KENTUCKY 90, AUBURN 78
Feb. 28, 2001
Rupp Arena, Lexington, Ky.
Kentucky is now 19-8 overall, 12-3 in the Southeastern Conference
Auburn is now 16-12 overall, 6-9 in the SEC
UKs win clinched at least a tie for the SEC regular-season championship; this is UKs 41st regular-season league championship
UK clinched at least a tie for its seventh SEC Eastern Division title
UK won its second consecutive SEC regular season and Eastern Division championships
UK clinched the Eastern Division #1 seed for next weeks SEC Tournament
UK won its 11th consecutive home game and its 22nd consecutive SEC home game
UK finished the home season with an 11-1 record in Rupp Arena; UKs all-time record in 25 seasons in Rupp Arena is 328-36, a winning percentage of 90.1 percent
UK has won 36 of its last 37 Senior Night games
Key run: tied at 21, UK goes on an 11-0 run for a 32-21 lead; Auburn got no closer than nine points after that
UK is now 11-0 this season when shooting 50 percent or better from the field
UK is now 13-2 this season when holding the opponent under 40 percent shooting from the field
Five Wildcats scored in double figures, the first time that had been accomplished since the High Point game on Dec. 27
Jason Parker notched career highs with 19 points and nine field goals made
Erik Daniels had a career-high six rebounds
Tayshaun Prince has 1,076 points in his career and advanced into a tie with Bill Lickert for 39th place on the UK career scoring list. Tonight, Prince passed Jamaal Magloire (1,064 points), Dirk Minniefield (1,069), and Rex Chapman (1,073).
Tubby Smith Quotes
Opening Statement…
“It is certainly a good feeling that we forged a tie for the SEC Championship. At the beginning of the year, I know that seemed like an unattainable goal, but that was our goal from the beginning. I am proud of this team. I thought they showed a lot of heart throughout the season to recover from a tough start. To come back and win the SEC Championship is a real honor. The kids stuck together and tonight I thought it was typical of how we wear people down. Going inside was a big plus for us tonight. Jason (Parker) was big tonight. (Kyle) Davis was kind of hobbled for Auburn tonight, so he wasnt himself. I thought we did a good job of challenging them on the perimeter. We limited their touches and forced them to take some tough shots. It was wonderful, with Saul (Smith) being a senior and finishing with a win. We had excellent play from our entire lineup tonight, and everybody had a chance to share in the win.”
On this being Saul Smith’s last home game and the emotions…
“It was emotional. I felt myself welling up, but I tried to contain it because I knew I had a game to coach. You want the guys to know and Saul to know how much you care, but you still have a job. The playing of ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ really brings tears to your eyes, I tell you that. I knew he was trying to set the tone early (with a steal at the beginning of the game) and be more aggressive like we were against Arkansas, but after that you could see that the emotion was pretty high. That emotion kind of tapered off and Auburn began to do some good things, especially on the offensive boards.”
On taking Jason Parker out of the game early on…
“I didnt think he was defending as well as I would have liked and he responded well.”
On the play of the freshmen…
“Our bench played well. Cliff (Hawkins) played outstanding. He penetrated and made shots, and thats a real plus when he is making shots. (Erik) Daniels has been playing real well. Marquis (Estill) gave us a big lift in the first half when Jason and Marvin (Stone) hadnt really gotten into the game. What can you say about Gerald (Fitch)? He got six rebounds, and he just comes to play every day. I am really excited about how they are playing. Everybody is improving.”
On the play of Marquis Estill…
“Hes limited defensively because he doesnt have mobility. He has a nice touch around the basket. He can shoot the ball, and he knows how to score. But at times he can be a liability defensively.”
On his son Saul and the positive reception he got tonight…
“I dont think he has been under-appreciated. Obviously being the coachs son, its tough. I think the records can speak for themselves. He really hasnt shot the ball well. One thing he is willing to do is make the extra pass. What he is willing to do is be unselfish. At a program like Kentucky, you have to have a point guard who is more concerned about the other players.”
Kentucky Player Quotes
Keith Bogans
“Saul is one of the hardest workers on the team. I don’t think he has been appreciated enough. I was glad he got some appreciation tonight. We won big for Saul tonight.”
“We are very confident right now. We first have to go get a win at Florida. Then we are ready for Nashville. We want the entire title. We don’t want to share with anyone.”
Jason Parker
“I feel like I can leave the locker room tonight and feel confident about the way I played. I am glad I bounced back from a bad game against Arkansas. I just wanted to go out there and dominate. I was frustrated.”
On the freshmen scoring 50 points…
“I think we are capable of doing that every game. All of the freshmen are talented. We all went out and played hard for Saul tonight.”
Tayshaun Prince
On Saul Smith…
“Saul’s heart is really big. He always gives everything he has on the floor, and you can’t ask for anything more than that. He gives as much to us off the court as he does on the court. Tonight was very special, especially for him. I think he deserved that. He’s been a terrific leader for us. His heart is big and he gives it all on the floor.”
“The confidence is there, even when we were down in the season with a 3-5 record. There was just a time for us to mature and to learn how the freshmen would fit in our lineup. Tonight we got a big lift from Jason Parker, and then Erik Daniels, Gerald Fitch and Cliff Hawkins came in a did great for us. Whenever Keith and I are not getting shots and those guys come in and have great games, it really helps us as a team.”
Saul Smith
“It was extremely emotional for me. I couldn’t stop crying. I haven’t cried in a few years, so it was interesting for me. It was definitely something special. Having my mom there and hearing the crowd roar is what I think got me.”
On his game opening steal…
“It was fun. I was thinking I might try to dunk it, but then I remembered my knee was hurt, so I played it safe.”
On his teammates…
“They’re like my brothers. We would lay down for each other. For a lot of them I’m like an older brother figure. I look at those guys like a very instrumental part of my life. A lot of the things I work for, I would do for them alone. I try to set a good example and hope that I can help them to be better people along the way.”
“When you look at the ups and downs of this year and see that we’ve bounced to a 12-3 conference record and a first-place finish, we’ve taken a lot of strides as a team. We’ve matured as a team and grown. We’ve taken a lot of people by surprise. I think we’re one of the hottest teams in America right now, and I don’t think a lot of teams want to face us.”
Auburn Coach Cliff Ellis
Opening Statement…
“This was a game where the inside presence of Parker and company was the major difference in the game. I thought that in the first half we could have put a little more pressure on them. We had good looks, probably as good of looks as weve had in any game this year, but our shots didnt go and I thought it opened up some transition buckets for Kentucky. At the same point in time when that was settled, Jason Parker and their post players had their way, and we had no answer. If you would have told me that we would have shot 19-for-23 from the foul line and out-rebounded them by 11, I wouldve thought we would be in the ballgame. This was the first game that we havent been in. It was the inside presence of Kentucky. To me, and weve played them all but Vanderbilt, but there is no doubt in my mind that Kentucky is the best team weve faced in the conference. Theyre playing well and they were ready tonight. They were determined.”
On the difference in the game…
“I thought that in the first half we missed shots and gave them the lead. Then I thought in the second half we were making shots, but we werent stopping their inside people. Thats to Kentuckys credit. They wore us down. We gave up too many buckets around the paint and that was a major difference. That was the difference. Theyre strong, powerful, and they wore us down.”
On the performance of Jamison Brewer…
“He played hard. He put so much into that game. He played an unbelievable game. I hated for him that he had that kind of performance and it is going to be overshadowed. What a game. That was a warrior game. Unfortunately it will be overshadowed.”
Auburn Player Quotes
Jamison Brewer
“It was a crazy game tonight–lots of motion on the floor. I thought we came out strong but we lacked transition. Kentucky was able to capitalize off our turnovers and create a lot of offense for themselves.”
“I love playing in Rupp Arena. This was my first time playing here, but growing up, playing at Kentucky in Rupp Arena was a dream of mine. This was definitely a dream come true. UK was always dominant in basketball while I was growing up, so the chance to play here was something I really enjoyed. I am just thankful that I had this opportunity.”
“I think we have a chance in the SEC tournament. We have been battling all year and really fighting for it. I still think we will do well and finish strong in the SEC.”
Adam Harrington
“I had a strong first half with a lot of open looks, I just wasn’t able to knock any shots down. As a team, we tried to play hard and be aggressive, but we got beat in transition.”
“I wish we had come back with the win in the end, because we had a pretty good offensive game. We just weren’t able to put it together in the first half.”
“Kentucky is young but great inside. We knew that they were good but playing them on Senior Night made them that much better. I think they have a great coach, and Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogan are very talented players.”
“I love playing in Rupp Arena. I just love the atmosphere, and combined with a great coach and great players like Kentucky has, it is even better.”
