LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The Kentucky Wildcats (1-8, 0-3 SEC) will play host to top-ranked Alabama (9-0, 3-0 SEC) this Friday in Memorial Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. The Crimson Tide is the latest of a long string of difficult opponents the Cats have faced this season. UA will be the eighth Top-25 opponent Kentucky has faced thus far and the third Top-10 opponent in five weeks.

?We have had a tough schedule to this point, but we knew coming into the season that it would be like that,? Coach ?Mo? Muhammad said. ?The SEC is the best gymnastics conference in the country and this year is no different than in years past. We have to be on our game to compete at a high level.?

Alabama is coming off a 197.075 ? 196.325 win over Auburn, which was its fifth 197-plus score of the season. The Wildcats are 0-39 against Alabama after falling 196.475 ? 195.125 to the Tide last season.

UK finished fourth in the 2004 State Farm Cat Classic in Columbia, Mo., in its last outing. Kentucky scored a 194.125, but had strong performances from freshman Krystle Cook and junior Michelle Gales. Cook scored a career-high in the all-around and Gales won the individual floor title and posted her first 39.000 or better all-around score of the season.

History with the Tide

Kentucky assistant coach Tom Haley spent two seasons as a volunteer assistant at Alabama in 2000 and 2001. In his tenure with the program, the Tide amassed a 29-5-1 record and finished fifth at the NCAA Championships twice. The program also produced 23 All-Americans with Haley as an assistant.

Father/Daughter Night

UK will celebrate ?Father/Daughter? night at Friday?s meet against Alabama. Father/daughter duos that come to the meet together will receive admission for $2 and have the opportunity to participate in contests and games for various prizes. The first 300 father/daughter pairs will receive a free autographed UK gymnastics team photo.