March 5, 2003

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By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer

LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 2 Kentucky had no championship to win, but a pre-game ceremony honoring its three seniors provided plenty of motivation for the Wildcats on Wednesday night.

Erik Daniels scored a career-high 20 points and freshman Kelenna Azubuike added a season-high 16 as Kentucky rode another dazzling defensive performance to its 19th straight win, beating Vanderbilt 106-44.

Senior Marquis Estill added 17 points and nine rebounds and Gerald Fitch had 15 points and five assists for Kentucky (25-3, 15-0), which held Vanderbilt to seven field goals and 15 points in the second half.

Matt Freije, the SEC’s fourth-leading scorer, had nine points to lead Vanderbilt (10-16, 3-12), which lost for the eighth straight time. The Commodores went 19-of-62 from the field (31 percent), committed 23 turnovers and were outrebounded 56-34.

“We were overwhelmed, physically and mentally, from the beginning,” Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said.

The 62-point victory margin was Kentucky’s largest over a league opponent since 1956.

“The emotions of senior night carried over to everybody,” said senior Keith Bogans, who scored only nine points, but hardly seemed to mind.

Estill, Bogans and fellow senior Jules Camara were honored with framed jerseys before the game.

The school also recognized John Stewart, a 7-footer who signed with Kentucky in the fall of 1998 but died of a heart ailment during an Indiana state high school playoff game in March 1999.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith sobbed at midcourt during a video chronicling Stewart’s career. Smith embraced Stewart’s parents, John and Feleica, before giving them flowers and a framed jersey.

Tears fill the eyes of Kentucky’s Jules Camara as he listens to the singing of My Old Kentucky Home during senior night activites.

“John is always with us,” Smith said. “He would have made a big difference to Kentucky basketball.”

Bogans left the game with 6:31 left to a standing ovation. Earlier, he moved past Kevin Grevey into sixth place on the school’s all-time scoring list.

“It was very special to me,” Bogans said of his career. “I have a lot of great memories. If I could play another game here, I would love to.”

As Kentucky’s lead ballooned over 40 late in the game, Bogans and Camara hopped and laughed on the sideline with teammates.

“It’s good to see kids who really enjoy themselves and are having fun, playing well,” Smith said. “I tell them all the time that when you’re playing well, that’s when you can have a lot of fun.”

The Wildcats play at No. 4 Florida (24-5, 12-3) on Saturday and can become the first team since the 1995-96 Wildcats to go through the SEC regular season without a loss. That Kentucky team went on to win the program’s sixth NCAA championship.

The Wildcats had already clinched the program’s 42nd regular-season SEC title by virtue of the Gators’ loss to Georgia on Tuesday night.

Hayes said that didn’t deter Kentucky’s intensity for its home finale.

“We still had a point to prove,” he said.

Kentucky’s Marquis Estill draws the attention of Vanderbilt defenders David Przybyszewski, left, and Matt Freije during the first half.

Kentucky opened with a 15-2 run, scoring on eight of its first nine possessions.

Eight minutes into the game, Vanderbilt had twice as many turnovers (6) as it had field goals (3) and trailed 23-7.

Kentucky extended the lead to 36-14 before Freije had nine straight points.

But Bogans scored on a drive with 5:26 left before halftime and the Wildcats stayed in control, rebuilding the lead to 19 points.

“Everybody came out with fire tonight,” Estill said. “We all had a great game and we were having fun out there.”

The fun didn’t stop after halftime.

Kentucky started the second half with a 14-2 run capped by Estill’s unlikely 3-pointer from the top of the key with 15:58 left. The 6-9 Estill had attempted only four 3-pointers all season and missed them all.

By the midpoint of the second half, Smith had sent seldom-used freshmen Azubuike, Bernard Cote and Brandon Stockton into the game.

The 6-5 Azubuike, averaging only eight minutes, made a steal at midcourt and streaked in for a two-handed dunk and an 85-40 lead with 8:16 left. The 5-9 Stockton swished a 3-pointer from the top of the key a minute later to increase the lead to 48.

“It was an all-around perfect night,” said Azubuike, who finished 6-for-6 from the field.

After the game, the Wildcats gathered at midcourt, arm-in-arm, after the game and led the crowd in singing “My Old Kentucky Home.”