March 1, 2002
No. 8/10 Florida Gators (21-6, 10-5)
vs.
No. 11/11 Kentucky Wildcats (19-8, 9-6)
March 2, 2002
12:07 p.m. ET
Rupp Arena (23,000)
Lexington, Ky.
RADIO
UK Radio Network (90+ stations): Tom Leach, Mike Pratt, Dave Baker.
TELEVISION
CBS Sports: Vern Lundquist and Bill Raftery.
UKathletics.com
Official site carries live audio from the UK Radio Network for each game. Enhanced coverage includes live statistics for all home games. Also adds the latest on the 2001-02 Wildcats including season statistics, photos and records.
Series Information
Series Record: UK leads 77-24
In Lexington: UK leads 39-6
At Rupp Arena: UK leads 22-4
In Gainesville: UK leads 28-16
At Neutral Sites: UK leads 10-2
Last Game: Jan. 29, 2002 – UK 70, UF 68
Website: GatorZone.com
Coaching Comparison
Tubby Smith (High Point '73) Overall (11th) 253-103 (71.1%) at UK (5th) 129-41 (75.9%) SEC Tourney (6) 13-3 (81.3%) NCAA Tourney (8) 18-7 (72.0%) vs. Florida 9-4
Billy Donovan (Providence ’87) Overall (8th) 158-82 (65.8%) at UF (6th) 123-62 (66.5%) vs. Kentucky 4-8
Team Comparisons
cats gatorsRecord 19-8 21-6SEC Record 9-6 10-5Scoring Offense 77.6 82.0Scoring Defense 67.3 66.1Scoring Margin +10.3 +15.8FG % 45.4 47.8FG % Defense 40.4 40.53FG % 31.3 35.23FG % Defense 32.4 32.2Free Throw % 67.1 70.0Rebound Average 40.4 39.1Opp. Rebound Avg. 35.0 34.0Rebound Margin +5.4 +5.1TO Average 14.9 15.2Opponent TO 16.8 18.9TO Margin +1.9 +3.7Blocks Average 4.9 4.7Steals Average 8.0 10.5
Probable Starters
WILDCATS No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Ppg Rpg Hometown Last Game 21 Tayshaun Prince F 6-9 215 Sr. 17.2 6.4 Compton, Calif. 24 pts, 8 rebs, 40 mins 44 Chuck Hayes F 6-7 237 Fr. 5.6 4.2 Modesto, Calif. 9 pts, 7 rebs, 7-11 FT 40 Jules Camara F-C 6-11 225 Jr. 5.7 3.7 Dakar, Senegal 9 pts, 9 rebs 10 Keith Bogans G 6-5 205 Jr. 11.0 4.5 Alexandria, Va. 2 pts, 1 reb 1 Cliff Hawkins G 6-1 185 So. 7.2 *4.4 Dumfries, Va. 5 pts, 6 assts
GATORS No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Ppg Rpg Hometown Last Game 15 Matt Bonner F 6-10 237 Jr. 16.4 7.3 Concord, N.H. 18 pts, 4 rebs 50 Udonis Haslem C 6-9 246 Sr. 16.1 8.4 Miami, Fla. 11 pts, 6 rebs 1 Orien Greene G 6-4 200 So. 5.4 2.9 Gainesville, Fla. 0 pts, 7 rebs, 4 assts 10 Brett Nelson G 6-4 182 Jr. 14.3 *3.3 St. Albans, W.Va. 12 pts, 4-6 3FG, 3 assts 12 Justin Hamilton G 6-3 207 Jr. 8.4 *3.6 Sarasota, Fla. 14 pts, 5 rebs, 6 assts*Assists
Senior Day is Judgment Day
Kentucky looks to earn a first-round bye in next week’s SEC Tournament with a win over Florida as both teams close out regular-season play. Florida and Georgia are tied for the SEC Eastern Division lead while the Wildcats trail by one game. A Florida win will give the Gators at least a share of the East crown and the No. 1 seed, regardless of a win or loss by Georgia, which plays at Tennessee.
A Kentucky victory gives the Cats a No. 2 seed regardless if Georgia wins or loses. In head-to-head tiebreakers, Florida owns the advantage over Georgia due to a better division record, Georgia would own the advantage over UK thanks to a series’ sweep, and Kentucky would own the advantage over UF also due to a series’ sweep should the Cats pick up a win in the season finale. Only the top two teams in each division earn a bye into the quarterfinals. UK must defeat the Gators to avoid playing a first-round game for the first time since the league split into divisional play in 1992.
Since the teams last met on Jan. 29, Kentucky has gone 5-3, dropping three road games. Florida has gone 6-2 with its losses coming on the road at Ole Miss and Alabama.
Senior Day
In a special pregame ceremony, UK will honor its seniors, J.P. Blevins and Tayshaun Prince, on Senior Day, which will include video tributes, 23,000 singing “My Old Kentucky Home” and framed jerseys. The ceremony, which the late Coach Al McGuire once called the “the most touching moment in sports,” will begin at approximately 11:45 a.m. ET.
Blevins and Prince have played on two SEC Tournament Championship teams and two regular-season SEC Championship teams in their three previous seasons. Blevins, who has been hampered by injuries this season, has played in 94 games as a Wildcat with five starts. He’s twice earned Academic All-SEC honors and is a consistent member of the dean’s list and the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll.
Prince is UK’s first returning All-American since Kenny Walker in 1985-86. He will finish his career among the top-10 scorers, the top-five shot blockers and No.2 in three-pointers made. Prince has missed only one game in his Wildcat career and has 104 starts in 130 games at UK. This season, Prince leads UK in scoring (17.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg) and ranks second in blocks, third in steals and assists. He has 12 career double-doubles, including five this season.
Senior Day Supremacy
The Wildcats have been highly successful in Senior Day games at Kentucky. Since 1920, the Cats are 77-4, winning the last five consecutive games and 36 of their last 37.
The Gators have only played at Kentucky twice on Senior Day, losing both games. Florida fell 80-77 in 1994 and again in 2000, 85-70.
20 Wins
Kentucky will attempt to record its 20th win of the season for the 12th consecutive season. It will mark the 47th time UK has recorded 20 wins in its 99 seasons of basketball.
March Madness Has Arrived
The 2002 SEC Tournament tips off in Atlanta on Thursday. Alabama clinched the overall regular-season championship outright with its win over Auburn on Wednesday. UK had claimed a share of the last two SEC titles. It was the Tide’s seventh crown.
Selection Sunday will take place in Indianapolis in eight days, March 10. Rupp Arena will play host to the South Region Championship on March 21-23.
Series History
This is the 102nd meeting between the two teams with UK claiming a 77-24 advantage. Kentucky holds a 39-6 advantage in Lexington, and a 22-4 advantage in Rupp Arena.
Tubby Smith is 9-4 overall against the Gators, including a 5-4 mark at UK. Billy Donovan is 4-9 against the Cats, including a 4-7 record at UF.
Kentucky/Florida Connections
Both Tubby Smith and Billy Donovan coached at Kentucky under Rick Pitino. They were on Pitino’s first staff (1989-91), Smith as an assistant, Donovan as a graduate assistant. The next year, Smith served as Pitino’s associate coach. Smith left to become head coach at Tulsa after two seasons at UK, while Donovan stayed on the UK staff for five years before accepting the head coaching job at Marshall.
Florida assistant coach John Pelphrey was a four-year letterman at UK and has his jersey retired in the rafters of Rupp Arena. “Pel” was a member of UK’s “Unforgettables,” who a decade ago battled Duke in the 1992 NCAA Tournament in what many have labeled one of college basketball’s greatest games. He has served on Donovan’s staff at Marshall and Florida.
Common Opponents
Kentucky and Florida have had 11 common opponents this season, including non-conference foe Tulane. UK owns a 10-6 record against those teams, while UF is 11-5.
Opponent UK UFTulane W, 101-67 W, 81-65Alabama L, 61-64 L, 64-65Arkansas W, 71-58 L, 92-94*Auburn W, 69-62 W, 89-61Georgia L, 84-88 L, 79-84 L, 69-78 W, 85-70LSU W, 68-56 W, 102-70Ole MissW, 87-64 L, 51-68Mississippi St. L, 69-74* W, 76-48South Carolina W, 51-50 W, 69-60 W, 91-74 W, 72-63Tennessee L, 74-76* W, 100-104* W, 64-61 W, 68-62Vanderbilt W, 67-59 W, 95-85 L, 73-86 W, 80-54*overtime
Smith Loves March
Coach Tubby Smith owns an impressive 22-5 record in March since taking over at UK. He’s 9-1 in the SEC Tournament, 12-3 in the NCAA tourney and has split with Florida in regular-season play the past two years.
Full Roster?
Marquis Estill suffered a scratched cornea on his right eye early in the Vanderbilt game. Estill was poked in the eye by teammate Keith Bogans during a battle in the lane. He did not return to action but was cleared to practice on Thursday and will play against the Gators.
Rashaad Carruth suffered a cut over his right eye late in the game and received four stitches after the contest. He will not miss any action.
Gerald Fitch and Erik Daniels missed the last two games due to disciplinary reasons and freshman Adam Chiles did not make the midweek trip to Nashville for violating a team rule. The status of all three for Saturday’s game will be determined by the head coach.
Rupp Arena
With the win over Arkansas on Feb. 23, Kentucky’s record at Rupp Arena improved to 11-3 this season.
Now in its 26th season in the building, UK has posted a 339-39 (89.7%) record in Rupp.
The Cats have won 15 national attendance titles in the building, including the last six.
Prince Named SEC POW
Tayshaun Prince earned his second SEC Player of the Week honor of the season on Monday after leading UK to wins over Tennessee and Arkansas last week. He averaged 15.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg and posted his fifth double-double of the season against the Hogs with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
It was the fifth career POW honor for Prince.
Vs. Ranked Opponents
The Cats are 1-3 against ranked opponents this season. Their lone win against a ranked team came Jan. 29 at No. 5 Florida. UK lost to No. 1 Duke, 95-92, in overtime on Dec. 18 in the Jimmy V Classic, dropped a close battle to No. 14 Alabama, 64-61, in Lexington on Jan. 26 and fell to No. 21 Georgia, 78-69, on Feb. 16. Rankings were current at the time of the game.
Milestones
Keith Bogans, currently 26th on UK’s all-time scoring list, has 1,284 career points and with one more can tie Sam Bowie (1981-84) for 25th.
With two three-pointers against Vandy, Tayshaun Prince has now made 192 in his career, making him No. 2 all-time in three-pointers made at UK. While he will not catch school-record holder Tony Delk (283), he is the highest ranking three-point shooter in UK history in the post-Pitino Era. Meanwhile, Bogans moved past John Pelphrey and into fifth place. He has 165 made 3FGs.
Jules Camara needs five blocks to catch current UK assistant Reggie Hanson in eighth place on the all-time blocks chart at Kentucky.
Improved FT Shooting
The Wildcats are shooting 67.1% from the foul line this season, but have converted over 70% of their charity tosses in eight of their last 10 games. In addition, UK has gone to the line at least 18 times in each of the past five games.
Prior to the last 10 games, UK had shot 64.9% from the line. During the 10-game stretch the Cats have shot 71.0% from the FT stripe. The low point occurred 11 games ago — a 48.5% effort at Auburn.
RPI Polls
The most recent RPI poll released by CollegeRPI.com rated Kentucky No. 9 overall with the nation’s third toughest schedule. The Cats’ schedule ranks fourth in the Sagarin rankings. While there are three SEC teams among the top 15 in the national voter polls, UK has the highest RPI ranking according to both power polls.
Strength of schedule ratings are listed in parenthesis:
CollegeRPI.com SagarinKentucky 9th (3rd) 10th (5th)Florida 10th (23rd) 6th (23rd)
The Southeastern Conference is rated as the nation’s toughest conference by CollegeRPI.com and Sagarin.
1. SEC
2. ACC
3. Big 12
Starting Spark
Chuck Hayes is enjoying a solid freshman campaign, averaging 5.6 ppg and 4.2 rpg in just 15.0 mpg. However, in his four games as a starter, Hayes has shined, averaging 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per outing. Hayes scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds against Vandy, including career-high 7-of-11 free-throw shooting.
National Exposure
The Cats have already appeared on national TV 12 times this season. The Florida game marks the unprecedented seventh time on CBS, according to 17-year veteran producer Bob Dekas. The Cats also have played six times on ESPN.
Fitch’s Numbers
UK has won two of its last three games without the talents of sophomore Gerald Fitch. Fitch was suspended for the last game after serving a one-game suspension for a separate incident. He was reinstated before the Vanderbilt game but received a “DNP — Coach’s Decision” against Vandy. Over his last five games played, Fitch averaged 13.4 points, 6.4 boards and 2.4 spg while shooting 54.5% from the field and 43.5% from three-point range. In SEC play alone, he’s second on the team in scoring (11.3 ppg), first in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and second in steals (26). The improved numbers of those games coincided with the return of injured point guard J.P. Blevins.
Fitch was solid at Georgia, matching his career high for the second time this season with 17 points. He was 3-for-6 from 3FG range and grabbed five rebounds and three steals in a team-high 36 minutes.
Pride in Defense
Defensive highlights this season include:
Limiting host Florida to a then-season-low 68 points and a season-low 31 rebounds.
Holding the SEC’s top three-point shooting team, Vanderbilt, to 31.8% accuracy on Feb. 13.
Leading the SEC in league play by holding opponents to 41.3% shooting (41.3%) while blocking 5.3 shots per game. UK also is tied for third in scoring defense (67.9 ppg).
In 13 of the 27 games this season, UK opponents have shot less than 40% from the field. The Cats are 12-1 in those outings. Overall, UK opponents have combined to shoot 40.4% from the field. Indiana and South Carolina both shot 32.1% from the field, the best defensive efforts by the ’02 Wildcats.
Georgia (54.1%), Tennessee (53.4% – 2/19) and Vanderbilt (53.6% – 2/27) are the only teams to shoot better than 50% against the Cats this season.
Entering the final regular-season game, the Cats’ defense is averaging 8.0 steals per game. That’s up from last year’s 6.7 spg and the best at UK since the ’98 champs averaged 8.7 spg.
UK’s Offense Due
The Wildcats are shooting 45.4% from the field, the lowest percentage since hitting 42.3% in 2000. While UK has shot 50% or better from the field six times this season, UK has shot under 40.0% in four of the past five games, including a 35.5% effort in the loss to Vandy Wednesday. UK had previous sub-40% shooting efforts against Western and Alabama.
Changing Lineups
Against Arkansas, Kentucky started its seventh lineup of the season, reinserting Jules Camara in the middle, while keeping Chuck Hayes in for Gerald Fitch. The lineup remained intact for the VU game.
In the first eight games of the season, Smith used four different lineups. Only Tayshaun Prince has started every game. Hawkins has started 24 times while running mate J.P. Blevins has three starts. Jules Camara has 12 starts, while Marquis Estill has 11. Hayes has started four games, and Erik Daniels also has a start to his credit.
Last 10
Florida is the final regular-season game for UK. The NCAA selection committee utilizes the results of a team’s last 10 outings, including conference tournament play, when making its choices for the “Big Dance.” Kentucky closed out its last 10 regular-season games last year with an 8-2 record, then won the SEC Tournament to earn a No. 2-seed in the NCAA Tournament. So far this season, UK is 6-3 in its final 10 regular-season games.
Cats in the NCAA
In the NCAA statistics released Feb. 25, the Wildcats ranked 20th in scoring margin (+11.2 ppg). Despite losing the battle of the boards in four of the last six games, UK was 27th in the nation in rebounding margin, outrebounding opponents by 5.7 rpg. The Cats also were 27th in FG% defense, holding opponents to 39.9%.
Cats in the SEC
In the latest Southeastern Conference rankings for all games played, UK’s Tayshaun Prince is third in the league in scoring (17.2 ppg) while Cliff Hawkins ranks fourth in assists (4.4 apg). Jules Camara ranks third in blocked shots (1.5 pg), Prince is fourth (1.4 pg) and Marquis Estill is tied for fifth (1.3 pg). Prince also ranks 10th in rebounding (6.4 rpg).
The Wildcats are second in scoring (77.6 ppg), third in scoring margin (+10.3) and second in rebounding margin (+5.5 rpg). UK is first in rebounding (40.4 rpg) and offensive boards (15.7 orpg). The Cats rank second in blocks (4.9 pg).
In SEC games only, Prince is second in the league in blocked shots with 1.9 bpg. Camara is third with 1.5 pg and Estill ranks sixth with 1.3 bpg. Hawkins is third in assists (4.5 apg).
Gerald Fitch is eighth in rebounding in league games with 6.4 rpg, while Prince ranks ninth in FG% (43.7%) and ninth in scoring (16.7 ppg).
Top-10 Assault
Tayshaun Prince joined an elite group of UK basketball players on Feb. 9. With his 18 points in the win over LSU, Prince moved past Louie Dampier (1965-67) and into the top 10 on UK’s all-time scoring list.
His 15 points against UT pushed him past Ed Davender and into ninth on the list. He currently has 1,649 points in his career, just 65 points behind the legendary Alex Groza (1945-49) in eighth. Prince is the first Wildcat to crack the top 10 since Tony Delk in 1996. The ’96 Final Four MVP finished fourth with 1,890 points.
Big Draw I
This season, the Cats have played in front of five of the top 10 crowds in the nation, including four at home. Kentucky has entertained 10 of the nation’s top-20 crowds as well.
Statistics courtesty of the NCAA and include all games through Feb. 25:
Game (Site) Attendance1. UK-Indiana (N) 29,3792. Syracuse-Georgetown 29,2153. UK-Louisville (H) 24,3304. UK-Alabama 23,5445. Syracuse-Virginia Tech 23,2266. UK-North Carolina (H) 23,1537. Missouri-Illinois 22,1538. UK-Arkansas (H) 22,1099. Syracuse-Pittsburgh 21,93510. North Carolina-Duke 21,75010. North Carolina-NC St. 21,750
Big Draw II
Kentucky routinely draws an opponent’s top home crowd each season. In fact, in the nine road games the Cats have played this year, UK matched or exceeded the team’s average crowd.
Opponent Attendance Opp. Avg.Miss. State 9,347 4,607S. Carolina 12,097 7,975Notre Dame 11,418 10,984Auburn 10,500 9,500Florida 12,212 10,346Tennessee 17,260 13,661LSU 8,549 8,305Georgia 10,523 8,799Vanderbilt 14,168 8,848
Double-Doubles
Tayshaun Prince posted his fifth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds against Arkansas. The senior had three double-doubles in December and one in January.
Gerald Fitch had his second double-double of the year with 13 points and 11 rebounds against Ole Miss after a 16-10 performance against Tulane in early January. He has recorded three double-doubles in his career.
Jules Camara had his best effort of the season against Duke, scoring 10 points while grabbing 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and the fourth of his career.
Current Wildcats who have recorded double-doubles in their career include:
Cat Career Doubles Keith Bogans 2 Jules Camara 4 Marquis Estill 1 Gerald Fitch 3 Jason Parker 2 Tayshaun Prince 12
Three Mania
Kentucky has hit a three-pointer in 468 consecutive games. UK trails UNLV, Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech, which all have similar streaks. UNLV, Vanderbilt and Princeton have hit a three-pointer in every game since the rule was adopted in 1987, but Princeton hasn’t played as many games.
The Wildcats’ last game without a three-pointer came 13 years ago against Seton Hall on Nov. 26, 1988, a “three-point” loss in the Great Alaska Shootout.
UK in February
The Wildcats close out February on the road at Vanderbilt. So far, the Cats are 5-3 this month. The Wildcats own a 582-182 (76.2%) all-time record in the year’s second month.
Last Time Out
The Cats were handed their worst loss of the season, 86-73, as Vanderbilt snapped an 18-game series losing streak with the win in Nashville. Tayshaun Prince led all scorers with 24 points, while Rashaad Carruth added a career-high 22 on 6-of-14 three-point shooting.
National Polls
After wins over Tennessee and Arkansas last week, the Wildcats climbed one spot to No. 11 in both major polls this week. UK has spent 11 of the 16 weeks this season in the AP top 10.
UK began the season ranked fourth in both major polls. After losing its season opener, UK dropped to a season-low 13th in the AP poll and 14th in the Coaches poll.
SEC Domination
Kentucky is in its 69th season of SEC play. A charter member, the Cats have been the most dominant team in the league through the years, recording a 779-212 mark (78.6%). No other team has won more than 647 games (Alabama) and no other team has a better winning percentage. UK has averaged 11.3 wins and 3.0 losses per season during its SEC tenure.
The Wildcats have won 41 SEC titles and 23 SEC Tournament Championships, more titles than the other teams combined.
Kentucky has won eight of the last 10 SEC Tournament titles.
TUB-BEE, TUB-BEE!
In the past four seasons, since Orlando “Tubby” Smith took the coaching reins at Kentucky, the Wildcats have won three SEC Championships and three SEC Tournament titles. While the tournament success continues a string of titles the past decade, UK’s success in winning the regular-season crown hasn’t been achieved since the Wildcats won three of the four titles between 1983-86.
Smith is 58-21 (73.4%) in SEC regular season play since taking over at Kentucky.
Smith has an amazing 13-3 (81.3%) record in the SEC Tournament which includes his two seasons at Georgia.
Last season, Smith’s Cats captured a share of the SEC Eastern Division crown, his third in the last four years and the second straight.
Overtime Trials
The Wildcats have yet to earn an overtime win this season in three tries. The Wildcats have fallen to Duke, 95-92, Miss. State, 74-69, and Tennessee, 76-74.
Kentucky has now played 81 overtime games in 99 seasons, and owns a 44-37 record in those contests.
In the Tubby Smith era, the Cats won their first seven overtime games but have lost their last four over the past two seasons.
The most OT games UK has played in one season was five — 1978-79.
SEASON NOTES
Bowie’s Jersey Retired
Former All-American Sam Bowie had his Kentucky jersey retired in pregame ceremonies prior to the UK-Arkansas game on Feb. 23. Bowie, a native of Lebanon, Pa., played for the Cats for three seasons (1980-81, ’84) while battling numerous leg injuires which forced him to miss both the 1982 and ’83 seasons. Yet, he still totaled 1,285 points and averaged 13.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game during his career. The 7-1 center led the Cats to the 1984 Final Four and earned second-team All-America honors by The Sporting News.
Bowie played 11 seasons in the NBA and worked from 1998-’01 as the analyst on the UK Radio Network. He currently resides in Lexington and is involved in the standardbred horse industry. In 2000, he became the first African-American to be named to the Kentucky Racing Commission.
He becomes the 42nd Wildcat to earn the prestigious honor.
Prince Named Finalist
On Feb. 12, Tayshaun Prince was named one of the 20 finalists for the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Award which is presented annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Prince was the only SEC player among the finalists. The preseason list was narrowed by the Naismith Board of Selectors, which includes basketball coaches, journalists and administrators.
On Feb. 6, he was named one of the 10 finalists for the inaugural Senior CLASS Award presented by the Kansas City Club.
The CLASS award, an acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, will be presented during the Final Four.
Joining Prince as finalists were Maurice Baker (Okla. St.), Lonny Baxter and Juan Dixon (Maryland), Sam Clancy (USC), Dan Dickau (Gonzaga), Lynn Greer (Temple), Udonis Haslem (Florida), Steve Logan (Cincinnati) and Preston Shumpert (Syracuse).
Healthy at Last
The Wildcats have had their share of injuries this season. The return of J.P. Blevins and Adam Chiles to action on Feb. 2 marked the healthiest the squad has been since mid-December.
Blevins, who suffered a broken right wrist on Dec. 22 vs. Indiana, underwent surgery to have a screw inserted into the break on Dec. 27. He missed 10 games due to the injury.
It was not his first injury of the season. He missed the Cats’ first two games of the year with a sprained ankle. He’s played in eight games with three starts, averaging 2.9 ppg and 1.4 rpg while playing 17.5 mpg.
Chiles suffered bruised ribs prior to the Notre Dame game. He missed four games before reappearing against South Carolina on Feb. 2.
Jason Parker suffered two torn ACLs in the same knee prior to the season. After undergoing his second surgery Nov. 1, he’ll miss the entire year. Marquis Estill pulled a back muscle late in the preseason and missed both exhibition games but did return in time to play in the Cats’ first game vs. Western Kentucky.
Rashaad Carruth suffered a high ankle sprain/bone bruise and missed both exhibition games and the Cats’ first four regular-season contests. Gerald Fitch also broke his nose in UK’s first exhibition game against Nike Elite but failed to miss any action.
In all, five Wildcats have missed a total of 54 games, both regular season and exhibition due to injury.
True Glue
Gerald Fitch earned national attention in early February by Sports Illustrated as a “Glue Guy” – ‘someone who’s versatile, tough, smart, unselfish, but not a star.’ The magazine started the list three years ago, and writer Seth Davis dubbed Fitch the leader of the third annual squad.
“When Keith Bogans was mired in a shooting slump, Fitch helped Kentucky by tossing in points. When Bogans had it going against Florida, Fitch was content to score just two points and contribute six boards, two assists and two steals. That’s called stickin’ it to ’em.”
Also making the team were Duke’s Dahntay Jones, UCLA’s Billy Knight, Maryland’s Byron Mouton, Indiana’s Jarrad Odle and Alabama’s Antoine Pettway.
Ahhhh, Maui
Next Nov. 25-27, the Wildcats will compete in the Maui Invitational. It’s UK first return to the islands since Nov. 1997. Other participating teams include Arizona State, Chaminade, Gonzaga, Indiana, UMass, Utah and Virginia.
UK in January
The Wildcats hold a 510-176 all-time record in the month of January for a .743 winning percentage. UK finished the month with a 5-3 mark.
Mr. Clutch Strikes Again
Tayshaun Prince has a laundry list of clutch performances during his four-year career at Kentucky. Against Auburn on Jan. 22, he struck again. Prince canned a three-pointer to curtail Auburn’s 14-4 run and give the Cats’ a 57-50 lead. The shot boosted UK on an 8-0 run that iced the game.
Other clutch performances by Prince include a game-winner against Florida last season, scoring 16 of the Cats’ final 23 to lead a comeback at Vanderbilt, a double-clutch three against St. Bonaventure in the 2000 NCAA Tourney and a runner in the lane with 23 seconds to go that lifted UK to a win at Miami that same season.
Eight in a Row
Kentucky continued its dominance at the UCA Cheerleading Championships on Jan. 12 when the Wildcats took the title for the eighth consecutive year. It was the 12th title overall for the team. The UK squad is coached by Saleem Habash with advisor T. Lynn Williamson.
Central Florida finished second in the event, which was held at MGM Grand Studios in Orlando, Fla.
Kentucky has won the event in 1985, ’87, ’88, ’92, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’01 and ’02.
Three-Point Show
Kentucky set a school record when nine different Wildcats made a three-point field goal in UK’s win over Tulane on Jan. 2. Since the three-point shot was implemented in 1987, no UK squad had ever had nine different Cats can a three in the same game. The nine different “lives” splashed in 16 total treys against the Green Wave, the most in a game in the Tubby Smith Era at Kentucky. It also marked the most since UK canned 16 against UNC Asheville in Dec. 1996.
Prince Named SEC Player of the Week
The Southeastern Conference named Kentucky senior Tayshaun Prince its Player of the Week for Dec. 24-Jan. 1.
The 6-9 senior was very consistent in late December, tallying 17 points and nine rebounds against Duke, 17 and 11 against the Hoosiers and 18 and nine against the Cardinals. The double-double against Indiana was his third this season and the 10th of his career.
It was his first SEC Player of the Week honor this season and the first by a Cat. Prince won the award once as a sophomore and twice last season.
Stone Dismissed
Marvin Stone was dismissed from the Kentucky men’s basketball team on Dec. 27. The 6-10 junior failed to return from the holiday break and became the first player to be dismissed from the Wildcats’ basketball team in Smith’s five seasons.
Stone averaged 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. He saw action in all nine contests, starting the first two, and averaged 13.9 minutes per game.
The Huntsville, Ala., native totaled 397 points and 314 rebounds in his career after playing in 75 games with 11 starts.
He transferred to Louisville.
Prince On Wooden List
Tayshaun Prince was among the Top 30 candidates for the Wooden Award in its midseason poll released Dec. 28. Prince was a Wooden All-American last year. This year’s honors will be announced March 26 and include the 10-member All-America team and college basketball’s Most Outstanding Player.
Cawood’s Court
The new floor at Rupp Arena was named “Cawood’s Court” in ceremonies before the Louisville game. The tribute honors Cawood Ledford, who was the beloved “Voice of the Wildcats” for 39 years (1953-92). Ledford passed away in early September following a long battle with cancer.
The ceremony included the unveiling of a logo courtside not far from where he called all the action and a donation by two area businesses to the Cawood Ledford Scholarship Fund at UK. The fund was established in 1992 to assist former student-athletes in completing their degrees.
Hawk’s Shooting Eye
Cliff Hawkins recorded back-to-back career highs in December.
The sophomore tallied 15 points against Duke, including nine of the Cats’ first 11 in overtime. He then returned to score 17 points against Indiana four days later. For the week, he averaged 16 ppg and 4.0 apg.
Within the Borders
Kentucky’s 20-point win over Louisville closed out a four-game schedule this season with state schools. UK finished with a 3-1 record in those games. It was the most games with in-state schools since the 1920-21 season.
The Cats fell to Western Kentucky and defeated Morehead State, Kentucky State and Louisville. They faced Kentucky Wesleyan, Cumberland, Georgetown and Centre during the ’21 season, posting a 5-1 record in the meetings.
Carruth Burned Devils
Rashaad Carruth broke out against Duke, taking control of the offensive end during the first half to total 14 points in the period after scoring 12 all season.
He finished the game with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting and set or tied career highs in every category.
Carruth missed the first month of the season with a high ankle sprain and played in only three games prior to the Duke contest.
Vs. Top-Five Teams
The win over No. 5 Florida improved Kentucky’s record to 50-41 all-time against top-five teams, including a 1-1 mark this season. Kentucky dropped an overtime thriller to No. 1 Duke in December.
Under Tubby Smith, UK is 6-6 against the top-five teams. The list is based on the team’s ranking in The Associated Press poll at the time the game was played.
Against fifth-ranked teams, UK is 16-9 all-time.
Cats vs. No. 1 Teams
After falling to top-ranked Duke, 95-92, in overtime on Dec. 18, Kentucky fell to 4-9 against No.1-ranked teams in the AP poll since 1949.
The Wildcats played Duke two other times when the Blue Devils were ranked No. 1 in the country. Duke won both games, 80-55 on Nov. 19, 1988 and 104-103 in overtime on March 28, 1992.
Kentucky’s last win over a top-ranked team was an 81-74 victory against UMass at the Meadowlands in the NCAA Semifinals on March 30, 1996.
December to Remember
Kentucky kicked off a highly anticipated December schedule of great rivalries on Dec. 8 with a 79-59 rout of North Carolina. After 118-63 win over Kentucky State, the Wildcats lost a thrilling overtime game to No. 1 Duke, 95-92, in the Jimmy V Classic. After holding Indiana to 32.1% shooting in a 66-52 win in the RCA Dome, the Cats finished off the Rick Pitino-coached Louisville Cards, 82-62.
TREY-Shaun’s Game
Tayshaun Prince’s effort vs. UNC won’t soon be forgotten. Along with his three-point shooting display, Prince totaled 31 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. He matched his career scoring and steals totals. It was his second consecutive double-double, the ninth of his career.
Prince’s streak of five three-pointers on five straight possessions to start the North Carolina game were the first of seven for the game, all coming in the opening half. His fifth, just a few inches inside the “U” at center court, measured nearly 30′.
His seven 3FGs in a half tied Derrick Miller for the most threes scored in a half at Kentucky. Miller also drained seven to start the Kansas game on Dec. 9, 1989 before finishing with eight threes in the game.
Prince’s seven, however, were the most treys recorded by a Wildcat in Rupp Arena as Miller’s came in the Jayhawks’ storied Allen Field House.
Queen City Mark
In November, Kentucky played its fifth consecutive season at the Firstar Center in Cincinnati, defeating Kent State, 82-68. The Wildcats are now 6-1 all-time in the arena.
Season Openers
Kentucky is 81-18 in season openers after its loss to Western Kentucky in the NABC Classic. Last season, the Cats were upset in New York by St. John’s, 62-61. Tubby Smith is 8-3 in season openers during his head coaching career.
Home Openers
Kentucky is 84-15 all-time in home openers after the loss to WKU. Nine of those losses occurred before Adolph Rupp began coaching in 1930. The Cats are 65-6 since 1930, losing the home opener in 1955 to Temple, 1962 to Va. Tech, 1972 to Iowa, 1988 to Northwestern State, 2000 to Penn State and this season to Western Kentucky.
UK now stands at 23-3 in home openers at Rupp Arena.
PRESEASON NOTES
AP Names Prince All-America
Forward Tayshaun Prince added yet another honor to his resume in November as he was named to the The Associated Press Preseason All-America team, the only senior on the list.
Prince joined Duke’s Jason Williams, Stanford’s Casey Jacobsen, Missouri’s Kareem Rush and Illinois’ Frank Williams.
Prince is just the second Wildcat to earn the preseason honor from the AP since the national news organization began naming a preseason team in 1985. Jamal Mashburn was a preseason All-American prior to the 1992-93 season.
Prince also was named first-team Preseason All-America by collegeinsider.com, Athlon Sports, Blue Ribbon Basketball, The Sporting News and Basketball News.
He was a second-team selection by AP at the end of last season.
Parker Injury
Jason Parker underwent his second ACL surgery on his right knee in four months when he had a patella tendon autograft performed by team physicians Darren Johnson and Scott Mair on Nov. 1. Parker injured the knee June 24 in a pickup basketball game and had his initial surgery July 2. He retore the ligament prior to introductions for Big Blue Madness on Oct. 12.
Parker will miss the 2001-02 season as a redshirt. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Their Old Kentucky Home
This season’s roster boasts six products from the Bluegrass State, the most since the 1991 season.
J.P. Blevins (Edmonton), Marquis Estill (Richmond), Cory Sears (Corbin), Matt Heissenbuttel (Lexington), Josh Carrier (Bowling Green) and Adam Chiles (Louisville) all hail from within the state’s borders.
In ’91, Reggie Hanson, Richie Farmer, John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus, Michael Parks and Todd Bearup all came from Kentucky. Much like Sears and Heissenbuttel, Parks and Bearup were both walk-ons 11 seasons ago.
Face Lift
Fans attending UK home games will recognize changes at floor level. In addition to the new floor that was purchased last summer, courtside fan seating has been added as well. Currently, 22 new “scholarship seats” have displaced some traditional media seating and been installed on press row. The 22 seats were sold for $313,000 a pair and the revenue generated will go to endow all 13 men’s basketball scholarships. There are still three pairs remaining to be sold.
Kentucky celebrated its 25th season in the first built-for-basketball arena last year, playing for a quarter of a century on the original floor. Pieces of the original floor were auctioned off prior to the charity game, “A Night of True Champions,” on Aug. 11, raising more than $38,000. The money was split between the UK Basketball Museum, the KHSAA and the Lexington Civic Center for the purchase of the new floor.
The new floor was designed by UK in conjunction with Lexington Civic Center officials. It was constructed by Robbins, Inc., in Cincinnati, Ohio at a cost of $125,000.
BIG BLUE MANIA
Back In Town
Several former Wildcats have appeared back in the Bluegrass during the winter. Heshimu Evans, Kentucky’s spark off the bench in the Cats’ drive to the ’98 title, has been playing this season in Portugal. He was home at the end of January on a one-week break and participated in the “KENTUCKY” cheer at the Cats’ game with Alabama on Jan. 26.
Jeff Sheppard, the 1998 Final Four MVP, is back from his professional playing career in Italy. He was spotted updating his resume in CATS in January. He’s living in London, Ky., with his wife Stacey, a former star of the women’s team, and their daughter, Madison.
Allen Edwards, a teammate of Sheppard’s, is back in school on the Cawood Ledford Scholarship fund. He’s one of three Wildcats taking advantage of the fund, which allows former student-athletes to return to school after their eligibility has expired to complete their degree requirments. Also enrolled is Derrick Miller (’90) and Dale Brown (’93).
Jared Prickett (’97) returned from his professional career in Argentina due to the South America country’s severe recession. He’s now playing in Europe.
Keightley In 41st Season, Works 1,250th Game
Equipment manager Bill Keightley is in his 41st season in the UK program. Against Auburn, the beloved Mr. Wildcat worked his 1,250th UK game, after serving on the Wildcats’ staff since 1961-62. He’s watched the Cats roll to a 963-297 record during that era.
Keightley, who has a jersey retired in the rafters of Rupp Arena, has worked under five different head coaches at UK — Rupp, Hall, Sutton, Pitino and Smith.
Wiggins Passes 1,200
Big Blue fan Bob Wiggins continues his amazing streak of following the basketball Cats. In all, he’s in his 49th season watching Kentucky play in person and through his own record-keeping, has attended 1,218 UK games.
Wiggins, who is retired and lives in Falmouth, Ky., saw 615 consecutive games — home and away — from 1977 until he suffered a heart attack just before the 1996 Great Alaska Shootout. It’s the second-longest streak on record at UK.
The illness forced him to miss four games, but he has since returned to see every contest in person, a streak of 204 games.
Meanwhile, his home court streak is still intact. Wiggins has not missed a home game in 41 years, a streak spanning 589 games. During that period, which dates back to 1960-61, UK has a home record of 523-66.
UK’s NBA Players
To start the 2001-02 NBA season, the following Wildcats were active:
Derek Anderson Portland Tony Delk Boston Walter McCarty Boston Jamaal Magloire Charlotte Jamal Mashburn Charlotte Ron Mercer Indiana Nazr Mohammed Atlanta Scott Padgett Utah Mark Pope Milwaukee Antoine Walker Boston
In addition, former UK assistant coach Jim O'Brien is the head coach of the Boston Celtics while former UK All-American Pat Riley coaches the Miami Heat.
— Go Cats —
