Dec. 20, 2009
Cats Take Aim for 2,000 Wins Against Drexel
A game 107 years in the making will finally take place as the Wildcats attempt to become the first school in NCAA history to win 2,000 games. Sitting on 1,999 wins, the Cats welcome the Drexel Dragons to Rupp Arena on Monday in a nationally televised game on ESPNU.
| Gameday Information | |
|---|---|
| Game Notes |
UK Notes  | Drexel Notes |
| Date & Time | Mon., Dec. 21, 7:00 p.m |
| Coverage | TV: ESPNU Radio: BBSN GameTracker  Online Audio  Live Blog |
| Location | Rupp Arena Lexington, Ky. |
| Drexel Dragons at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | James Flint |
| Record at School | 139-113 |
| 2009 Record | 6-5, 1-0 Colonial |
| Ranking | NR |
| Series Record | First meeting |
| Last Meeting | First meeting |
| 2009 Team Stats | UK | DU |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring Offense | 81.2 | 62.4 |
| Scoring Defense | 65.8 | 60.3 |
| FG Percentage | 49.8% | 40.5% |
| 3-point FG Percentage | 40.0% | 29.1% |
| FT Percentage | 68.3% | 63.3% |
| Rebound Margin | +11.5 | +1.0 |
| Assists | 15.8 | 12.9 |
| Turnovers | 16.7 | 13.1 |
| 2009 Stat Leaders | |
|---|---|
| Scoring | UK: John Wall (18.0) DU: Jamie Harris (15.1) |
| Rebounding | UK: Patrick Patterson (9.5) DU: Samme Givens (7.5) |
| Assists | UK: John Wall (7.0) DU: Jamie Harris (3.7) |
| 3-point FG Percentage | UK: Eric Bledsoe (54.8%) DU: Chris Fouch (32.7%) |
| Blocks | UK: DeMarcus Cousins (2.0) DU: Daryl McCoy (0.8) |
| Steals | UK: John Wall (2.6) DU: Jamie Harris and Samme Givens (1.6) |
The Cats collected win number 1,999 against Austin Peay, a 90-69 win that saw four Wildcats score in double-figures. Patrick Patterson scored a team-high 21 points, while pulling down a game-high nine rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins (19), John Wall (17) and Darius Miller (11) joined Patterson in double figures.
UK shot a season high .667 (8-12) from three-point range, while also hitting 18-18 from the free throw line.
Pregame Quotes
Head Coach John Calipari
On Drexel…
“They do a great job and really defend. They are a good defensive team and they do a great job coming off screens. We need to be prepared for that. They are good enough to beat us. Everybody saw Austin Peay and they hung around. We had one or two gaps, and other than that, they played head-to-head with us. This team could do the same. I watched our game from Memphis a year ago. He is running things a little different than he did last year. I watched a couple tapes from this year. They defend, execute and take good shots. Sometimes, they shoot it really well, other times they don’t. IF they are shooting it well, they are like Sam Houston State. These are good challenges for us.”
On Kentucky playing for 2,000 wins…
“First of all, I’m such a small part of the 2,000 wins. But, there is a sense of responsibility when you are in this seat. There have not been many in this seat, but the guys that have been (here) know there is a sense of responsibility that you feel to the state, university, former players and coaches. We can act like it wasn’t important for us to get to 12 (wins) before North Carolina got to 16 (wins), but believe me, the day after I took the job I started thinking, ‘How are we going to get to 12 before they get to 16?’ Now I’m thinking, ‘How can we get to one before they get to seven?’ That may not be Monday. It may be Wednesday; it may be next week when we come back. We need to get to one before they get to seven. This program has created a pride in this state, from Eastern, to Western, to Northern, to Southern Kentucky. People have a pride in their Commonwealth’s team and it means something to them. Obviously, there all kinds of goals you have before your season starts. Some of it is non-conference, some of it is conference play, and then it becomes post-season play. There are all kinds of goals you are setting. When you start the season, everything is day-to-day. The good news is we have some gap. The pressure was the North Carolina game. When we got that I thought we’d have some breathing room to get there before them, because we had some space. Before the season started, after that game it is going to be a three game gap. I wasn’t sure what we would do in the tournament in Cancun, and I thought that could be a loss. I though Connecticut and North Carolina games would be hard to win. I was hoping we could beat Indiana on the road, but I wasn’t sure. I thought we’d have three to four losses with such a young team. The minute you sit in the seat I’m in, you understand the importance to the state. I’m happy we are up against it now. Let’s just get it over and move on to what we have to do this season.”
On Darius Miller…
“When he misses one or two, he either stops shooting, stops being aggressive, or starts to question. That’s why I talk about having amnesia. Great players have amnesia. He is trying to play.”
On team roles…
“Today what I told them is that Eric Bledsoe dogged the ball. If you don’t dog the ball, I with either go with DeAndre (Liggins) or Ramon (Harris) and they will dog the ball. The reason is, when Eric dogs the ball, he then plays aggressive offensively and makes plays. I want play-finishers to be Darnell (Dodson) and Darius (Miller). I don’t need them to be play-starters. You better rebound and defend well enough to stay in the game, but I need you to make plays. Let these other guys make plays. We are getting closer. I like that we have a full complement of players right now.”
#12, Mark Krebs, Sr., G
On what it feels like to possibly be a part of history with win No. 2000 …
“It is an unbelievable feeling that you are a part of a program that is so special and has won so many games. To be a part of it is really going to be special. The first to 2000 wins, that is amazing. It is going to be a great thing. Getting 2000 wins just show how special a place and a program that Kentucky is. It is just special.”
On if there has been much talk about it among the team …
“No, we are going to approach it just like every other game. We are going out to win and do what we have to do to win. We need to know our personnel and things like that. We are approaching it like it was just another game that we need to win. It would be special to get No. 2000 though. We are not putting too much stock into it, but it will be nice to look back on after the season is over.”
On the fans and how much they want win No. 2000 …
“The fans love it and why shouldn’t they? They definitely talk about it and you hear it on your way to class and things like that. Everyone is a part of this program that has helped to build it up, and the fans are a huge part of it. They should love it and they should cherish this game. Everyone that has been with the team so long should as well. I wish that (former UK equipment manager) Mr. (Bill) Keightley could be here to see it. It is going to be an amazing night when it happens and I am excited about it.”
#21, Perry Stevenson, Sr., F
On how much the guys on the team have been thinking about win No. 2000 …
“We are approaching it as just another game. I am sure that we will celebrate after. There has not been much talk about it. You just have to approach it like it is just another game, but in the back of everybody’s mind it feels good to be the first.”
On the turnaround of having to play three games in six days …
“Most of the young guys on the team are used to playing three games in one day. I don’t think that it will affect them at all. I am just kind of use to it by now as well.”
On getting some time off for Christmas …
“I am definitely excited about that. I haven’t been home in awhile so getting to go home and see my family will be great. But, we then have to come back and really get to work.”
