Jan. 25, 2000

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) – Hoping Jamaal Magloire is plenty of ammunition, coach Tubby Smith looks tomake another triumphant return to Athens on Wednesday when 16th-ranked Kentuckybattles Georgia in a Southeastern Conference clash.

This is Smith’s third trip back to Athens since he left the Bulldogs tobecome head coach at Kentucky. He has won both previous visits and is 4-0 inthe series as Wildcats coach, including a 91-83 overtime triumph at Georgialast season.

Smith is expected to continue that success against his former team,considering the Wildcats (13-5, 4-1 SEC) have won nine of their last 10 gamesand boast the reigning SEC Player of the Week.

Magloire was given that honor after averaging 21.0 points and 14.5 reboundsin wins over Vanderbilt and Mississippi last week. The senior center also shot64 percent from the field in those two contests.

Magloire recorded his seventh double-double in 11 games Saturday, collecting23 points and 15 boards in an 81-73 overtime win over Vanderbilt.

“Jamaal’s just been a workhorse,” said sophomore Desmond Allison, whoscored a career-high 23 points. “Him coming back (for his senior year) ispaying off for us.”

Jim Harrick taking over the coaching reins has yet to pay off for Georgia(9-9, 2-4), which has struggled through an inconsistent campaign. The Bulldogslost four in a row before winning two of their last three games.

Now they look to build off one of their most impressive wins of the season,having crushed South Carolina on Saturday, 90-62.

D.A. Layne scored 20 points in that win and leads the Bulldogs with 17.1ppg. Anthony Evans was held to 10 points and five boards, but he is averaging16.1 ppg and an SEC-best 8.9 rebounds per contest.

Georgia has dropped 12 straight meetings in this series since Jan. 12, 1994.