No. 5/5 Kentucky Wildcats (19-2, 10-0 SEC)
vs.
South Carolina (13-8, 5-5 SEC)
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005 – 9:00 p.m.
The Colonial Center – Columbia, S.C.
TV: ESPN
Following a 60-51 win over Georgia Saturday, the 19-2 Kentucky Wildcats face SEC East foe South Carolina Tuesday night looking to capture UK?s 50th (and 15th-consecutive) 20-win season.
Tubby Smith himself is looking for his 12th-consecutive 20-win season as a head coach, while as a team Kentucky is trying to extend a streak that dates back to the 1990-91 season.
Saturday, despite building a 21-point second-half lead against Georgia, an uninspired UK finish allowed the Bulldogs to pull within five points late before the heavily-favored Wildcats prevailed by nine. Kentucky was led by Chuck Hayes and Patrick Sparks, who each contributed a game-high 14 points.
Kentucky opened SEC play last month with a 79-75 win over South Carolina at Rupp Arena. In that game, the Cocks shot 54 percent, making them the lone UK opponent in the last two seasons (53 games) to make over half their shots.
Scouting the Gamecocks
South Carolina hosts Kentucky after dropping a 74-71 decision to Auburn in The Colonial Center Saturday. The up-and-down Gamecocks have won three of the last five games overall and are 11-2 at home this season. USC is 5-4 since opening SEC play in Lexington on Jan. 5.
Carlos Powell continues to lead the Gamecocks, averaging 15.2 ppg and 6.6 rpg. Guard Tre? Kelley adds 10.0 rpg and 3.3 assists. Josh Gonner comes off the bench and had a 22-point showing against the Tigers Saturday.
Dave Odom is in his fourth season at South Carolina and holds a 70-50 record at the school. He?s in his 19th season as a head coach, holding a 348-224 record.
Series History
This is the 41st series meeting with UK holding a 35-5 advantage. Kentucky has won 18 of the last 19 meetings, dating back to the 1997 season. USC?s lone win in that span came in the quarterfinals of the 2002 SEC Tournament in Atlanta. The Cats have won 15-straight regular-season games against South Carolina.
The game is the 32nd in the series since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992. UK owns a 27-4 record against the Gamecocks in that time.
The Wildcats are 13-3 all-time against USC in Columbia and have won seven in a row there. The Gamecocks? last home win came on Feb. 4, 1997 – an 84-79 overtime victory. UK is 2-0 in the Colonial Center.
Probable Starters
Pos. # Name Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG Notes F 44 Chuck Hayes 6-6 242 Sr. 11.0 8.7 Double figures in last three games F 24 Kelenna Azubuike 6-5 208 Jr. 14.1 4.7 Just 6 pts on 1-5 FGs vs. UGA C 33 Randolph Morris 6-10 266 Fr. 8.3 3.7 4 pts, 5 rebs vs. UGA G 4 Rajon Rondo 6-1 171 Fr. 8.5 *3.0 Shooting 59.5% FGs on the road G 22 Patrick Sparks 6-0 180 Jr. 11.3 *4.3 No assists in last two games SOUTH CAROLINA Pos. # Name Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG Notes F 15 Carlos Powell 6-7 225 Sr. 15.2 6.6 14 pts, 10 rebs vs. Auburn F 21 Tarence Kinsey 6-7 184 Jr. 9.5 3.6 Team-high 1.24 steals per game F 33 Brandon Wallace 6-9 195 Sr. 6.0 4.5 Averages 1.67 blocks per game F 34 Renaldo Balkman 6-7 207 So. 6.5 4.9 No points in last two games G 1 Tre? Kelley 6-0 182 So. 10.0 *3.3 Has started all 21 games *assists per game
Location: (18,000)
TV: – Brad Nessler, Rick Majerus, Heather Cox
Radio: –
Online Coverage:
South Carolina Gamecocks Information
