Wildcats 78, South Carolina 65
March 9, 2001
SEC Tournament Quarterfinals

Kentucky moved into the semifinals of the 2001 SEC Tournament with its 13-point winover South Carolina. The Wildcats have now won all three games against USC this seasonand 10 straight overall.

UK won its 20th game of the season (20-9), the 11th straight 20-win season for the Catsand their 46th overall.

The Wildcats have won 24 of their past 26 SEC Tournament games and moved into theSEC Tournament semifinals for the ninth time in 10 years since the league split in 1992.

UK is now 97-16 overall in SEC Tournament play.

Tayshaun Prince topped 1,100 points in his career and now has 1,106 points. Prince’sstreak of 19 straight made free throws came to an end when he went 1-for-2 from the line.

Kentucky had 14 steals, a season high against an SEC opponent this season.Freshman Cliff Hawkins tied his personal best with a game-high four steals.

The Wildcats will play the winner of Arkansas-LSU on Saturday, March 10, at 3:15 p.m.ET. It’s Kentucky’s 32nd appearance in the tournament semifinals where the Cats own a 30-1record including an 8-0 mark since the league split in 1992.

If UK plays Arkansas…

Kentucky has beaten Arkansas six out of seven times in the SEC Tournament since the Razorbacks joined the league in 1992. In the tourney semifinals, the Cats are 4-0 against the Hogs.

UK has lost two straight to the Hogs, committing 27 turnovers in the quarterfinal matchup as UA captured an 86-72 win. In Fayetteville 13 days ago, Arkansas won 82-78.

If UK plays LSU…

The Cats are 13-1 vs. the Bayou Bengals in the SEC Tournament. Kentucky won its regular-season meeting, 84-61, in Lexington. UK has won 10 of its last 11 against LSU. UK hasn’t met the Tigers in the tourney since March 14, 1993, an 82-65 UK victory in the title game.