Feb. 21, 2003
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
No. 19/19 Mississippi State Bulldogs (17-5, 7-4 SEC)
vs.
No. 2/2 Kentucky Wildcats (21-3, 11-0 SEC)
The Mississippi State Game
Lexington, Ky.
Rupp Arena (19,200)
February 23, 2003
2:05 p.m. ET
RADIOUK Radio Network (80+ stations): Tom Leach, Mike Pratt, Dave Baker.
Westwood One (Nationwide): Gary Cohen and Kevin Grevey.
TELEVISIONCBS Sports: Ian Eagle and Jim Sparnarkel.
Pre-Game Press Conference Quotes
vs. Mississippi StateNickname: Bulldogs
Web site: mstateathletics.com
Series Record: UK leads 78-17
In Lexington: UK leads 40-4
Last Meeting: Jan. 5, 2002 – MSU 74, UK 69 OT
Tubby Smith (High Point ’73)
Overall: 277-108 (.719) (12th)
at UK: 153-46 (.769) (6th)
vs. MSU: 4-3
Rick Stansbury (Cambellsville ’82)
Overall: 96-55 (.636) (5th)
at MSU: same
vs. Kentucky: 1-3
Did You Know?
Did you know that UK’s 12 neutral-site and road wins are the most in regular-season play since the 1998 national championship season? UK recorded 17 wins in ’98, then stretched the total to 26 by capturing the NCAA crown.
Kentucky
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Ppg Rpg Hometown Cat Scratch44 Chuck Hayes F 6-6 247 So. 9.0 6.6 Modesto, Calif. 13-16 FTs last four games
14 Erik Daniels F 6-8 214 Jr. 10.2 5.8 Cincinnati, Ohio Dbl figures points 5 of last 6
50 Marquis Estill C 6-9 236 Sr. 10.8 5.4 Richmond, Ky. 12 blocks last five games
10 Keith Bogans G 6-5 213 Sr. 16.3 3.6 Alexandria, Va. Now 9th on UK scoring list
4 Gerald Fitch G 6-3 188 Jr. 12.7 3.1 Macon, Ga. 43.3% 3FG in SEC play
Mississippi State
31 Ontario Harper F 6-5 210 So. 7.7 5.7 Clinton, Miss. Redshirted ’01 season, bad wrist
44 Michael Ignerski F 6-10 225 Sr. 9.6 5.4 Lublin, Poland One of two seniors for MSU
33 Mario Austin F-C 6-9 260 Jr. 16.8 8.6 York, Ala. SEC Player of ’03 Candidate
15 Timmy Bowers G 6-2 180 Jr. 14.6 3.8 Gulfport, Miss. CH 25 points vs. Auburn
22 Derrick Zimmerman G 6-3 195 Sr. 9.3 4.3 Monroe, La. Team leader: 5.2 apg, 2.0 spg
cats dogs
Record 21-3 17-5
SEC Record 11-0 7-4
Scoring Offense 77.5 73.2
Scoring Defense 65.2 60.6
Scoring Margin +12.2 +12.6
FG % 48.5 48.3
FG % Defense 41.5 38.9
3FG % 34.7 33.1
3FG % Defense 33.9 32.8
Free Throw % 71.2 67.6
Rebound Average 36.4 39.8
Opp. Rebound Avg. 31.4 30.7
Rebound Margin +5.0 +9.1
TO Average 14.0 16.5
Opponent TO 16.9 16.4
TO Margin +2.8 +0.1
Blocks Average 5.2 3.9
Steals Average 7.8 9.1
Cage Match Features Division Leaders
Kentucky, owner of the nation’s longest win streak, and Mississippi State, which beat host Auburn Wednesday to assume control of the Southeastern Conference Western Division, will rumble in Rupp Arena in a nationally televised contest of two ranked teams. This is the Cats’ 10th game against a ranked opponent this season. UK is 8-1 vs. ranked teams, including a 3-0 mark vs. top-10 teams.
The Wildcats extended their win streak to 15 games, the longest since UK won 27 consecutive during the 1996 season. It’s the second longest streak in the Tubby Smith era. His first two teams combined for a 17-game win streak — 13 straight to finish 1998 and four to start 1999. The Cats have won all 11 of their league games in ’03.
Mississippi State, which won the 2002 SEC Tournament, beat the sixth-ranked Cats last year in overtime, 74-69. Visiting UK led the SEC opener by 20 in the first half and 16 at the break before star center Mario Austin canned his first collegiate three-pointer at the end of regulation to cap the rally and force the extra period.
State began the SEC slate this season with three straight losses, but has since won seven of its last eight games. The Bulldogs lone defeat came at the hands of host Georgia, 67-63, on Feb. 1.
The Cats attempt a regular-season sweep of their SEC Western Division opponents for the first time since ’96 while maintaining their two-game lead in the race for the league championship and East Division crown. MSU attempts to win back-to-back games against Kentucky for the first time since the 1962 and ’63 seasons.
With a win, Kentucky can match its best start to a season since the 1998 NCAA Champs began their march to the crown with a 22-3 record. A victory also will mark the 350th in Rupp Arena, which opened in 1976-77.
The Wildcats have two weeks remaining in the regular season with two home games and two road games remaining following the MSU battle. Selection Sunday is just three weeks away.
This is “Super Fan” Bob Wiggins’ 600th consecutive home game.
100 Year Reunion
More than 100 former Wildcats are expected to return to campus for a 100 Years of Kentucky Basketball Reunion Weekend. A dinner on the floor of Memorial Coliseum Saturday night and a massive pregame introduction of the Cats prior to tip-off are part of the many weekend-long events. This is the 100th season of hoops at UK, and stars such as Ralph Beard, Vernon Hatton, Cotton Nash, Dan Issel, Jack Givens, Sam Bowie and Rex Chapman have indicated that they will attend the festivities. The oldest alum returning is expected to be Evan Settle, who played on legendary coach Adolph Rupp’s third and fourth UK teams in 1933 and ’34.
Kentucky is the winningest program in college basketball, highlighted by seven NCAA Championships, and has competed in the Final Four in every decade since the 1940s.
UK also will announce the “Fantasy Five” as voted on by Big Blue fans.
The two-day celebration includes:Saturday: 1-4 p.m. Autograph session – UK Basketball Museum – Fee: $10 for two items
6-9 p.m. Reception/Dinner – Memorial Coliseum
Sunday: Halftime Introductions
“Fantasy Five” Intro
Postgame The Blast – Tickets
In the House
Two notable figures working the game for T.V. and radio on Sunday. Kevin Grevey, an All-American for UK, led the Cats to the 1975 NCAA title game and will be broadcasting the game nationally for Westwood One Radio.
Jim Spanarkel will do color commentary for CBS Sports at the game. Spanarkel will be at Duke Saturday night as the Blue Devils honor the 1978 NCAA Runner-up team. Spanarkel finished with 21 points in the game that gave UK its fifth national title.
The Blast
The Blast, an annual postgame fundraiser, is scheduled to follow the Kentucky-Miss. State game at Heritage Hall on Sunday.
Tickets to the event are $20 per person and proceeds benefit the Tubby Smith Foundation and the UK Children’s Hospital.
Food, beverages and entertainment preceed the auction of various UK items and memorabilia and Coach Smith and the team will make a special appearance.
Sell-outs!
The Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt games are now official sell-outs.
Tickets left over after Wednesday’s student ticket lottery were snapped up in a hurry on the Internet Thursday night and at UK’s ticket office on Friday.
Series Information
This is the 96th meeting between the two teams. UK leads the overall series with the Bulldogs, 78-17, and has won five of the last six meetings. MSU was able to overcome a 20-point deficit in Starkville last season and rally for a 74-69 overtime win in the SEC opener.
Kentucky owns a 40-4 advantage in Lexington and has lost just one game to the Bulldogs in Rupp Arena (19-1).
Tubby Smith is 5-3 all-time against the Dogs with four wins at UK. He was 1-2 against MSU as head coach at Georgia. MSU coach Rick Stansbury earned his first win in four tries over the Wildcats last year in Starkville.
Kentucky Native
MSU coach Rick Stansbury hails from Louisville, Ky. He graduated from Meade County High School in 1977. Stansbury played college basketball at Campbellsville, where he led the Tigers to the 1981 NAIA District 32 Championship.
Common Opponents
Kentucky and Mississippi State have had nine common opponents this season. UK is 10-0 against those teams, while State is 7-4.Opponent UK MSUFlorida W, 70-55 L, 66-74LSU W, 68-57 W, 67-64 L, 72-85Alabama W, 63-46 L, 62-68*S. Carolina W, 62-55 W, 64-48 W, 87-69Ole Miss W, 80-62 W, 58-57 W, 68-64*Georgia W, 87-67 L, 63-67Vanderbilt W, 74-52 W, 82-60Arkansas W, 66-50 W, 84-54Auburn W, 67-51 W, 63-46
Vs. SEC West
Kentucky is 5-0 against SEC Western Division teams this season. With its win over Arkansas Wednesday, the Cats are riding a seven-game win streak against the West, dating back to last season, and have won nine of their last 10 vs. teams from the other division. UK’s last West defeat came against Alabama last year.
A win over Mississippi State would give UK its first regular-season sweep of the West since 1996. The Cats lost to the Bulldogs in the SEC Tournament that year.
Overall, UK is 54-17 (.761) against SEC West Division teams since the league split in ’92.
SEC Leaders
In 11 league games, UK leads the league in scoring defense, scoring margin, FG percentage defense, 3FG defense, rebound defense, rebounding margin and turnover margin. The Cats rank second in scoring offense and third in FG percentage.
UK also leads the league in all games played in FG percentage.
Defense Secretary
The MSU game is Tubby Smith’s 200th contest at UK, where he’s compiled an impressive 153-46 record in six seasons. Smith reached two milestones in the past two weeks, recording his 150th UK win and his 275th career victory.
With the Cats success this season, Smith is a viable candidate for both SEC and National Coach of the Year honors. He was named co-SEC Coach of the Year in 1998 with Tennessee’s Jerry Greene and earned Basketball Weekly’s National Coach of the Year award that same season.
Streak Despite Sprain
Keith Bogans turned his ankle in practice on Feb. 18, but remained in the starting lineup at Arkansas the following day.
While the senior was held to just nine points, marking only the second time in 24 games that he’s failed to score in double figures, he still managed to pass Alex Groza for ninth place on UK’s all-time scoring list. Bogans also extended his made 3FG streak to 27 games.UK 3FG Streaks
1. Tony Delk (1994-95) 34
2. Travis Ford (1993-94) 32
3. Keith Bogans (2002-03) 27*Note: All three streaks have occurred over two seasons.
Deep Bench
Kentucky’s success this season extends beyond its starting five. The bench has paid huge dividends with five reserves averaging between 7.5 and 20.9 mpg.
Junior Cliff Hawkins and senior Jules Camara lead the charge. Hawkins sparks the team at both ends of the floor, averaging a team-high 4.0 apg with a career-best assist/turnover ratio of 1.8:1. He’s earned the reputation as one of the best on-the-ball defenders in the nation.
Coach Tubby Smith calls Camara the team’s “all-around best defender,” due to his quickness and athleticism at 6-11 and his shot-blocking skills. Camara ranks fifth all-time at UK in blocked shots, and needs two to reach 150 in his career.
Antwain Barbour, Kelenna Azubuike and Josh Carrier see action as well.
Inside the Numbers
The Wildcats are 21-3 overall and 11-0 in SEC play… Kentucky is undefeated in league play, owns the nation’s longest win streak and ranks No. 2 nationally but has won SEC Player of the Week honors just once – Gerald Fitch in early December… After losing to another MSU, Michigan State at Rupp in December, the Cats have an eight-game win streak on Cawood’s Court… 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… UK has topped 50% shooting 11 times this season, after achieving the mark only six times all of last season… SEC opponents are shooting 39.9% FG, 27.9% from 3FG range vs. UK defense… Marquis Estill has won the opening tip in 22 of the 24 games for UK… The Cats are 16-1 since Cliff Hawkins returned to the lineup… The Cats have won all 20 games when leading inside the last five minutes… UK has used just four starting lineups.
National Win Streaks (Through 2/19)
1. Kentucky 15
2. Weber State 11
3. Xavier 10
Win Streak
The Wildcats have won 15 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’ have opened league play with an 11-0 record, marking the longest SEC win streak under Tubby Smith 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 nine of its last 10 games by 15 points or more.
In the last 11 games, dating back to the South Carolina game on Jan. 11, UK has had just 26 lead changes.
UK has held eight of its last 11 opponents below 40% shooting and has beat its last 10 opponents by an average of 16.8 ppg.
During the 15-game stretch, opponents have averaged 18.2 turnovers per game and topped 40% shooting only five times.
During the 15-game stretch, eight Cats have averaged 10 minutes or more per game led by Keith Bogans’ 28.1 mpg.
Offensively in the last 15, UK has shot 48.9% FG and averaged 78.5 ppg while holding opponents to 40.0% FG shooting and 62.2 ppg.
Rupp Arena
UK 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.
Milestones
Keith Bogans passed Alex Groza for ninth place on the UK all-time scoring list with nine points against Arkansas. He now has 1,750 career points and is just 93 shy of the Wildcats’ top-five scorers. He trails All-American Cotton Nash in eighth place by 20 points. 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 23 points for 800 in his career.
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 this week.
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.
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 48.5% 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 an 8-1 record on the road this season. It’s the most road victories in a season since the ’98 champs went 11-0 on the road.
Even more impressive, UK is 6-0 on the road in the SEC in ’03.
With two regular-season road trips remaining, UK has already accumulated a 12-2 record away from Rupp Arena. It’s the most neutral-site and road wins for the Wildcats prior to post-season play since UK had 17 victories in 1998. The Cats went on to record 26 wins away from Rupp en route to the NCAA title that season.
Power Rankings
Jeff Sagarin ranks the Wildcats second in his latest power poll. UK’s schedule rates sixth nationally. Two independent polls are listed below (schedule strength in parentheses): Sagarin CollegeRPI.comKentucky 2nd (6th) 2nd (16th)Miss. State 15th (54th) 25th (43rd)
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 791-212 mark (78.9%) 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 89-34 (72.4%), the best record and most wins of any active coach in the league. He’s captured three SEC Championships and four 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 N. 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 ranks among the nation’s top 10.
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 11-3 vs. top-50 teams, including a 4-1 mark against top-25 squads. ESPN predicts UK to be the top No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Opponent’s Top Target
Over the last four 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 was scoreless 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.
Holding Arkansas to just one field goal in the first 10 minutes of the second half and just 11 points in the half’s first 16+ minutes. The Hogs finished the half with eight made baskets.
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.
Estill Holds Record Mark
Senior Marquis Estill owns the school record for FG percentage and ranks sixth in career FG percentage in the SEC. This year, he’s 107-of-184 from the field (58.2%), and for his career, he’s shooting 60.2%.
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.
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. Their lowest ranking this year was 20th.
National Exposure
The Mississippi State game marks UK’s 14th 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 regular season, including 10 ESPN appearances and six games on CBS.
Next Opponent
Kentucky will remain home on Wednesday, Feb. 26 for a re-match with Tennessee. UK grabbed the narrow 74-71 win in Knoxville in the SEC opener, Jan. 8. Since then, the Vols have continued to improve and are tied with Georgia for third place in the East.
Three Mania
Kentucky ranks third nationally in consecutive games with a made three-pointer. The Wildcats have hit a three-pointer in 497 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 588-182-1 (.763) record in February after finishing last month with a perfect 8-0 record, its first perfect January since 1998.
UK is 6-0 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 71.2%, the best since the 1996 championship season. In 12 of the last 16 games, UK has topped 70.0%.
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 11 league games. Bogans has hit 26 of his last 28 FTAs over the past 10 games.
Chuck Hayes has been Kentucky’s most consistent shooter from the charity stripe, hitting 79.5% of his shots this season. He’s hit 49 of his last 58 attempts.
In the Cats’ 15-game win streak, they’ve hit 72.4% of their attempts, after shooting 69.0% in the first nine games.
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 (16.3 ppg), Gerald Fitch (12.7), Marquis Estill (10.8) 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.
Kingfitch?
On several occasions, Gerald Fitch has become a second-half offensive weapon. Fitch’s 2003 scoring averages by half are 4.8 ppg in the first 20 minutes, 8.0 ppg in the second half.
Fitch has totaled 16 points or more eight 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 Feb. 15, he scored 13 of his 15 after halftime.
SEASON NOTES
Topping Twenty
The Wildcats won their 20th game of the season for the 13th year in a row against LSU on Feb. 15. 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 and his impressive string has occurred at three different schools.
100th Season
The Cats are playing their 100th season of basketball this year. The Cats have had a number of events 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-lettermen 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 two days later.
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 pponent 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 ‘Dores 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:Points67.1%
Rebounds76.6%
Assists81.7%
Blocks67.3%
Steals77.4%
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, Feb. 23, 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.
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 1,287 games, owning a 986-301 (.766) record.
The Wildcats, who are celebrating their 100th season of basketball, have played 2,410 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 in his 50th season watching Kentucky play in person and through his own record-keeping, has attended 1,245 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 230 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 PortlandTony Delk BostonJamaal Magloire New OrleansJamal Mashburn New OrleansWalter McCarty BostonRon Mercer IndianaNazr Mohammed AtlantaScott Padgett UtahMark Pope New YorkTayshaun Prince DetroitAntoine 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.
