March 7, 2000
#16 Kentucky Wildcats (22-8, 12-4 t1st East)
Co-SEC Champions
March 9-12, 2000
Atlanta, Ga. – Georgia Dome (26,000)
RADIO
UK Radio Network
Ralph Hacker, Sam Bowie, Dave Baker
TELEVISION
JP Sports — Games 1-10, Thursday-Saturday
CBS Sports — Championship Game (1 p.m. Sunday)
UKathletics.com
Follow the Wildcats in cyberspace with live stats, notes, audio and much, much more.
Wildcats Return To “Rupp Arena South”
The Kentucky Wildcats return to Atlanta for the 2000 Southeastern Conference Tournament. UK has won seven of the last eight championships, including the last three in a row, and own a 23-1 record in the event since 1992. UK is unbeaten in the Georgia Dome, owning a 13-0 overall record, including a 9-0 mark in SEC Tournament games.
The Cats enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Division and will play the winner of Thursday’s Arkansas/Georgia game on Friday at 9:45 p.m. ET. This is the fifth time since the league split into divisions that the Wildcats have entered the conference tournament as a second seed. In all nine tournaments, UK has been a one or two seed.
Kentucky created a four-way tie for the regular-season SEC Championship by defeating Florida last Saturday. Tennessee, LSU and Florida share the 2000 crown with the Cats. It was the 10th time the SEC regular-season championship had been shared, the first time since 1991 and the first time more than two teams split the title.
KENTUCKY
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl. | Ppg | Rpg | Hometown |
| 21 | G/F | 6-9 | 215 | So. | 12.9 | 5.9 | Compton, Calif. | |
| 32 | G/F | 6-5 | 214 | So. | 7.9 | 3.8 | Tampa, Fla. | |
| 42 | C | 6-10 | 260 | Sr. | 13.2 | 9.0 | Toronto, Ontario | |
| 11 | G | 6-2 | 175 | Jr. | 6.7 | *3.4 | Athens, Ga. | |
| 10 | G | 6-5 | 205 | Fr. | 11.8 | 3.5 | Alexandria, Va. | |
Key Cats Off The Bench
| 3 | G | 6-2 | 181 | So. | 4.2 | 1.3 | Edmonton, Ky. | ||
| 40 | Jules Camara | F | 6-11 | 223 | So. | 7.2 | 4.6 | Dakar, Senegal | |
| 24 | F/C | 6-10 | 256 | Fr. | 4.8 | 3.8 | Huntsville, Ala. | ||
* Assists per game
Big Blue Highlights
Despite losing three seniors to graduation, a tragic and sudden death of a 1999 recruit, three transfers who left the 1999 team and a transfer at midseason of this year, Coach Tubby Smith has assembled a defensive-oriented team that leads the SEC in scoring defense (61.9 ppg), ranks second in field goal percentage defense (39.1%) and second in blocks (5.6 bpg) despite playing the nation’s toughest schedule according to both independent RPI polls. After a 4-4 start, which included a runner-up finish in the Preseason NIT, the Wildcats have won 18 of their last 22 games, including three straight. The Wildcats’ last four losses have come during league play and all against ranked opponents on the road — #4 Auburn, #12 Florida, #25 LSU and #7 Tennessee.
Kentucky has a 6-7 record against 13 ranked opponents this season . Dayton is the only unranked team to beat UK and the Flyers are likely headed to the NCAA Tournament with a 21-7 record. Against top-10 teams, UK is 3-3 this season.
Among the Cats’ 14 non-conference opponents this season, five teams either won conference championships or division titles. Utah tied for the Mountain West title, Miami tied for the Big East Championship, Penn swept the Ivy League with a 13-0 mark, and Michigan State shared the Big Ten title. Dayton, which beat UK in November, won the Western Division of the Atlantic 10.
Once again, Kentucky was strong at home, winning all 14 games played at Rupp Arena to run its win streak to 20 straight, tied for the nation’s sixth longest home win streak.
Kentucky won 20 games for the 45th time in school history. The Wildcats finished SEC play with a 12-4 record, improving on last season’s win total by one victory.
For the ninth consecutive week, UK owns the nation’s toughest basketball schedule. CollegeRPI.com and College Basketball News both list UK’s schedule No. 1 and both rank the Cats second in the nation overall behind Cincinnati.
Tournament Facts
This is Kentucky’s 39th SEC Tournament appearance. UK has won 22 titles, more championships than all the other league teams combined. The Wildcats own a 96-15 record (86.5%) in the event and have appeared in the final game 30 times. Since the tournament was renewed in 1979, UK is 39-9 (81.3%), winning 10 championships, seven in the 1990s.
Kentucky has won three straight SEC Tournaments, defeating the Tubby Smith-led Georgia Bulldogs in 1997, South Carolina in 1998 and Arkansas last season. The last defeat in the tournament, and the Cats’ only loss in the ’90s in the event, came at the hands of Mississippi State in the 1996 championship game.
Smith’s March Mark
In four attempts as an SEC coach, Tubby Smith is 10-2 in the SEC Tournament, with a runner-up finish at Georgia in 1997 and two consecutive tournament championships since taking the reins at Kentucky.
In March, Smith is 16-1 at Kentucky, winning one NCAA Championship and two SEC Tournament titles. The only loss came at the hands of Michigan State last season in the Midwest Region Championship.
Academic Honor
J.P. Blevins earned SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition on Monday. The 6-2 sophomore sports a 3.82 GPA in general studies, the highest GPA of all the league honorees. It’s the third consecutive season a UK basketball player has earned the honor. Steve Masiello was an Academic All-SEC selection in 1998 and Scott Padgett won the award in both 1998 and ’99.
Earlier this season, Blevins was named to the UK Athletics Director’s Honor Roll.
Magloire Wins Third SEC Award
After leading the University of Kentucky to a share of the 2000 Southeastern Conference Championship, Jamaal Magloire was named Player of the Week for Feb. 28-March 5 by the SEC office.
Magloire averaged 15.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game last week in leading the Wildcats to victories over Mississippi State and Florida. Against the Gators on Saturday, the 6-10 center scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead UK to an 85-70 victory, creating a four-way tie for the league title. It was his league-leading 14th double-double of the season, which ranks ninth nationally. At Mississippi State, Magloire narrowly missed a double-double, tallying 16 points and nine rebounds.
Magloire also won the award Jan. 3 and Jan. 24, becoming only the third player ever to win the honor three times in the same season, and the first since Tennessee’s Dyron Nix in 1989. The Wildcats have won the award an SEC record four times this season (Tayshaun Prince was named SEC Player of the Week on Jan. 10).
Home in the Dome
Kentucky is 13-0 in the Georgia Dome. The Wildcats have won three conference tournaments in the building and advanced through the first two rounds of the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
Here’s the rundown:
| Event/Date | Opponent |
| 1995 SEC Tournament | Auburn |
| Florida | |
| Arkansas | |
| Dec. 21, 1996 | Georgia Tech |
| 1998 SEC Tournament | Alabama |
| Arkansas | |
| South Carolina | |
| 1998 NCAA Tournament | S.C. State |
| Saint Louis | |
| Dec. 19, 1998 | Georgia Tech |
| 1999 SEC Tournament | Ole Miss |
| Auburn | |
| Arkansas | |
UK vs. Hogs/Dawgs
Kentucky beat Arkansas in Rupp Arena on Feb. 26, 60-55, as Jamaal Magloire hit four free throws in the final 19 seconds to secure the win. The Wildcats have won eight of the last nine games against the Razorbacks, including all six in SEC Tournament play. Arkansas’ last victory in the series came last February in Fayetteville.
The Cats swept Georgia in both games earlier this season — 75-69 in Athens on Jan. 26 and 70-64 on Feb. 19 in Lexington. UK has won 14 straight games against the Bulldogs and 21 of the last 22. In SEC Tournament play, the Cats are 7-0 all-time against the Dawgs.
UK vs. SEC Teams — Capsules
Alabama
Series Record: UK leads 91-31
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 19-5
in SEC Tournament play: UK leads 9-2
Kentucky has won 11 of the last 12 games between the two teams… The Wildcats won the regular-season meeting in Lexington, 66-54 on Feb. 16… The last time the two teams met in SEC Tournament play was March 6, 1998, an 82-71 first-round victory by UK… The Cats defeated the Tide, 101-100, in 1979, still the most points scored by two teams in the SEC Tourney… UK athletics director C.M. Newton coached UA from 1969-80.
Arkansas
Series Record: UK leads 14-5
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 7-0
in SEC Tournament play: UK leads 6-0
The Wildcats have won eight of the last nine games played in the series, with the Hogs’ lone victory coming in Feb. 1999… UK and Arkansas have battled six times in the SEC Tournament since 1993, including last season’s championship game which UK won, 82-71, in Atlanta… The Cats played host to the Hogs just two weekends ago, winning 60-55 at Rupp Arena… The only other tournament meeting between the two teams was in the 1978 NCAA Semifinals, a 65-59 win by the Wildcats.
Auburn
Series Record: UK leads 73-17
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 13-2
in SEC Tournament play: UK leads 11-1
Host Auburn, with Chris Porter, beat Kentucky, 66-63, on Jan. 11, snapping the Cats’ 14-game win streak over the Tigers… UK had battled back from a 14-point halftime deficit to take a five-point lead late but could not hold on… UK eliminated the league-champion Tigers in the 1999 SEC Tournament semifinals, 69-57… UK owns a 6-1 record over Auburn since the tournament was renewed in 1979.
Florida
Series Record: UK leads 75-23
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 10-2
in SEC Tournament play: UK leads 9-2
The two teams split the regular-season series this year, each winning at home, including UK’s 85-70 win last Saturday at Rupp Arena to force a four-way tie for the league championship… The series has been hotly contested over the last three years with the teams splitting the regular-season games each season… However, the last SEC meeting between the two squads occurred in 1996, a 100-76 UK victory in New Orleans… When the SEC was first formed, the teams played their first seven games (1933-49) in the postseason tourney, with UK winning all but one.
Georgia
Series Record: UK leads 97-17
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 17-3
in SEC Tournament play: UK leads 7-0
Kentucky swept Georgia in regular-season action this season, winning 75-69 in Athens on Jan. 26 and 70-64 in Rupp Arena on Feb. 19… The Cats have now won 14 straight games against the Bulldogs… Georgia’s last win in the series came Jan. 8, 1994, a 94-90 overtime win in Athens… The last time the two teams met in the SEC Tournament was Coach Tubby Smith’s last season at Georgia, when UK beat his Dawgs, 95-68, in the 1997 SEC Championship game… The two teams have met only three times since the tournament was renewed in 1979.
LSU
Series Record: UK leads 70-21
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 12-2
in SEC Tournament play: UK leads 13-1
Kentucky had won nine straight against the Tigers until LSU won in Baton Rouge earlier this season, 70-57, as the Wildcats shot 36.8% from the field… UK is 5-1 against the Tigers since the tournament was renewed, and the last time the two teams met in the league tourney was March 14, 1993, an 82-65 UK victory in the championship game… LSU’s one victory over the Cats in the tournament came March 1, 1980, 80-78.
Ole Miss
Series Record: UK leads 86-10
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 20-1
in SEC Tournament play: UK leads 11-0
The two teams met in the first round of the SEC Tournament last season, with UK pulling out a hard-fought 83-73 win as 65 fouls were called between the teams… UK won the earlier meeting this season at Rupp Arena, 74-69, as the Rebels trimmed the Cats’ 17-point lead to five inside the final five minutes… Kentucky has won three straight games against the Rebels, but only four of the last six… UK is 7-0 against the Rebs since the tournament was renewed.
Mississippi State
Series Record: UK leads 77-16
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 10-2
in SEC Tournament play: UK leads 6-1
The Wildcats beat host Miss. State on Feb. 29, 73-61…UK has now won four straight against the Bulldogs… The last victory by MSU in the series occurred in the 1996 SEC Tournament Championship game, 84-73 in New Orleans… Both teams went on to advance to the Final Four with UK winning the 1996 NCAA title… The teams have met only twice in the SEC Tournament since it was renewed in 1979.
South Carolina
Series Record: UK leads 24-4
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 2-0
in SEC Tournament play: 1-0
Kentucky swept the Gamecocks during the regular season, winning 64-48 in Columbia and 76-63 in Lexington… The Cats have now won seven straight against USC… The only time the teams have met in the SEC Tournament occurred in the 1998 title game in the Georgia Dome, which UK won, 86-56… Coach Eddie Fogler is 6-18 against the Wildcats, the most wins by any current SEC coach vs. UK.
Tennessee
Series Record: UK leads 127-61
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 9-4
in SEC Tournament play: UK leads 9-4
Tennessee owns more wins over Kentucky in SEC Tournament action than any other team in the league… The last time the two teams met in the tournament was March 12, 1993, a 101-40 victory by the Wildcats in Rupp Arena… The win came just two weeks after UT had upset the Cats, 78-77 in Knoxville… The teams have split their two meetings since the tournament was renewed in 1979… The teams split the regular-season meetings, both winning at home… UT has won three of the last four in the series.
Vanderbilt
Series Record: UK leads 120-33
at Neutral Sites: UK leads 6-3
in SEC Tournament play: The series is tied 3-3
Vanderbilt is the only team that has split its SEC Tournament series with UK… The teams have met three times since its renewal and Vanderbilt won the first two meetings — 1981 and ’89 — before UK picked up a 76-57 win in the 1992 tourney… Kentucky swept the series this season and is the only team in the Eastern Division to beat Vanderbilt twice… The Cats have won 15 straight against the ‘Dores.
Milestones
When Keith Bogans picked up a steal against Mississippi State, he tied the UK freshman record of 45 steals in a single season held by Chris Mills (1989). Steals have been recorded at UK since 1978.
Magloire continues his climb up the career games-played list. The “Big Canadian” has played in 142 games during his four years in the Bluegrass, which ranks third on the all-time UK list, one game behind Jared Prickett. It’s also the ninth most ever played in college basketball, trailing NCAA leader and former Wildcat Wayne Turner by nine games. Turner logged 151 games in his career, which concluded last March. For a top-five UK and NCAA list, check the boxes to the right.
Coaching Numbers
Orlando “Tubby” Smith (High Point ’73)
| Overall (9th year) | 209-83 | (71.6%) |
| at UK (3rd year) | 85-21 | (80.2%) |
| SEC Tournament (4 yrs.) | 10-2 | (83.3%) |
| NCAA Tournament (6 yrs.) | 15-5 | (75.0%) |
Smith All-Time vs. SEC Opponents
| Alabama | 5-1 |
| Arkansas | 6-7 |
| Auburn | 4-2 |
| Florida | 7-3 |
| Georgia | 6-0 |
| LSU | 5-1 |
| Ole Miss | 4-2 |
| Miss. State | 4-2 |
| South Carolina | 10-2 |
| Tennessee | 7-4 |
| Vanderbilt | 8-2 |
| *Total | 66-26 |
*Does not include 0-5 mark vs. UK
Current SEC Coaches vs. UK
| Mark Gottfried, Alabama | 1-1 |
| Nolan Richardson, Arkansas | 5-10 |
| Cliff Ellis, Auburn | 1-8 |
| Billy Donovan, Florida | 3-7 |
| Jim Harrick, Georgia | 1-3 |
| John Brady, LSU | 1-2 |
| Rod Barnes, Ole Miss | 0-3 |
| Rick Stansbury, Miss. State | 0-2 |
| Eddie Fogler, South Carolina | 6-18 |
| Jerry Green, Tennessee | 3-3 |
| Kevin Stallings, Vanderbilt | 0-2 |
SEC Championships
| Team | Titles | Last Title |
| Kentucky | 40 | 2000 |
| LSU | 8 | 2000 |
| Tennessee | 8 | 2000 |
| Alabama | 6 | 1987 |
| Miss. State | 5 | 1991 |
| Vanderbilt | 3 | 1993 |
| Arkansas | 2 | 1994 |
| Auburn | 2 | 1999 |
| Florida | 2 | 2000 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1990 |
| S. Carolina | 1 | 1997 |
| *Ga. Tech | 1 | 1938 |
*Former member
SEC Tournaments
| Team | Titles | Last Title |
| Kentucky | 22 | 1999 |
| Alabama | 6 | 1991 |
| Tennessee | 4 | 1979 |
| Auburn | 1 | 1985 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1983 |
| *Georgia Tech | 1 | 1938 |
| LSU | 1 | 1980 |
| Miss. State | 1 | 1996 |
| Ole Miss | 1 | 1981 |
| Vanderbilt | 1 | 1951 |
*Former member
Magloire’s Impact
How important has the “Big Canadian,” Jamaal Magloire, been to the Wildcats? Crunch these All-America type numbers…
- SEC-leading 14 double-doubles this season, including three straight on three occasions,
- Scored in double figures in 25 of the 30 games, including three 20-plus point games,
- The school-record holder in blocks leads the team in scoring (13.2 ppg), rebounding (9.0 rpg) and swats (54),
- Vs. league competition, averaged a double-double — 14.4 ppg and 9.9 rpg. Finished ninth in the league in scoring, first in rebounding, fourth in FG percentage (54.1%) and third in blocks (1.6 bpg),
- Has scored 396 points this season, becoming the 47th Wildcat to score 1,000 points in his college career.
D-E-F-E-N-S-E
- Eight UK opponents this season have scored 53 points or less against the Cats and only six teams have scored more than 70 points against the Wildcats.
- UK is 13-0 when holding opponents under 60 points, 19-3 when holding opponents under 70.
- Tubby Smith’s “ball-line defense” has held 17 opponents below 40 percent shooting this season, including a 35.8% effort by Florida last Saturday, the league’s second-best shooting team. Only two teams have shot better than 50.0 percent from the field vs. UK — Florida in the first meeting in Gainesville (50.0%) and Indiana (54.7%).
- The Cats have allowed 39.1 percent shooting from the field, the third straight year UK opponents have shot 40 percent or less from the field.
- The Wildcats have allowed 61.9 ppg this season, which ranks first in the SEC, 23rd in the NCAA.
- The Wildcats are averaging 5.6 bpg this season and three Wildcats — Jamaal Magloire (1.8 bpg), Jules Camara (1.5) and Tayshaun Prince (1.2) — rank in the SEC top 10 this season in blocks per game.
More Magloire Notes
With six double-doubles in the last nine games, Magloire has raised his season rebound average to 9.0 rpg, which leads the SEC. It’s the highest season average by a Wildcat since SEC Player of the Year Kenny Walker in 1984-85 (10.2 rpg).
Magloire leads the SEC in double-doubles this season with 14, 10 of which have come in league play. His total ranks as the ninth most double-doubles in the nation, according to Stats, Inc.: (as of 3/6)
| 1. Darren Phillip (Fairfield) | 24 |
| 2. Shaun Stonerook (Ohio) | 21 |
| 3. Josh Sankes (Holy Cross) | 20 |
| 4. Darren Fenn (Canisius) | 18 |
| 4. Troy Murphy (Notre Dame) | 18 |
| 6. Chris Mihm (Texas) | 17 |
| 7. Jarrett Stephens (Penn St.) | 16 |
| 7. Ricardo Greer (Pitt) | 16 |
| 9. Kenyon Martin (Cincinnati) | 14 |
| 9. Jamaal Magloire (Kentucky) | 14 |
UK vs. Top 25
Kentucky is 6-7 against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 this season, and 3-3 vs. top-10 teams. Rankings were current on the date the game was played. Here’s the rundown:
Wins
| Opponent | AP Rank | Site |
| Utah | 16th | H |
| Maryland | 24th | N |
| Michigan St. | 5th | H |
| Vanderbilt | 20th | A |
| Tennessee | 6th | H |
| Florida | 8th | H |
Losses
| Arizona | 8th | N |
| Indiana | 23rd | N |
| Maryland | 21st | A |
| Auburn | 4th | A |
| Florida | 12th | A |
| LSU | 25th | A |
| Tennessee | 7th | A |
SEC Marks
UK has won 66 of its last 80 (82.5%) regular-season SEC games. The Cats were 14-2 in 1995, tallied the league’s first perfect record in 40 years, 16-0, in 1996, and went 13-3 in 1997, 11-5 last season and 12-4 this year.
The Wildcats completed their 67th season of SEC basketball. The league kingpin has won 40 SEC Championships and 22 SEC Tournament titles, more titles in each category than all the other league teams combined. Kentucky is 758-202 (.790) in regular-season conference play.
The Cats have won seven of the last eight SEC Tournaments, boasting a 23-1 record in the event.
Y2UK Trends
Kentucky has won 22 of 23 games when leading at the five-minute mark. Auburn is the only team to rally in the final minutes for victory against the Cats. In addition, UK is 19-1 when tied or leading at halftime, falling to Dayton after a cold-shooting second half.
Since Tubby Smith made a lineup change against Louisville — inserting Keith Bogans at guard — UK has won 18 of its last 22 games.
Fifteen opponents have hit more threes than UK, but the Cats have won all but three of those meetings.
UK has shot better than 50 percent from the field only three times this season — 59.6% vs. Louisville, 51.0% vs. South Carolina (1/15/00) and 52.9% vs. Florida (3/4/00).
Consecutive Threes
The Cats have hit three-pointers in 404 consecutive games, the fourth longest streak in the nation. 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). UNLV, Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech rank ahead of the Wildcats. The three-point rule was implemented in 1986-87.
Good, er, Tough Losses?
Kentucky’s eight losses this season have come to teams who have performed well throughout the year. The teams — Arizona, Dayton, Indiana, Maryland, Auburn, Florida, LSU and Tennessee — have a combined record of 180-51 heading into tournament play. Also, each team has won at least 20 games.
In this week’s Coaches’ poll, seven of the eight teams were ranked in the Top 25.
Power Rankings
| Poll | Rank | Sch. Strength |
| CollegeRPI.com | 2nd | 1st |
| CBN RPI | 2nd | 1st |
| Sagarin | 16th | 3rd |
Rupp Arena
UK completed its 24th season of basketball at Rupp Arena with a perfect 14-0 record, the eighth perfect season in the facility. UK is 317-35 (90.1%) in Rupp since it opened in 1976-77.
The Wildcats have won 20 straight games in the gym, it’s tied for the sixth longest streak in the nation. Utah leads the nation with 51 straight wins at home. Kentucky will not play at home again this season.
The Kentucky Wildcats played their 350th game in Rupp Arena, a 70-64 win over Georgia, on Feb. 19.
With UK’s win over Alaska-Anchorage, the Cats finished the ’90s with a 54-2 record at home against non-conference opponents.
From historic Alumni Gym to Memorial Coliseum to Rupp Arena, the Wildcats have logged 72 consecutive seasons without a losing record at home, a mark that began in 1927-28 when the Cats were 6-2. It’s believed to be the longest streak in the nation. Only seven of UK’s 97 basketball teams have finished with a sub-.500 record at home, and all seven seasons occurred prior to 1928.
Injury Report
Kentucky is almost at full strength heading into the SEC Tournament. Marvin Stone suffered a broken bone in his right thumb in practice Feb. 12. Stone played an ineffective eight minutes against LSU the next day but bounced back with one of his best games of the season vs. Alabama, tallying nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks. He started against Georgia (2/19/00) and played 21 minutes. He has played in every game since the injury, but will likely to wear the protective device through the remainder of the season.
Ball Control
Kentucky is averaging 14.5 turnovers per game this season, the lowest season average since 1990, when the Wildcats committed 14.4 tpg.
Against SEC competition, UK averaged 13.7 turnovers per game. This year’s team averaged 16.8 tpg through the first eight games en route to a 4-4 start.
The Wildcats recorded a season-low six turnovers vs. Alabama in February. The last time a UK team recorded only six turnovers in a game was in the Cats’ win over Stanford in the 1998 National Semifinals.
Before & After
Since a 4-4 start, UK has improved in key statistical categories. Here’s the comparison between the first eight games of the season and the eight SEC games:
| Category | First 8 | SEC Only |
| Scoring Off. | 66.0 | 71.1 |
| Scoring Def. | 60.4 | 65.4 |
| Scoring Margin | +5.6 | +5.7 |
| FG% | 40.2 | 42.7 |
| Def. FG% | 41.3 | 39.4 |
| 3FG% | 25.2 | 28.9 |
| Reb. Avg. | 38.6 | 38.9 |
| Opp. Reb. Avg. | 33.9 | 34.8 |
| Reb. Margin | +4.8 | +4.1 |
| TO Avg. | 16.8 | 13.7 |
Top 25 Rankings
For the first time since Jan. 17, Kentucky is ranked the same in both national polls — 16th.
In the AP poll, UK has been ranked in 15 of the 18 polls this season. 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 streak that ended this season at 172 weeks, North Carolina’s previous streak of 171 weeks (1972-82) and Marquette’s mark of 166 weeks (1969-79).
Lineup Changes
- Six times this season Coach Tubby Smith has altered the starting lineup:
- Against Louisville, he went small, inserting 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.
- 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.
- Vs. Georgia on Feb. 19, Allison, Bogans and Prince were held out of the starting lineup while Marvin Stone earned his first start along with Camara and Blevins.
- For matchup reasons, Smith started Jules Camara for the second straight game against Tennessee (2/23/00), bringing Desmond Allison off the bench. He reverted to his favorite lineup — Prince and Allison at forwards, Magloire at center and Smith and Bogans at guard — in the last two outings vs. Arkansas.
- In the last home game, Steve Masiello made his second career start as freshman Keith Bogans came off the bench.
SEASON REVIEW
Top Freshman
Keith Bogans is third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.8 ppg and finished second on the team in SEC play with 13.7 ppg. He leads the team in steals with a UK freshman-record 45.
Bogans tallied a UK season-high 25 points against Tennessee, 21 vs. South Carolina and 24 against Florida. The freshman scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half against the Gators, the most points scored by a Wildcat in a half this season. He also scored 22 against Arkansas last Saturday, his fourth 20-point effort this season, all in February.
He is the second UK freshman to record three-straight 20-point games since freshmen became eligible in 1972-73. In 1979, Dwight Anderson tallied four straight 20-point games late in the season.
Ron Mercer is the last Wildcat to accomplish the feat, a mark that came during his sophomore season of 1997. Mercer had three straight 23-point performances against Florida, Alabama and Vandy. Earlier that season, the Nashville, Tenn. native tallied 20 vs. Alaska and 22 against College of Charleston in the 1996 Great Alaska Shootout, then followed with 30 against Purdue and 26 vs. Indiana.
Bogans’ 25 points against the Volunteers were the most points scored in a game by a UK freshman since Rodrick Rhodes rang up 27 against Georgia Tech on Dec. 5, 1992. Only 14 UK freshmen in school history have scored more than 25 points in a single game.
Smith’s Highlights
Saul Smith was named the “SEC Good Works Player of the Week” on Feb. 14. During his three-year career, Smith has served as a speaker for a number of groups throughout the Bluegrass, including D.A.R.E. graduations, elementary school efficiency testings and charity fundraisers. A member of UK’s student-athlete advisory council, Smith also has participated in skits for UK’s Schoolhouse Rock, an academic pep rally held at Memorial Coliseum each spring for several thousand fourth and fifth graders.
Smith topped the 200 assists plateau against Georgia (2/19/00). The junior point guard leads the team in assists this season.
Smith hit three three-pointers and added a layup in a 2:16 stretch late in the second half at LSU to help the Wildcats trim a 20-point deficit to five inside the final five minutes.
Blevins’ Two Starts
With Keith Bogans not starting against Georgia (2/19/00), J.P. Blevins made his second career start a memorable one.
Blevins hit a personal-best four three-pointers, including three in the decisive second half, rallying UK to victory. His team-high 14 points was his most as a Wildcat and he added a career-high four assists with no turnovers in 31 minutes.
His first start came against Missouri when he had 13 points and three assists.
Magloire’s Second SEC Honor
Prior to winning his third SEC Player of the Week last week, Jamaal Magloire earned his second honor on Jan. 24after leading the Wildcats to wins over Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.
Magloire, a 6-10, 260-pound center, averaged 21.0 ppg and 14.5 rpg in the two victories. The Canadian had 19 points and 14 rebounds against the Rebels while shooting 63.6 percent from the field. He followed up with a career-high 23 points, along with 15 rebounds, in UK’s thrilling overtime win against the host Commodores.
Magloire also won the honor on Jan. 3 after his outstanding play over the holidays, and it was the third time in four weeks a UK player captured the award. He’s the first player to win the award twice in the same season since Auburn’s Chris Porter and Vanderbilt’s Dan Langhi took home the honor twice last season. He is the first Wildcat to receive the honor twice in a season since Ron Mercer in 1997, and the first center to earn the accolade twice in the same season since Tennessee’s Steve Hamer in 1996.
Three Straight Doubles, Again and Again
Jamaal Magloire’s three consecutive double-doubles in December was only the beginning. The “Big Canadian” achieved the feat again in January, tallying double-doubles against Ole Miss (19 points, 14 rebounds), Vanderbilt (23-15) and Georgia (19-10) and in February against Georgia (11-13), Tennessee (15-12) and Arkansas (15-12).
Not since Reggie Hanson accomplished the feat 10 years ago has another Wildcat had at least three straight in a season. Hanson had four straight — 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.
In December, Magloire ran off three straight against Maryland (12-16), Louisville (12-10) and Michigan State (18-11).
Three UK Jerseys Retired
The jerseys of Bill Spivey, Pat Riley and Jamal Mashburn were retired in pregame ceremonies, Jan. 19, prior to UK’s win over Ole Miss.
Spivey, who died in 1995, was college basketball’s Player of the Year in 1951, leading the Wildcats to their third NCAA Championship in four seasons. The All-American center nicknamed “Grits,” “The Georgia Pine” and “Mr. Poison Ivy” hailed from Macon, Ga., stood 7-foot tall, 230 pounds and was widely considered the first “big man” who could run the floor. In two seasons, he scored 1,213 points, becoming only the seventh college player to top 1,000 points in his sophomore and junior years. Old No. 77 set SEC scoring records with 578 points in 1950 and 635 points the following season. In rebounding, he grabbed a league record 567 in 1951 and his 34 rebounds against Xavier still tops the UK single-game list.
Riley, a 6-4 forward from Schenectady, N.Y., was a member of UK’s famed Rupp’s Runts team of 1966. That season was his best, earning All-SEC and All-American honors while leading the Cats on a 23-game win streak and a berth in the national championship game against Texas Western. Legendary coach Adolph Rupp called Riley one of the most complete athletes he had ever coached. Riley averaged 22.0 ppg as a junior in ’66 and 17.4 ppg as a senior the following year, finishing his three-year career with 1,464 points, which still ranks 15th all-time at UK. Riley, who wore No. 42, is the current head coach of the Miami Heat and is in his 18th season coaching in the NBA. He was named “Coach of the Decade” for the 1980s, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to four World Championships. As an NBA player, he was a member of the Lakers’ 1972 championship squad.
Mashburn, who wore No. 24, is credited for accelerating Coach Rick Pitino’s rebuilding effort of the UK basketball program in the 1990s. The 6-8 forward from New York City started every game of his three-year career (1991-93) and was a three-time All-SEC selection and a consensus All-American in 1993. He became the 15th sophomore in SEC history to score 1,000 points and ended his career with 1,843 points, fourth most in UK history at the time. Blessed with an accurate perimeter game, Mashburn shot 51.6 percent from the field during his career, and 37.6 percent from three-point range. In 1992, he averaged 21.3 ppg, and shot a school-record 43.9 percent outside the arc, to lead UK to an exciting Southeast Regional final against Duke. The following year, he led the Cats to the 1993 Final Four, the team’s first Final Four appearance in nine seasons. “The Monster Mash” entered the NBA Draft after his junior season and was selected fourth overall by the Dallas Mavericks.
UK has now retired 39 jerseys of former Wildcat players, coaches and contributors.
Cheerleader Champions VI
The University of Kentucky cheerleaders won their sixth consecutive national championship in January in Orlando, Fla. Overall, its the group’s 10th UCA title in the last 16 seasons.
Squad members Brooke Davis and Tim Passalalqua also won the partner competition. The team has won titles in 1985 ,’86, ’88, ’92 and 1995-2000.
The cheerleaders are led by fourth-year coach Saleem Habash. The event will be televised by ESPN next month.
Prince Named Player of the Week
Tayshaun Prince won his first SEC Player of the Week award on Jan. 10 after leading the Cats to wins over Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt. It was the second time in two weeks a UK player won the honor. Jamaal Magloire captured the award the previous week.
Prince recorded his first double-double — 21 points and 10 rebounds — against Georgia Tech while shooting 3-of-6 from three-point range. He followed up with a career-high five three-pointers and 17 points against Vanderbilt, becoming only the second leading scorer from an opponent to top his season average against the Commodores. For the week, the 6-9 forward averaged 19.0 ppg and 7.5 rpg and shot 61.5 percent from three-point range (8-13).
Magloire Earns First League Honor of 2000
University of Kentucky center Jamaal Magloire was named the SEC Player of the Week on Jan. 3 after leading the Wildcats to wins over Louisville, then-No. 5-ranked Michigan State, Alaska-Anchorage and Missouri.
Magloire averaged 15.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game over the holidays, tallying four double-doubles in 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.
It was 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.
Cats in the ’90s
While UK 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.
Knight Leaves UK Program
University of Kentucky junior Nate Knight left the Wildcats’ basketball program on Jan. 4.
Knight, a 6-9 forward from Sandy, Utah, had transferred to Kentucky last summer >from Utah Valley State (Junior) College after a one-year Mormon mission and one season at Oregon State.
For the Cats, Knight appeared in nine games, averaging 8.8 minutes per game. He scored 15 points (1.7 ppg) and grabbed 20 rebounds (2.2 rpg).
According to reports, he enrolled at BYU for the spring semester. He’ll sit out until next January and have one semester of eligibility remaining.
“Show Me” Magloire
After UK beat Missouri on Dec. 30, Jamaal Magloire said, “Maybe they should join the SEC.” 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 averages: 19.5 ppg and 15.0 rpg.
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.
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 lost only one home game 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.
December Results
At home in December, the Wildcats were 4-0 this season and 271-37 all-time, a winning percentage of 88.0 percent. Overall — home, away and neutral — UK is 418-98 (81.0%) in December.
Season Openers
With the Penn win, 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 from last season. 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.
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.
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.
