Dec. 9, 2002
No. TBA/TBA Kentucky Wildcats (4-1)
vs.
Tulane Green Wave (3-4)
New Orleans Arena (17,832)
New Orleans, La.
Dec. 10, 2002
9 p.m. ET
RADIO
UK Radio Network (80+ stations): Tom Leach, Mike Pratt, Dave Baker.
Listen Live
TELEVISION
ESPN: Dave O’Brien and Brad Daugherty.
vs. Tulane
Nickname: Green Wave
Web site: tulanegreenwave.com
Series Record: UK leads 40-5
In New Orleans: UK leads 14-4
Last Meeting: Jan. 2, 2002 – UK 101, TU 67 (Louisville)
Coaching Comparisons
Tubby Smith (High Point ’73)
Overall: 260-106 (.710) (12th)
at UK: 136-44 (.756) (6th)
vs. Tulane: 1-0
Shawn Finney (Fairmont State ’85)
Overall: 26-40 (.394) (3rd)
at TU: 26-40 (.394) (3rd)
vs. Kentucky: 0-1
Wildcats Face Tulane in “Big Easy”
Kentucky travels to face former UK assistant Shawn Finney and his Tulane Green Wave on Tuesday in what the Cats hope to be the first of three trips to New Orleans this season. The Cats have not played in the “Big Easy” since Dec. 30, 1999, a 70-53 win over Missouri in the Sugar Bowl Classic. UK will return to New Orleans in March for the SEC Tournament. The Final Four also will be held there in the Super Dome in April.
Finney, who is in his third season at TU, served on Tubby Smith’s staff at Kentucky from 1997-2000, before taking over at Tulane. Finney helped coach the Cats to the 1998 NCAA Championship, and also served as an assistant coach for Smith at Georgia and Tulsa. In all, he worked with Smith for nine seasons.
Kentucky enters the game coming off a big win over No. 12 North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Saturday. UK tied its own record by handing the Tar Heels a 17-point loss in the Dean Smith Center, the second-worst loss in arena history. Gerald Fitch had a career-high 25 points to lead three UK players over the 20-point mark. Keith Bogans and Marquis Estill each added 20.
Probable Starters
KentuckyNo. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Ppg Rpg Hometown '03 Note10 Keith Bogans G/F 6-5 213 Sr. 18.2 3.4 Alexandria, Va. Highest ppg average in career44 Chuck Hayes F 6-6 247 So. 9.2 5.0 Modesto, Calif. CH 16 points vs. UNC50 Marquis Estill C 6-9 236 Sr. 13.0 4.4 Richmond, Ky. All 20 pts. vs. UNC in 2nd half40 Jules Camara F/C 6-11 220 Sr. 9.0 6.2 Dakar, Senegal Team's leading rebounder 4 Gerald Fitch G 6-3 188 Jr. 15.8 3.2 Macon, Ga. Back-to-back career high games
TulaneNo. Name Pos.Ht. Wt. Cl. Ppg Rpg Hometown ’03 Note 5 Brandon Brown F 6-8 220 Sr. 16.1 9.0 Houma, La. Leads TU in ppg and rpg15 Nick Sinville F 6-6 230 Sr. 10.1 5.4 Shreveport, La. Had 17 points against Maine45 Wayne Tinsley G/F 6-5 218 Jr. 4.2 2.5 Fontana, Calif.02 Brandon Spann G 6-1 185 Sr. 13.7 2.9 New Orleans, La. 4 Karl Hollingsworth G/F 6-5 220 So. 3.3 2.4 Jonesboro, Ga.*Assists
Fitch Named SEC Player of the Week
Gerald Fitch recorded back-to-back career highs last week – 18 against High Point, 25 against No. 12 North Carolina – in leading the Wildcats to consecutive wins, earning SEC Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. Fitch shot 68.2% from the field for the week and 75.0% from three-point range against the two teams. Against High Point, he totaled a career-high six assists as well. Against UNC, he scored 16 of his 25 in the decisive second half as UK rallied from a 43-40 halftime deficit. Fitch, a two-guard, is playing out of his normal position at point guard in the absence of 2002 starter Cliff Hawkins. His turnover ratio this season is 18 assists vs. seven turnovers. For the season, he’s averaging a career-best 15.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg and 3.6 apg.
Triple Trouble
Three Wildcats topped the 20-point mark in UK’s win over UNC on Saturday, making it the first time in 13 seasons that three players scored 20 points in the same game. Gerald Fitch led the team with a career-high 25 points, while Keith Bogans and Marquis Estill each added 20. All of Estill’s points came in the decisive second half.
The last group to accomplish the feat included current UK assistant coach Reggie Hanson. With Tubby Smith on the sidelines as an assistant coach, Hanson combined his 20 points with 21 by Deron Feldhaus and a 40-point burst from Derrick Miller for a 100-73 win over Vanderbilt on Feb. 7, 1990.
Shooting the Lights Out!
Kentucky is coming off a hot shooting week. After converting a season-high 62.7% against High Point on Dec. 3 in Lexington, the Cats topped the 60.0% mark a second time last week with a 60.3% outing against the Tar Heels. It marks the first time that Kentucky has put together back-to-back 60.0% shooting performances since the 1996-97 season.
The Wildcats shot 63.9% against College of Charleston in the finals of the 1996 Great Alaska Shootout that year before hitting 60.9% of its shots against Purdue in the Great Eight in Chicago just four days later.
Long-Range Love
UK was 10-of-16 from treyville against UNC, connecting on 62.5% of its shots, which would be a school record had the Cats made the minimum 20 threes needed.
It was the highest three-point percentage since UK hit 63.6% of its shots against Wake Forest during its 1996 march to the national title. UK was 7-of-11 from outside in that game.
Daniels’ Solid Return
Junior Erik Daniels, who was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating NCAA rules governing summer league play had a stellar return against North Carolina on Dec. 7. Daniels shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, including 1-of-1 from three-point land, for 9 points, while grabbing five rebounds and two assists in 19 minutes.
His productive start was reminiscent of his freshman season when the Cincinnati native missed the opener after having his knee scoped in the preseason. He returned against UCLA and over the course of the next three games was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field.
Shortened Squad
Kentucky will remain without two of its heavyweights when it faces Tulane. Point guard Cliff Hawkins was deemed academically ineligible for the fall semester. He won’t be eligible to play until the Cats take on Indiana on Dec. 21.
UK was dealt another blow on Dec. 1 when junior college transfer Antwain Barbour broke his left hand in practice. Barbour underwent surgery on Dec. 3 to stabalize the break in his third metacarpal bone. Doctors expect him to be out for 4-6 weeks.
Series Information
This is the 46th meeting between the Wildcats and the Green Wave. Tulane is a former member of the SEC. Since TU withdrew from the league in 1966, the teams have met only three times. UK has won eight straight games over the Wave, including a 101-67 drubbing last season in Louisville’s Freedom Hall. Tulane’s last win in the series came Jan. 14, 1961, a 72-70 victory in New Orleans.
This is the final game in a two-year contract with the Green Wave.
Coach Tubby Smith is 1-0 against Tulane, while Shawn Finney fell to 0-1 after last year’s loss.
New Orleans Arena
The Wildcats will make their second appearance in New Orleans Arena when they face Tulane. The Cats beat Missouri there on Dec. 30, 1999. The 70-53 win came as part of the Sugar Bowl Classic doubleheader. Besides hosting two Tulane games this season, the arena also is home to the New Orleans Hornets and former Wildcats Jamal Mashburn and Jamaal Magloire.
UK vs. Conference USA
The Wildcats own a 129-43 all-time record against Conference USA opponents. Tulane is the first of two C-USA teams UK will face this year. The Cats take on Louisville later this month.
Last season, the Wildcats went 2-0 against C-USA opponents with wins over the Green Wave and Louisville.
“Respect Month”
UK forward Chuck Hayes has termed December “Respect Month” for the Wildcats. Following road games at North Carolina last Saturday and Tulane this week, the Cats face Michigan State, Indiana and Louisville on consecutive Saturdays.
UK holds a 428-101 mark in the month of December, including a 2-0 start to the month this year. Last season, the Cats went 5-1 in the year’s final month, with its only loss coming at the hands of then-No. 1 Duke in the Jimmy V Classic.
Vs. Ranked Opponents
The Wildcats have already beaten No. 20 Gonzaga in the Maui Invitational and No. 12 North Carolina in Chapel Hill to own a 2-0 record against ranked teams this season.
The Wildcats could play as many as seven teams ranked in the Top 25 this season, including two top-10 squads — Florida and Alabama. Future UK opponents Georgia, Indiana, Michigan State and Mississippi State also are ranked.
Cats in the Polls
The Wildcats were ranked 17th in both preseason polls, before jumping to 15th in the AP and 16th in the ESPN poll on the opening day of the Maui Invitational.
UK fell to 18th in both polls last week after its third-place finish in Hawaii. The polls were not updated this week at the time of this writing.
National Exposure
The Tulane game marks UK’s fifth national television appearance this season, all of which have been on the ESPN network. The Cats will appear on national TV 16 times during the 2002-03 regular season, including 10 ESPN appearances and six games on CBS.
Next Opponent
Kentucky returns home on Saturday to take on Big-Ten favorite Michigan State before breaking next week for final examinations.
The Spartans and Wildcats last faced off on Dec. 16, 2000, a 46-45 MSU win in East Lansing. Next weekend’s game reopens the series with a two-year contract.
The MSU game will be televised nationally on CBS, the first of six games on the network for UK this season.
Rupp Arena
Kentucky is in its 27th season at Rupp Arena, where the Wildcats own a 341-39 (91.8%) record.
The Cats have won the national attendance title the past seven seasons. Overall, the Wildcats have won 15 national attendance titles in the building.
Once again this season, the arena debuts new upgrades, including all blue seats in the lower level, a new concourse, a standing-room only “eRUPP-tion Zone” for the student body and a media press box, all totaling $5.1 million. The new purple concourse is two levels, replacing the old one-level boxed concession stand. It features greater concession stand access and more restrooms. The “eRUPPtion Zone” moved 400 season ticket holders to other seats in lower arena and moves the band and nearly 700 students into the end zone nearest UK’s bench. It also gives students access to floor-level seating, er, standing. Shockingly, a UK junior from Lincolnton, N.C., Andy Acker, named the area in a contest among the student body. His entry was picked from nearly 200 submissions.
Milestones
Keith Bogans is currently 18th on UK’s all-time scoring list with 1,450 points. He needs 11 points to catch Johnny Cox at 17th.
Bogans needs five three-pointers to reach No. 4 Travis Ford on the all-time three-pointers made list at UK. Bogans currently has 185 trifectas.
Jules Camara ranks seventh on the Wildcats’ all-time blocked-shots list, trailing No. 6 Nazr Mohammed by eight blocks.
Three Mania
Kentucky ranks third nationally in consecutive games with a made three-pointer. The Wildcats have hit a three-pointer in 478 consecutive games, which trails UNLV and Vanderbilt.
The Wildcats’ last game without a three-pointer came 14 seasons ago against Seton Hall on Nov. 26, 1988, a “three-point” loss in the Great Alaska Shootout.
Estill Holds Record Mark
Senior Marquis Estill shot six-of-eight from the field in the season opener against Arizona State and now has the minimum 200 made field goals in his UK career to take the all-time lead in FG percentage. So far this year, he’s 28-of-39 from the field. For his career he’s shooting 62.6%.
Estill ranks ahead of the school’s previous record holder, Charles Hurt (1980-83), who shot 59.3 percent. Estill can own the school record should he maintain the pace throughout the season. The 6-9 center can earn a fourth year of eligibility should he graduate by the fall semester of 2003.
Career FG Percentage (Min. 200 made)
62.6 Marquis Estill (224-358) 2001-03
59.3 Charles Hurt (303-511) 1980-83
59.1 Melvin Turpin (626-1059) 1981-84
58.1 Rick Robey (533-917) 1975-78
57.1 Kenny Walker (765-1339) 1983-86
Double-Doubles
Kentucky got its first double-double performance of the season when Jules Camara totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds in relief against Virginia. It marked Camara’s fifth of his career.
Chuck Hayes nearly pulled off the feat against Gonzaga, but fell just short, finishing with 11 points and nine boards against the Bulldogs.
SEASON NOTES
Home Openers
With the win over High Point, Kentucky is now 85-15 all-time in home openers. Nine of those losses occurred before Adolph Rupp began coaching in 1930. The Cats are 66-6 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 last season to Western Kentucky.
UK now stands at 24-3 in home openers at Rupp Arena.
Maui Invitational Results
Kentucky finished in third place at the 19th annual Maui Invitational. Kentucky beat Arizona State in the first round before getting upset by Virginia in the semifinals. The Wildcats then beat No. 20 Gonzaga in the consolation game. It was the third appearance for UK in the Maui Invitational. The Cats are now 7-2 all-time in the tournament, earning a championship in 1993 and a third-place finish in 1997 in their two previous appearances.
Keith Bogans averaged 16.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game to earn All-Tournament team honors. UK rival Indiana beat Virginia to claim the 2002 title.
Well more than 500 Kentucky fans made the trip to the Maui Invitational to cheer on the Wildcats. UK chartered an L1011, and along with an official traveling party of 55 team and school personnel, an additional 300 fans were aboard the plane. Also, another 150 fans purchased the trip through Commonwealth Travel in Lexington and flew commercially. Others made the trip via additional travel agencies or on their own to help give the Wildcats the largest cheering section among the eight participating teams.
100th Season
The Wildcats are playing their 100th season of basketball this year. The Cats have a number of events planned throughout the season, including fan balloting for the program’s greatest players, games and moments. The celebration will include replays of the top 10 games on radio, a 25-year celebration of the 1978 NCAA Champions, and four special-edition bobble-head dolls that fans can collect. The year-long celebration concludes with an all-letterman reunion on Feb. 23 at the Mississippi State game.
Kentucky celebrates unparalleled tradition, including seven NCAA titles, the most wins in college basketball, the best winning percentage in college hoops, the most consensus All-Americans, the most AP top-10 finishes, the most SEC Championships and tournament crowns and 15 national attendance titles.
Its first bobble-head promotion was held in the home opener when 500 lucky students received a Kyle Macy bobble-head.
SEC Domination
UK will play its 70th season of SEC action in 2003. 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 SEC 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 11 SEC Tournament titles.
PRESEASON NOTES
Returning Production
UK lost just one starter off its 2002 Sweet 16 team (Tayshaun Prince), but returned just 67.1% of its scoring from a year ago. Here’s the complete breakdown, which includes Cliff Hawkins, who’s expected to return during the holidays:
Points 67.1%
Rebounds 76.6%
Assists 81.7%
Blocks 67.3%
Steals 77.4%
SEC Preseason Poll
The Wildcats were picked to finish third in the SEC Eastern Division in a preseason poll of media members. UK, which has not finished lower than second since the league split into divisions in 1992, was also predicted to finish fourth in the race for the SEC regular-season crown.
Keith Bogans was the only Wildcat picked as either first- or second-team preseason All-SEC poll. The first team included Erwin Dudley (Alabama), Mario Austin (Miss. State), Jarvis Hayes (Georgia), Maurice Williams (Alabama), and Brett Nelson (Florida). The second team included Bogans, Ronald Dupree (LSU), Matt Bonner (Florida), Ezra Williams (Georgia) and Derrick Zimmerman (Miss. State).
BIG BLUE MANIA
Keightley’s Seen Half of UK’s Games
Incredible.
Bill Keightley is in his 42nd season as equipment manager of the UK basketball team. The beloved “Mr. Wildcat” has served on the staff since the 1961-62 season and has witnessed 1,268 games during his career, owning a 969-299 record during that era.
The Wildcats, who are celebrating their 100th season of basketball, have played 2,390 games, meaning Keightley has witnessed 53.1% of the games.
The Lawrenceburg, Ky., native, 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. The current cats have a modern nickname for the 75-year-old Keightley — “Smooth.”
Wiggins In 50th Season
Big Blue fan Bob Wiggins continued his amazing streak of following the basketball Cats. He’s starting his 50th season watching Kentucky play in person and through his own record-keeping, has attended 1,226 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 longest record is the late Steve Reardon’s 626 games.
The illness forced Wiggins to miss four games, but he has since returned to see every contest in person, a streak of 212 games.
Meanwhile, his home court streak is still intact. Wiggins has not missed a home game in 42 years, a streak spanning 590 games. During that period, which dates back to 1960-61, UK has a home record of 524-66.
UK’s NBA Players
To start the 2002-03 NBA season, the following Wildcats were active:
Derek Anderson – Portland
Tony Delk – Boston
Jamaal Magloire – New Orleans
Jamal Mashburn – New Orleans
Walter McCarty – Boston
Ron Mercer – Indiana
Nazr Mohammed – Atlanta
Scott Padgett – Utah
Mark Pope – New York
Tayshaun Prince – Detroit
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.
Other Wildcats participating in professional basketball include Heshimu Evans, Jared Prickett, Andre Riddick and Wayne Turner, who are all playing overseas, and Saul Smith, who plays for Columbus of the NBDL.
UKathletics com 100-Year Catalog and Online Store
UK Athletics has released an official catalog and online store with products celebrating the 100 years of UK hoops. The product line includes memorabilia, Tubby Smith autographed items, videos, DVDs and the full-line of Nike apparel. The catalog is a special 100-year basketball that features UK’s national champions, All-Americans, great coaches and 100-year logo. Fans may call 888-234-9350 or log on to ukauthentic.com to purchase items.
— Go Cats —
