Bogans guts it out, then feels the pain Keith Bogans played in pain and then also had to endure the pain of knowing his college basketball career ended short of the goal he had set.
Barnhart says he isn't shopping for coach Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart said it is "patently, absolutely inaccurate" that he has already looking for a possible successor to
UK basketball coach Tubby Smith.
UK's bitter end only adds glow to Smith's feat Forget the crash, remember the ride. Better still, praise the pilot. So Kentucky's 26-game winning streak came
tumbling down Saturday inside the Metrodome, massacred by Marquette, overwhelmed by Dwyane Wade in the Midwest Regional final, one win shy of the Final Four.
Legacy extends beyond victoriesTeam-oriented Cats 'happy with season' No flowery rhetoric. No
overwrought emotion. Heartfelt gratitude for a team that personified enduring values was sufficient. That's how Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith addressed his team after its magical season ended in defeat Saturday night. He just told us, " 'Thank you for the wonderful year we had; we can learn from this,' " Chuck
Hayes told reporters later.
Cats couldn't grab ultimate prize Tubby Smith answered preseason criticism of his men's basketball program at the University of Kentucky by saying
that trophies keep showing up at his office in Memorial Coliseum.
Injury hurt Bogans' defense While Keith Bogans gave a valiant effort in trying to play with a high left ankle sprain, among the questions left
unanswered from the University of Kentucky's loss to Marquette in Saturday's Midwest Regional championship game is, would the Wildcats have been better off not playing the senior swingman at all?
UK talent returns, but will Tubby? Now that the University of Kentucky basketball team's season has fallen three wins short of a national
championship the question about next season isn't whether the Wildcats have enough talent returning to make another long postseason run, it's just who is going to coach them?
'Cats doomed by yellow wave Seldom does it seem that way, and almost never does it seem that way in Kentucky, where basketball is spoken with a
distinctive accent. To those who watched back home in the commonwealth -- and judging by the yellow-fevered crowd at the Metrodome, that was practically everybody --
Baseball
Back-to-back homers in 9th sink Bat Cats Brady Toops and Ryan Fox hit back-to-back home runs in the ninth to score three and pull Arkansas ahead to a 10-9 win at
Kentucky yesterday.
UK loses to Arkansas in baseballUK (10-17, 0-9 Southeastern) had scored three runs in the eighth to lead 9-7 before the
Razorbacks (22-5, 5-4) used back-to-back home runs by Brady Toops and Ryan Fox to score three runs in the ninth. Arkansas had five home runs in all.
(03-30-03)
Basketball
Dream Season is overUK, perfect for so long, falls short of Final Four It was like a dam breaking.
Kentucky basketball's 26-game winning streak had been like a magnificent river, flowing in the same direction, its strength and power beautiful to behold.
Only an amazing feat could end UK's run You knew it would take something special. That even on a bad day, it would take something extraordinary to break the
massive heart of this Kentucky basketball team.
FINAL FORLORNVersatile Marquette puts end to Cats' streak and season Although Mississippi State fans
called out his name every time he scored -- "Rob-bert Jack-son" -- over three seasons, Kentucky center Marquis Estill had claimed not to remember him. Apparently, Jackson, now finishing his career at Marquette, was just another faceless opponent banished to hoop oblivion by UK.
Youngest Smith detouring around UK Recruiting news about Lexington Catholic's Brian Smith arrived last week. Kentucky was conspicuous by its absence. Of course,
Smith is the youngest son of UK Coach Tubby Smith. His two older brothers played for their father, G.G. Smith at Georgia and Saul Smith at UK.
BARNHART BACKS TUBBYKeeping UK coach from NBA is top priority Before the game that ended
Kentucky's storybook season, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart emphatically declared his intention to extend the Tubby Smith coaching era far into the future.
On his last leg, Bogans still leads UK Call him Captain Courageous. That's how senior Keith Bogans bowed out as a Kentucky basketball player yesterday. Wearing a
protective device to immobilize a freshly sprained left ankle, he gritted through 24 minutes. His 15 points tied Gerald Fitch for team high as the Cats lost 83-69 to Marquette.
By the numbers 4 The number of times a UK player has fouled out of a game this season. Chuck Hayes, who guarded Marquette star Dwyane Wade, fouled out yesterday.
UK fans mourn aloneStunned by Wildcats loss, Big Blue Nation finds little comfort in bleachers full of Marquette loyalists
Coming into the Metrodome yesterday, some University of Kentucky basketball fans already smelled the cafe con leche, tasted the beignets and heard the jazz of New Orleans.
The Eagles are golden Marquette's Dwyane Wade threw down a reverse dunk, hung on the rim, pointed toward the crowd and posed while he was up
there. Most everything the Golden Eagles did yesterday was picture-perfect in their 83-69 victory over the University of Kentucky in the NCAA Midwest Regional final
UK is beaten as it had defeated so many: badly In the end, there wasn't even a reason for the University of Kentucky to foul. That's how ugly the scoreboard
looked yesterday in the NCAA
Marquette Upsets Kentucky to Make Final 4Marquette, led by Dwyane Wade's dazzling performance,
emphatically ended Kentucky's 26-game winning streak with a 83-69 victory Saturday to earn a trip to the Final Four in New Orleans.
Wildcats have no answer for Wade Kentucky sophomore forward Chuck Hayes developed into a defensive stopper for the Wildcats this season.
Marquette trips KentuckyMarquette did what no team had done in three months, and what many people thought was impossible. Dwyane Wade and the Golden Eagles upset
Kentucky 83-69 Saturday, ending the top-seeded Wildcats' 26-game winning streak and sending them to the Final Four. Wade finished with his first career triple-double, totaling 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
Marquette Raises a Sore Point for Kentucky
Could Kentucky
have defeated Marquette if Keith Bogans had been healthy? The Golden Eagles will not give it a second thought after their stunning 83-69 victory.
No surprises at Kentucky's first spring practice With cold weather, a sloppy field and a new offense and defense to put in, Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks called the
results of UK's first spring practice yesterday "predictable."
Back from injury, Cats' White hopes to prove himself Durrell White doesn't have the fondest memories of Nutter Field, but the Kentucky freshman linebacker can't
think of any other place he'd rather be right now.
Baseball
Bat Cats Lose Heartbreaker, 10-9, to ArkansasThe Arkansas Razorbacks finished a sweep of the Kentucky baseball team (10-17, 0-9 SEC),
dealing the Bat Cats a heartbreaking, 10-9, loss Sunday afternoon, March 30th, at Cliff Hagan Stadium. Down 9-7 in the ninth, UA (22-5, 5-4 SEC) used back-to-back homeruns from Brady Toops and Ryan Fox to score three runs for the victory, two of five Razorback blasts in the game.
(03-29-03)
Basketball
Wildcats Eliminated From NCAA TournamentMarquette did what no team had done in three months, and what many people thought was
impossible. Dwyane Wade and the Golden Eagles upset Kentucky 83-69 Saturday, ending the top-seeded Wildcats' 26-game winning streak and sending them to the Final Four. Cheered on by a sea of yellow-clad followers, Marquette defeated the Wildcats, earning the school's third regional title and first since
1977, when Al McGuire coached it to a national title.
If you could, you'd cheer for WadeMARQUETTE 'LOTTERY PICK' IMPRESSES WITH LEADERSHIP
Kentucky, you would like Dwyane Wade. You really would. Were the Marquette University star not the single biggest impediment -- well, he and Keith Bogans' now very-famous left ankle -- between your Kentucky Wildcats and the Final Four, you'd root for him today.
All for one for UKCats' team approach will be paramount if leader Bogans can't play It's time to
win one for the Gipper. Or as Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith quipped, "Win one for the skipper." Braced for the absence of leading scorer and team leader Keith Bogans, Kentucky spoke of digging deep into its motivational toolbox for today's Midwest Regional final against Marquette.
Ex-Creeker Horn downplays emotions against hometown Cats A Lexington native has been plotting a Kentucky defeat for today. The Oliver Stones among UK fans don't
want to know that the plotter's brother once lived in Wildcat Lodge.
THE MATCHUPS Advantage: Even. Advantage: Kentucky. Advantage: Marquette. Advantage: Kentucky. Marquette At 6-10, 245 pounds, junior Scott Merritt is powerful
enough to bang but also has a soft touch: see his 9-for-11 free-throw shooting in the win over Pitt. At the other forward, Todd Townsend is a role player who has scored only six points total in three NCAA Tournament games
LINEUPS, STATISTICS Marquette Probable starters No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 1 Todd Townsend F 6-7 215 So. 5 Scott Merritt F 6-10 245 Jr. 55 Robert Jackson F 6-10
260 Sr.
Marquette center knows UK too well One Marquette player knows what it's like to play against Kentucky. It was not an experience to build self-esteem. "They
dominated back then," said Robert Jackson, who played three games against UK while at Mississippi State. "They dominate now. Same old Kentucky."
Only fitting Crean restored MarquetteCollege game's hottest coach was drawn to sport by McGuire's 1977 Warriors
Al McGuire introduced him to the sport. McGuire, he liked. It was 1977. Tom Crean was an 11-year-old in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and McGuire's Marquette Warriors were winning an NCAA championship.
Bogans on the Bubble Though he says he wants to play today against Marquette, the high ankle sprain he suffered Thursday night in the Wildcats'
victory over Wisconsin makes his status uncertain.
Eagles in turnover turnaround Marquette's 30 turnovers in its Conference USA Tournament loss to Alabama Birmingham are an afterthought these days. Point guard Travis
Diener would like to keep it that way.
Season hinges on injury For four seasons Keith Bogans has been Cal Ripken in sneakers for the University of Kentucky's basketball program. If there has been one
UK player Lou Gehrig would have applauded, it is Bogans.
Crean, Marquette in an embrace Tom Crean sat in the corner of a small office next to a locker room in the Metrodome, unable to stop smiling. It was midnight, but
he didn't want to leave.
Marquette in the NCAAs Here is a look at how Marquette has fared in the NCAA Tournament:
'97, '98 Wildcats also dealt with key personnel losses If members of the University of Kentucky
basketball team need some help in figuring out how to handle playing without standout senior swingman Keith Bogans today, then perhaps they can lean on manager Allen Edwards for advice.
Diener makes Golden Eagles fly He looks more like a choirboy than a basketball player and could have
been the perfect candidate to play the lead role in "White Men Can't Jump."
'Cats look to Hayes for stops Chuck Hayes just chuckles. No one knows who Chuck Hayes is,
because he isn't one of the big offensive threats for top-ranked University of Kentucky. He's just one of many role players.
For UK, sum greater than its parts
The University of
Kentucky basketball team all season has been successful because collectively the Wildcats have been better than their individual parts.
Bogans waits on ankleA day before Kentucky played for the chance to go to the Final Four, the Wildcats still didn't know if star guard Keith Bogans
would be available. Whether Bogans will play through a sprained ankle in Saturday's Midwest Regional final against Marquette will be a game-time decision.
With Bogans in limbo, UK turns to Fitch With Keith Bogans either out or seeing only limited action today, Kentucky probably will need someone to step up and take the tough shots Bogans otherwise would. The best
candidate might not seem to be a player who needs lights on to sleep and is terrified of air travel. But Gerald Fitch is fearless on the floor.
UK needs Bogans against Marquette Cliff Hawkins has kept at hand the Bourbon Street beads with which Kentucky fans showered the Wildcats after their Southeastern Conference Tournament
championship in New Orleans. He pulls them out periodically to remind his teammates of where they want to return next week, for the Final Four.
'Cats can't count on Bogans bouncing back One by one the Kentucky players and coaching staff filed into the Metrodome locker room after their Friday afternoon practice. The heavy metal
door clicked shut. A security guard stood nearby.
Football
Tilghman running back commits to Kentucky The University of Kentucky football program chalked up its second recruit for 2004 when Paducah Tilghman running back
Joe Casey verbally committed to UK yesterday.
Wildcats' cramming begins early this year When the University of Kentucky football team registered for classes last semester, there was one course the players
probably didn't realize they'd be taking.
Casey commits to Cats Joe Casey, considered the top junior running back in Kentucky by most recruiting analysts,
has decided to play his college football at the University of Kentucky.
Baseball
Bats Cats' SEC woes continue as Hogs roll 9-2 The Kentucky baseball team fell to visiting Arkansas yesterday 9-2 in the opener of a three-game series at Cliff
Hagan Stadium. The Cats (10-15, 0-7 SEC) managed just two runs on seven hits as UK had a two-game winning streak snapped.
(03-28-03)
Basketball
Bogans hopes to play against Marquette Keith Bogans is hoping he can play against Marquette Saturday, but he still wasn't sure Friday whether his
sprained ankle would allow him to or not.
Marquette believes it can beat UK Marquette coach Tom Crean thinks Kentucky's 26-game win streak and unbeaten run through Southeastern Conference
play is a feat that should be remembered for years.
Wildcats march to Tubby's pace As a child, one of the few luxuries he enjoyed was a long soak in the water he had drawn for the bathtub in a house without
indoor plumbing. "Tubby" as a nickname was born of that respite from the hardships of being a sharecropper's son.
Kentucky game brings back memories With each step forward in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, Marquette University moves closer to its glorious past.
Upsetting finish spoils upset bid With a minute to play, Wisconsin had everything an aspiring bracket-breaker could desire. The Badgers were within a long-distance shot of the No. 1 team in the
land and the Metrodome had been transformed into the Kohl Center North, with the 15,000 or so UW loyalists being joined in their full-throated roar by the strangest of bedfellows.
Badgers feel the love, if only by default It's too bad about our Badgers, our cheeseheads. Hey, Wisconsin is as close to a men's Sweet 16 as our state may get for long time. We took advantage
of the opportunity to whoop it up.
Cats stand tall It had the feel of an upset, there was no mistaking that. There was Kentucky star Keith Bogans, one of the primary authors of the Wildcats' 25-game winning streak, languishing
on the bench for the entire second half. There was a red sea of fans from the bottom of the Metrodome to the top. And then there were the Wisconsin Badgers themselves, hanging around much, much longer than anyone figured they would against the top-ranked basketball team in the nation.
Big game from Estill helps Kentucky hold off Wisconsin Nothing but candy bar wrappers, ankle tape and a couple of straggling players was left in the Kentucky locker room Thursday night, and
yet the room was filled by the echo of a message etched on a dry-erase board for all to see:
No cheese; hoops on rise When I think of Marquette basketball, I remember trying to call Al McGuire one day in his hotel room. The phone rang, and someone answered, "Eddie's Laundry.''
Tubby ready for next step HOW seriously could we take the Kentucky Wildcats in the midst of March Madness if persuasive hints weren't being dropped on all the right doorsteps that their coach is leaning
sharply toward turning pro after the season, win or lose? Especially when the DNA of Tubby Smith's confidants can be traced to the whispering.
Midwest Notebook The Metrodome turned into a sea of Badger red for the Wisconsin-Kentucky Midwest Regional semifinal yesterday evening, won by Kentucky, 63-57.
Badgers leave it all on the court The Wisconsin Badgers executed their game plan to near-perfection for the first 39 minutes of Thursday night's showdown with the No.
1-seeded Kentucky Wildcats.
Badgers' upset bid falls short In the end, the Wisconsin Badgers were unable to pull off the biggest possible upset of the tournament against the No. 1 seed in the Midwest
and the No.1 team in the nation, the Kentucky Wildcats. Ultimately, the Badgers could not match the Wildcats' strength in the post, depth or sheer poise down the stretch as UW fell to Kentucky 63-57.
Mighty Kentucky Digs Down Deep Kentucky's 63-57 win over Wisconsin Thursday night doesn't have the same lustrous shine as the Wildcats' SEC
championship. It won't make grown people shake their heads in awe, the way Kentucky's 26-game winning streak does.
Seniorhood Rules, So N.B.A. Can Wait There has been great college basketball this month, but the best news to come out of the national
collegiate men's basketball tournament is that seniorhood is still vital. Maryland, the defending national champion, starts three seniors and plays four; Kentucky, a team that began the tournament with the nation's longest winning streak, has three seniors who play critical roles.
Penney buys nothing vs. Hayes No. 1-rated Kentucky and Wisconsin were 13 minutes into Thursday night's Midwest Regional semifinal at the Metrodome. The Badgers had succeeded in getting the game
played at their what's-the-hurry
Arizona's Wildcats are better now than Kentucky's Wildcats We are now
deep enough into March Madness to start getting a genuine feel for who has the legitimate wherewithal to be the last team standing at the Final Four and who is merely playing the foil in this championship season.
Lesson learned- No. 1 Kentucky can be beaten It must have been about the time Kentucky's Marquis Estill missed a wide-open dunk in the first half that the idea occurred, like one of those
cartoon thought bubbles, that maybe the Wildcats weren't so invincible after all.
Wildcats dig deep to hold off Badgers Twenty-six and one. One to the Final Four. Yet of the now 26 games in this amazing Wildcat winning streak, surely No. 26, surely
last night's Midwest Region semifinal, was the most impressive in its toughness, its fortitude.
Bogans' injury a blow to title hopes This was Keith Bogans' second half: He limped in from the locker room some four minutes and 12 seconds after play had started. He
sat glumly on the bench.
Slowed, not stoppedBogans hurt, but Estill carries Cats to win, 63-57 Kentucky took its quality season
to new heights last night. Necessity was the mother of this delightful invention. To beat Wisconsin 63-57, the Cats had to do it without its leading scorer. Keith Bogans sprained an ankle late in the first half and watched the second half from the bench.
Alive and limpingEstill and Hayes carry Cats past Wisconsin, 63-57 Halftime was a time to be counted
upon or counted out. Kentucky was locked in a surprisingly competitive game with Wisconsin. A high ankle sprain had removed Keith Bogans -- "the heart and soul of this team," trainer David Kindy said -- from the action.
With Bogans out, Estill carried the loadHAYES SHUTS DOWN HOT-HANDED KIRK PENNEY
With Marquis Estill dominating inside, Kentucky didn't need leading scorer Keith Bogans in the second half against Wisconsin last night.
Badgered but not beaten University of Kentucky guard Keith Bogans went down, but the Wildcats weren't ready to go out of the NCAA Tournament. The
top-seeded Cats got a career night from senior center Marquis Estill and overcame the loss of Bogans to a sprained left ankle in the first half.
Cats to ice an ankle, cross fingers The University of Kentucky basketball team doesn't want to continue to win without Keith Bogans, but the Wildcats are glad to know they
can.
Defensive slip-ups draw towel flip-up An irritated Chuck Hayes went to the University of Kentucky bench in the closing minutes of the Wildcats' 63-56 win over Wisconsin
last night, took his towel and threw it in the air.
Estill was too large a task Among mankind's truly bad ideas: The Maginot Line. The Edsel. New Coke. Guarding Marquis Estill one-on-one.
Cats lean on each other This game wasn't over after two possessions. This game was no time to wave in the subs. This game wasn't another one of those Southeastern Conference
lollipops the University of Kentucky feasted on all winter.
UK's sum is greater than its parts The Kentucky Wildcats walked out of the Metrodome Thursday night, win No. 26 in a row in the record
books.
UK adjusts to stop Penney Kentucky's much-discussed defense did exactly what it had to do in the second half of Thursday night's 63-57
Midwest Region semifinal win over Wisconsin: Stop hot-shooting Badger guard Kirk Penney.
Cats prepare for high-octane Golden Eagles If Kentucky is to reach the Final Four for the first time since winning the 1998 national
championship, the Wildcat defense will need find a way to slow down the high-scoring trio of Marquette's Dwyane Wade, Robert Jackson and Travis Diener.
Daniels atones with key tip-in In the span of about
two minutes, Erik Daniels went from feeling like the goat to making one of the biggest plays of the game for the University of Kentucky basketball team in its 63-57 win against Wisconsin on Thursday night.
Hayes was UK's stopper The question was posed to everyone. But it really wasn't. At least Chuck Hayes didn't think so.
Bogans is UK's Top 'Cat even on the sideline On a lesser team, Keith Bogans would be
finished now, his collegiate career prematurely ended with more than 23 minutes left to play in the Sweet Sixteen.
Estill offsets Bogans' injury The University of Kentucky basketball team had avoided adversity for
almost this entire season, but even when hit with a mega-dose of it Thursday night, the Wildcats showed not even that was going to be enough to send them home from the NCAA Tournament.
Wildcats clip Wisconsin Kentucky overcomes injury to Bogans to defeat Badgers 63-57 in Sweet 16.
Star Bogans injured in Wildcats’s 26th straight winKeith Bogans stood in front of the bench and
cupped his hands together, silently pleading for his Kentucky teammates to pull through without him. As they have all during a remarkable winning streak, the Wildcats showed their balance and power Thursday night and gave the injured Bogans his wish.
Estill the one- Kentucky tops Badgers After scoring 28 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing two assists; after annihilating the Wisconsin interior defense, silencing a rabid throng of Badger fans and propelling
his team into the Elite Eight for the first time in four years, Marquis Estill sat in the Kentucky locker room emitting all the emotion of a dial tone.
Baseball
Arkansas Deals Kentucky 9-2 LossThe University of Kentucky baseball team managed only two runs on seven hits, falling 9-2 to the Arkansas Razorbacks at
Cliff Hagan Stadium, snapping a two-game winning streak for the Bat Cats
(03-27-03)
Basketball
Wildcats Withstand Wisconsin To Advance To Elite EightWith Keith Bogans watching helplessly from the bench in the second half, Kentucky
turned to the power of Marquis Estill to ward off Wisconsin. Estill scored a career-high 28 points Thursday night and the Wildcats ran their winning streak to 26 games, holding off the scrappy Badgers 63-57 in the Midwest Regional semifinals. Top-seeded Kentucky (32-3) will try for another trip to the Final
Four on Saturday when it meets the Pittsburgh-Marquette winner.
Kentucky wins 26th straight to reach region final Top-seeded Kentucky, playing without star Keith Bogans in the second half, held on to beat Wisconsin 63-57 and advance to the Midwest Region final on
Thursday at the Metrodome.
BURLISON- Closer look at Midwest semifinals The Kentucky Wildcats, after winning their 23rd consecutive game in the Southeastern Conference tourney title game vs. Mississippi State in New
Orleans on March 16, didn’t bother with the usual net-cutting festivities that follow those affairs.
Badgers' goal- Beat press The Wisconsin Badgers used buses for their four-hour trip to the Metrodome, a cramped but relaxing ride
UK Notebook- 4th round or bust Most pundits predict Kentucky will reach the Final Four and be the favorite to win the NCAA title. Yet there's a big reason the Wildcats aren't looking
ahead: They haven't been past the Sweet 16.
Coaches- Wildcats vulnerable in post Bo Ryan fakes outrage when asked if his Wisconsin team should slow the pace of its game tonight against Kentucky.
Estill no household name, but it will be As the Kentucky center took his assigned spot at the news conference podium yesterday, the NCAA moderator reached deep
into his bag of pronunciations and pulled out a butcher's knife.
Wildcats' will is their wayMatchup with Wisconsin a contrast in styles Kentucky thrives on
converting turnovers into baskets. Wisconsin turns over the ball less often than all but one Division I team. Kentucky speeds the tempo to wear down opponents. With six players logging more than 90 percent of the minutes, Wisconsin slows tempo to conserve energy.
UK's run has been an inside job The Cats (31-3) enter most games looking to establish Marquis Estill in the post, and that will be the case
again tonight at 7:10 when they play a much smaller Wisconsin team (24-7) in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional at the Metrodome.
Wildcats came in under the radar this season Everyone knows that preseason predictions are among the most error-prone exercises in sports. Some
favorites always flop, and some of the overlooked always rise.
Barnhart planning to ensure Tubby feels appreciated University of Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart said yesterday he wants to make sure basketball coach
Tubby Smith knows how much he's appreciated, and that likely will entail a contract extension.
Bogans-Penney matchup a key Keith Bogans said he hasn't asked UK coach Tubby Smith for the assignment of guarding Wisconsin guard and leading
scorer Kirk Penney. At least not yet.
Badgers' Penney happy to assume leadership role Wisconsin guard Kirk Penney is sure to be a focal point for the University of Kentucky basketball team tonight. But
Penney is keeping an eye on his own team.
Common cause for state rivals Junior guard Gerald Fitch said the thigh bruise he suffered in Sunday's
game against Utah when he collided with 6-foot-10 Utah center Tim Frost in the opening seconds as Frost was setting a pick is still bothering him.
Wisconsin's Penney has Final Four experience Wisconsin's basketball team has something on its roster
that the University of Kentucky doesn't -- a player who has participated in a Final Four.
Small Badgers team poses challenge for versatile Wildcats Among the many things that has made this
University of Kentucky basketball team so successful is its versatility. That versatility will come in handy tonight, perhaps more so than it has at any time all season.
Kentucky ready to flexAs if the remarkable collective commitment of the Kentucky Wildcats has not created enough of an advantage in the NCAA
Tournament, there is this other factor in favor of the top-ranked team in the nation.
Can collision be halted? They spent much of the past several months as the teams considered most likely to play for an NCAA basketball championship.
They have each won national titles in the past six tournaments.
Kentucky’s still pick to capture titleTHE BLUE-AND-WHITE clad Kentucky fans are everywhere. It’s almost as if they put their home
court advantage on wheels and take it with them. Mexico wouldn’t be too far out of the way for these people.
Kentucky’s defense tough to crackNo need for the Wisconsin Badgers to board a plane. They just jumped on
the bus for a four-hour trip to the Metrodome, a cramped but relaxing ride featuring flowing conversation.
Volleyball
UK Volleyball Assistant Named Head Coach at Morehead StateUniversity of Kentucky volleyball assistant coach Jaime Gordon has resigned
his position effective Monday, March 31, 2003, to become the head volleyball coach at Morehead State University. Gordon has served two stints as an assistant at UK and leaves after a combined six seasons with the program.
(03-26-03)
Basketball
Having Estill healthy has been a key for Cats For the first time during his University of Kentucky basketball career, Marquis Estill has had no complaints about his knees this season.
Hawkins understands what it takes for UK to win Kentucky has already won the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and tournament. It has reached the 30-victory plateau,
won 25 straight games and climbed to No. 1 in the national rankings.
Conley believes Cats' journey not easy Since Larry Conley is paid for his opinions about college basketball, he doesn't mind picking who he thinks will win the NCAA Midwest Region.
Oak Hill coach proud of UK alum Steve Smith applauds from afar. The coach of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy said his former players, Jules Camara and Cliff Hawkins, have make Kentucky better by
accepting being benched.
DUI turning point for UK's Camara Jules Camara, one of Kentucky's all-time blocks leaders, was at this moment blocking only the door.
Midwest foes like their hoops with a little harm
Welcome to the Black and Blue Region. With its Fab Four of Arizona, Duke, Kansas and even Notre Dame, the West Region is the Hollywood Boulevard of this NCAA Tournament. With Butler and Auburn, the East is Cinderella Central. The South advises not to mess with Texas.
Azubuike biding his time on benchUK fan favorite knows defense his only hurdle Talk about a tough adjustment. Kentucky freshman Kelenna Azubuike has gone from averaging 30-plus points to sitting 30-plus minutes.
UK's serene scene-stealer
Gerald Fitch stood outside the University of Kentucky locker room wearing a broad grin after the Wildcats won at Georgia near the end of the regular season.
About Wisconsin Earned at-large bid after winning second straight Big Ten regular-season
championship. Beat Weber State in first-round of NCAA Tournament, 81-74, and Tulsa, 61-60, in second round.
'Cats prepare for 'swing' He once coached a team that averaged 98 points per game so Wisconsin
basketball coach Bo Ryan wants its known that his methodical team isn't into holding the ball just to run time off the clock. To Ryan, it's all about getting a good shot.
Last powerhouse semi? As the regular season wound down and March Madness approached, visions of an all-Wildcats national championship game were dancing in
the heads of many college hoops fans. But the dream Kentucky-Arizona final won't happen. Debate began on Selection Sunday on whether Final Four teams should be reseeded after the completion of the regional tournaments.
Kentucky’s Smith raised to succeedThe roots of Kentucky’s present-day success in basketball reach
deep into southern Maryland soil, where Coach Tubby Smith learned life’s lessons on the five-acre farm that provided for him and his 16 brothers and sisters.
Women's Basketball
Florida Assistant Joins DeMoss' Coaching StaffMatthew Mitchell, one of the most energetic and enthusiastic recruiters in the business,
comes to Kentucky as an assistant coach after three seasons at Florida, Coach Mickie DeMoss announced Tuesday. Mitchell is the first addition to DeMoss' coaching staff since her hiring on March 18.
Football
Brooks looking forward to spring practiceRich Brooks places a high value on conditioning, but he's ready to
place the University of Kentucky football team's conditioning on the back burner for now.
Kentucky Football Press Conference QuotesHead Coach Rich Brooks spoke to the media Tuesday afternoon about the upcoming spring practice
season. He talked about his excitement getting back into college football and his expectations of the team.
Fat Cats off to running start Rich Brooks hasn't called a play or even seen his team in pads yet, but the new University of Kentucky football coach already knows
one area where he needs to make strides.
Brooks says he's eager to see Cats in action University of Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks said he welcomed his players back from spring break by scheduling a 6 a.m.
conditioning workout. The first-year Wildcats coach isn't the one doing the running, but he admitted that he was tired of the routine.
UK tackle dismissed First-year University of Kentucky football coach Rick Brooks announced Tuesday that
sophomore offensive tackle Jeremy Darveau, who was expected to be a key backup this season, has been dismissed from the team for academic reasons.
UK football player gets special invite Six players have been invited to the upcoming NFL draft -- Dewayne
Robertson, and five other big, muscular guys who just might be called upon to catch him.
Baseball
Bat Cats Complete Two-Game Sweep of Kent StateKentucky pounded out 17 hits and equaled a season-high 14 runs in a 14-1 win over the Kent
State Golden Flashes Wednesday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium. With the win, UK completed a two-game sweep over the Flashes. Senior Russ Rutherford was 3-for-4, with a single, double, triple and four RBI.
Scott Wade Goes The Distance For Bat Cats In 3-2 WinKentucky centerfielder Casey Gilvin popped up in front of home plate to lead off the
bottom of the ninth inning, but never stopped running, reaching second base when Kent State catcher Pat O'Brien was unable to make the routine catch. Spencer Graeter drilled a single through the left side of a drawn in infield to give the Bat Cats a 3-2 win over the visiting Golden Flashes.
(03-25-03)
Basketball
Wisconsin coach won't put Cats on hold One thing Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan insists his team won't do intentionally against Kentucky is hold the basketball.
Wildcats the real deal this year When asked what he thought about the caliber of the Kentucky Wildcats in Monday afternoon's national press conference, UW head coach Bo Ryan
couldn't even sugarcoat his answer. "I had a few nightmares last night after watching their game against Utah," the second-year head coach responded. "They do a real good job of making sure that you do not get comfortable."
Kentucky the clear favorite in Midwest regional Welcome to the Midwest Region of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, home of the thoroughbreds from Kentucky. The
tradition-rich Wildcats are front-runners in a field of blue-collar teams that do not have a blue-blood pedigree.
Like U.S. troops, Wildcats keep pressing forward Click, click, click. Miracle of television, a remote control. Difficult to not draw parallels between Kentucky's
muscular march to New Orleans and U.S. Forces' pugnacious march to Baghdad. Tubby Smith's team in opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament and Saddam Hussein's personal final four -- Similarities have been precision bombing and shock and awe. In their own theaters of operation, Tubby's Wildcats were
unflappable, unstoppable and overpowering.
Sweet Sixteen- Make that 15 teams and 1 Kentucky Sweet Sixteen roll call . . .The No. 1 seeds? All present and accounted for, although Arizona may still be hyperventilating. The No. 1
team? Kentucky won by 31 and 20 points.
KENTUCKY- MONSTERS OF THE MIDWEST As Kentucky rolls through the NCAA Tourney, the Wildcats are impressing players with their ability and coaches with their aptitude.
IUPUI's Josh Murray warned Kentucky is "the truth," and Utah coach Rick Majerus anointed them a Final Four team.
Kentucky rolling toward title Say hello to the Sweet 16, where there's a little bit of everything. There's predictability: Each of the No. 1 seeds from the NCAA
tournament's four regions is left standing.
UK-DUKE the sequel?Arizona-Gonzaga thriller a big shot away from classic Imagine if you could
merge the two signature events of the best month of the year. If the Academy Awards could meet March Madness (and, yes, I'm going to play fast and loose with these categories), the Oscar would go to:
For Smith, next game only one that mattersCoach wants Cats to focus no further than Badgers
For Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament, it's two games down and one to go. Yes, only one game lies ahead: the next one. That's the mind-set UK Coach Tubby Smith said he wants as the Cats proceed to the Midwest Region semifinals Thursday in Minneapolis. He wants Kentucky to forget two easy victories in Nashville
last weekend, forget its 25-game winning streak and forget the growing assumption of a national championship. Instead, he aims for concentration on the next opponent: Big Ten regular-season champion...
Wildcats get a day of rest No team has a quicker turnaround time to play in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 than the University of
Kentucky, but UK coach Tubby Smith said Monday he doesn't mind.
Tubby keeps 'Cats looking forward and not backward If there is any doubt whether the University of Kentucky's winning streak -- which
stands at 25 games -- has become a distraction, perhaps this statistic from UK's first two NCAA Tournament games should erase that doubt: The Wildcats never trailed in either game.
Kentucky still waiting for a challenge Not long ago, Kentucky guard Keith Bogans said his team’s practices are harder than its
games. That hasn’t changed in the NCAA tournament.
Focused defense key to victory With just over 12 minutes to play in the game, Kentucky coach Tubby Smith had seen enough.
UK set to face Badgers in semis Kentucky thinks it not only got a win over Utah here Sunday, but that it also got a feel for what it might take to beat Wisconsin in its next game.
Kentucky's 25th straight win comes against familiar foe The preliminaries are over. Now, Kentucky can get down to business. The top-seeded Wildcats cruised into the round of 16 for the ninth
time in 11 years, routing Utah 74-54 Sunday at the Midwest Regional.
At Kentucky, the defense never rests Midway through the first half in the Gaylord Entertainment Center Sunday, Utah's Richard Chaney found momentary order amid chaos.
Rupp South gives Cats needed push onwardUTES SAY UK FANS KEY TO SECOND-HALF SURGE
It's not like Kentucky doesn't have enough advantages. The UK defense is so stifling, our nation's sporting press is all but writing odes to it.
This season, Sweet 16 only the beginning So here we are again. Same Cat place, same Cat channel. Kentucky's third straight Sweet 16. Only this year, different
team, different feeling. Much different.
next game Wisconsin vs. Kentucky When: 7:10 p.m. Thursday Where: Minneapolis Records: Wisconsin (24-7); Kentucky (31-3) TV: CBS-27 Radio: WLAP-AM 630; WBUL-FM
98.1
BLUE STREAK HITS 25Kentucky thumps Utah 74-54 to reach Sweet 16 Kentucky and Utah continued their
NCAA Tournament rivalry last night. As expected, it again resembled a showdown between a steamroller and bottle of milk.
Utah's Jackson goes down fighting, gains Cats' respect Like Avis, No. 2 tried harder. Utah's No. 2, backup guard Marc Jackson, scrapped and literally scratched in
an effort to beat Kentucky last night. Though the Utes lost, Jackson won UK's admiration.
Ticket information Tickets for the Midwest Regional in Minneapolis will go on sale to the general public today at both the University of Kentucky athletics ticket
office and the H.H.H Metrodome in Minneapolis.
UK coasts past Utes as usual Sweaty Utah coach Rick Majerus walked out of his team's locker room, scratched the few remaining strands of hair on the back
of his head and praised his basketball team for giving everything it had.
UK again shows why it may be The Team Arizona won one of those crazy games where one shot could have beaten Lute Olson's Wildcats. But it didn't fall. In double overtime.
Hawkins is soaring at just the right time A more offensive-minded University of Kentucky point guard Cliff Hawkins scored 13 points against Utah last night and Indiana
University-Purdue University at Indianapolis on Friday.
Not much Majerus, Utah could do Utah coach Rick Majerus is known as a master strategist, an Einstein of X's and O's. But he didn't have enough time, personnel or tricks to
stop the University of Kentucky.
Estill shows he's not Frost-bitten The first time Marquis Estill caught the ball in the post Sunday night against Utah, he waited for Utes'
center Tim Frost to get some help.
UK whips favorite foe Perhaps some comments from Utah coach Rick Majerus following his basketball
team's loss to the University of Kentucky on Sunday may provide the Wildcats with a little extra motivation, but his team actually did UK a huge favor in presenting a blueprint for what they'll likely face in the next two games.
UK tickets go on sale today Tickets for the Midwest Regional in Minneapolis will go on sale today at
both the University of Kentucky Athletics ticket office and the Metrodome
Wisconsin saves season, next for UK Before the Wisconsin Badgers head to Minneapolis for the Midwest
Regional semifinals, weary Freddie Owens needs some shut-eye.
Bat Cats to Play Host to Kent StateThe Kentucky baseball team (8-14, 0-6 SEC) will play host to the Kent State Golden Flashes (7-9, 0-0 MAC) on
Tuesday, March 25th and Wednesday, March 26th in a two game series
(03-23-03)
Basketball
Wildcats Crush Utah In NCAA Second Round, 74-54Kentucky has been unbeatable the last three months. And the Wildcats never lose to Utah
at tournament time. Keith Bogans and Marquis Estill scored 18 points apiece and top-seeded Kentucky (31-3) cruised into the round of 16 for the ninth time in 11 years, routing Utah 74-54 in the second round of the Midwest Regional.
NCAA Midwest Regional Ticket InformationTickets for the Midwest Regional in Minneapolis will go on sale Monday to the general public at
both the University of Kentucky Athletics ticket office and the H.H.H. Metrodome in Minneapolis.
Fitch on the dance floor How Gerald Fitch has fared in the NCAA Tournament Year Opponent fg-a 3fg-a ft-a tp 2001 Holy Cross 2-5 1-2 0-0 5 2001 Iowa 3-4 1-1 3-4 10
cool-hand 'fitchie'Gerald Fitch prime candidate to take big shot for Kentucky Having buried five
three-pointers -- and with them, IUPUI -- Gerald Fitch bounded off the Gaylord Entertainment Center court Friday and ran right into ...
We never tire of MajerusUTAH'S CEREBRAL LEADER RAREST OF COACHES There was the time five years ago
when Ashley Judd walked up and wrapped the large, sad basketball coach in her movie-star embrace.
lesson in historyNot all of it hurts Utah's chances An opponent favored to win not just the game,
but the NCAA Tournament. One day to prepare. Defeat presumed. Today isn't the first time Utah has been at the intersection of slim and none.
Utes' Johnsen to miss last shot at Kentucky Utah's best player, senior forward Britton Johnsen, will not play against Kentucky today. Not that he didn't try
repeatedly to get medical clearance to play.
CBS keeps fans guessing Never mind the 35-second shot clock. CBS has brought the delay game back to college basketball. Three times the network asked that tip-off
for the NCAA Tournament second-round game between Kentucky and Utah be altered. Those requests, which the NCAA granted, moved tip-off from late afternoon to early evening before settling for a 7:10 p.m. EST start.
What we saw All in the game plan From the way this season unfolded, you'd almost think Tubby Smith planned that loss to Louisville. Running out of time
Utah hasn't liked tourney time with UK Utah men's basketball coach Rick Majerus has met the University of Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament four times and
lost all four.
Wildcats should ignore SEC's lead The scores kept scrolling across the bottom of the television screen Friday night: Purdue 80, Louisiana State 56; Indiana 67, Alabama 62;
Butler 47, Mississippi State 46.
Utah star Johnsen has swollen spleen, aching heart The Utah Utes will hope for a miracle when they take on the University of Kentucky basketball team tonight in the second
round of the NCAA Midwest Regional. Their best player was hoping for his own miracle yesterday.
Judd gives Wildcats something to chew on Actress Ashley Judd, the University of Kentucky's most famous fan, entertained the Wildcats on Friday night with dinner at her
home.
BARNHART MUST START GROUNDWORK FOR NEXT HIREThe scrutiny never stops Twenty-one musings in between
the bouncing of basketballs: 1. Those who were critical of Mitch Barnhart's search for a Kentucky football coach -- myself included -- were watching closely to see how the young AD would handle the process of hiring a new women's basketball coach.
Baseball
Bat Cats Fall Again to No. 11 Auburn, 10-3The No. 11 Auburn Tigers (22-5, 5-1 SEC) finished a three-game sweep of Kentucky (8-14, 0-6 SEC)
by taking the weekend wrapup, 10-3. Kentucky could not figure out Auburn starter Colby Paxton (3-1), managing just two runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings. Seth Stanley (1-3) gave a solid effort for Kentucky on the mound, going 6 2/3 innings and giving up six runs on 10 hits while striking out seven.
Auburn slams Bat Cats, 10-3 A day after pounding Kentucky pitchers for 22 hits, the Auburn baseball team used one big one to put the Cats away. Karl Amonite's
seventh-inning grand slam broke open a 4-3 game and sent the 11th-ranked Tigers to a 10-3 victory yesterday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
(03-22-03)
Basketball
Fitch rebounds after video session After a sub-par Southeastern Conference Tournament performance University of Kentucky junior guard Gerald Fitch went to the videotape to try and cure
his ills.
No. 1 Cats pass NCAA's compulsory phase The NCAA frowns upon simply gift-wrapping the crown. Makes for bad form and bad television ratings. Snuffs out the
suspense. Doesn't matter if you have won 23 straight, or if you top the rankings, or if every hoop head in America has you flying through their brackets.
Window shopping worth trip for IUPUI There is Kmart. And there is Saks Fifth Avenue. Rarely do the twain meet. This is a window into the Kmart world. It's Jan. 7.
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis is on the road at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne.
Racing out of the gateHawkins keeps tempo up to ensure Cats' 24th straight win There's no off
switch on Cliff Hawkins' ever-ready competitiveness. Kentucky's perfunctory victory over Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis yesterday in the NCAA Tournament removed all doubt.
Fitch finds groove in NCAA opener In an event where the idea is to survive and advance, Kentucky guard Gerald Fitch proved he could adjust and revive. Fitch was
not happy with his play in last weekend's Southeastern Conference Tournament. After making an adjustment, he equalled a career high with 25 points against IUPUI yesterday in the NCAA Tournament first round.
Majerus picked Cats, just not as opponent Majerus 'obviously' isn't happy to see Cats Utah Coach Rick Majerus hasn't watched Kentucky play much this season. He
watched one game for about 10 minutes while on a treadmill. He watched another game for about 15 minutes while in a Salt Lake City bar. Because his Utes played in the Maui Invitational, he watched UK's victory over Gonzaga.
Next Test for Utah is Kentucky
After a 60-58 victory over
Oregon in the first round, Utah will play Kentucky, which defeated I.U.P.U.I. by 95-64, on Sunday.
UK steely, even in blowout Two of the Boys on the Bench got the call with 3:46 remaining, even though the outcome of this game was perfectly clear about 0.346 seconds after the
NCAA Tournament pairings were announced last Sunday.
No. 1 Wildcats top IUPUI for 24th consecutive victory When Kentucky got to the locker room after another dominating performance, a
message awaited them on the board: “5 More.” The top-seeded Wildcats extended their winning streak to 24, routing tourney newcomer IUPUI 95-64 Friday in the opening round of the Midwest Regional.
Baseball
No. 11 Auburn Takes Second Game From KentuckyIn a game that saw four runs cross the plate on balks, Auburn first baseman Karl Amonite
belted a grand slam over the wall in left center field in the top of the seventh inning to break open a 5-3 game, as the Tigers downed the Bat Cats for the second consecutive day, 10-3.
No. 11 Auburn Beats Kentucky In SlugfestKentucky scored 10 runs on 13 hits, but could not keep pace with the nation's 11th-ranked Auburn
Tigers, as they fell, 14-10. The Tigers banged out 22 hits against the UK pitching staff, and scored six runs in the second inning and four more in the sixth, to win their 20th game of the season.
Auburn batters Bat Cats for 22 hits The 11th-ranked Auburn baseball team banged out a season-high 22 hits to beat Kentucky 14-10 in the opener of a three-game
series at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
(03-21-03)
Basketball
No. 1 Wildcats win 24th straight after beating IUPUI 95-64
THE WILDCATS ARE MAKING their 45th NCAA Tournament
appearance. Kentucky (29-3) has not lost since an 81-63 defeat at Louisville on December 28. The Wildcats also have won 11 straight first-round games and earned a top seed for the eighth time.
Cats' retort to IUPUI: phooeyJags' coach confident in his team The Best Damn Sports Show, Period
has become the best damn motivator, exclamation point. No doubt, Kentucky coaches couldn't be happier about that development.
Kentucky Breezes By IUPUI In NCAA OpenerKentucky got good looks at the basket all game against a team with an eye chart for a name. The
top-seeded Wildcats extended their winning streak to 24 with another rout, beating tourney newcomer IUPUI 95-64 Friday in the opening round of the Midwest Regional. Kentucky (30-3) hasn't lost since Dec. 28, and the Wildcats weren't about to slip against the Jaguars.
Fitch thinking of cousin bound for Middle EastWILDCATS TO HAVE AMERICAN FLAG ON UNIFORMS TODAY For
Kentucky guard Gerald Fitch, war with Iraq is not surrealistic green-tinted views of Baghdad at night. It's life-and-death reality and its potential consequences gut-wrenching.
TIME CHANGE CBS has moved tip-off times for second-round games in Nashville two hours later. The Troy State-Xavier winner will play the Maryland-North Carolina
Wilmington winner at about 4:40 p.m. EST.
Cats not overlooking giant-killer The most common reaction from the University of Kentucky's players when they found out their first-round opponent in the NCAA Tournament
was, ''Who?''
IUPUI totally 'best 16 seed' Ron Hunter coaches the Indiana-Purdue at Indianapolis men's basketball team. For three weeks he worked relentlessly recruiting a kid in California.
Phone calls. Mailings. More calls. Finally, a home visit.
Harper visits IUPUI Kentucky sauntered into Gaylord Entertainment Center on Thursday with a famous fan, actress Ashley Judd, in tow. IUPUI couldn't match that star power, but it
tried - bringing along five-time NBA champion Ron Harper.
Wildcats trying to keep their focus on IUPUI Kentucky's Gerald Fitch talks to his cousin each night, asking when he'll be deployed to Iraq. Keith Bogans tries not to worry about his
mother, who works in the Navy Bureau of Medicine near the Pentagon. Coach Tubby Smith spoke to his team about his father, who served time in the military.
Teammate of fallen recruit faces UK IUPUI junior forward Fred Long said he is excited to be participating in the NCAA Tournament, but that it would be a lot more special if he was playing
against John Stewart, a former high school teammate who died before he made it to the University of Kentucky.
UK game plan likely to entail beating zones In order to remain in the zone it's in, the University of Kentucky basketball team knows it's going to have to execute better against zone
defenses than it did in the Southeastern Conference Tournament if it wants to advance in the NCAA Tournament.
IUPUI not in awe of Cats Going against the team many consider the favorite to win the national championship might be a scary undertaking for some teams and coaches.
(03-20-03)
Basketball
Different time, same conclusion: Play ball There was a military draft back then, so plenty of boys your own age were off at war. Some never came back. Some were
teammates. Mel Brewer was one, a center who was the second-leading scorer on the University of Kentucky basketball team as a junior and a senior. Ken England was another, a starting UK guard in '42. Jim King was another. He led the Cats in scoring in '41.
Prime time performerBogans at his best when games mean the most The higher the stakes, the better Keith
Bogans plays. He set that pattern long before he came to Kentucky four years ago. He continued it last weekend by being named most valuable player in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. It would end an annual occurrence, as routine and dependable as March Madness, should he not play well in the upcoming
NCAA Tournament.
It'll take a big blueprint to knock off Big Blue The University of Kentucky basketball team, in winning 23 straight games and ascending to a No. 1
ranking, beat big teams and small teams, uptempo teams and teams that slowed it down.
Tubby admits Cats better than average University of Kentucky coach Tubby Smith often has been asked about his quote from earlier in the season when he said, ''We're an
average team doing extraordinary things.''
Sweet redemption for UK’s Smith All around the city there are piles of broken branches from winter’s last brutal ice storm. The
rolling bluegrass pastures in the horse country are pale green, weeks away from their spring luster. There are mares in foal, colts just born, and a run for the roses coming up.
(03-19-03)
NCAA won't alter schedule, Brand saysDECISION COMES AFTER CONSULTING U.S. SECURITY CHIEF The NCAA
will not postpone or move any men's and women's basketball tournament games or other events if the United States goes to war with Iraq.
NCAA: Games will be played The men's and women's basketball tournaments and all other NCAA events will go on as scheduled even if war begins in Iraq,
NCAA president Myles Brand said yesterday.
Basketball
IUPUI plans 'to shock the world'
Arguably the most famous winning shot since Christian Laettner's brought IUPUI Coach Ron Hunter to his knees. Nine seasons of blood, sweat and tears -- literally blood, sweat and tears -- overwhelmed him when he watched his nondescript team ride a buzzer-beater into the NCAA Tournament.
Things to know about IUPUI Formal name -- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Preferred name -- IUPUI Founded -- 1969 Location -- Just west of downtown Indianapolis
Big Question Answered: Just What Is I.U.P.U.I.?
Indiana
University-Purdue University Indianapolis's name often makes it the butt of jokes, but the university has actually had a good record in sports.
WRITERS, SPORTING NEWS NAME HIM TOP COACH Tubby Smith picked up two more national coach of the year awards yesterday. The U.S. Basketball Writers Association and The Sporting News named the
Kentucky coach the winner of their national awards.
UK's Smith receives two awards University of Kentucky men's basketball coach Tubby Smith captured two awards yesterday when The Sporting News named him its Coach of the Year and the United States
Basketball Writers Association announced that he had won the Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award.
Former Wildcat is coaches' dream It's not as if the University of Kentucky men's basketball team needs another advantage entering the NCAA Tournament
Women's Basketball
DeMoss to lead 'sleeping giant' at UKTennessee assistant new coach for women Mitch Barnhart
didn't have to search far or wide to find Kentucky's new women's basketball coach. She was in his own former back yard, so to speak, and right in the Southeastern Conference.
Hire shows UK serious about programDEMOSS WILL FIGHT FOR TEAM This is a start in the right
direction. Mickie DeMoss has been an assistant coach for 18 years at the most storied program in women's basketball. She has a built a reputation, is known throughout the sport, was thus the subject of speculation.
UK AD GIVING UP OFFICE TO NEW WOMEN'S COACH Mitch Barnhart says he wants to take the women's basketball program from conference cellar dweller to tops in the
nation. And he's willing to move to the cellar of Memorial Coliseum to do it.
UK raids top program for women's coach The University of Kentucky has tapped one of the nation's premier women's college basketball programs to find a replacement for
Bernadette Mattox, who resigned on March 9 after eight years.
SEC schools hire new coaches Longtime Tennessee Lady Vols assistant coach Mickie DeMoss was introduced Tuesday as the new head coach at
Kentucky. Former Florida coach Carol Ross was hired as the new women's basketball coach at Mississippi.
Baseball
Bat Cats pound Marshall 14-1 The Kentucky baseball team parlayed an eight-run third inning into a 14-1 victory over visiting Marshall yesterday. The Bat Cats
pounded out 18 hits, and they tacked on five more runs in the eighth inning.
(03-18-03)
N.C.A.A. May Postpone Games
The N.C.A.A. will consider postponing games in the men's and women's basketball tournaments and other national championships if war with Iraq begins this week.
NCAA might postpone games if war begins
PRESIDENT MYLES BRAND ACKNOWLEDGED Monday for the first time that the NCAA was checking the availability of arenas and hotels for the days after first and second-round games are scheduled to be completed. That would give the officials more flexibility in
making a decision about postponements.
Brand says NCAA considering postponing games for war The NCAA will consider postponing games in the men's and women's basketball tournaments and
other national championships if war with Iraq begins this week.
Basketball
Kentucky Basketball NotebookKentucky coach Orlando "Tubby" Smith captured two awards on Tuesday as The Sporting News named him its
National Coach of the Year and the United States Basketball Writers Association announced that he had won the Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award. Information about picking up tickets at Will-Call in Nashville.
The UK Invitational We shouldn’t go quite as far as calling the Midwest Regional “The University of Kentucky Invitational.” We shouldn’t. But we will.
Forget seeds, look for roots So when you're filling out the bracket sheet and looking for somebody to root for without holding your nose, look for
guys who have learned how to put down roots and get results in a hurry without compromising all their principles. You could do worse this go-round than to settle on Tubby Smith at Kentucky.
Ducks should ask themselves- Why not us- Let's call it, well, Duck destiny. They are not the NCAA Tournament favorites. That distinction
belongs to Kentucky. You know the Wildcats, right? The winners of 23 in a row? No. 1 team in the country? Coach nicknamed Tubby?
KENTUCKY IS 'D' ONE AT BEST, you'll think me a coward, someone not even willing to climb a tree, no less crawl out on a limb. Fine. Enjoy your snickering. I'll be the one on Bourbon Street,
celebrating with the Wildcats. Ashley Judd and I will be going shot for shot.
IUPUI- The hole story This time last week, no one had heard of Ron Hunter. Today, a TV camera will follow him into a men's clothing store just to watch him try on a new suit.
IUPUI coach psyched for upset Ron Hunter of IUPUI is the most optimistic college basketball coach in America. Either that or he's the most delusional.
NCAA has some 'splainin' to doTourney bracket raises questions When it became apparent that the
NCAA Tournament bracket had been drawn to leave the nation's two hoops Goliaths, Kentucky and Arizona, paired to meet in the national semifinals, not the title game, my first thought was:
Tubby sees No. 1 rank as motivatorCats top season-ending poll record eighth time Kentucky added
to its season of history-making achievement yesterday with a No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press's final national poll.
No. 1 Kentucky vs. IUPUI What: NCAA Tournament, first round When: 12:30 p.m. Where: Nashville Records: UK 29-3, IUPUI 20-13 TV: CBS-27 Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM
98.1
Wildcats take No. 1 ranking in AP poll Tubby Smith says one of the reasons for the University of Kentucky's remarkable success this season is his
team's veteran leadership.
Basketball soft-drink ad had too much fizz If you're a University of Kentucky fan searching for something refreshing to drink, let me recommend what Keith Bogans
endorses: Obey your thirst. Make it a Sprite.
Kentucky's Brawny Defense Makes It the Team to Beat
The
Wildcats, with their unnerving man-to-man defense, enter the N.C.A.A. tournament as the top-seeded team in the Midwest Regional, having won 23 straight games.
Kentucky will leave opponents feeling blue The national championship game won’t be played here April 7 in the Superdome. It will be
played in Minneapolis on March 29 in the Metrodome. Kentucky vs. Pitt.
Wildcat Calls Sure it's a shame Kentucky and Arizona are on the same side of the bracket, but only one can win anyway.
Rank record- Kentucky's No. 1 again Kentucky is No. 1 at being No. 1 heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats moved up one place to lead the season's final AP Top 25 college
basketball poll Monday, the record eighth time they have held that position right before the postseason.
Women's Basketball
Top Tennessee Assistant Mickie DeMoss Named Kentucky Women's Basketball CoachMany universities and professional teams have tried to
woo her away during 18 years with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers but UT associate head coach Mickie DeMoss has chosen Kentucky. DeMoss is the new head coach of the Kentucky women's basketball team, director of athletics Mitch Barnhart has announced. The appointment is pending approval by the UK Athletics
Association Board of Directors. Press Conference Quotes
UT aide in 'serious' talks for UK jobCATS PLAN NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY Tennessee assistant women's
basketball coach Mickie DeMoss called talks with Kentucky about its vacant coaching job "serious" and said the talks could be completed as early as today.
Baseball
Kentucky Baseball Pounds Marshall, 14-1Kentucky (8-11, 0-3 SEC) scored eight runs in the bottom of the third inning and five more in the
eighth en route to a 14-1 victory over the visiting Thundering Herd (5-10-1, 0-0 MAC) from Marshall. The Bat Cats pounded out 18 hits, including eight in the decisive third inning in which they sent 12 hitters to the plate.
Bat Cats start homestand with Marshall The Kentucky baseball team kicks off a two-week, 10-game homestand today with a 3 p.m. game against Marshall. Kentucky
(7-11, 0-3 SEC) beat Marshall (5-10-1, 0-0 MAC) 9-6 on Feb. 28 in Birmingham, Ala.
(03-17-03)
Basketball
Back on Top!Kentucky finished the season ranked as the No. 1 team in the final Associated Press poll, the news service announced
Monday. It marks the first time since 1978 that the Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the final AP poll. Earlier this season, UK celebrated the 25th anniversary of that national championship team
One possible Pitt-fal appears in UK's way Kentucky was given the top seed in the NCAA Tournament. How do we know? The Wildcats were placed in the weakest (see: easiest) bracket.
Kentucky gets first-timers in relatively easy Midwest Ron Hunter belly flopped to celebrate when his team qualified for the NCAA tournament, so imagine what the IUPUI coach might do
if the Jaguars win in the first round.
King of kings- It's Kentucky and everybody else Even by the considerable standards of Kentucky basketball, it's difficult for even the old-timers to recall a Wildcats team that enters
the NCAA Tournament playing better basketball. Consider UK is gunning for its eighth NCAA title -- second only to UCLA's 11 -- that's saying something.
Get ready for Wildcats vs. Wildcats -- one round too soon So you had to ruin it, Mr. and Ms. selection committee member. You had to take two teams that
have so clearly separated themselves from the rest of the country over the course of a 30-game season and put them on the same darn side of the bracket.
Kentucky is the only No. 1 to play like it On a weekend when most of the country's top teams failed to take care of business, Kentucky did. The Wildcats' victory
against Mississippi State in the SEC tournament championship game Sunday made them the only top seed from the 12 conferences that received more than one NCAA bid to win its league tournament.
Bogans tournament MVP If any player on this record-setting Kentucky team can be called a superstar, it is Keith Bogans.
Yes, UK will go all the way Keith Bogans and Kentucky will return to New Orleans, where they'll cut down the nets that matter most. Kentucky's decision to keep the nets at the New
Orleans Superdome intact Sunday wasn't a publicity stunt.
IUPUI next foe for Cats The team with the funny name and a coach known for his midcourt flop after the conference tournament championship game will provide Kentucky's opening-round
opposition in the NCAA Tournament.
Stockton makes his point with bench Point guard was a strength for Kentucky during its undefeated run through the Southeastern Conference race.
In the end, Kentucky will reign The only form that gets more use in March than an NCAA tournament bracket sheet is a 1040a for taxes, and that one doesn't have to be finished for
another month.
Kentucky new No. 1 Wildcats sweep first-place votes; Arizona falls to No. 2.
Only one breed of Cat will make it all the wayKENTUCKY'S PATH TO CHAMPIONSHIP MUCH EASIER THAN ARIZONA'S
One thing emerged out of the absolute mess -- Selection Sunday became Screwy Sunday -- that was the NCAA Tournament draw released yesterday.
Cats right on target -- and vice versa, too The Cats (29-3) go into the NCAA Tournament as the big dogs, with a No. 1 seeding for the first time
since 1997 and the No. 1 ranking in the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches' poll (The Associated Press poll comes out today).
The GameCats preserve undefeated record in SEC His smile as wide as the Mississippi, Keith
Bogans wore a title hat, the championship T-shirt, but no net. Here his Kentucky Wildcats had just become the first team since 1952 to sweep both the SEC regular-season and tournament championships, and the most valuable player had not even snatched the traditional Superdome souvenir?
Cats rally to finish 19-0 against league"This has been a special team," said coach Tubby Smith, who shared an embrace with the Wildcats' senior leader Keith
Bogans, after their victory of Mississippi State.
UK eyes the grand prize Twenty-three straight wins can make you dream the unthinkable, dream all great things are possible.
Kentucky to play IUPUI in first round First things first: The school Kentucky opens NCAA Tournament play with on Friday is Indiana University-Purdue University
Indianapolis, better known as the abbreviated IUPUI.
ANOTHER STATE-MENTCats fend off Mississippi State, 64-57 High-caliber competition. Championship
stakes. At Blue, er, New Orleans. A certain four-team tournament here in three weeks loomed over Kentucky's 64-57 victory over Mississippi State yesterday.
Speculation on Estill, Smith follow victoryBOGANS: LEAVING WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR COACH Kentucky
won its 24th Southeastern Conference Tournament championship yesterday. Whether center Marquis Estill and Coach Tubby Smith would play a part in the drive for a 25th next season came up in post-game conversation.
Past performances If history repeats, this is what happens in a 64-team (plus) NCAA Tournament: There is a 61 percent chance that one of the four No. 1 seeds
will win the tourney (11 of the 18 64-team tournaments having been won by a top seed, including nine of the past 11).
Confident Cats dismiss pressureNo. 1 Kentucky 'not even thinking about losing' as it readies for run to NCAA championship
Kentucky brimmed with confidence yesterday as it awaited word of the NCAA Tournament draw. After winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament earlier in the day, the Cats sounded assured of a No. 1 national ranking and only slightly less expectant of winning the national championship here
three weeks from tonight.
SEC Basketball
SEC, Big 12 lead the fieldAlabama, Cincinnati get in at 17-11; Texas Tech shut out Before the games come the
debates. Who got shunned? Who got stunned? Which teams got the sweetest seedings and the most favorable regional brackets? Which region represents, as they say in World Cup soccer, "the group of death?" Who will be everyone's favorite underdog for at least one day?
(03-16-03)
Basketball
Kentucky No. 1 Seed in the Midwest RegionThe University of Kentucky Wildcats will be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Region. They will face
IUPUI in Nasville, Tenn. on Friday, March 21.
UK nabs top seed in MidwestKentucky, Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma were selected as the No. 1 seeds for the NCAA tournament, the
fourth straight year two schools from the same conference earned a top spot.
Kentucky, Texas Among Top NCAA Mens Seeds Kentucky, Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma were selected as the No. 1 seeds for the NCAA tournament Sunday, the fourth straight year two schools from
the same conference earned a top spot.
Kentucky, Arizona, Texas, OU No. 1 Kentucky, Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma were selected as the No. 1 seeds for the NCAA tournament Sunday, the fourth straight
year two schools from the same conference earned a top spot.
Kentucky
didn’t bother to cut down the nets at the Superdome after winning the Southeastern Conference tournament. The Wildcats plan to take care of that little matter in three weeks.
Kentucky may not find tougher competition in the NCAA Tournament than what it got from Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Wildcats Win SEC Tournament Championship!No. 23 and No. 24 will add up to No. 1 for Kentucky going into the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats extended their winning
streak to 23 straight games, holding off Mississippi State 64-57 on Sunday to win their 24th Southeastern Conference tournament championship.
KINGS OF THE SECKentucky now looks toward the NCAA Tournament The Wildcats extended their
winning streak to 23 straight games, holding off Mississippi State 64-57 on Sunday to win their 24th Southeastern Conference tournament championship.
Win or lose, Wildcats face tough turnaroundOTHER CONFERENCE CHAMPS MIGHT BENEFIT FROM LAYOFFS
It's lonely at the top. Tiring, too. Pacific-10 champion Arizona? Out long before its conference tournament final. Big 12 champion Kansas? Out in the semifinals. Big Ten champion Wisconsin? First-round knockout. Atlantic Coast champion Wake Forest? O-u-t. Likewise for Marquette, Xavier and Utah, all prior to
their title games.
AUBURN CAUGHT IN CATS' 22UK aims for 23rd straight win after 78-58 trouncing of Tigers
A theory on how to beat Kentucky has emerged at the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Going into today's championship game, practitioners of said theory remained to be discovered.
KENTUCKY-AUBURN NOTES Kentucky forward Erik Daniels took a great fall. Unlike Humpty Dumpty, he was put back together again.
Bulldogs traveled this Kentucky road before Some people believe in deja vu. Others don't. But you have to admit, it's really kind of eerie to see both Mississippi State and Kentucky advance to
today's Southeastern Conference championship game.
Wildcats hide, then glide For 20 minutes of yesterday's game, Auburn seemed to unlock the mystery of how to beat the University of Kentucky men's basketball team.
Kentucky thumps Auburn All around them, there is chaos. The nation's elite are tripping. Seedings are scrambled. The Kentucky Wildcats shrug and continue swinging the sickle.
Kentucky fights off upset bug, advances to finals Every time Kentucky's basketball players turned on TV the last couple of days, they were reminded of what they could become - a highly ranked
team becoming a postseason victim.
'Cats continue to dominate Kentucky hasn't lost in 2003 and it might not lose again. The nation's hottest team ran away from Auburn in the second half of
a 78-58 Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinal at the Superdome on Saturday
SEC Basketball
Kentucky 64- Miss. State 57No. 23 and No. 24 will add up to No. 1 for Kentucky going into the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats
extended their winning streak to 23 straight games, holding off Mississippi State 64-57 on Sunday to win their 24th Southeastern Conference tournament championship.
Women's Basketball
DeMoss talks to Kentucky about openingTennessee Lady Vols assistant coach Mickie DeMoss has talked with
Mitch Barnhart and liked what the Kentucky athletic director had to say about the future of the Wildcats' women's basketball program.
Baseball
Big Eighth Inning Leads Ole Miss to Sweep of Bat CatsKentucky (7-11, 0-3 SEC) scored five runs on 13 hits, but could not hold off Ole Miss as the Rebels
(13-6, 3-0 SEC) crossed the plate three times in the bottom of the eighth en route to sweeping UK with a 7-5 victory.
(03-15-03)
Basketball
Kentucky breezes in second half for 22nd win in a row With highly ranked teams falling all around, the No. 2 Wildcats stayed on course with a 78-58 victory over Auburn in the semifinals
of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Saturday.
No. 2 Wildcats Advance To SEC Championship Erik Daniels came back from a scary fall to score 17 points, and the No. 2 Wildcats blew out Auburn in the second half for a 78-58 victory in the Southeastern
Conference tournament semifinals.
Not since 1952 has a Southeastern Conference basketball team swept the regular-season slate
and captured the league tournament title, but the 2003 Wildcats are poised to accomplish the feat when they battle Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament Championship game before a nationally televised audience on Sunday.Complete Release in PDF Format
Early Mildcats turn Wild The University of Kentucky's swagger turned into a homerun trot last night in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, leading to some tense early moments before the Wildcats
pulled away for an 81-63 victory over Vanderbilt.
No. 2 Wildcats Advance To SEC ChampionshipWith highly ranked teams falling all around, Kentucky just keeps on winning. Erik Daniels came back from a scary fall to
score 17 points, and the No. 2 Wildcats blew out Auburn in the second half for a 78-58 victory in the Southeastern Conference tournament semifinals.
Cats-Tigers Tangle in SEC SemifinalsKentucky defeated Vanderbilt, 81-63, to advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals for the 10th time in 12 years. The Cats will
face Auburn, a 66-53 winner over Tennessee in Friday night's nightcap. Since the league renewed its postseason tournament, UK is 15-0 in semifinal games. | Complete Release in PDF Format
SEC Basketball
Kentucky 78- Auburn 58
With highly ranked teams falling all around,
Kentucky just keeps on winning. Erik Daniels came back from a scary fall to score 17 points, and the No. 2 Wildcats blew out Auburn in the second half for a 78-58 victory in the Southeastern Conference tournament semifinals.
Miss. State 76- LSU 61 Mississippi State, led by Timmy Bowers' 6-of-9 3-point shooting, ended LSU's seven-game winning streak with a
76-61 victory in the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Saturday.
Tubby tweaks lineup to keep it interesting When you meet a team you demolished by 62 points the last time you met all of nine days ago, you employ alternative means of motivation.
As much credit as Tubby Smith has been given for upping the amperage of his team's
defense, the Kentucky coach deserves credit for unplugging a problematic offense.
Talk of a new offense dominated Kentucky's pre-season planning. Reliance on old-fashioned defensive effort carries Kentucky into the post-season.
DOGS FANS TURN BLUE In more ways than one, Georgia's basketball controversy will benefit Kentucky in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Georgia's decision to withdraw from the event
freed extra tickets for UK fans to buy.
Auburn 66 - Tennessee 53 Auburn considered its first game in the Southeastern Conference tournament on Friday to be a play-in
game for the NCAA tournament.
LSU 65- Florida 61 LSU pulled off another big upset Friday. Jaime Lloreda scored 21 points and hit a key free throw with 15
seconds remaining as LSU beat No. 7 Florida 65-61 in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament Friday.
Miss. State 73- Ole Miss 64 Mississippi State began the quest to repeat as Southeastern Conference tournament champion with a
typically defensive performance, beating Mississippi 73-64 Friday in the quarterfinals.
Dawgs' fight over, Georgia players heading home Georgia's fight to play this season is over after the players decided to head home for spring
break Friday and not stay through the weekend to see if they could win an injunction Monday to force the school to let them play in the postseason.
Georgia left home as tournament begins Jarvis Hayes thought he would be packing his suitcase for a trip to New Orleans. Instead, he was marching in a protest.
LSU 85, Arkansas 56 Collis Temple scored 18 points to lead Louisiana State to an 85-56 victory over Arkansas in the first round of the Southeastern Conference
Tournament on Thursday.
Mississippi 62, South Carolina 56 Justin Reed scored 22 points and Mississippi held off South Carolina 62-56 in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference
Tournament on Thursday.
'Bama on life support after loss Alabama's NCAA hopes took a major blow when the Crimson Tide lost to Vanderbilt 82-69 in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament
Thursday night.
’Bama slides out of SEC tourney
What a fall for Alabama! From No. 1 in December to — quite possibly — the NIT in March. Alabama’s NCAA hopes took a major blow when the Crimson Tide lost to Vanderbilt 82-69 in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament
Thursday night.
LSU smoking SEC nowTIGERS BACK IN FORM THAT TAMED ARIZONA Outside of Kentucky, LSU is the hottest
basketball team in the Southeastern Conference. Or is John Brady merely the hottest coach in the SEC -- hot under the collar, that is?
LSU breezes to 85-56 winAfter Louisiana State put Arkansas in a hole early, making a graceful exit from the Southeastern
Conference Tournament became a struggle for the Razorbacks.
Vandy stuns 'Bama 82-69Redemption will be on the minds of Vanderbilt's players tonight when they face the University of
Kentucky in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Vanderbilt Dominates Alabama Eleven weeks ago, Alabama was 9-0, ranked No. 1 in the country, and being touted as a possible national championship contender.
Blue-blooded Kentucky basketball sure knows how to throw a centennial bash. In the 100th season of Kentucky's storied basketball history, the Wildcats
steamrolled through the 2003 SEC season – finishing a perfect 16-0.
Can UK be stopped? Mississippi State 84, Kentucky 73. It was an unforgettable victory for Mississippi State and a stunning defeat for Kentucky many are convinced was a springboard to greater heights for both teams.
For the Bulldogs, the spectacular upset in the 1996 Southeastern Conference championship game launched Richard Williams' team toward the only Final Four berth in school history.
Area fans firmly behind Cats at SECThey boarded the airplane wearing their Kentucky hats and Mardi Gras beads adorned with blue basketballs.
Would loss help out UK? Don't count University of Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith, his players or even rival Southeastern Conference coaches among the group of basketball analysts, pundits and fans who believe
a loss by the Wildcats in the upcoming SEC Tournament would actually be beneficial to them.
But exactly how did it feel to be Vanderbilt? For the past two months, University of Kentucky's players and coaches have been asked --ad nauseaum -- about the team's second-half turnaround at
Vanderbilt.
WHERE'S COACH NOW? Basketball is a passion in the state of Kentucky. Joe B. Hall has known about that passion most of his life. He grew up near the University of Kentucky and later went on to play and coach for
the Wildcats, and today he is one of the school's biggest fans.
Charles Dickens' opening line in the novel A Tale of Two Cities sums up this year's Southeastern Conference Tournament, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
Bogans gets top billing from coaches Southeastern Conference coaches validated Keith Bogans' faith by voting the Kentucky guard as the league's player of the year. The announcement of
Bogans' honor yesterday came a day after Tennessee's Ron Slay won a media vote for SEC Player of the Year. After Slay won The Associated Press's media vote, the UK guard said he put more stock in the coaches' better understanding of the game.
SEC Tournament NotesAfter completing the 2003 Southeastern Conference schedule with a 69-67 victory at Florida to keep its league record perfect at 16-0, Kentucky now sets its sights on the postseason as the Wildcats take the floor Friday in their 42nd SEC Tournament.Press Conference Quotes | Complete SEC Notes in PDF Format
2003 SEC Men's Basketball Awards Announced The Southeastern Conference unveiled its men's basketball postseason awards Wednesday to cap off one of the
best seasons in league history.
Georgia lawsuit denied Two Georgia basketball players sued Wednesday for the right to play in the SEC and NCAA tournaments, but a judge denied their request for a
temporary restraining order. A hearing for Monday is scheduled, but that would be too late for Georgia, since the league tournament will be over and the NCAA tournament field will be announced.
Austin staying put Mississippi State basketball star Mario Austin says he will return for his senior year. Austin, a 6-foot-9, 255-pound junior center from York, Ala., was
named first-team All-Southeastern Conference on Tuesday. He ranks 10th in the SEC in scoring (15.6), third in rebounding (7.9) and second in field goal percentage (55.0).
Williams, Thomas sought injunction to play in NCAA TournamentTwo Georgia basketball players sued Wednesday for the right
to play in the conference and NCAA tournaments, but a judge quickly denied their request for a temporary restraining order. The NCAA Tournament selection committee later also threw out a request by the players’ lawyers to keep the ineligible team on standby for the tournament, ESPN said.
Teams who lost to Dawgs may get extra considerationThe NCAA tournament selection committee, already faced with a
particularly difficult task this season, must now confront an additional wrinkle: how to consider games that appear to have taken place on an uneven playing field.
UGA players sue for team to play on Two Georgia basketball players sued Wednesday for the right to play in the conference and NCAA tournaments, but a judge quickly denied their request for a temporary
restraining order.
Georgia on standby? NCAA resists lawyers' request The chair of the NCAA Tournament selection committee resisted a request Wednesday by lawyers for two Georgia
basketball players to keep the ineligible Bulldogs on standby for the NCAA Tournament.
Football
Cats strut stuff for NFL scoutsROBERTSON PROJECTED TOP 10 IN NFL DRAFT If there had been any questions about
Dewayne Robertson leading up to next month's NFL Draft, the explosive defensive tackle answered a lot of them yesterday.
Smith deserves credit for what might be his best coaching job
At first, he tried to avoid admitting this season has been special for him. Finally, though, even Kentucky coach Tubby Smith, the master of the understatement, had to acknowledge that this may well be the best coaching job he's ever done.
Forget Coach of the Year, Tubby is the Class Act of the Year
Tubby Smith had asked Ralph Beard to be on his weekly TV show. Ralph has never said no to any request from anyone or anything connected with his alma mater, the University of Kentucky, so he accepted.
Coaches Vote Smith, Bogans Tops in SECUniversity of Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith has been named SEC Coach of the Year as voted on by the league's head coaches. Wildcat senior Keith Bogans was named the SEC Player of the Year in the coaches poll as well.
Kentucky's historic dominance this season netted Tubby Smith the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year award. But leading UK to only the second unbeaten league record since 1956 did not get Keith Bogans the SEC Player of the Year
Georgia's plight saddens Smith, UK Tubby Smith used to coach at Georgia, and most of his Kentucky players know the Bulldogs fairly well. The Wildcats seemed saddened Tuesday by news of Georgia's decision to cancel
its postseason.
Tubby wins two coaching awards Tubby Smith had to quit giving special treatment before he could procure such a special season.
Tubby calls season his best coaching job Tubby Smith said this season may be his best coaching job in his 12 seasons as a head coach, and those who cover the Southeastern Conference certainly think it's better than
any other coach in the league this season, because it was announced Tuesday that he was selected Associated Press SEC Coach of the Year.
Many factors go into UK's team-oriented success Everyone who follows college basketball knows that the University of Kentucky is riding a 20-game win streak in large part because of its defense, but the question is
why has that defense been so effective?
SEC Basketball
2003 SEC Men's Basketball Awards AnnouncedThe Southeastern Conference unveiled its men's basketball postseason awards Wednesday to cap off
one of the best seasons in league history. UK senior Keith Bogans was named Player of the Year while Tubby Smith is Coach of the Year. Marquis Estill garnered Second Team honors.
Hayes feeling draft Star guard Jarvis Hayes will enter the NBA draft, a decision he announced the day after Georgia suspended his coach and abruptly ended
its season. Hayes, the Bulldogs' leading scorer for the past two years, will not sign with an agent, meaning the junior could return to the team next season.
Reaction To Georgia's Decision Mixed The season was looking bright for the Georgia Bulldogs before a scandal rocked the program. The Bulldogs finished the season with nine
straight sellouts and set a record for total attendance for the second straight year. They also were a lock for their third straight trip to the NCAA tournament, the first time that's happened in school history.
Women's Basketball
Barnhart will seek advice from Summitt Mitch Barnhart said this week he would be turning to friend and Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt for advice on
picking the new coach at Kentucky.
Baseball
Defensive Struggles Continue For Bat Cats In Loss To Indiana StateUK was plagued by errors for the second day in a row as Indiana State completed
a two-game sweep of the home-standing Wildcats, 7-3. The Sycamores (5-3, 0-0 MVC) broke open a 3-3 game in the eighth inning when two Kentucky (7-8, 0-0 SEC) miscues led to four ISU runs.
Indiana State shuts out err0r-prone Bat Cats Three Kentucky errors led to six unearned runs for Indiana State as the Sycamores (4-3) downed the Bat Cats 9-0 in baseball
yesterday.
We want a 'Cat fightLet's hope that the 10 people who will be making the 34 at-large selections and seeding the field for the 65-team NCAA tournament this weekend in Indianapolis have the good
sense to keep Arizona and Kentucky as far away on the bracket as possible.
Pitino praises WildcatsKentucky's unblemished record in Southeastern Conference play -- something that had been done just three previous times by any SEC team -- has certainly brought
praise to the Wildcats.
Cats intent on extending 20-game winning streak A long winning streak supposedly lengthens the odds of a team winning a national championship. According to that
bit of conventional sporting wisdom, Kentucky's chances of winning the NCAA Tournament would be best served by losing in this week's Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Bogans not certified for final Wooden ballot Senior guard Keith Bogans did not make the final ballot for the John R. Wooden Award because Kentucky did not
certify that he met the award's academic requirements.
No. 2 Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt- Alabama winner What: SEC Tournament, second round When: 7:30 p.m., Friday TV: WKYT-27 Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1 Cat
scratched Bogans not on John R. Wooden Award's final ballot, D4
SEC Basketball
SEC Tournament NotesAfter completing the 2003 Southeastern Conference schedule with a 69-67 victory at
Florida to keep its league record perfect at 16-0, Kentucky now sets its sights on the postseason as the Wildcats take the floor Friday in their 42nd SEC Tournament. | Press Conference Quotes
|Complete SEC Notes in PDF Format
Gators Hope To Rebound After Close, Emotional Losses Florida wants to start making history instead of witnessing it. Early last week, the Gators played Georgia in a big,
emotional game against a team with its coach and future in peril. Then, they played Kentucky, another emotional game against a team in search of an elusive perfect season in the Southeastern Conference.
Georgia pulls out of tourneysThe University of Georgia, in response to the NCAA’s investigation of the men’s basketball program, suspended
Coach Jim Harrick, declared two players ineligible because of academic fraud and removed the Bulldogs from the Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournaments.<
Vols guard Higgins is ruled ineligible Tennessee guard Jon Higgins was ruled academically ineligible for post-season play yesterday when his appeal to the Southeastern
Conference was turned down.
Scandals Overshadow March MadnessThis March, the madness is coming off the court. The week leading up to the NCAA tournament began with scandals and firings as Georgia coach Jim Harrick was suspended with pay Monday after an internal investigation showed three players took a phony class
taught by his son....
Ga. Suspends Coach, Will Miss PostseasonLess than two weeks after a former player
went public with accusations of payoffs and bogus classes, Georgia called it quits. The No. 21 Bulldogs stunningly ended their season Monday, withdrawing from the Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournaments after finding that three players committed academic fraud in a class taught by coach Jim Harrick's son....
Harrick suspended The University of Georgia abruptly ended its men's basketball season Monday and suspended coach Jim Harrick after an internal investigation
found academic fraud and what athletics director Vince Dooley called "unethical conduct" within the program
Bulldogs done for season; Harrick suspended Georgia has chosen not to play in the SEC and NCAA tourneys, and Dan
Wetzel says
it's not surprising Jim Harrick and the Dawgs are in trouble
Women's Basketball
Still may be worth the riskBarnhart must weigh rewards against coaching inexperience Valerie Still is
extraordinary, of course. In a jet-propelled journey through life, Still has garnered life accomplishments at the robust rate she once scored baskets in Memorial Coliseum.
Baseball
Sloppy Defense Cost Cats in Loss to Indiana StateThree Kentucky errors led to six unearned runs for Indiana State as the Sycamores (4-3, 0-0 MVC)
downed the Bat Cats (7-7, 0-0 SEC) by a score of 9-0. Indiana State sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs in the sixth inning, all of them unearned.
(03-10-03)
Basketball
Coaches' poll
Arizona leads Kentucky; Kansas rises to fourth
Sure, the players on the University of Kentucky basketball team knew it was a major accomplishment for them to finish 16-0 in the Southeastern Conference.
Fans attending the 2003 Southeastern Conference Tournament this week in New Orleans are invited to attend a pep rally sponsored by WildcatFaithful.com. The rally will be held on Friday, March 14 from 1-5 p.m. CT at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Conference Center, adjacent to the Louisiana
Superdome.
We're back in love with the Tub. Yes, now that this simply marvelous Kentucky basketball team has won 20 straight games, taken a broom to the Southeastern Conference, and rocketed to No. 2 in the national rankings, seems like everybody who is anybody has been bitten by the Tubby Love Bug.
East SEC All Kentucky 16-0 26-3 Florida 12-4 24-6 Georgia 11-5 19-8 Tennessee 9-7 17-10 South Carolina 5-11 12-15 Vanderbilt 3-13 10-17
UK could stand a good beating So much for the afterglow. Now that this University of Kentucky men's basketball team has etched itself in Southeastern Conference history with its 16-0
run, it's high time for the Wildcats to lose
Smith hearing cheers as Wildcats perfect in SEC In the final minutes of a rout in the home finale, Kentucky's fans launched into what suddenly has become a familiar
refrain at Rupp Arena: ''TUB-BEE! TUB-BEE! TUB-BEE!''
Six conferences dominate rest of NCAA fieldCan Kentucky follow its perfect 16-0 conference record in the regular season with a conference tournament title? Perhaps, but even if the Wildcats
stumble, they should get a No. 1 seed based on being the best team in the best conference in the nation.
Women's Basketball
Kentucky Women's Basketball Press Conference QuotesFollowing the announcement of the resignation of head
women's basketball coach Bernadette Mattox, Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart and basketball player SeSe Helm took questions about the future of the program.
Mattox out at KentuckyWomen's coach resigns after 8 years at helm
Bernadette Mattox resigned as Kentucky women's basketball coach last night after eight years in the position and six losing seasons.
The way it was Bernadette Mattox's coaching record at Kentucky: Year Record SEC Post-season 1995-96 8-19 2-9 none 1996-97 8-19 2-10 none 1997-98 13-15 5-9 none
Baseball
Bat Cats Set to Host Indiana StateThe University of Kentucky baseball team (7-6, 0-0 SEC) will play host
to the Indiana State Sycamores (3-3, 0-0 MVC) in a two game series on Tuesday, March 10th, and Wednesday March 11th, at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Bat Cats take rubber game from Purdue, 7-1 Brad Pickrell's two-out hit cleared the loaded bases in the third inning and gave Kentucky a 5-1 lead, and the Bat Cats went
on to beat visiting Purdue 7-1 yesterday.
(03-09-03)
Basketball
'Cats finish purr-fect in SECNo one could have imagined it after Kentucky struggled through its two preseason exhibitions against meaningless travel teams.
PERFECT AND PROUDCats overcome Gators, late-game jitters From Team Turmoil to Team Supreme.
Kentucky completed that startling one-year transformation by outlasting Florida 69-67 yesterday.
Kentucky runs SEC table They win at home, on the road, against good teams and bad. They look good winning by two, 62 and every number in between.
Kentucky Stops Florida to Finish 16-0 in S.E.C. With 5.8 seconds to play today, Kentucky had a 2-point lead. Florida had the ball in the hands of its best clutch shooter, the
freshman Anthony Roberson.
Kentucky completes perfect journey “THAT PUTS A REAL asterisk, a real stamp on this team,” Wildcats coach Tubby Smith said. “Future Kentucky teams will measure
themselves against what this team accomplished.”
Kentucky's march was as good as it gets The imperfect team has authored the perfect Southeastern Conference season. The team that couldn't beat Nike Elite (as coached
by Bill Frieder) has beaten all comers in its league.
CATS SEAL THE DEAL, ETCH NAMES IN HISTORYKentucky coach Tubby Smith shimmied this way through the hallways of the O’Connell Center after his Cats had just
dispatched Florida 69-67.
a comeback worth cheering Maybe Keith Bogans will not be Player of the Year. Maybe, by some stretch of the imagination, Tubby Smith will not be Coach of the
Year.
Scores, schedule Date Result Site Nov. 11 x-Kentucky 83, Athletes in ACTION 82 Lexington Nov. 18 x-TEAM NIKE 84, KENTUCKY 75 Lexington Nov. 25 y-Kentucky 82,
Arizona State 65 1-Maui, Hawaii
SEC unbeatens Some numbers from UK's 16-0 run through the Southeastern Conference: Largest 2nd-half Largest Final Opponent Halftime deficit lead margin
UK's longest winning streaks W's Dates Coach 32 Dec. 5, 1953 to Jan. 8, 1955 Adolph Rupp 27 Dec. 2, 1995 to March 10, 1996 Rick Pitino 26 Jan. 28 to Dec. 30,
1946 Adolph Rupp
barbour 'unbelievable' in major test Kentucky swingman Antwain Barbour saved his best for last. Barbour, a junior college transfer expected to play a leading
role, struggled most of this season. But in UK's 69-67 victory at Florida yesterday, his back-to-back three-pointers in the first half put the Cats ahead for good.
Sweep SixteenUnlikely SEC unbeatens look to take next step The 1978 team couldn't do it, even
with a pair of Fantasy Fivers in Jack Givens and Kyle Macy, even though it captured an NCAA title.
Women's Basketball
Mattox Resigns as Women's Basketball CoachBernadette Mattox has resigned her position as coach of the University of Kentucky's
women's basketball team, she announced late Sunday. Mattox, who coached the Wildcats for the past eight years, compiled a 91-135 (40.3%) record with one NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999.
Baseball
Kentucky Takes Rubber Match With Purdue, 7-1Brad Pickrell cleared the bases with two outs in the bottom of the third inning to stretch
a 2-1 Kentucky lead to 5-1, as the Bat Cats went on to beat Purdue, 7-1, and take the rubber match of a three-game series from the Boilermakers.
Castle clips Purdue in Bat Cats win Kentucky starter Heath Castle (1-0) threw 62/3 innings, scattering six hits and allowing only one run in a 2-1 victory over
visiting Purdue.
(03-08-03)
Basketball
Wildcats Edge Gators To Complete Perfect SEC SeasonKentucky closed out a perfect journey through the Southeastern Conference on
Saturday, getting 18 points from Gerald Fitch in a 69-67 victory over No. 3 Florida. To be perfect, the second-ranked Wildcats (26-3, 16-0) needed a victory at the league's toughest venue - other than Rupp Arena, of course - and got it against the Gators (24-6, 12-4).
No. 2 Kentucky survives No. 3 Florida They win at home, on the road, against good teams and bad. They look good winning
by two, 62 and every number in between. To sum it up, the second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats are perfect — as in a perfect 16-0 in the Southeastern Conference after a hard-earned 69-67 victory over No. 3 Florida on Saturday.
Wildcats Strut Kentucky finishes 16-0 in the SEC with a 69-67 victory over Florida. The second-ranked Wildcats end the Gators' 19-game home win streak to earn the 2nd
unbeaten SEC season since 1956.
Kentucky runs streak to 20 by nipping Gators Gerald Fitch scored 18 points as the second-ranked Wildcats held off a late rally to run the nation's
longest winning streak to 20 games with a pulsating 69-67 victory over No. 3 Florida.
Tubby is the truth behind Kentucky's run Watch Kentucky play offense and
you realize there isn’t a big-time player with the ball. No Ron Mercer. No Jamal Mashburn. No Tayshaun Prince. Watch Kentucky play defense and you realize the other side doesn’t have a big-time player either. That’s because the Wildcats have extracted the other teams’ majordomo, whether it be Jarvis Hayes,
Chris Thomas, Erwin Dudley, Matt Bonner or some other star.
Kentucky tries to cap perfect SEC seasonSo, this is what rebuilding is like at Kentucky.
Expected to be decent this season, but not much more, the Wildcats are one victory away from a perfect season in the nation’s toughest conference.
Cat's Meow If you are Kentucky's coach,
you are supposed to be great, right? Maybe so, but that shouldn't diminish what Tubby Smith has done: His Wildcats will finish undefeated in the SEC if they beat Florida on Saturday. Dan Wetzel says that makes him the coach of the year, hands
down.
'Cats gear up for Gators So, this is what rebuilding is like at Kentucky. Expected to be decent this season, but not much more, the Wildcats are
one victory away from a perfect season in the nation's toughest conference.
'Cats Nearing SEC PerfectionNow it seems laughable. The Kentucky Wildcats
were picked to finish third in the SEC East race by some people. They were dismissed.
UF approaches rematch with no fearFlorida freshman guard
Anthony Roberson has been on the court with Kentucky once, but he still knows what today's game is all about.
Gators to host a grudge matchTop scorer Bonner may be out
It's not as if the Florida Gators don't have enough to worry about these days. All they have to do is bounce back from an emotional 82-81 loss to Georgia, knock off a No. 2 Kentucky team that humiliated them, then come back and face the SEC tournament next week in New Orleans, where Georgia and Kentucky
will be waiting. After that, maybe -- just maybe -- the Gators will get a long-sought No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Chapman in search of next 'King'EX-CAT ENJOYS ROLE AS SCOUT FOR NBA Upon his forced retirement
from basketball, Rex Chapman dived headfirst into the inherent joys of the family unit. "That was great," he said, "for about three months."
Stewart remembrance touch of class by Kentucky Remembering the late John Stewart during UK basketball's Senior Night ceremonies on Wednesday was a thoughtful
touch of class. "I know this chapter is closed," said John's mother, Feleica Stewart, after Kentucky's outrageous trampling of Vanderbilt. "But we know that Tubby Smith and his family will always be a part of our lives. Donna is like a sister to me."
Wildcats have history for the taking16-0 SEC mark a reality with victory over Florida Every
season Kentucky ponders, plans and strategizes with an eye on the national championship. Today UK reaches for a prize beyond even its own routinely outsized expectations: Being crowned the Southeastern Conference's second unbeaten regular-season champion since 1956.
No. 2 Kentucky at No. 3 Florida When: 2 p.m. Records: Kentucky 25-3 (15-0 SEC); Florida 24-5 (12-3) Series: Kentucky leads 79-24 Last meeting: Kentucky won
70-55 at Rupp Arena on Feb. 4
East SEC All Kentucky 15-0 25-3 Florida 12-3 24-5 Georgia 10-5 18-8 Tennessee 8-7 16-10 South Carolina 5-10 12-14 Vanderbilt 3-12 10-16
UNBEATEN, UNDISPUTED AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL Here is a glance at how frequently in the last 50 years there have been unbeaten regular-season champions in the
country's six major conferences:
LINEUPS, STATISTICS Kentucky Probable starters No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 44 Chuck Hayes F 6-6 247 So. 14 Erik Daniels F 6-8 214 Jr. 50 Marquis Estill C 6-9 236
Sr.
CATS REJECT NOTION OF 'SI JINX' As superstitions go, the Sports Illustrated jinx does not haunt Kentucky's consciousness. The Cats, the subject of Sports
Illustrated's cover story this week, shrugged at the suggestion of the magazine's supposed jinx hitting home today at Florida or, worse, in the upcoming post-season.
Baseball
Bat Cats Rebound To Take Game Two of Series With Purdue, 2-1Kentucky starter Heath Castle (1-0) threw 6 2/3 innings, scattering six
hits and allowing only one run en route to earning his victory of the season in Kentucky's 2-1 victory over Purdue.
Baseball Cats pounded in opener with Purdue The Purdue Boilermakers racked up 21 hits as they pounded the Wildcats 16-3 yesterday in college baseball in the
first of a three-game series at UK's Cliff Hagan Stadium.
(03-07-03)
Basketball
Kentucky vs. Florida NotesThe home-standing and No. 3-ranked Florida Gators are all that stand between Kentucky and a perfect
Southeastern Conference record. The Wildcats are 15-0 traveling to Gainesville for a nationally televised broadcast of the teams' final regular-season game.
Pre-Florida Press Conference QuotesTubby Smith, Cliff Hawkins, Erik Daniels, Chuck Hayes and Keith Bogans talk about facing the Gators
to close the regular season.
Chorus grows to salute TubbyMEDIA, COACHES LIKE SMITH FOR NATIONAL COACH OF YEAR The spoils of victory for Kentucky basketball seldom include a national Coach of the Year award. Since 1970, only two UK coaches have been so recognized for their work.
Answering the knocksDuring UK's marvelous run, Tubby silences his critics By and by, hard times
have come a-knocking at the door of the ATB. Membership is free-falling like a 600-pound bungee jumper. Fund raising is drier than a West Texas drought.
Team play hurts Bogans' SEC Player-of-Year bid Tubby Smith seems certain to be named Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year for guiding Kentucky to the
regular-season championship. But UK's leading scorer, senior Keith Bogans, is not considered a favorite to be named Player of the Year.
'Quiet assassin' really Mr. Clean Back home in Lexington, Ky., Erik Brown is known as quiet and shy, according to his mother, Diana, and his
grandma, Predella Lewis. They'll be on court with him tomorrow during Senior Night ceremonies in Freedom Hall.
Kentucky Wildcats ReportUniversity of Kentucky junior forward Erik Daniels doesn't consider himself the superstitious
type.
Gator Basketball vs KentuckyThe Florida seniors will play their last home game of their careers Saturday when the Gators host Kentucky.
Gators' Bonner sidelinedFlorida senior forward Matt Bonner, one
of the top players in the Southeastern Conference, has plantar fasciitis in his right foot, an injury that could sideline him until the NCAA Tournament.
Florida's Bonner questionable vs. UK Matt Bonner of Florida has an injured right foot and is questionable for Saturday's regular-season finale against Kentucky.
Foot injury hobbles Florida's Bonner The 6-foot-10 senior is uncertain if he'll play against the Wildcats, and his status for the postseason is shaky
The contenders Names in the mix for Coach of the Year 1. Tommy Amaker (Michigan): Team picked to finish no higher than ninth in the Big Ten; banned from
post-season play before the first tip-off; playing four freshmen extensively; lose first six games to start the season, then win 13 in a row and contend for conference championship.
UK falls in SEC tourney as late 11-0 run too littleThe Auburn women's basketball team was able to build a big enough
lead that an 11-0 run by Kentucky in the final 3 1/2 minutes of yesterday's Southeastern Conference Tournament game in North Little Rock, Ark., didn't matter.
Baseball
Kentucky Baseball Falls to Purdue, 16-3Kentucky (5-6, 0-0 SEC) had no answer for the firepower of the Purdue (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) offense,
as the Boilermakers racked up 21 hits en route to a 16-3 defeat of the Bat Cats. Kentucky's offense could not respond, scoring just one run after the first inning and totaling only six hits on the afternoon.
Bat Cats open 3-game homestand vs. Purdue The University of Kentucky baseball team will play host to the Purdue Boilermakers in a three-game weekend series
beginning at 3 p.m. today at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
(03-06-03)
Basketball
Seniors reap rewards of sweet sacrifice They celebrated tradition again last night at Rupp Arena, framing a trio of Kentucky careers, plus one that would have
been, with the customary parting gifts.
NAME mi fg-a 3-pt ft-a rb a pf tp vanderbilt (44) Thornton 17 1-4 0-0 0-0 3 0 2 2 Freije 25 3-13 2-7 1-1 1 2 4 9 Smith 25 4-8 0-1 0-0 3 1 1 8 Moore 25 0-9 0-2
0-0 5 1 0 0
Rupp-roaring good timeSenior Night turns into rout as Cats win 106-44 Kentucky guard Gerald
Fitch rose for a dunk in traffic. Kentucky's crowd rose in anticipation of a statement slam. One problem: Fitch clanked his stylish left-handed throw-down off the back of the rim. Teammate Antwain Barbour convulsed in laughter on the bench. To Barbour's right, Cliff Hawkins stretched a warm-up jacket over
his mouth to hide the merriment his eyes betrayed
Senior moment- Kentucky wins by 62 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.
VANDY-UK NOTESCats get good publicity -- or is it bad? Uh-oh. Now, more than No. 3 Florida
stands between Kentucky and an unbeaten record in the Southeastern Conference. The Sports Illustrated jinx looms.
SEC Tournament East SEC All Kentucky 15-0 25-3 Florida 12-3 24-5 Georgia 10-5 18-8 Tennessee 8-7 16-10 South Carolina 5-10 12-14 Vanderbilt 3-12 10-16
Women's Basketball
Women's Hoops Falls To Auburn In SEC Tournament, 68-62Tia Miller scored 11 of her 19 points in the second half as Auburn pushed away
Kentucky for a 68-62 victory Thursday in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Women's Tournament. The second half began tied 33-33, and Auburn spent the next 10 minutes building a 52-40 advantage.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALLKentucky opens 'new season' in SEC tourney It would almost be understandable
if the Kentucky women would have thrown in the proverbial towel by now. Heading into the Southeastern Conference Tournament starting this afternoon in North Little Rock, Ark., the team has losing records overall and in the conference.
Baseball
Bat Cats to Host Weekend Series With PurdueThe University of Kentucky baseball team (5-5, 0-0 SEC) will host the Purdue Boilermakers
(3-1, 0-0 Big 10) in a three-game weekend series beginning Friday, March 7th.
Cats use strong-arm tactics in home openerSEVEN UK PITCHERS COMBINE TO BLANK EAST TENNESSEE ST.
Seven Kentucky pitchers allowed a total of zero runs yesterday in the Bat Cats' home opener at Cliff Hagan Stadium. The 3-0 win over East Tennessee State (4-7) was UK's first shutout of the season and stopped a two-game losing streak. Kalen Gibson (2-0) earned the victory for a UK staff that allowed just
four hits and faced three batters over the minimum.
(03-05-03)
Basketball
No. 2 Kentucky Crushes Vanderbilt, 106-44No. 2 Kentucky looks simply invincible as it closes in on a perfect run through the
Southeastern Conference. Erik Daniels scored a career-high 20 points and freshman Kelenna Azubuike added a season-high 16 as the Wildcats rode another dazzling defensive performance to its 19th straight win, beating Vanderbilt 106-44 on Wednesday night. Marquis Estill added 17 points and nine rebounds and
Gerald Fitch had 15 points and five assists for Kentucky (25-3, 15-0).
'Gipper' game forged futuresUK's spark was Vandy's flameout
Perhaps not since Knute Rockne asked Notre Dame to win one for Ronald Reagan, er, George Gipp has a locker room scene contained such long-lasting impact.
Vanderbilt at No. 2 Kentucky When: 8 p.m. Records: Vanderbilt 10-15 (3-11 SEC); UK 24-3 (14-0) Series: UK leads 124-36 Last meeting: UK 74, Vanderbilt 52, Jan.
14
LINEUPS, STATISTICS Vanderbilt Probable starters No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 35 Matt Freije F 6-9 230 Jr. 2 Brian Thornton F 6-8 255 So. 44 Corey Smith G-F 6-5
230 So.
East SEC All Kentucky 14-0 24-3 Florida 12-3 24-5 Georgia 10-5 18-8 Tennessee 7-7 15-10 South Carolina 5-9 12-13 Vanderbilt 3-11 10-15 West
Keith BogansTeam leader rebounded from disappointment If you're a sucker for a happy ending, you
will like watching Keith Bogans pop through his paper hoop tonight.
Keith Bogans Age: 22 Hometown (high school): Alexandria, Va. (DeMatha) Height, weight: 6-5, 213 Position: Guard Off the court: Majoring in agriculture. Will
need to attend summer school this year to earn degree.
Marquis Estill Age: 21 Hometown (high school): Richmond (Madison Central) Height, weight: 6-9, 236 Position: Center Off the court: Majoring in agriculture
administration. On track to graduate before the fall semester.
Marquis EstillSvelte and healthy at last, center meets coach's expectations A disclaimer before
we begin: Tubby Smith hopes you will be reading a Senior Day story about this very same subject this time next year.
Jules CamaraCamara learned about himself, life while under fire Jules Camara was embarrassed.
Felt isolated. Confused. Was certain of only one thing: He was leaving the University of Kentucky.
Azubuikes withdraw bankruptcy request The parents of Kentucky freshman Kelenna Azubuike yesterday dropped their effort to gain bankruptcy protection. The
development leaves Ken and Chi Azubuike liable for debts of what a trustee in the case called "$750,000, maybe more."
Baseball
Bat Cats Win Home Opener, 3-0, Over ETSUThe Kentucky pitching staff was the story on this day, as the Bat Cats (5-5, 0-0 SEC) allowed
East Tennessee State (4-7, 0-0 SC) only four hits and blanked the Bucs, 3-0. For the game, the UK staff faced only two batters over the minimum.
(03-04-03)
Basketball
Kentucky vs. Vanderbilt NotesKentucky can claim its 42nd Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and ninth Eastern Division crown outright with a victory in the Cats' last home game of the season against Vanderbilt. UK clinched at least a share of the two league titles after a 74-66 victory over host
Georgia on Sunday while improving its unbeaten SEC record to 14-0.
Shouts of ''Go Bogie, go Bogie'' reverberate from the two-story house on South Payne Street in Alexandria, Va., where Keith Bogans grew up. When the University of Kentucky plays, everyday life is pre-empted.
BOGANS MAKES CASE FOR SEC PLAYER OF YEARGeorgia coach Jim Harrick: "I think the leadership they’re getting from Keith Bogans is a real key. He’s leading them and then he’s backing it
up on the floor."
UK, FLORIDA NECK-AND-NECK IN NEW AP TOP 25March Madness comes early when Kentucky travels to Florida on Saturday. It will be a collosal clash between No. 2 and No. 3 with the release
of the new AP poll on Monday.
SENIOR NIGHT WILL BE TOUGH FOR BOGANSJust because he's not likely to shed a tear, don't think Senior Night won't be emotional for Keith Bogans Wednesday.
Women's Basketball
It's time Mattox era comes to an endBUT REMOVING COACH JUST FIRST STEP FOR UK
If Sunday was Bernadette Mattox's final home game as Kentucky women's basketball coach, her team gave its embattled leader a respectable parting gift:
SECWOMEN'S STANDINGS SEC All Tennessee 14-0 26-3 Louisiana State 11-3 24-3 Georgia 10-4 19-8 Mississippi State 10-4 22-6 South Carolina 9-5 21-6
Arizona Tops Men's Poll Arizona and Kentucky held the first two spots in The Associated Press college basketball poll for a
third straight week Monday. Wisconsin returned to the rankings for the first time since November.
Unreal streak almost perfect Fourteen down, two to go. Surely not even the bluest of wild-eyed optimists would have dared believed that. Not even the craziest
of Cat crazies could have believed that one year removed from Team Turmoil, Kentucky would be 24-3, ranked second in the nation, and, yes, a perfect 14-0 in the SEC.
Cats show their moxie Pardon the University of Kentucky men's basketball team if it didn't execute its late-game plan as designed yesterday. The
Wildcats hadn't been in a stomach churning, possession-by-possession game in nearly two months.
Kentucky's streak hits 18With No. 2 Kentucky trailing in the second half, Marquis Estill wasn't worried about the
nation's longest winning streak. "I was thinking about what we needed to do to win this ballgame," Estill said.
Kentucky 74, Georgia 66: Kentucky's Clampdown Claims Another Victim If there was a safe spot on the floor, Georgia's Jarvis
Hayes could not find it. He was crowded at the 3-point line by Kentucky's Erik Daniels, and if he drove to the basket, he drew a crowd of Kentucky defenders.
No. 2 Wildcats survive tough SEC challenge from No. 21 Georgia
THE BULLDOGS WERE PLAYING their
first game without assistant coach Jim Harrick Jr., who was suspended Friday after a former player accused him of paying part of his expenses and committing academic fraud.
Kentucky gets out of Georgia with winning streak intact
"We are relieved to get the win," Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. "Our kids kept their composure and played with a lot of confidence. Composure is a quality of a team that expects to win.
Hayes does dirty work as Cats clean up Mathematics tells us that when a basketball is loose on the floor or up for grabs off the rim, each player in the game
has a 10 percent chance of getting to it.
U of L, UK transfers toil for redemption They are the outcasts. They should be helping fuel the marvelous seasons the University of Louisville and
University of Kentucky basketball teams are enjoying.
UK muzzles BulldogsCats' defense stifles Georgia; streak climbs to 18 After three days filled
with accusations of rule-breaking and academic fraud, Georgia needed a feel-good victory yesterday. With five minutes to go, the Bulldogs were in position to upset No. 2 Kentucky.
East SEC All Kentucky 14-0 24-3 Florida 12-2 24-4 Georgia 9-5 17-8 Tennessee 7-7 15-10 South Carolina 5-9 12-13 Vanderbilt 3-11 10-15 West
UK's longest winning streaks Wins Dates Coach 32 Dec. 5, 1953 to Jan. 8, 1955 Adolph Rupp 27 Dec. 2, 1995 to March 10, 1996 Rick Pitino 26 Jan. 28 to Dec. 30,
1946 Adolph Rupp
NOTESHarrick: 'We have nothing to hide' Georgia lost the game, but the Bulldogs will win
validation as a program that abides by NCAA rules. So said Georgia Coach Jim Harrick after Kentucky beat his team 74-66 yesterday. In the days leading up to the game, former player Tony Cole rocked the program by accusing Georgia of NCAA rule-breaking and academic fraud.
Women's Basketball
Mattox could be coaching last game at UK Senior Rita Adams played her last game at Memorial Coliseum yesterday — an 18-point, three-assist, five-steal
performance in a 15-point loss to No. 3 Tennessee.
Cats Prepare For SEC TournamentThe Kentucky women's
basketball team received the No. 9 seed and is preparing to square off with eighth-seeded Auburn in Thursday's first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. ET at the Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, Ark. The game will be carried live on Fox Sports Net South and
WLXG Sports Radio 1300 with Chris Cross. SEC Tournament Bracket (PDF) | Coach Mattox Quotes
Kentucky vs. Auburn When: 1 p.m. Thursday Where: North Little Rock, Ark. Records: Kentucky 11-15 (4-10 SEC); Auburn 17-10 (5-9) Radio: WLXG-AM 1300
Tennessee sidesteps UK's late surgeCATS SLICE GAP TO FOUR BEFORE FALLING 84-69 A wave of
emotions rushed over Memorial Coliseum yesterday. It was the emotion of Senior Day for team leader Rita Adams. It was the emotion of perhaps the final home game for Kentucky Coach Bernadette Mattox.
Women's standings SEC All Tennessee 14-0 26-3 Louisiana State 11-3 24-3 Georgia 10-4 19-8 Mississippi State 10-4 22-6 South Carolina 9-5 21-6 Vanderbilt 9-5
19-8
Baseball
UK SPORTSBat Cats fall to UAB on wild pitch in 10th Jeff Archer's wild pitch in the 10th inning
allowed Alabama-Birmingham's Josh Miljavac to score from third, and the Kentucky baseball team fell to the host Blazers 3-2 yesterday.
(03-02-03)
Basketball
No. 2 Kentucky Shuts Down No. 21 Georgia, 74-66Kentucky kept its winning streak alive by turning up its defensive pressure. Marquis
Estill had 16 points for the second-ranked Wildcats, who forced five straight turnovers during a game-deciding run to beat No. 21 Georgia 74-66 on Sunday for their 18th straight victory. Chuck Hayes added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Wildcats (24-3, 14-0 Southeastern Conference), who clinched a share
of the Eastern Division title.
IN FINAL WEEK, CATS LOOKING OUT FOR NO. 1 -- SEED, THAT IS Though often overshadowed by its wealthier cousin the salary drive, these days we turn our focus to
the seed drive. As Kentucky begins the final week of its amazing regular season, the Cats encounter a three-jump obstacle course that should say much about what will come out of Jim Nantz's mouth come Selection Sunday when it comes to NCAA Tournament seeds.
rematch makes hayes' dayGeorgia star: 'We'll be ready' After Kentucky soundly beat his team last
month, Georgia star Jarvis Hayes made a surprising statement. He said he hoped UK would remain unbeaten in Southeastern Conference play when the teams played again in Athens.
Dogs try not to be distracted Former player Tony Cole's allegations of NCAA rules violations could have
serious implications for the future of the Georgia men's basketball program.
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEARNo madness to the magic of Kentucky basketball
It is remembering where you were when Christian Laettner spun to shoot. It is how you felt after Scott Padgett unleashed Kentucky's response some eight years later.
UK BASKETBALL NOTEBOOKNew practice facility targeted for 2005-06 Kentucky capped a season-long
celebration of 100 years of basketball last weekend. All the while, Coach Tubby Smith has kept an eye trained on the future.
LINEUPS, STATISTICS Kentucky Probable starters No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. 44 Chuck Hayes F 6-6 247 So. 14 Erik Daniels F 6-8 214 Jr. 50 Marquis Estill C 6-9 236
Sr.
UK-GEORGIA NOTESCats swallow temptation to look ahead Kentucky can clinch at least a share of
its 42nd Southeastern Conference regular-season championship by beating Georgia today. "I don't want to share with anybody," Keith Bogans said. "I want to win it for ourselves."
What we'll see Today Just be glad you aren't Jim Harrick Sr. Not only does the Georgia coach have to worry about recent reports of alleged NCAA rules violations
that occurred on his watch, he just saw the Kentucky team bus pull into the parking lot. (4 p.m., CBS-27)
Women's Basketball
Women's Basketball Falls To No. 3 Tennessee, 84-69Gwen Jackson scored 25 points and Shyra Ely added 18 points and a career-high 17
rebounds as third-ranked Tennessee overcame 23 turnovers to beat Kentucky 84-69 on Sunday. SeSe Helm scored 25 points and Rita Adams had 18 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists in her final home game for Kentucky (11-15, 4-10 SEC), which lost to the Lady Vols for the 22nd straight time.
Football
UK FOOTBALL NOTEBOOKRobertson's stock remains high in upcoming draft Dewayne Robertson is
priming himself to become the University of Kentucky's first high first-round draft pick since Tim Couch went No. 1 overall in 1998.
Baseball
Kentucky Loses In Extra Innings For Second Consecutive DayAlabama-Birmingham's Josh Miljavac came in from third base in the 10th inning when UK
pitcher Jeff Archer uncorked a wild pitch that hit the front of the plate and bounced over the backstop, handing the Bat Cats a loss in extra innings for the second consecutive day.
UK SPORTSBat Cats waste Gilvin's 10th-inning homer, lose to E. Illinois Eastern Illinois scored
two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the Kentucky baseball team 4-3 yesterday in Birmingham, Ala.
(03-01-03)
Basketball
Smith: Don't expect distracted DogsGEORGIA RESPONDED TO ADVERSITY LAST YEAR WITH VICTORY For the
second straight season, Kentucky goes to Georgia to face an opponent rocked by off-court controversy. That UK lost in Athens last season leaves Tubby Smith skeptical of finding Georgia weakened by distraction.
Stopping opponents could be reason Wildcats reach Final FourIt takes only 10 seconds for Georgia’s Jarvis
Hayes to launch the first shot after halftime. He misses, and Kentucky center Marquis Estill collects the rebound. There seems nothing special about this transaction, and that turns out to be true, as it is repeated in some fashion nine times in the next five minutes.
Women's Basketball
Fighting to play gave Rita Adams the strength to endure heartache It was just a dying tree with a basketball hoop and backboard rigged up in it. It was just in
the Adams family yard in East St. Louis, Ill., connected to a driveway her father elongated for a makeshift court.
Baseball
Kentucky Loses, 4-3, in 10 Innings to Eastern IllinoisJunior center fielder Casey Gilvin hit a solo home run with two outs in the top
of the 10th inning to break a 2-2 tie and give Kentucky (4-4, 0-0 SEC) a one-run advantage, but Eastern Illinois answered with two runs in the bottom of the10th to defeat the Bat Cats, 4-3. With two outs in the bottom of the tenth, Eastern's Danny Jordan singled off UK reliever Rob Bland (1-2) to score
Bret Pignatiello and tie the game at three. The next hitter, Pete Stone singled to score Kirk Walters and win the game.
UK SPORTSPickrell's pinch homer in 9th lifts Bat Cats, 9-6 Brad Pickrell wasn't looking to be a
hero yesterday. Pinch-hitting with two out and two on in the ninth inning of a tie game against Marshall, Pickrell was just looking "to make good contact and put the ball in play."
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