Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt Notes


KentuckyNo. Name           Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl.  Ppg Rpg Hometown              Cat Scratch44       F   6-6 247 So.  8.9 6.5 Modesto, Calif.       5th dbl-dbl of '03 vs. UGA14      F   6-8 214 Jr.  9.8 5.5 Cincinnati, Ohio      Six boards last three games50    C   6-9 236 Sr. 10.7 5.7 Richmond, Ky.         '03-high 8-12 FTs vs. UGA10      G   6-5 213 Sr. 16.3 3.7 Alexandria, Va.       Ranks 7th at UK in scoring 4      G   6-3 188 Jr. 12.4 3.1 Macon, Ga.            Hit 4 of last 15 FGs

Vanderbilt 2 Brian Thornton F 6-8 225 So. 12.8 5.7 Louisville, Ky. CH 17 points vs. UK last season35 Matt Freije F 6-9 226 Jr. 18.0 4.4 Shawnee Mission, Kan. 2nd in SEC scoring44 Corey Smith G-F 6-5 230 So. 8.2 3.4 Houston, Texas Scoreless vs. USC Saturday24 Scott Hundley G-F 6-5 217 Jr. 5.2 3.0 Georgetown, Ky. ’00 Mr. Basketball in Ky.11 Russell Lakey G 6-0 177 Jr. 6.1 3.2 Los Angeles, Calif. Six TOs in first meeting

Team Comparison

cats  doresRecord          24-3  10-15SEC Record      14-0  3-11Scoring Offense 77.1  69.8Scoring Defense 65.3  70.6Scoring Margin +11.8  -0.8FG %            48.4  44.5FG % Defense    41.9  44.43FG %           34.7  32.93FG % Defense   33.7  34.9Free Throw %    71.6  69.8Rebound Average 36.4  33.3Opp. Rebb. Avg. 31.1  35.0Rebound Margin  +5.3  -1.7TO Average      14.0  16.2Opponent TO     16.6  16.4TO Margin       +2.6  +0.2Blocks Average   4.9   4.1Steals Average   7.6   8.0

Senior Night

In a special pregame ceremony, UK will honor its seniors, , and , on Senior Night. The ceremony will include video tributes, 23,000 singing “My Old Kentucky Home” and the gift of framed jerseys. The Cats also will honor the memory of John Stewart III, a UK signee who collapsed and died during a state playoff game his senior year in Indianapolis. Stewart’s family will attend the game and participate in the pregame ceremony. The 7-0 bigman from Lawrence North High School would have been a part of the 2003 senior class and the first 7-footer since Sam Bowie in 1984. It was determined later that “Big John” died from a congenital heart condition.

The ceremony, which the late Coach Al McGuire once called “the most touching moment in sports,” will begin at approximately 7:45 p.m. ET.

Bogans will most likely leave UK as one of the top-5 scorers in school history. Camara and Estill rank among UK’s top 10 in blocked shots and Estill holds the school’s career record for field goal percentage.

Senior Day Supremacy

The Wildcats have been highly successful in Senior Day games in Lexington. Since 1920, the Cats are 78-4, winning the last five and 37 of the last 38. UK has not lost a Senior Night game in the era.

Kentucky is 21-1 against Vanderbilt on Senior Day, with the only loss coming on Feb. 20, 1932, a 32-31 decision. UK has defeated the Commodores by an average of 20.3 ppg on Senior Day in Lexington. The first UK-VU Senior Day battle came on Feb. 23, 1912, a 22-18 UK win.

Series Information

This marks the 161st meeting between the two programs. Kentucky leads the series, 124-36. UK took the first game on Feb. 22, 1912, 28-17. The Wildcats own a 65-13 advantage in Lexington and are a perfect 25-0 in Rupp Arena, making Vanderbilt the only league opponent that UK holds a perfect Rupp record against. UK has won 19 of the last 20 meetings in the series.
is 12-3 against VU in his coaching career, including a 10-1 mark while at UK.Kevin Stallings earned his first win over Kentucky last season and now owns a 1-6 record against the Cats. Stallings also was 0-1 against the Wildcats as a player at Purdue, losing to UK in the 1979 UKIT, his sophomore season. He went on to serve as an assistant at Purdue for six seasons. He moved to Kansas as an assistant in 1989.

Common Opponents

Kentucky and Vanderbilt have had 14 common opponents this season. UK is 17-0 against those teams, while Vanderbilt is 5-12.

Opponent        UK         VUTulane      W, 76-60    W, 66-46Indiana     W, 70-64    L, 56-73High Point  W, 84-64    W, 81-75Notre Dame  W, 88-73    L, 63-76Florida     W, 70-55    L, 75-87                        L, 74-77*Alabama     W, 63-46    W, 70-69S. Carolina W, 62-55    L, 72-84            W, 87-69    L, 64-76Ole Miss    W, 80-62    W, 76-68Tennessee   W, 74-71    L, 66-71            W, 80-68Georgia     W, 87-67    W, 94-91            W, 74-66    L, 70-83Arkansas    W, 66-50    L, 50-60Auburn      W, 67-51    L, 59-62LSU         W, 68-57    L, 60-79Miss. St.   W, 70-62    L, 60-82*overtime

UK/VU Connections

Two Commodores hail from the Bluegrass State – Scott Hundley and Brian Thornton. Hundley, a junior from Georgetown, was the 2000 Kentucky Mr. Basketball and helped guide Scott County High to a runner-up finish in the Sweet 16 during his junior season.

Thornton, a starter for the ’03 Dores, hails from Louisville and was named second-team All-State by the Courier-Journal. A sophomore at VU, he led dupont Manual to two regional tournament runner-up finishes.

Mr. Basketball Showcase

When UK and Vandy battle on Wednesday, the last three Kentucky Mr. Basketballs will be represented on the two teams. VU’s Scott Hundley (Scott Co.) earned the honor in 2000, while UK’s (Bowling Green) and (Glasgow) took the title in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

Commodore Crazy

Several Cats have played well against Vanderbilt during their careers. Four active players average 7.0 points or more per game against the Commodores, including (9.9 ppg), (9.0 ppg), (10.0 ppg) and (7.3 ppg). Estill owns the best performance against VU with 19 points in his first outing against the ‘Dores on Jan. 27, 2001. He and Fitch tallied 15 and 18 points, respectively, against Vandy in January.

Tubbyball

During the era at Kentucky, the Wildcats have won one national championship, four SEC Championships, three SEC Tournament titles and five of six Eastern Division crowns while averaging 26.0 wins per season (which includes this season’s 24 victories).

Smith Loves March

Coach owns an impressive 26-7 record in March (78.8%) since taking over at UK. He’s 9-2 in the SEC Tournament, 14-4 in the NCAA Tournament and owns a 3-1 advantage in regular-season SEC contests.

Great Start

Kentucky is enjoying its best start in the era with a 24-3 record entering the final week of regular-season play. The Cats began their triumphant championship season with a 22-3 record five years ago before losing at home to Ole Miss. The 24-3 record is Smith’s best start in 12 seasons as a head coach.

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.

League Perfection

Entering the Vanderbilt game, UK remains one of two teams in the nation with perfect conference records. The Wildcats are 14-0 in SEC play with two games left.

The other team, Pennsylvania, is 9-0 in Ivy League play with three games remaining. The Quakers take on Columbia on Friday before facing Cornell on Saturday and Princeton on Tuesday. The Ivy League does not hold a conference tournament.

The Quakers also hold the fifth-longest win streak in the nation at 11 games. UK’s 18-game streak ranks first.

Win Streak

The Wildcats have won 18 straight games, the longest win streak in 12-year career. Smith’s 1998 champs won 13 straight en route to the title, then won the first four of the 1999 season to extend that streak to 17 games. The Cats’ have opened league play with an 14-0 record, marking the longest SEC win streak under and the longest since the Cats swept the SEC slate in 1996 (16-0).

Other highlights of the current streak include:

The Cats have beaten seven ranked opponents during the run and won nine of its last 13 games by 15 points or more.

UK has held nine of its last 14 opponents below 40% shooting and has beat its last 13 opponents by an average of 14.0 ppg.

During the 18-game stretch, opponents have averaged 17.5 turnovers per game and topped 40% shooting only seven times.

In the streak, eight Cats have averaged 10 minutes or more per game led by Keith Bogans’ 29.0 mpg.

Offensively in the last 18, UK has shot 48.7% FG and averaged 77.9 ppg while holding opponents to 40.9% FG shooting and 62.7 ppg.

National Win Streaks (Through 3/3)

1. Kentucky – 18
2. Weber State – 14
3. Xavier – 12

UK All-Time Win Streaks

The 2003 Wildcats have tied for the program’s ninth-longest win streak at 18 games. With a win over Vanderbilt, UK can claim sole possession of ninth place on the Kentucky charts. (See page 233 of the UK media guide for a more detailed listing.)

Games   Began     Ended32    12/5/53    1/8/5527    12/2/95   3/10/9626    1/28/46  12/30/4625    2/27/65    3/5/6624     2/6/33   2/24/3423     1/2/52    3/2/5221    1/11/49   3/31/4921   12/30/50    3/3/5118     2/5/48   3/31/4818   12/30/02     --

Sir Charles of the Backboard

At 6-6, is not the most intimidating presence rebounding the ball. But the sophomore has recorded double-figure rebounds seven times this season, including a career-high 16 vs. Notre Dame. After grabbing 12 misfires on Sunday at Georgia, Hayes is averaging a team-leading 6.7 rpg.

If he finishes the season as the Cats’ top boarder, he’ll be the shortest leading rebounder at Kentucky since 6-5 Thad Jaracz averaged 8.3 rpg in 1967.

Rupp Arena

Kentucky can close out its 27th season at Rupp Arena with its 11th consecutive home victory should the Cats beat Vanderbilt. UK has not lost at home since a Michigan State victory on Dec. 14. The Cats are 11-1 on Cawood’s Court this season.The Wildcats recorded their 350th win in the legendary venue against Mississippi State on Feb. 23. Kentucky is 351-40 (89.8%) all-time in Rupp.The Cats have won the national attendance title the past seven seasons. Overall, the Cats 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.Kentucky is on track to claim its eighth consecutive national attendance title. With just one home game remaining, UK is averaging 22,205 fans per contest in Rupp Arena. The next closest teams are Syracuse and North Carolina. Both the Orangemen and the Tar Heels have one more game. Syracuse is averaging 20,162 fans in the Carrier Dome, while UNC averages just a 19,215 per game.

Inside the Numbers

In the 27 games this season, six different players have led the team in scoring, six in rebounding and eight in assists… In SEC play, UK opponents are averaging 26.9 ppg in the first half, 32.4 ppg in the second… Since the Jan. 22 Auburn game, the Wildcats trailed in the second half just once in 10 games, at Georgia (3/2), before rallying for the victory… UK is shooting 71.6% from the foul line, the best since the 1995 season, and 48.4% from the field, the best since the 1996 season… UK has topped 50% shooting 12 times this season, after achieving the mark only six times all of last season… SEC opponents are shooting 41.1% FG and 28.8% from 3FG range vs. UK defense… Kentucky has won the opening tip in 24 of the 27 games… The Cats are 19-1 since returned to the lineup… The Cats have won 23 games when leading with five minutes to play… UK has used just four starting lineups… The Cats are 20-0 when scoring 68 points or more.

SEC Leaders

In 14 league games, UK leads the SEC in scoring defense, scoring margin, FG% defense, 3FG% defense, rebound defense and rebounding margin. The Cats are third in scoring offense.

Three Mania

Kentucky ranks third nationally in consecutive games with a made three-pointer. The Wildcats have hit a three-pointer in 500 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.

   Teams      Games1. UNLV        5332. Vanderbilt  5293. Kentucky    500

UNLV and Vanderbilt have hit a three-pointer in every game since the three-point rule was adopted to start the 1986-87 season.

Unbeaten in 2003

UK went 8-0 in January before following up with an 8-0 slate in February. It was the first perfect January since 1998 and the first perfect February since 1996, when UK had a 27-game win streak prior to losing in the SEC Tournament final to Mississippi State. The Cats have opened March with a 1-0 record to remain unbeaten in 2003.

With the win over Tennessee (2/26), Kentucky finished February with an all-time 590-182-1 (.763) record.

March Madness

While there are still two regular-season games remaining on the UK schedule, the Madness has begun. With the hoops calendar falling a week later this year, UK will play the last of its SEC slate in the month of March before the league tourney tips off in New Orleans in eight days.

With the 1-0 start to March this year, UK owns a 249-94 all-time record in the month for a .726 winning percentage. Last season, UK went 3-2 in the month, with wins over Florida on Senior Day and Valpo and Tulsa in NCAA Tournament play.

In regular-season play, UK is 61-26 in the month of March, including 52-14 record since March regular-season games resumed in 1954.SEC Marks

In 1992, the league split into two divisions and implemented its current postseason tournament format.

Since then, the Cats have earned a bye in each of the last 11 tournaments as well as the upcoming 2003 event, meaning the Cats have finished no worse than second in the division since the league split 12 years ago. In SEC media voting, UK was picked to finish third in the East this season at SEC Media Days.

Kentucky has won or shared nine East titles since 1992 and six of its league-leading 42 SEC Championships, including the 2003 season.

Road Warriors

UK owns a 9-1 road record 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 7-0 on the road in the SEC in ’03.

With just one regular-season road trip remaining, UK has already accumulated a 13-2 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.

Vs. Ranked Opponents

Kentucky has faced 11 ranked opponents this season. UK is 10-1 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 vs. Gonzaga      11/27    W    80-72#12 @North Carolina  12/7     W    98-81#21 Michigan St.     12/14    L    67-71#6 vs. 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#19 Miss. State      2/23     W    70-62#21 Georgia          3/2      W    74-66

Currently, five UK opponents are ranked in this week’s Top 25.

On the Rebound

Kentucky has dominated its opponents on the glass during league play, owning an SEC-leading rebounding margin of 6.3 rpg. The Wildcats also rank first in rebounding defense, holding teams to just 29.1 boards per game.

Those stats were put to the test against Mississippi State on Feb. 23. The Bulldogs were ranked second in the country in rebounding margin entering the game, outrebounding their opponents by 9.1 rpg. UK won the battle of the boards, 37-25. Against Georgia on March 2, UK outrebounded the Dogs, 50-32.

Bogans’ Streak Ends in Athens

Keith Bogans’ streak of hitting a three-pointer in consecutive games came to an end against Georgia on March 2. The senior nailed a three-pointer in 29 consecutive games, including the first 26 games this season and the three NCAA Tournament games last year. His streak is the third longest in school history.

UK 3FG Streaks

1. Tony Delk (1994-95) – 34
2. Travis Ford (1993-94) – 32
3. (2002-03) – 29
*Note: All three streaks 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 21.3 mpg.

and lead the charge. Hawkins sparks the team at both ends of the floor, averaging a team-high 3.8 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.

calls the 6-11 Camara UK’s “all-around best defender,” due to his quickness, athleticism and shot-blocking skills. Camara ranks fifth at UK in blocked shots with 151 denials.

, and see action as well. The UK bench owns 66 career starting assignments.

Milestones

now has 1,797 career points and is 46 shy of the Wildcats’ top-five scorers. He trails Kevin Grevey in sixth place by four 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 season. He ranks first among active SEC players in career scoring.

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 794-212 mark (78.9%) during regular-season SEC play. No other team has won more than 652 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 42 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 and nine of the first 12 Eastern Division crowns.
is in his eighth season in the SEC, his sixth at Kentucky. In SEC regular-season play, he’s 92-34 (73.0%), the best record and most wins of any active coach in the league. He’s captured four SEC Championships and five Eastern Division crowns in six seasons in the Bluegrass. He also owns a 13-4 record in seven SEC Tournament appearances, winning three titles.

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 14-3 vs. top-50 teams, including a 6-1 mark against top-25 squads. With one week remaining in the regular season, ESPN predicts UK to be the top No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Opponent’s Top Target

Over the last six 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 FG and teammate Kenny Walker was 0-6 FG. Dudley was scoreless in the first half.

Against Florida on Feb. 4, 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 on Feb. 11, Ezra Williams canned his first shot with 13:41 left to play, finishing with five points for the game. In the rematch on March 2, UK held Bulldog star Jarvis Hayes to just five first-half points and 11 in the game. Hayes and Williams, the Dogs’ top-two scorers, were a combined 10-of-29 from the field 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 (2/4) to 20% shooting in the decisive first half, 34% for the game and a season-low 55 points.Leveling Georgia (2/11) 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 four times season — Tennessee State and South Carolina in Columbia and twice against Tennessee. UK won all four outings.

Early Honors

earned first-team recognition and was named to the second team when the NABC District 7 teams were announced last week.

Joining Bogans on the first team was Tennessee’s Ron Slay, Vanderbilt’s Matt Frieje, Louisville’s Reece Gaines and Morehead State’s Ricky Minard.

On the second team with Estill was Chris Massie of Memphis, Damien Kinloch of Tennessee Tech, Marvin Stone of Louisville and James Singleton of Murray State.

Estill Holds Record Mark

Senior owns the school record for FG percentage and ranks sixth in career FG percentage in the SEC. This year, he’s 119-for-209 from the field (56.9%), and for his career, he’s shooting 59.7%.

Estill ranks ahead of UK’s previous record holder, Charles Hurt (1980-83), who shot 59.3 percent. Estill 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)

59.7 (315-528) – 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
59.7 , UK (315-528) – 2001-03

Cats in the Polls

Kentucky remained No. 2 in the AP rankings for the third straight week. It is the Cats’ highest ranking since the final AP poll in 1996, when UK finished No. 2.

The Wildcats were ranked 17th in both preseason polls. Their lowest ranking this year was 20th.

Double-Doubles

recorded his fifth double-double of the season, the sixth of his career, when he totaled 15 points and 12 rebounds vs. Georgia on March 2. It was his second double-double of the season against the Dogs and the eighth recorded by the Cats this season.

Kentucky got two double-double performances in the same game for the first time since 2001 in its first win over Georgia (2/11) this season. The marks were achieved by Hayes (11-10) and (16-12).

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, totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds in relief against Virginia, his fifth career double-double.

National Exposure

The Georgia game marked UK’s 15th appearance on national television this season. UK is 12-3 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 wraps up regular-season play with a trip to Florida to face the third-ranked Gators. Saturday’s CBS game gets underway at 2 p.m. and features the SEC’s hottest teams, both of which are ranked in the top five. Since UK defeated Florida in Lexington on Feb. 4, the Gators have gone 6-1.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will make his first appearance at a UK game, serving as an analyst for CBS.

Foul Shooting?

Kentucky has significantly improved its free throw shooting this season, hitting 71.6%, the best since the 1995 season. In 13 of the last 19 games, UK has topped 70.0%.

is second in the SEC in league games only with 84.4% shooting from the line, one of four Cats shooting above 80% in the 14 league games. Bogans has hit 34 of his last 39 FTAs (87.2%) over the past 13 games.

has been Kentucky’s most consistent shooter from the charity stripe, hitting 81.4% of his shots this season. He’s hit 20 of his last 22 (90.9%) attempts.

In the Cats’ 18-game win streak, they’ve hit 72.8% of their attempts, after shooting 69.0% in the first nine games.

Against Tennessee (2/26), the Cats hit 25 of 29 (86.2%) FTs to secure the victory. It was the best percentage of the season per capita.

Kingfitch?

On several occasions, has become a second-half offensive weapon. Fitch’s 2003 scoring averages by half are 4.7 ppg in the first 20 minutes, 7.6 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.

Stormin’ Sixth Man

UK guard earned recognition from hoops analyst Dick Vitale as one of the top-six sixth men in the country this season.

Hawkins, who missed the first seven games of the season due to academic ineligibility, has returned in an effective reserve role. He’s shooting a career-best 41.7% from the field and 49.3% from 3FG land.

As one of the Cats’ best defenders, his assist-to-turnover ratio is 1.8:1. He had a season-high 14 points vs. Mississippi State on Feb. 23 then followed up with 11 vs. Tennessee on Feb. 26, just the second time he’s registered back-to-back double-figure point totals in his career.

Joining Hawkins on the Vitale All-Rolaids team were Brian Boddicker (Texas), Daniel Ewing (Duke), Marc Jackson (Utah), Chevon Troutman (Pittsburgh) and Ronny Turaif (Gonzaga).

SEASON NOTES

100 Years

105 former Wildcats returned to campus for a 100 Years of Kentucky Basketball Reunion Weekend in conjunction with the UK-MSU game Feb. 23. A dinner on the floor of Memorial Coliseum Saturday night and a massive halftime introduction of the Cats were part of the many weekend-long events. Stars such as Ralph Beard, Vernon Hatton, Cotton Nash, Kenny Walker and Rex Chapman attended the festivities. UK also announced its “Fantasy Five,” the five favorite players according to the fans. Tony Delk, Jamal Mashburn, Kyle Macy, Jack Givens and Dan Issel made up the select group, although Delk and Mashburn were unable to attend due to NBA commitments. The oldest alum returning was Evan Settle, who played on legendary coach Adolph Rupp’s third and fourth UK teams in 1933 and ’34.The Cats held a number of events throughout the season to honor the first century of basketball at UK, including fan balloting for the program’s greatest players, games and moments. The celebration included 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 for fans to collect — Adolph Rupp, , Kyle Macy and Cawood Ledford.

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.

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. Coach recorded his 10th consecutive 20-win season as a head coach. He’s accomplished the feat in all six seasons in the Bluegrass and his impressive string has occurred at three different schools.

Vs. SEC West

Kentucky finished the 2003 regular season with a 6-0 sweep of SEC Western Division teams. With its win over Mississippi State on Sunday, the Cats own an eight-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.

It was UK’s first regular-season sweep of the West since 1996. The Cats lost to MSU in the SEC Tournament that year.

Overall, UK is 55-17 (.764) against SEC West Division teams since the league split in ’92.

Hey Look, It’s Ashley!

Kentucky welcomed some very famous friends to its game with Tennessee on Feb. 26. Actress Ashley Judd, arguably the most famous Cat fan, made her 2003 debut after spending much of the season in Scotland with her race-car driver husband, Dario Franchitti. The movie star spent the entire game in the “e-RUPP-tion Zone,” the standing-room-only student section in Kentucky’s end zone.

Joining Judd in attendance was Major League Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, who was in town promoting the sale of UK baseball season tickets.

Judd is expected to return for Senior Day and also will travel to Florida on Saturday. Franchitti plans to join her at the Vanderbilt game.

Good Work!

was the SEC Good Works Team Player of the Week for Feb. 17-23 and was featured on Jefferson-Pilot’s telecasts of the UK-Arkansas, Alabama at Tennessee and South Carolina at Georgia games that 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.

Dynamite Daniels

When the Cats traveled to Ole Miss on Feb. 8, 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 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. 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 in ’03.

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.

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      SiteOhio St. L, 74-87    3-18-61   N-LouisvilleOhio St. L, 64-74    3-17-62   N-Iowa CityIndiana  W, 92-90    3-22-75   N-DaytonUCLA     L, 85-92    3-31-75   N-San DiegoIndiana  L, 68-77    12-15-75  N-LouisvilleIndiana  W, 69-58    12-15-79  H-LexingtonUNC      L, 69-82    12-26-81  N-MeadowlandsDuke     L, 80-55    11-19-88  N-SpringfieldDuke     L, 103-104* 3-28-92   N-PhiladelphiaArkansas W, 90-78    3-12-94   N-MemphisUMass    W, 81-74    3-30-96   N-MeadowlandsArizona  L, 74-89    11-25-97  N-MauiDuke     L, 92-95*   12-18-01  N-MeadowlandsFlorida  W, 70-55    2-4-03    H-Lexington*Overtime

Hayes Fever

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 then-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, 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 on Jan. 8, where he led the team with 20 points and nine rebounds.