March 6, 2002
#12/11 Kentucky Wildcats (20-8, 10-6 T1st East)
Co-SEC Eastern Division Champions
March 7-10, 2002 – Atlanta, Ga.
Georgia Dome (26,000)
SEC Tournament Notes (PDF)
Press Conference Quotes
Game 29
March 8, 2002
9:45 p.m. ET
Georgia Dome (26,000)
Atlanta, Ga.
Vs. South Carolina/Ole Miss winner
RADIO
UK Radio Network (90+ stations): Tom Leach, Mike Pratt, Dave Baker.
TELEVISION
JP Sports will broadcast all tournament games through Saturday’s semifinals. CBS Sports will air the championship game on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Probable Starters
WILDCATS No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Ppg Rpg Hometown Last Game 21 Tayshaun Prince F 6-9 215 Sr. 17.0 6.4 Compton, Calif. 13 pts, 6 rebs, 2 blks 44 Chuck Hayes F 6-7 237 Fr. 5.7 4.2 Modesto, Calif. 9 pts, 4 rebs, 3 stls 40 Jules Camara F-C 6-11 225 Jr. 5.8 3.9 Dakar, Senegal 6 pts, 7 rebs 10 Keith Bogans G 6-5 205 Jr. 10.8 4.4 Alexandria, Va. 7 pts, 1 reb 1 Cliff Hawkins G 6-1 185 So. 7.3 *4.3 Dumfries, Va. 8 pts, 2 asstsKey Reserves 4 Gerald Fitch G 6-3 188 So. 9.6 5.8 Macon, Ga. 10 pts, 4 rebs, 2 assts 50 Marquis Estill F 6-9 240 Jr. 9.2 4.3 Richmond, Ky. 10 pts, 9 rebs, 1 blk 2 Rashaad Carruth G 6-3 195 Fr. 6.3 1.0 College Park, Ga. 3 pts, 1 reb, 9 mins 14 Erik Daniels F 6-7 205 So. 3.7 2.8 Cincinnati, Ohio 0 pts, 0 rebs, 6 mins 3 J.P. Blevins G 6-2 180 Sr. 2.6 1.2 Edmonton, Ky. 4 pts, 1 reb, 1 stl*Assists
UK Opens Postseason in “CAT-lanta”
Kentucky makes its 41st appearance in the Southeastern Conference Tournament after winning eight of the last 10 tournament titles. The Cats enter the league’s postseason tourney winning seven of their last 10 games. Kentucky finished in a three-way tie for the SEC Eastern Division crown and earned a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament after sweeping Florida. Georgia took the No. 1 seed after beating UK twice in regular-season play. The Cats have a first-round bye and will play the winner of the South Carolina/Ole Miss game in the quarterfinals.
Kentucky has won more than half of the 42 SEC Tournaments played, including the 2001 crown. UK’s 23 tourney championships are more than all the other league teams combined.
UK has won 26 of its last 28 games in the SEC Tournament. The Cats are 9-2 in the league tourney when playing in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, taking the title in 1995, 1998 and 1999. Overall, UK is 13-3 in Atlanta in SEC Tournament play, picking up the title there in 1933 after winning four games, before losing in the first round in 1934.
Since the league split in 1992, Kentucky has been the No. 1 seed five times and the No. 2 seed six times. The Wildcats have yet to play a first-round game during those 11 years.
UK will attempt to win its 100th SEC Tournament game when it takes the floor on Friday. The Wildcats are 99-16 (86.1%) in the tournament and have played in the final game 31 times. Since the tournament was renewed in 1979, UK is 42-10 (80.8%), winning 11 championships, including seven in the decade of the 1990s.
Roll the Highlights
Tayshaun Prince, the 2001 SEC Player of the Year, leads UK’s 14-man roster. The Cats lost one senior, point guard Saul Smith, from last year’s tournament championship team. However, UK has been under-manned in the middle after losing Jason Parker to a torn ACL in July and again in October. The sophomore retore the ligament prior to UK’s Midnight Madness. An additional loss inside came in late December when junior Marvin Stone was dismissed from the team.
The Wildcats have won seven of their last 10 games in a roller-coaster season. UK’s longest win streak was six games, from Nov. 16-Dec. 15. No. 1 Duke snapped the Cats’ win streak in overtime.
The Wildcats overcame an 0-2 start in SEC play to finish as tri-champs of the Eastern Division. In the league opener, host Miss. State rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit to earn the win in OT. This season, UK has lost all three of its overtime games.
Kentucky earned its 12th consecutive 20-win season when it defeated Florida in the regular-season finale. The Cats have 47 20-win seasons in their 99 years of basketball. Last year, UK was 19-9 entering the league tournament.
Coach Tubby Smith earned his 250th career win in February, becoming only the seventh coach to reach the plateau in 11 seasons or less.
The Cats averaged 21,014 fans per game at Rupp Arena this season to lead the nation again. UK outdistanced Syracuse by an average of nearly 3,000 spectators. North Carolina had finished second last season in average attendance, but the Heels fell to less than 18,000 per game this year. This is the seventh straight year UK has won the national attendance title, the 15th overall since Rupp Arena was opened in 1976-77.
Blevins Earns Academic All-SEC Honor
Senior J.P. Blevins was named to the SEC’s Academic Honor Roll, the lone Wildcat on the list of 18 released by Commissioner Roy Kramer earlier this week. Blevins, who will graduate in May with a degree in communications, became the first Wildcat since Travis Ford (1992-94) to earn the honor three times.
Requirements for the award are a 3.0/4.0 GPA, a sophomore or higher in academic standing and have 24 semester hours toward a degree. Blevins owns a 3.67 GPA in communications.
Princely Praise
Earlier this week, Tayshaun Prince was named a second-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and a first-team All-SEC selection in voting conducted by the league coaches.
It marked the second straight season that Prince earned All-America honors and first-team All-SEC recognition. Last year, Prince finished as a second-team All-American by the AP and USBWA and made the 10-member Wooden All-American team. He’s the first Wildcat to earn back-to-back All-America honors since Kenny Walker 1985-86.
Prince was the only Wildcat among the first, second or third teams. Chuck Hayes, however, was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. Alabama’s Erwin Dudley was the 2002 SEC Player of the Year, teammate Maurice Williams was named SEC Freshman of the Year and Tide coach Mark Gottfried was named SEC Coach of the Year.
Dome Sweet Dome
Kentucky owns a 13-1 record when playing in “CATlanta’s” Georgia Dome, while claiming three SEC Tournament titles there. The Cats’ only loss came in the quarterfinals of the 2000 SEC Tourney, an 86-72 loss to Arkansas.
Date Opponent Result3-10-95 Auburn (SEC) W, 93-813-11-95 Florida (SEC) W, 86-723-12-95 Arkansas (SEC) W, 95-93*12-21-96 Georgia Tech W, 88-593-6-98 Alabama (SEC) W, 82-713-7-98 Arkansas (SEC) W, 99-743-8-98 S. Carolina (SEC) W, 86-563-13-98 S.C. State (NCAA) W, 82-673-15-98 St. Louis (NCAA) W, 88-6112-19-98 Georgia Tech W, 80-393-5-99 Ole Miss (SEC) W, 82-733-6-99 Auburn (SEC) W, 69-573-7-99 Arkansas (SEC) W, 76-633-10-00 Arkansas (SEC) L, 72-86*overtime
Neutral Sites
UK owns a 3-1 record at neutral sites this season with the only loss coming to No. 1 Duke at the Meadowlands. The Cats have not played a neutral site game since defeating Tulane in Louisville on Jan. 2.
Smith Loves March
Coach Tubby Smith owns an impressive 23-5 record in March (82.1%) since taking over at UK. He’s 9-1 in the SEC Tournament, 12-3 in the NCAA tourney and owns a 2-1 advantage over Florida in regular-season closers while at Kentucky.
March Magic
UK is 246-92 all-time in the month of March for a 72.8 winning percentage.
20 Wins
For the 12th consecutive season, Kentucky recorded a 20-win season with its win over Florida last Saturday. It marks the 47th time UK has recorded 20 wins in its 99 seasons of basketball.
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 780-212 mark (78.6%). No other team has won more than 647 regular-season games (Alabama) and no other team has a better winning percentage. UK has averaged 11.3 wins and 3.1 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 59-21 (73.8%) 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.
Smith’s Cats captured a share of the 2002 SEC Eastern Division crown, his fourth in the last five years and the third straight.
SEC Legend
Three-time All-American Cotton Nash will represent the Wildcats this week at the SEC Tournament as the school’s “Legend.” Each school annually nominates a legend at the tournament. Each former player is then recognized at halftime of his team’s first game before the entire group is honored between semifinal games on Saturday.
Nash played for Kentucky from 1962-64 and became the quickest Cat to record 1,000 points in his career. He still ranks seventh all-time in scoring at Kentucky with 1,770 points while averaging 22.7 ppg for his three-year career. He holds the school record for rebounds in an SEC game with 30 against Ole Miss in 1964. Nash, a native of Lake Charles, La., still resides in Lexington.
Former Cat Now Interim AD
Terry Mobley, who lettered for the Wildcats from 1963-65, is now serving as the interim athletics director at Kentucky in the wake of Larry Ivy’s retirement.
Mobley played for Adolph Rupp and was a member of the Wildcats’ 1964 SEC Championship team. In ’64, he started 25 of the 27 games at guard, averaging 9.4 ppg in leading the Cats to a 21-6 record. He was best remembered for one shot — a short jumper with four seconds left that gave top-ranked UK a victory over No. 9 Duke in the Sugar Bowl title game. He was a veteran on the ’65 team that featured up-and-coming stars Larry Conley, Louie Dampier and Pat Riley. As a senior, he started half the games, averaging 9.0 ppg as the Cats finished 15-10.
The Harrodsburg, Ky., native currently serves as the Chief Development Officer at UK.
Good Work, Tayshaun!
Tayshaun Prince represents Kentucky as this week’s featured member of the SEC Good Works Team. The team is comprised of one student-athlete from each of the league’s 12 member institutions. The player must show excellence on the court and a dedication to community service.
Prince has spent much of his career devoting time to community service projects, including visiting local hospitals and serving as a mentor for local elementary students.
Postseason Punch
Keith Bogans has enjoyed tremendous success in his two years of postseason action. In SEC Tournament play, the junior averages 22.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 2.3 apg.
Last season, Bogans totaled 71 points in UK’s three games, earning him All-Tournament team honors. In 2000 against Arkansas, he had 25 points, five rebounds and an assist.
Vs. Ranked Opponents
After sweeping the regular-season series with Florida, the Cats are 2-3 against ranked opponents this season. Kentucky defeated the No. 5 Gators, 70-68, in Gainesville on Jan. 29, and again in Lexington when the Gators were ranked eighth, 70-67, on March 2. 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 25th on UK’s all-time scoring list, has 1,291 career points and with 29 more can tie Jim Andrews (1971-73) for 24th.
Tayshaun Prince has made 194 3FGs 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 against Vanderbilt. He has 166 made 3FGs.
Prince needs eight points to reach 1,700 in his career.
Marquis Estill needs 11 points to reach 500 in his two-year career.
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 66.9% from the foul line this season, but have converted over 70% of their charity tosses in eight of their last 11 games. In addition, UK has gone to the line at least 18 times in each of the past six games.
Prior to the last 11 games, UK had shot 64.9% from the line. During the 11-game stretch the Cats have shot 69.9% from the FT stripe. The low point occurred 12 games ago — a 48.5% effort at Auburn.
Starting Spark
Chuck Hayes is enjoying a solid freshman campaign, averaging 5.7 ppg and 4.2 rpg in just 15.3 mpg. However, in his five games as a starter, Hayes has shined, averaging 9.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per outing. Hayes scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds against Florida, including a career-high two three-pointers.
Fitch’s Numbers
Gerald Fitch returned against Florida to score 10 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 29 seconds left to give UK the lead for good. He was suspended for the three previous games. Over his last six games played, Fitch has averaged 12.8 points, 6.2 boards and 1.5 spg while shooting 54.0% from the field and 46.2% from three-point range. In SEC play alone, he’s second on the team in scoring (11.2 ppg), first in rebounding (6.2 rpg) and second in steals (26). The improved numbers of those games coincided with the return of injured point guard J.P. Blevins.
RPI Polls
The most recent RPI poll released by CollegeRPI.com rated Kentucky No. 8 overall with the nation’s third toughest schedule. The Cats’ schedule ranks fifth 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 8th (3rd) 11th (5th)
The Southeastern Conference is rated as the nation’s toughest conference by CollegeRPI.com and Sagarin.
1. SEC
2. ACC
3. Big 12
Pride in Defense
Defensive highlights this season include:
Leading the SEC in FG percentage defense during league play (41.5%) and in blocked shots (5.3 bpg).
Limiting host Florida to a then-season-low 68 points and a season-low 31 rebounds in the teams’ first meeting. Matched the season-low rebounding again in Lexington.
Holding the SEC’s top three-point shooting team, Vanderbilt, to 31.8% accuracy on Feb. 13.
In 13 of the 28 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 40.6% 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 postseason, the Cats’ defense is averaging 7.9 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 45.3% 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 six games, including a 35.5% effort in the loss to Vandy (2/27). UK had previous sub-40% shooting efforts against Western and Alabama.
Changing Lineups
Against Florida, Kentucky started its eighth lineup of the season, inserting J.P. Blevins on Senior Day for Keith Bogans.
In the first eight games of the season, Smith used four different lineups. Only Tayshaun Prince has started every game. Hawkins has started 25 times while Blevins has four starts. Jules Camara has 13 starts, while Marquis Estill has 11. Chuck Hayes has started five games, and Erik Daniels also has a start to his credit.
Last 10
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 NCAAs. In its final 10 regular-season games, UK went 7-3 this season.
Cats in the NCAA
In the NCAA statistics released March 5, the Wildcats ranked 24th in scoring margin (+10.0 ppg). Despite losing the battle of the boards in four of the last six games, UK was tied for 27th in the nation in rebounding margin, outrebounding opponents by 5.5 rpg.
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 (17.0 ppg) while Cliff Hawkins ranks fourth in assists (4.3 apg). Jules Camara and Prince are tied for fourth in blocks (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 (77.3 ppg), third in scoring margin (+10.0) and second in rebounding margin (+5.5 rpg). UK is first in rebounding (40.3 rpg) and offensive boards (15.5 orpg). The Cats rank second in blocks (4.9 pg).
In SEC games only, Prince finished the season ranked second in the league in blocked shots with 1.9 bpg. Camara was fourth with 1.4 pg and Estill ranked sixth with 1.3 bpg. Hawkins was third in assists (4.3 apg).
Gerald Fitch was 10th in rebounding in league games with 6.2 rpg, while Prince ranked ninth in FG% (43.5%) and was tied for eighth in scoring (16.4 ppg).
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 469 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.
Last Time Out
The Cats completed a regular-season sweep of Florida for the first time since 1997 with a 70-67 win on Senior Day in Lexington. The win earned UK a share of the Eastern Division crown and a No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament. Tayshaun Prince led the Cats with 13 points and six rebounds.
National Polls
After falling to Vanderbilt and upsetting No. 8 Florida last week, the Wildcats fell just one spot in the AP poll this week, checking in at No. 12. UK has spent 11 of the 17 weeks this season in the AP top 10.
In the Coaches poll, they stayed just outside the top 10 at No. 11.
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.
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 1,692 points in his career, just 52 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.
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.
National Exposure
The Cats have appeared on national TV 13 times this season. The Florida game marked the unprecedented seventh time on CBS, according to 17-year veteran producer Bob Dekas. The Cats also played six times on ESPN.
SEASON NOTES
Rupp Arena
With the win over Florida on March 3, Kentucky wrapped up play at Rupp Arena this season with a 12-3 record.
At the end of its 26th season in the building, UK owns a 340-39 (89.7%) record in Rupp.
This year, the Cats have won the national attendance title for the seventh straight season. The Wildcats have won 15 national attendance titles in the building.
Big Draw I
This season, the Cats played in front of five of the top 10 regular-season 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 March 3:
Game (Site) Attendance1. UK-Indiana (N) 29,3792. Syracuse-Georgetown 29,2153. UK-Louisville (H) 24,3304. UK-Florida (H) 23,6065. UK-Alabama (H) 23,5446. Syracuse-Virginia Tech 23,2267. UK-North Carolina (H) 23,1538. Syracuse-Boston College 22,9289. Missouri-Illinois 22,15310. UK-Arkansas (H) 22,109
Big Draw II
Kentucky routinely draws an opponent’s top home crowd each season. In fact, in the nine road games the Cats 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
Bowie’s Jersey Retired
Former All-American Sam Bowie had his Kentucky jersey retired in a ceremony prior to the 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.
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.
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.
Prince Named SEC POW
Tayshaun Prince earned his second SEC Player of the Week honor for the week of Feb. 23-March 2 after leading UK to wins over Tennessee and Arkansas. 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.
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.
UK By Months
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.
UK closed out February on the road with a loss at Vanderbilt. The Cats were again 5-3 during the month. The Wildcats own a 582-182 (76.2%) all-time record in February.
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 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 who attended UK home games this past season recognized changes at floor level. In addition to the new floor that was purchased last summer, courtside fan seating was added as well. Twenty-two new “scholarship seats” displaced some traditional media seating and were installed on press row. The 22 seats were sold for $313,000 a pair and the revenue generated has gone 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 –
