Feb. 18, 2003
No. 2/2 Kentucky Wildcats (20-3, 10-0 SEC East)
vs.
Arkansas Razorbacks (7-14, 2-8 SEC West)
The Arkansas Game
Fayetteville, Ark.
Bud Walton Arena (19,200)
February 19, 2003
8:05 p.m. ET
Pre-Game Press Conference Quotes
RADIO
UK Radio Network (80+ stations): Tom Leach, Mike Pratt, Dave Baker.
TELEVISION
JP Sports: Tom Hammond and Larry Conley
vs. Arkansas
Nickname: Razorbacks
Web site: hogwired.com
Series Record: UK leads 16-7
In Fayetteville: UA leads 4-2
Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2002 – UK 71, Arkansas 58
Coaching Comparison
Tubby Smith (High Point ’73)
Overall: 276-108 (.719) (12th)
at UK: 152-46 (.768) (6th)
vs. Arkansas: 8-9
Stan Heath (E. Michigan ’88)
Overall: 37-20 (.649) (2nd)
at Arkansas: 7-14 (.333) (1st)
vs. Kentucky: 0-1
Did you know that only two teams have shot 50% or better against the Cats in SEC play? Against host South Carolina and host Tennessee both topped the 50% mark but failed to get the win. In six of the Cats’ 10 wins, they held the opponent under 40%.
Team Comparison cats hogsRecord 20-3 7-14SEC Record 10-0 2-8Scoring Offense 78.0 64.0Scoring Defense 65.9 66.8Scoring Margin +12.0 -2.8FG % 48.6 40.4FG % Defense 41.7 41.93FG % 35.2 31.53FG % Defense 34.3 32.3Free Throw % 70.9 63.5Rebound Average 36.5 38.2Opp. Reb. Avg. 31.3 32.1Rebound Margin +5.2 +6.1TO Average 14.1 17.3Opponent TO 16.9 13.7TO Margin +2.8 -3.6Blocks Average 5.3 3.6Steals Average 7.7 6.4
Probable Starters
KentuckyNo. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Ppg Rpg Hometown Cat Scratch44 Chuck Hayes F 6-6 247 So. 9.0 6.7 Modesto, Calif. 6 pts, 10 rebs, CH 6 blocks vs. LSU14 Erik Daniels F 6-8 214 Jr. 10.2 5.8 Cincinnati, Ohio Career-high 10 boards vs. Tigers50 Marquis Estill C 6-9 236 Sr. 11.1 5.3 Richmond, Ky. Needs 27 points to top 80010 Keith Bogans G 6-5 213 Sr. 16.6 3.7 Alexandria, Va. 3 3FGM in each of last five games 4 Gerald Fitch G 6-3 188 Jr. 12.5 3.1 Macon, Ga. 43.6% 3FG in SEC play
Arkansas 4 Carl Baker F 6-8 206 Sr. 3.5 4.3 Palestine, Ark. 30.8% from the field33 Dionisio Gomez F 6-8 218 Sr. 8.7 7.2 Panama City, Pan. CH 17 rebs vs. UGA, 12 off.50 Larry Satchell F 6-9 217 Sr. 2.8 2.8 Waco, Texas Shooting 58.6% last seven games11 Eric Ferguson G 6-1 196 Fr. 11.4 3.2 Long Island, N.Y. 4th-leading FR scorer in SEC24 Jonathon Modica G/F 6-4 198 Fr. 12.5 4.3 Smackover, Ark. 3rd-leading FR scorer in SEC
High Ranking, Win Streak On Line at Bud Walton
Kentucky carries its nation’s best 14-game win streak and No. 2 national ranking on the road to one of the most difficult places in America to play — Arkansas’ Bud Walton Arena. The Cats are unbeaten in Southeastern Conference action this season, winning all five road games and all four contests against SEC West opponents.
UK enters the week ranked second in the nation behind Arizona. It is the highest ranking by a UK team since the Cats finished the 1996 season ranked No. 2 behind UMass in the final AP poll.
Arkansas enters the game behind new Hogs’ head coach Stan Heath, who led Kent State to the Final Eight in Rupp Arena last March. He’s 0-1 vs. UK in his career after the Cats hung an 82-68 defeat on his KSU squad last season in Cincinnati. The Razorbacks have lost 10 of their last 12 games, but have been strong at home, beating LSU and Alabama before suffering a late setback to Tennessee last week in Fayetteville, 70-62. While the ‘Backs’ record is below .500, College Basketball News has recognized them as having the nation’s second toughest schedule. They have played seven ranked opponents and hold a 1-6 mark in those games.
Kentucky hasn’t lost since an 81-63 defeat to host Louisville on Dec. 28. The Cats’ 14-game win streak is the longest in a single season during the Tubby Smith era, the second-longest overall during his reign. His ’98 and ’99 teams combined for a 17-game win streak during his first two seasons in the Bluegrass.
Just three weeks remain in the regular season. Of the Wildcats’ last six games, three are at home and three are on the road. Less than four weeks remain before Selection Sunday (March 16).
Series Information
UK leads the series 16-7 but hasn’t won in Fayetteville since 1997, when Cameron Mills came off the bench to total 12 points and lead the Wildcats to a 83-73 victory. Overall, Arkansas leads the series in Fayetteville, 4-2. Kentucky has won the last two meetings in the series.
Since Arkansas joined the league in 1992, UK owns a 12-7 record in the series, In regular-season games during that period, Arkansas has won six of the 11 games while the Cats have dominated the postseason matchups, winning seven of eight in SEC Tournament play.
Tubby Smith has never won in Fayetteville. He’s 0-6 while leading Tulsa, Georgia and Kentucky into the Hogs’ pen, including an 0-2 mark at UK. Overall, he’s 8-9 against the Razorbacks. At Tulsa, he was 0-5 against UA, at Georgia he was 2-1 and at Kentucky, he’s 6-3.
This is teams’ first meeting without Nolan Richardson walking the sidelines for Arkansas. Richardson’s postgame comments after the Cats’ win last season in Rupp Arena sparked efforts that led to his removal as basketball coach.
Memorable Games
March 25, 1978 — Long before Arkansas joined the SEC, UK had won all four meetings in the series including a 65-59 victory in the 1978 Final Four in St. Louis’ Checkerdome. Kyle Macy and Rick Robey led the Cats past the Hogs’ terrific trio of Marvin Delph, Sydney Moncreif and Ron Brewer. UK then defeated Duke in the finals to win its fifth national title.
Jan. 25, 1992 — In Arkansas’ first visit to Rupp, the No. 9 Hogs were victorious, defeating the eighth-ranked “Unforgettables,” 105-88.
Feb. 9, 1994 — No. 3 Arkansas was quickly becoming a UK pest, rolling to a 90-82 win over fourth-ranked Kentucky in Rupp. It was the Razorbacks’ third win in four tries vs. UK since joining the league. UK’s lone victory during the stretch came in the 1993 SEC Tournament.
Jan. 29, 1995 — On Super Bowl Sunday, UK battled defending national champ Arkansas in the Cats’ first trip to Bud Walton Arena. With UK leading 92-91, Scotty Thurman drove into the paint and pulled up for the game-winner with eight ticks left. A late free throw set the final margin at 94-92.
March 12, 1995 — In the SEC Tournament Championship, UK repeatedly clawed back after trailing by 19 in the first half, 12 points with nine minutes remaining in the second half, and by nine points with 1:33 left in overtime before pulling out a 95-93 victory.
Jan. 26, 1997 — Again, Super Bowl Sunday saw the shorthanded Cats at Arkansas playing without injured star Derek Anderson. Seldom-used walk-on Cameron Mills scored 12 points as UK won for the first time in Fayetteville, 83-73.
Jan. 17, 1998 — After Kareem Reid’s runner in the lane rolled out, sending the game to overtime, Heshimu Evans scored the Cats’ first seven points of overtime as UK rallied for the home win, 80-77.
March 10, 2001 — UK fell behind 40-25 in the SEC Tournament semis, but rallied to cut the deficit to 10 points by halftime before rolling to an 87-78 win in Nashville.
Common Opponents
Kentucky and Arkansas have had eight common opponents this season. UK is 9-0 against those teams, while Arkansas is 2-7.
Opponent UK Arkansas Alabama W, 63-46 L, 61-51 W, 81-70 Auburn W, 67-51 L, 52-37 Florida W, 70-55 L, 77-66 Georgia W, 87-67 L, 81-64 LSU W, 68-57 W, 73-65 Ole Miss W, 80-62 L, 73-54 S. Carolina W, 62-55 L, 72-65 W, 87-69 Tennessee W, 74-71 L, 70-62
Vs. SEC West
Kentucky is 4-0 against SEC Western Division teams this season. With its win over LSU Saturday, the Cats are riding a six-game win streak against the West, dating back to last season. UK’s last loss against a team from the West came against Alabama last year.
Overall, UK is 53-17 (.757) against SEC West Division teams since the league split in ’92.
Topping Twenty
The Wildcats won their 20th game of the season for the 13th year in a row. With the win over LSU last Saturday, Kentucky has recorded 20 wins in 38 of its 100 seasons of basketball. Coach Tubby Smith recorded his 10th consecutive 20-win season as a head coach. He’s accomplished the feat in each of his six seasons in the Bluegrass.
Inside the Numbers
The Wildcats are 20-3 overall and 10-0 in SEC play… Kentucky is undefeated in league play and owns the nation’s longest win streak but has won SEC Player of the Week honors just once – Gerald Fitch in early December… Six different Cats have tied or led the team in scoring this season… With a minimum of 20 attempts, six Cats are shooting better than 71% from the foul line… Four Cats are averaging at least five rebounds per game in SEC play… UK has topped 50% shooting 11 times this season, after achieving the mark only six times all of last season… Marquis Estill has won the opening tip in 21 of the 23 games for UK… The Cats are 15-1 since Cliff Hawkins returned to the lineup… The Cats have won all 19 games when leading inside the last five minutes… UK has used just four starting lineups.
National Win Streaks (Through 2/18)
1. Kentucky – 14
2. Weber State – 11
3. Xavier – 10
Win Streak
The Wildcats have won 14 straight games, the longest single-season win streak in the Tubby Smith era. Smith’s 1998 champs won 13 straight en route to the title. UK then won the first four of the 1999 season to extend that streak to 17 games. The Cats’ longest SEC win streak under Tubby Smith is 10 games, which includes seven to close the 1998 season and three to open the 1999 slate. His 10-0 start to league play this season is the longest single-season SEC win streak in his UK tenure and the longest since the Cats swept the conference slate in 1996 (16-0).
Other highlights of the current streak include:
The Cats have beaten five ranked opponents during the run and won seven of its last eight games by 15 points or more.
In the last 10 games, dating back to the South Carolina game on Jan. 11, UK has had just 22 lead changes.
UK has held six of its last nine opponents below 40% shooting and has beat its last nine opponents by an average of 16.9 ppg.
During the 14-game stretch, opponents have averaged 18.3 turnovers per game and topped 40% shooting only five times.
During the 14-game stretch, eight Cats have averaged 10 minutes or more per game led by Keith Bogans’ 28.4 mpg.
Offensively in the last 14, UK has shot 49.1% FG and averaged 79.4 ppg while holding opponents to 40.3% FG shooting and 63.1 ppg.
Milestones
Keith Bogans needs three points to tie Alex Groza for ninth place on the all-time scoring list at Kentucky. He’s just 102 shy of the Wildcats’ top five scorers. The senior became the second Cat in two years to crack the school’s top 10 and the fourth since 1993 when he achieved the feat earlier this month. He ranks first among active SEC players in career scoring.
Marquis Estill needs 27 points for 800 in his career.
Hayes-Tough
Chuck Hayes suffered a painful bruise to his hip in practice last Friday, the day before the Cats’ game with LSU. Despite the injury, Hayes got the start and finished with a hard-fought six points, 10 rebounds and a career-high six blocks in a personal-best 35 minutes played.
He has grabbed double-digit rebounds in three of the last five games and six times this season.
Pork Lover
Keith Bogans has averaged 19.4 ppg and 7.0 rpg in his previous five games against Arkansas. As a freshman, he topped 20 points twice, including a 25-point effort in the Cats’ loss to the Hogs in the SEC Tournament. The following year, he totaled 23 points and 10 boards in the league tournament semifinals vs. the ‘Backs. He nearly missed a second double-double against UA last season, finishing with 10 points and nine boards.
Good Work!
Jules Camara is the SEC Good Works Team Player of the Week and will be featured on Jefferson-Pilot’s telecasts of the UK-Arkansas, Alabama at Tennessee and South Carolina at Georgia games.
The senior has been a community volunteer throughout his career, including serving dinner at the “Hope Center” for the homeless, working ice cream socials at the senior citizen’s center, playing bingo at the UK Children’s Hospital, assisting with the March of Dimes’ “Walk-a-thon,” appearing at a rally against violence in schools and giving pep talks to school children prior to state testing. Most impressively, after violating the athletics department’s policy on alcohol, Camara has appeared at numerous DARE graduations and pep rallies.
Tayshaun Prince was named to the team last year for Kentucky.
Improving Offense
In UK’s game against Georgia (2/11), six Cats scored in double figures, the most since seven hit the mark vs. UGA in 1999.
The Wildcats are shooting 48.6% from the field this season, the best mark by a UK team since the 1996 championship season.
The Cats have topped 50.0% shooting in 11 games this season, including four of the last nine. Last year, UK topped the mark just six times.
Road Warriors
UK owns a 7-1 record on the road this season. It marks the most road victories in a season since the ’98 champs went 11-0 on the road.
Even more impressive, UK is 5-0 on the road in the SEC in ’03.
Away from Rupp Arena, home and neutral-site games, the Cats are an impressive 11-2.
Power Rankings
Jeff Sagarin ranks the Wildcats second in his latest power poll. UK’s schedule rates second nationally. Two independent polls are listed below (schedule strength in parentheses):
Sagarin College Basketball NewsKentucky 3rd (2nd) 2nd (25th)Arkansas 145th (88th) 88th (2nd)
SEC Domination
UK is a charter member of the SEC and since the league’s inception in 1932-33, the Cats have been the most dominant team, recording a 790-212 mark (78.8%) during regular-season SEC play. The Cats’ victory over Ole Miss on Feb. 8 was UK’s 1,000th SEC game. No other team has won more than 650 regular-season SEC 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 11 SEC Tournament titles.
Tubby Smith is in his eighth season in the SEC, his sixth at Kentucky. In SEC regular-season play, he’s 88-34 (72.1%), the best record and most wins of any active coach in the league. He’s captured three SEC Championships and four SEC Eastern Division crowns in five seasons in the Bluegrass. He also owns a 13-4 record in seven SEC Tournament appearances, winning three titles.
Vs. Ranked Opponents
Kentucky has faced nine ranked opponents this season. UK is 8-1 in those games, including wins over three top-10 teams, including No. 1 Florida. (AP ranking at time of game)
Opponent Date Result Score#20 Gonzaga 11/27 W 80-72#12 North Carolina 12/7 W 98-81#21 Michigan St. 12/14 L 67-71#6 Indiana 12/21 W 70-64#10 Notre Dame 1/18 W 88-73#24 Auburn 1/22 W 67-51#15 Alabama 1/25 W 63-46#1 Florida 2/4 W 70-55#20 Georgia 2/11 W 87-67
The Cats also lost at Louisville, a team unranked at the time that currently has moved to No. 2 on the charts.
SEC Leaders
In 10 league games, UK leads the league in scoring defense, scoring margin, FG percentage defense, 3FG defense, rebound defense, blocks, assists and turnover margin. The Cats rank second in scoring offense and FG percentage.
UK also leads the league in all games played in FG percentage.
Vs. Top 50 According to ESPN’s bracketology, UK has more victories against top-50 teams in the RPI than any other team in America. The Cats are 10-3 vs. top-50 teams, including a 3-1 mark against top-25 squads. ESPN predicts UK to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Opponent’s Top Target
Over the last three weeks, Kentucky has singled out the opponent’s top gun and severely limited his production in the first half of those games.
Against Auburn, UK limited the SEC’s No. 2 scorer, Marquis Daniels, to just two first-half points. Daniels totaled just 11 points, eight below his average.
Against Alabama, Erwin Dudley finished the game 0-7 shooting and teammate Kenny Walker to 0-6 shooting. Dudley scored no points in the first half.
Against Florida, Matt Bonner had no points on 0-6 shooting in the opening stanza.
Vs. Ole Miss, Justin Reed was 0-6 in the first half and had no points at halftime.
Against Georgia, Ezra Williams canned his first shot with 13:41 left to play, finishing with five points for the game.
Vs. LSU, Ronald Dupree scored just two of his 10 points in the first half.
‘Sufferin’ SuffoCats!’
Other outstanding defensive performances by UK this season include:
Holding Indiana’s Tom Coverdale to an ineffective six points, eight below his average.
Limiting Vanderbilt to four second-half FGs while outscoring VU by 30, 46-16 during the final 20 minutes to dispel the “Memorial Gym Magic.”
Forcing the nation’s No. 8 assists leader, Notre Dame’s Chris Thomas, into nine turnovers.
Holding Alabama to 10 made FGs, 23.8% shooting and 46 total points, the fewest since 1969 at home.
Limiting the Gators to 20% shooting in the decisive first half, 34% for the game and a season-low 55 points.
Leveling Georgia with a 20-point loss. The Dawgs had lost their previous six games by 27 total points.
Allowing only three teams to shoot 50.0% from the field against the Cats this season — Tennessee State, host Tennessee and South Carolina in Columbia. UK won all three outings.
Four in Double Figures
Thanks to Erik Daniels’ career-high 20 points vs. Ole Miss on Feb. 8, UK now has four players averaging double figures in scoring — Keith Bogans (16.6 ppg), Gerald Fitch (12.5), Marquis Estill (11.1) and Daniels (10.2).
The last time at least four Cats averaged double figures for an entire season was 1991, when Reggie Hanson, John Pelphrey, Jamal Mashburn, Deron Feldhaus and Richie Farmer led the surprising Cats to the best record in the SEC.
Bogans’ Bombs
Keith Bogans has hit a three-pointer in every game this season to extend his streak to 26 consecutive games. The streak ranks third all-time at UK.
1. Tony Delk (1994-95) – 34
2. Travis Ford (1993-94) – 32
3. Keith Bogans (2002-03) – 26
*Note: All three streaks have occurred over two seasons.
Estill Holds Record Mark
Senior Marquis Estill owns the school record for FG percentage and ranks fourth in career FG percentage in the SEC. This year, he’s 107-of-181 from the field (59.1%), and for his career, he’s shooting 60.6%.
Estill ranks ahead of UK’s previous record holder, Charles Hurt (1980-83), who shot 59.3 percent. He captured the record once he surpassed the minimum 200 made during the Maui Invitational.
The 6-9 center can earn a fourth year of eligibility should he graduate by the start of the fall semester of 2003.
Career FG Percentage (Min. 200 made)
60.6 Marquis Estill (303-500) 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
SEC Career FG Percentage (Min. 500 atts.)
64.1 Dwayne Davis, UF (572-892) 1987-91 62.6 Charles Barkley, AU (467-746) 1982-84 60.9 Aaron Swinson, AU (574-943) 1992-94 60.6 Willie Jones, VU (367-606) 1980-82 60.6 Will Perdue, VU (519-856) 1984-88 60.6 Marquis Estill, UK (303-500) 2001-03
Double-Doubles
Kentucky got two double-double performances in the same game for the first time since 2001 in its win over Georgia (2/11). The marks by Chuck Hayes (11-10) and Marquis Estill (16-12) were UK’s sixth and seventh double-doubles of the season. It was Hayes’ fifth career double-double and the fourth of the season.
Estill has three career double-doubles and two this season. On Dec. 30, he had a 15-point, 11-rebound effort against Tennessee State. Earlier this year, Jules Camara totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds in relief against Virginia, his fifth career double-double.
Cats in the Polls
Kentucky moved to No. 2 in the AP rankings on Feb. 17, its highest ranking since the final AP poll in 1996, when the Cats finished No. 2.
The Wildcats were ranked 17th in both preseason polls.
National Exposure
The Georgia game marked UK’s 13th appearance on national television this season. UK is 10-3 on either ESPN or CBS. The Cats will appear on national TV 16 times during the 2002-03 regular season, including 10 ESPN appearances and six games on CBS.
Rupp Arena
Kentucky is in its 27th season at Rupp Arena, where the Wildcats own a 349-40 (89.7%) record, just one win shy of 350 in the legendary venue.
The Cats have won eight straight home games since losing to Michigan State in early December. UK is 9-1 at home this season.
The Cats have won the national attendance title the past seven seasons. Overall, the Wildcats have won 15 national attendance titles in the building.
UK set a new attendance record with 24,459 fans at the Florida game on Feb. 4. The arena holds 200 more patrons due to the new standing-room only student section in one end zone, the “e-Rupp-tion Zone.” The previous record was 24,340 fans at the UK-Louisville game on Dec. 23, 1995.
Next Opponent
Kentucky basketball will cap its 100-years celebration this weekend with an all-lettermen reunion as Miss. State visits Lexington for a nationally televised contest on Sunday.
More than 100 lettermen are expected to attend a dinner at Memorial Coliseum on Saturday night and then be introduced in pregame ceremonies on Sunday. The highlight of the day will be the introduction of the “Fantasy Five,” UK’s all-time favorite Wildcats as voted on by the fans.
The Bulldogs will be the last SEC West Division opponent on the UK regular-season schedule.
Three Mania
Kentucky ranks third nationally in consecutive games with a made three-pointer. The Wildcats have hit a three-pointer in 496 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.
February Fury
Kentucky owns a 587-182-1 (.762) record in February after finishing last month with a perfect 8-0 record, its first perfect January since 1998.
UK is 5-0 to start the month this year. Last season, the Wildcats were 5-3 in February with three SEC road losses.
Foul Shooting?
Kentucky has significantly improved its free throw shooting this season, hitting 70.9%, the best since the 1996 championship season. In 11 of the last 15 games, UK has topped 70.0%.
Chuck Hayes has been Kentucky’s most consistent shooter from the charity stripe, hitting 80.3% of his shots this season. He’s hit 44 of his last 51 attempts.
Keith Bogans leads the SEC in league games only with 88.2% shooting from the line, one of four Cats shooting above 80% in the 10 league games. Bogans has hit 26 of his last 28 FTAs over the past nine games.
In the Cats’ 14-game win streak, they’ve hit 72.1% of their attempts, after shooting 69.0% in the first nine games.
Kingfitch?
On several occasions, Gerald Fitch has become a second-half offensive weapon. Fitch’s 2003 scoring averages by half are 4.6 ppg in the first 20 minutes, 7.9 ppg in the second half.
Fitch has totaled 16 points or more seven times this season. Against North Carolina, he had a career-high 25 points, including 16 in the second half. At Vanderbilt, he scored 16 of his 18 points after the break. Versus Auburn, he had 15 of his 16 points in the final 20 minutes, after shooting 0-6 in the first half against the Tigers.
Then against LSU on Saturday, he scored 13 of his 15 after halftime.
SEASON NOTES
100th Season
The Cats are playing their 100th season of basketball this year. The Cats have a number of events planned throughout the season, including fan balloting, which concluded at the end of December, for the program’s greatest players, games and moments. The celebration includes replays of the top-10 games on radio, a 25-year reunion of the 1978 NCAA Champs (Jan. 18) and four special-edition bobble-head dolls that fans can collect. The festivities conclude with an all-letterman reunion on Feb. 23 at the MSU 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 at the home opener when 500 lucky students received a Kyle Macy bobble-head. The second bobble-head was Adolph Rupp, which debuted against Michigan State. A third made its way out of the bag before the Indiana game — Tubby Smith. The last of the series, Cawood Ledford, was unveiled for the Notre Dame game, Jan. 18.
Dynamite Daniels
When the Cats traveled to Ole Miss on Feb. 8, Erik Daniels was listed as questionable for the game. The junior was battling pain due to an infected gland beneath his right arm.
Infection or not, the Cincinnati native scored a career-high 20 points on 10-for-12 shooting to lead the Cats. His 10 made baskets also were a career best. Daniels added four boards, three assists and a steal in the win.
On Feb. 9, he had the infection surgically drained.
He totaled 12 points and six boards against Georgia on Tuesday.
Vs. Top-Five Opponents
After the rout of No. 1 Florida on Feb. 4, UK improved to 49-43 all-time against top-5 teams. Based on the AP ranking at the time of the game, UK owns a 5-9 mark against No.1 teams, 8-9 vs. No. 2, 7-8 vs. No. 3, 14-8 vs. No. 4 and 15-9 vs. No. 5.
UK vs. No. 1 teams since 1949:
Opp. Result Date Site Ohio St. L, 74-87 3-18-61 N-Louisville Ohio St. L, 64-74 3-17-62 N-Iowa City Indiana W, 92-90 3-22-75 N-Dayton UCLA L, 85-92 3-31-75 N-San Diego Indiana L, 68-77 12-15-75 N-Louisville Indiana W, 69-58 12-15-79 H-Lexington UNC L, 69-82 12-26-81 N-Meadowlands Duke L, 80-55 11-19-88 N-Springfield Duke L, 103-104* 3-28-92 N-Philadelphia Arkansas W, 90-78 3-12-94 N-Memphis UMass W, 81-74 3-30-96 N-Meadowlands Arizona L, 74-89 11-25-97 N-Maui Duke L, 92-95* 12-18-01 N-Meadowlands Florida W, 70-55 2-4-03 H-Lexington *Overtime
Glue Times Two
On Jan. 7, UK’s Chuck Hayes was named to cnnsi.com’s All-Glue team. The squad, chosen by Sports Illustrated’s Seth Davis, celebrates those players in the game who ‘by virtue of their toughness and smarts help their teams win in subtle but important ways’.
It marks the second straight year that a UK sophomore has earned the honor. Gerald Fitch was named captain of the squad last season.
Joining Hayes on this year’s squad is captain Rick Anderson (Arizona), Jaron Brown (Pittsburgh), Justin Hamilton (Florida), Robert Johnson (Oregon), Ellis Myles (Louisville) and Tony Robertson (UConn).
Quick Start
UK played at South Carolina’s new Carolina Coliseum for the first time on Feb. 1, and got off to a quick start, tallying 57 points in the first half.
It was the most points in a half by a USC opponent this season, as the Cats led 57-32 at the break. UK went on to win the game, 87-69, marking the most total points by a Gamecock foe this year as well.
The Cats’ dominated inside, tallying 52 of their 87 points in the paint. Kentucky topped 50.0% shooting for the 10th time this season.
Low Tide
Against Notre Dame, basketball analyst Clark Kellogg described Kentucky’s defense as the “saran-wrap defense.” Against Alabama, that “D” produced tremendous results.
UK held the Tide to just 10 made baskets, the lowest by an opponent since Morehead State made nine FGs in a 96-32 loss to the Cats on Dec. 16, 1995.
Bama’s 46 points was its lowest point total since the 1996 season and the fewest at home since 1969.
UA’s 23.8% FG shooting was the lowest by an opponent this season and the worst by a UK opponent since Georgia Tech shot 24.2% against UK on Dec. 19, 1998.
2002 SEC Player of the Year Erwin Dudley shot 0-for-7 from the field while teammate Kenny Walker was 0-for-6. It marked the first time in Dudley’s four-year career he was held without a FG.
Hayes Fever
Chuck Hayes has been a consistent threat for the Wildcats over the past two seasons, but on Jan. 18 against 10th-ranked Notre Dame, Hayes had his best game at Kentucky.
The Modesto, Calif., native recorded 17 points, 16 rebounds, three blocks and five assists, all career bests.
Hayes collected three blocks within the first six minutes of the game and dominated the glass, pulling down 13 defensive rebounds in the win.
Hayden Dies
Basil Hayden, the Wildcats’ first All-American in 1921, passed away on Jan. 9, in Paris, Ky. He was 103.
Hayden lettered for the Wildcats from 1919-22, leading the Cats to the 1921 Southern Intercollegiate Tournament Championship. The four-game event, played in Atlanta, was the first basketball tournament held in the South, and many believe, the first played in the nation. The Cats beat Tulane, Mercer, Mississippi A& M and Georgia to capture the trophy and finish the season with a 13-1 record.
Hayden injured his knee in the high jump prior to his senior season and while he played, was less effective. He later returned as coach of the Wildcats, but after leading UK to a 3-13 record, decided coaching was not in his blood.
Season Turning Point?
Kentucky battled back from a 14-point first-half deficit against Vanderbilt on Jan. 14 to win the game, 74-52.
Down 36-28 at the half, UK used a 25-3 run to start the second half, virtually shutting the Commodores down in the final period. The Cats outscored VU 46-16 in the half. Prior to the game, UK was outscoring its opponents by 7.0 ppg in the first half, but just 1.9 ppg in the second stanza.
The Wildcats tallied 12 second-half steals, converting to 17 points off turnovers in the final period. UK limited Vandy to just one offensive rebound in the second half and the ‘Dores had more turnovers (13) than FGs (4) in the second half.
SEC Openers
With the win over Tennessee on Jan. 8, Kentucky is 54-16 all-time in SEC openers and has won 15 of its last 16 league debuts. Its only loss during the stretch came last year at Mississippi State, a 74-69 decision in overtime.
Bogans Off the Bench
In his four-year career at UK, Keith Bogans has played a reserve role just 13 times, but he’s played the role well. The senior averages 10.8 ppg off the bench and has scored in double digits eight times.
Bogans’ most recent outing as a reserve came against Tennessee in January where he led the team with 20 points and nine rebounds.
GOOD-bye 2002!
Kentucky ended the 2002 calender year with a bang, earning a 115-87 win over Tennessee State on Dec. 30. The victory included many season highs, including: points (115), three-pointers (11), rebounds (52), rebounding margin (+31), steals (12) and margin of victory (+32).
The Wildcats were 21-11 overall in 2002.
December Embers
The Wildcats completed a rugged December schedule, which included three road games and games against three ranked opponents, with a 5-2 record.
All-time, UK holds a 431-103 mark (.807) in the month of December. Last season, the Cats went 5-1 in the year’s final month with their only loss coming at the hands of then-No. 1 Duke in the Jimmy V Classic.
New Year’s Cats
UK finished January with an unblemished 8-0 mark to start 2003. Last year, the Cats were 6-3 in January with all three losses coming at the hands of ranked SEC teams.
Throughout the 100-season history of the basketball program, Kentucky has enjoyed success in the month of January. UK owns a 518-176 overall record in the year’s first month for a .746 winning percentage.
The Cats’ last undefeated January was 1998.
The Hawk Returns
Point guard Cliff Hawkins returned to the court against IU on Dec. 21 after missing the Cats’ first seven games. The junior was ineligible for the fall semester after academic troubles.
Hawkins showed he hadn’t missed a beat when he entered the game mid-way through the first half. The Dumfries, Va., native totaled four points, five rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes.
The highlight of his return came late in the game when he timed an alley-oop pass to Jules Camara for a dunk.
Fitch Named SEC and TSN’s POW
Gerald Fitch recorded back-to-back career highs – 18 points against High Point, 25 against No. 12 North Carolina – in early December to lead the Wildcats to consecutive wins, earning SEC Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. He also was recognized nationally as The Sporting News’ Player of the Week.
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, normally a two-guard, was playing at point guard in the absence of 2002 starter Cliff Hawkins. He averaged 21.5 ppg and 4.0 apg for the week.
Triple Trouble
Three Wildcats topped the 20-point mark in UK’s win over UNC on Dec. 7, 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.
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 nine 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.
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 Cats. 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 Lexington’s Commonwealth Travel 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.
PRESEASON NOTES
The Zone
Once again this season, Rupp 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. 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.
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:
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, also was 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
Great Games Replayed
Host Communications and the UK Radio Network are re-broadcasting the top-10 UK games as voted on by the fans this past fall.
This Sunday night, No. 3 on the list will be replayed — the 1998 NCAA title game against Utah. Jeff Sheppard earned Final Four MVP honors for his performance in the games.
The broadcasts are airing on the UK Radio Network, which includes WLAP in Lexington, WHAS in Louisville and WCKY in Cincinnati.
Previous games already aired include, No. 10 — UK -Louisville 1983, the original “Dream Game”; No. 9 — UK-LSU in ’90, when the outmanned Wildcats shot down Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Jackson; and No. 8 — UK-Kansas in ’78, when Dwight Anderson and Kyle Macy led the Cats to a 67-66 win after trailing by six with 30 seconds to play; No. 7 — UK-Duke ’92, arguably the greatest college basketball game ever played and the last with the legendary Cawood Ledford behind the microphone; No. 6 — 1975 Kentucky-Indiana regional final as the Cats earned a trip to the Final Four; No. 5 — 1978 NCAA Championship game between UK and Duke with Jack Givens scoring 41points to lead UK; and No. 4 — the 1996 NCAA Championship game as Tony Delk tied a title-game record with seven three-pointers to help the Cats down Syracuse.
Mashburn, Walker Earn All-Star Recognition
Former Wildcats Jamal Mashburn (’93) and Antoine Walker were both named to the 2003 NBA All-Star team. The “Monster Mash,” who plays for the New Orleans Hornets, earned his first NBA award while averaging 20.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game at midseason.
Walker has the Boston Celtics in playoff contention once again, averaging 21.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 4.3 apg at midseason. He was on the All-Star team in 1998 and 2002. Walker was the Cats’ sixth former letterman to be named an NBA All-Star while Mashburn, a 10-year NBA veteran, becomes the Cats’ seventh NBA All-Star.
It marks the first time since 1951 that two Wildcats have earned All-Star recognition in the same season — Alex Groza and Ralph Beard.
Cheerleaders’ String Snapped
The Kentucky cheerleaders had their string of eight consecutive national championships ended on Jan. 11 when UK finished second to Central Florida at the UCA Championships in Orlando.
Kentucky has won the title 12 times, but not since 1994 has a team other than the Wildcats captured the crown until Central Florida.
The UK pom squad finished ninth nationally and Scratch, one of two UK mascots, placed 11th in the mascot competition.
Nice Fit
Collegeinsider.com’s Angela Lento annually tracks the nation’s best dressed head and assistant coaches. In the latest Fashion Power Index, UK assistant coach Reggie Hanson is the top ranked assistant. Kentucky was named the best dressed staff of 2002 and looks to be making a run at a repeat performance in 2003.
Lento’s Runway to the Fashionable Four is in its sixth year.
Keightley’s Been a Part of 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” began assisting in the equipment room during the 1961-62 season and since then, UK has played 1,286 games, owning a 985-301 (.766) record.
The Wildcats, who are celebrating their 100th season of basketball, have played 2,409 games, meaning Keightley has played a role in 53.4% 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, 75, 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 1,244 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 229 games.
Meanwhile, his home court streak is still intact. Wiggins has not missed a home game in 42 years, a streak spanning 599 games. During that period, which dates back to 1960-61, UK has a home record of 532-67.
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 Jim O’Brien is the 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 line includes memorabilia, Tubby Smith autographed items, 100-year videos and DVDs and a full-line of Nike apparel. The catalog features special 100-year basketball items detailing 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 —
