | 8 | 23 | 13 | 7 | 80-6.7 |
| Totals | 49-7 | 648-13.2 | 103-209/.493 | 4-16/.250 | 32-51/.627 | 162-3.3 | 50-0 | 24 | 58 | 38 | 25 | 242-4.9 |
JAMAAL MAGLOIRE
C – 6-10 – 260 – Sr. – Toronto, Ontario (Eastern Commerce)
Named SEC Player of the Week after tallying 15.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg and 2.3 bpg during the two-week holiday break… He capped the outburst with a career-high 21 points and 13 rebounds vs. Missouri, his fourth double-double in the last five games and his ninth of his career… His 18-point, 11-rebound performance vs. Michigan State was his third straight double-double after finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds vs. U of L and 12 points and 16 rebounds at Maryland… He’s the first Cat to string three straight double-doubles together since Reggie Hanson had four in a row in 1989-90… With three swats vs. Louisville, broke the school record for career blocked shots held by Melvin Turpin (1984) who recorded 226… Leads the team in blocks (24) and rebounding (8.1 rpg)… A career 59.3% free throw shooter, he’s hit 86.4% in the last four games, including a 9-for-10 performance against Missouri… Has already hit more free throws this season than any other season.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 21 | Missouri | 12/30/99 |
| FG Made | 7 | Twice | |
| FG Atts | 13 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
| 3FG Made | 0 | ||
| 3FG Atts | 0 | ||
| FT Made | 9 | Twice | |
| FT Atts | 13 | Indiana | 12/4/99 |
| Rebounds | 17 | Missouri | 11/26/97 |
| Assists | 3 | Auburn | 2/25/98 |
| Turnovers | 6 | Arizona | 11/26/99 |
| Blocks | 6 | Five times | |
| Steals | 3 | Twice | |
| Minutes | 37 | Michigan State | 12/23/99 |
Career Stats
| Year | G-S | Min.-Avg. | FG-A/Pct. | 3FG-A/Pct. | FT-A/Pct. | Reb.-Avg. | PF | AT | TO | BS | St | TP-Avg. |
| 96-97 | 40-22 | 626-15.7 | 75-153/.490 | 0-0/.000 | 45-82/.549 | 177-4.4 | 120-5 | 15 | 64 | 79 | 25 | 195-4.9 |
| 97-98 | 38-12 | 567-14.9 | 77-158/.487 | 0-0/.000 | 43-64/.672 | 161-4.2 | 99-0 | 11 | 46 | 66 | 10 | 197-5.2 |
| 98-99 | 34-6 | 668-19.6 | 94-177/.531 | 0-0/.000 | 49-85/.576 | 151-4.4 | 79-1 | 18 | 42 | 66 | 16 | 237-7.0 |
| 99-00 | 12-12 | 327-27.2 | 46-106/.434 | 0-0/.000 | 51-77/.662 | 97-8.1 | 32-0 | 8 | 34 | 24 | 3 | 143-11.9 |
| Totals | 124-52 | 2188-17.6 | 290-594/.488 | 0-0/.000 | 188-308/.610 | 586-4.7 | 330-6 | 52 | 186 | 235 | 54 | 772-6.2 |
STEVE MASIELLO
G – 6-1 – 170 – Sr. – White Plains, N.Y. (The Harvey School)
Has seen action in five games this season… Played a career-high 11 minutes vs. Alaska Anchorage… Still looking for his first points of the season… With the Cats trailing by 11 inside the final six minutes vs. Indiana, played three productive minutes.
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 | Four times | |
| Turnovers | 2 | Canisius | 12/10/97 |
| Blocks | 1 | Auburn | 3/7/97 |
| Steals | 1 | Five times | |
| Minutes | 11 | Alaska Anchorage | 12/27/99 |
Career Stats
| Year | G-S | Min.-Avg. | FG-A/Pct. | 3FG-A/Pct. | FT-A/Pct. | Reb.-Avg. | PF | AT | TO | BS | St | TP-Avg. |
| 96-97 | 23-0 | 79-3.4 | 6-25/.240 | 1-9/.111 | 7-10/.700 | 9-0.4 | 2-0 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20-0.9 |
| 97-98 | 18-0 | 33-1.8 | 4-10/.400 | 2-4/.500 | 1-2/.500 | 4-0.2 | 2-0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 11-0.6 |
| 98-99 | 14-1 | 45-3.2 | 3-15/.200 | 2-9/.222 | 2-5/.400 | 5-0.4 | 4-0 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10-0.7 |
| 99-00 | 5-0 | 26-5.2 | 0-5/.000 | 0-3/.000 | 0-0/.000 | 1-0.2 | 4-0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0-0.0 |
| Totals | 60-1 | 183-3.0 | 13-54/.241 | 5-25/.200 | 10-17/.588 | 19-0.3 | 12-0 | 22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 41-0.7 |
TAYSHAUN PRINCE
G/F – 6-9 – 215 – So. – Compton, Calif. (Dominguez)
Has started all 12 games and leads the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) and is second in rebounding (6.1 rpg)… Has led the Wildcats in scoring five times and scored in double figures in all but three games… Terrific line vs. Michigan State: 17 points, five rebounds, one block and 37 minutes, and his defensive pressure on the final shot attempt secured the win for UK… Made his first career start at power forward against U of L, shooting 61.5 percent from the field to finish with 20 points, seven rebounds and five blocked shots in the 30-point win… Made the All-Tournament team at the Preseason NIT after tallying a career-high 21 points and nine rebounds against Maryland and 18 points and five boards against Arizona… Followed up against the Terrapins (12/11) with 14 points and eight rebounds… His steal and layup cut the Terps’ lead to two with 1:11 remaining.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | |||
| Points | 21 | Maryland | 11/24/99 | |
| FG Made | 8 | Louisville | 12/18/99 | |
| FG Atts | 18 | Twice | ||
| 3FG Made | 3 | Five times | ||
| 3FG Atts | 9 | Arizona | 11/26/99 | |
| FT Made | 6 | Twice | ||
| FT Atts | 8 | Twice | ||
| Rebounds | 9 | Maryland | 11/24/99 | |
| Assists | 6 | Arkansas | 3/7/99 | |
| Turnovers | 4 | Missouri | 12/30/99 | |
| Blocks | 5 | Louisville | 12/18/99 | |
| Steals | 4 | Florida | 1/2/99 | |
| Minutes | 38 | Arizona | 11/26/99 |
Career Stats
| Year | G-S | Min.-Avg. | FG-A/Pct. | 3FG-A/Pct. | FT-A/Pct. | Reb.-Avg. | PF | AT | TO | BS | St | TP-Avg. |
| 98-99 | 37-11 | 747-20.2 | 82-198/.414 | 29-101/.287 | 21-32/.656 | 142-3.8 | 34-0 | 45 | 38 | 21 | 25 | 214-5.8 |
| 99-00 | 12-12 | 399-33.2 | 58-129/.450 | 15-52/.288 | 34-47/.723 | 73-6.1 | 18-0 | 9 | 24 | 21 | 11 | 165-13.8 |
| Totals | 49-23 | 1146-23.3 | 140-327/.428 | 44-153/.288 | 5-79/.696 | 215-4.4 | 52-0 | 54 | 62 | 42 | 36 | 379-7.7 |
SAUL SMITH
G – 6-2 – 175 – Jr. – Athens, Ga. (Clarke Central)
Leads the team in free-throw shooting (87.0%), assists (36) and steals (22)… Has started all but one game at point guard… Sparked UK in the first half vs. Alaska, scoring seven straight points as the Cats took the lead for good… Matched his personal best with six rebounds vs. Louisville… Had a career-high five three-pointers to tally 15 points at Maryland and added six assists… His steal and contested jumper with 1:58 to play against Utah gave the Cats a convincing four-point lead… Tied his career high with four steals against the Utes… Made his first start at point guard vs. Penn.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 17 | Ole Miss | 1/16/99 |
| FG Made | 5 | Twice | |
| FG Atts | 13 | Indiana | 12/4/99 |
| 3FG Made | 5 | Maryland | 12/11/99 |
| 3FG Atts | 10 | Maryland | 12/11/99 |
| FT Made | 5 | Twice | |
| FT Atts | 6 | Twice | |
| Rebounds | 6 | Kansas | 12/1/98 |
| Assists | 6 | Maryland | 12/11/99 |
| Turnovers | 6 | Twice | |
| Blocks | 1 | Five times | |
| Steals | 4 | Three times | |
| Minutes | 34 | Utah | 11/19/99 |
Career Stats
| Year | G-S | Min.-Avg. | FG-A/Pct. | 3FG-A/Pct. | FT-A/Pct. | Reb.-Avg. | PF | AT | TO | BS | St | TP-Avg. |
| 97-98 | 39-1 | 523-13.4 | 32-89/.360 | 12-42/.286 | 21-35/.600 | 40-1.0 | 51-0 | 53 | 37 | 1 | 35 | 97-2.5 |
| 98-99 | 37-3 | 632-17.1 | 58-158/.367 | 37-104/.356 | 31-50/.620 | 66-1.8 | 71-2 | 61 | 47 | 3 | 27 | 184-5.0 |
| 99-00 | 12-11 | 345-28.8 | 29-74/.409 | 11-38/.289 | 20-23/.870 | 23-1.9 | 26-2 | 36 | 32 | 2 | 22 | 89-7.4 |
| Totals | 88-15 | 1500-17.0 | 119-321/.371 | 60-184/.326 | 72-108/.666 | 129-1.5 | 148-4 | 150 | 116 | 6 | 84 | 370-4.2 |
MARVIN STONE
F/C – 6-10 – 256 – Fr. – Huntsville, Ala. (Grissom)
Has played in all 12 games… Has hit his last eight free-throw attempts… Scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds vs. Alaska in 20 minutes… Tied for third in rebounding, averaging 5.5 rpg, and leads the team in field goal percentage (52.0%), the only Wildcat shooting better than 50% from the field… Recorded the team’s first double-double of the season, 12 points and 10 rebounds vs. UNC Asheville… It was his second double-figure rebounding performance after tallying 13 against Maryland (11/24)…Had eight points after hitting all three of his field goals against Indiana, and added six rebounds… Had three steals vs. Arizona… Scored 12 points in his collegiate debut vs. Penn, shooting 4-of-6 from the field, and added six points, three assists, a block and no turnovers.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | ||
| Points | 12 | Twice | |
| FG Made | 4 | Three times | |
| FG Atts | 8 | Alaska Anchorage | 12/27/99 |
| 3FG Made | 0 | ||
| 3FG Atts | 0 | ||
| FT Made | 4 | Twice | |
| FT Atts | 6 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| Rebounds | 13 | Maryland | 11/24/99 |
| Assists | 3 | Penn | 11/17/99 |
| Turnovers | 3 | Twice | |
| Blocks | 2 | Twice | |
| Steals | 3 | Twice | |
| Minutes | 22 | Dayton | 11/29/99 |
TODD TACKETT
G – 6-2 – 183 – So. – Paintsville, Ky. (Paintsville)
Has played in 10 games this season… Best stats of the season vs. UNC Asheville: career-high four points, three rebounds and one assist in 11 minutes… Recorded a career-best two assists against Indiana.
Career Highs
| Opponent | Date | |||
| Points | 4 | UNCA | 12/7/99 | |
| FG Made | 2 | UNCA | 12/7/99 | |
| FG Atts | 6 | Mercer | 11/19/98 | |
| 3FG Made | 1 | Twice | ||
| 3FG Atts | 3 | Alaska Anchorage | 12/27/99 | |
| FT Made | 1 | Twice | ||
| FT Atts | 2 | Twice, | ||
| Rebounds | 6 | Mercer | 11/19/98 | |
| Assists | 2 | Indiana | 12/4/99 | |
| Turnovers | 2 | Twice | ||
| Blocks | 0 | |||
| Steals | 1 | Twice | ||
| Minutes | 13 | Indiana | 12/4/99 |
Career Stats
| Year | G-S | Min.-Avg. | FG-A/Pct. | 3FG-A/Pct. | FT-A/Pct. | Reb.-Avg. | PF | AT | TO | BS | St | TP-Avg. |
| 98-99 | 14-0 | 71-5.1 | 4-24/.167 | 2-11/.182 | 2-4/.500 | 12-0.9 | 1-0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12-0.9 |
| 99-00 | 10-0 | 71-7.1 | 4-17/.235 | 0-9/.000 | 0-1/.000 | 6-0.6 | 4-0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 8-0.8 |
| Totals | 24-0 | 142-5.9 | 8-41/.195 | 2-20/.100 | 2-5/.400 | 18-0.8 | 5-0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 20-0.8 |
