No. 3/3 Kentucky Wildcats (23-3, 14-1 SEC)
vs.
Florida Gators (19-7, 11-4 SEC)
Sun., March 6, 2005 – 2:00 p.m. ET
O’Connell Center – Gainesville, Fla.
TV: CBS
News:
After sending seniors Chuck Hayes and Josh Carrier out of Rupp Arena with a 73-61 Senior Night victory over Tennessee, Kentucky travels to Gainesville?s hostile Stephen O?Connell Center to face the Florida Gators in the final regular-season game of the year.
The Wildcats, who ended the year with a 14-1 home record, have topped 50 percent shooting in the last three games, including a 55.3 percent showing against the Volunteers. Carrier closed his home career with a career-high nine points after earning the starting nod, while Hayes scored all 13 of his points in the second half of his final home game.
Kentucky, the winningest college basketball program of all-time, is one win away from becoming the first school to win 1,900 games.
UK travels to Atlanta next week for the 2005 SEC Tournament at the Georgia Dome. The Wildcats will face the winner of Thursday?s Tennessee/Arkansas game Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Scouting the Gators
Florida brings a 19-7 overall record into the final regular-season game. At 11-4 in league play, the Gators have clinched second in the SEC East.
Anthony Roberson averages 18.5 ppg and Matt Walsh adds 14.0 ppg. David Lee provides Florida with 13 points and nearly nine rebounds a game. Freshmen Corey Brewer and Al Horford are solid for the Gators, adding 7.0 and 6.2 points, respectively.
Billy Donovan is in his ninth season at Florida and has a 188-91 record in Gainesville. His career record is 223-111 overall after two years at Marshall.
Series History
This marks the 109th meeting in the series between Kentucky and Florida with the Wildcats holding an 84-24 advantage.
UK has won eight straight in the series, including a 69-66 victory in Lexington on Feb. 8. UK has swept the regular-season meetings for the last three years, after splitting with the Gators for four years (1997-98 to 2000-01). Kentucky has won 10 of the last 11 meetings.
UK won the first series meeting, 44-36, in Lexington on Jan. 3, 1927. The Cats won 21 of the first 22 meetings, winning 18 straight from 1942-64.
The Cats are 30-16 against UF in Gainesville and own a 16-8 mark in the O?Connell Center. UK has won in its last three visits to Gainesville.
Tubby Smith is 16-4 overall against Florida, including an 12-4 mark at Kentucky. Billy Donovan is 4-16 against the Cats, including a 4-14 record at Florida.
Probable Starters
Pos. # Name Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG Notes F 44 Chuck Hayes 6-6 242 Sr. 10.8 8.1 Shooting 58.1% in last four games F 24 Kelenna Azubuike 6-5 208 Jr. 14.7 4.9 Double figures in last five games C 33 Randolph Morris 6-10 266 Fr. 8.7 3.9 9 pts, 7 rebs, 2 blks vs. UT G 4 Rajon Rondo 6-1 171 Fr. 8.0 *3.3 20 assists in last three games G 22 Patrick Sparks 6-0 180 Jr. 11.7 *3.8 14 pts, 4 assts vs. Tennessee FLORIDA Pos. # Name Ht. Wt. Cl. PPG RPG Notes F 24 David Lee 6-9 249 Sr. 13.4 8.7 17 pts, 13 rebs at Georgia F 2 Corey Brewer 6-8 183 Fr. 7.0 3.2 7 pts, 7 rebs in last two games F 42 Al Horford 6-8 225 Fr. 6.2 6.8 Played just 12 mins at UGA F 44 Matt Walsh 6-6 205 Jr. 14.0 3.4 13th in SEC in scoring G 1 Anthony Roberson 6-1 180 Jr. 18.5 *2.5 22 pts, 3 rebs at Georgia *assists per game
Location: (12,000)
TV: – Ian Eagle, Jim Sparnakle
Radio: –
Online Coverage
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