February 2005 WildcatZone.Com News Archive

(2-28-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • UK may get more chances to gloat soon    Suddenly certified a winner, the University of Kentucky men's basketball team had a chance to cast its newfound validation
  • Atlanta UK Alumni Club Pep Rally     The pep rally will be held on Friday afternoon March 11, 2005 in  Rooms B405 - B407 of the Georgia World Congress Center (next to the Georgia Dome).The pep rally will start at 3:00 p.m and end at 6:00 p.m. Cost is $15 per person. Children under 10 are free. Cost for UK students showing a valid ID is $5. The first 500 attending will receive a free Kentucky T-Shirt. Cash bar is available. A DJ will be playing Wildcat music. Vendors will be selling Wildcat merchandise. Former UK players, including Kenny Walker, Jeff Sheppard and Cameron Mills will be present and signing autographs. Also attending will be the 14 time National Championship UK Wildcat Cheerleaders, as well as the UK Pep  
  • UK bids for top seeding    All you need to know about the way the University of Kentucky basketball team captured its 43rd Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and the No. 1 seed in the East for the SEC Tournament could be summed up by what head coach Tubby Smith did after the buzzer sounded at Coleman Coliseum
  • Cats relish win on Bama's floor     Tubby Smith almost always finds something his players could have done better once he gets to his post-game press conferences.  
  • Cats roll Crimson Tide with second-half surge   High fives and pats on the back from every member of the UK bench greeted Lukasz Obrzut as he walked off the court after scoring his only two points Saturday.
  • Rowdy fans ignite Sparks    From a corner in Coleman Coliseum, red-clad Alabama students hurled everything they had at Patrick Sparks. They sent jeers and insults his way, and they tossed trash too.
  • Bombs away!    Everything seemed to be going Alabama's way Saturday against Kentucky. The Crimson Tide had a good lead at halftime and had extended it in the first four minutes of the second half.
  • Davis muzzled by Wildcats in second half of loss     For the first half of Alabama's 78-71 loss to Kentucky, Chuck Davis was just about perfect. The junior forward scored 15 points before the break on 4-of-4 shooting and made all 7 of his free throw attempts. 
  • In the SEC, everyone believes in Kentucky     If anybody ever hands down from on high the Ten Commandments of Kentucky basketball, they'll surely look something like this:

          Women

  • UK to Face Auburn in First Round of SEC Tournament     The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team received the No. 10 seed and will face No. 7 seed Auburn in the first round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament
  • Seniors' happy ending    Potts' 27 cinch win in home finale    After losing six in a row and nine of their last 10, Kentucky needed a win in the worst way. After struggling to find her shot in the Southeastern Conference this season, UK senior Sara Potts needed a big game in the worst way.
  • DeMoss still learning virtue of patience    No one should have expected it to be easy. No one should have expected it to happen overnight. No one should have thought that simply hiring a coach with a pedigree would produce snap-your-fingers success.

      Baseball 

  • Kentucky's Tuesday Game Canceled    Tuesday’s baseball game between Kentucky and East Tennessee State has been canceled due to projected inclement weather. No make up date has been scheduled.
(2-27-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • Sparks carries Kentucky     When Kentucky is winning ugly, like the Wildcats have been lately, their fans usually look for a scapegoat.
  • UK just better, tougher than Crimson Tide     Aweek ago, Mark Gottfried questioned Alabama basketball fans. One week and two losses later, they might have some questions for him.
  • Sparks catches fire vs. Tide     He couldn't find a second-half answer for Kentucky's Patrick Sparks on the floor, but Alabama's Earnest Shelton found the perfect post-game description for Sparks' 26-point scoring burst Saturday at Coleman Coliseum.  
  • Hot UKats cool crowd at Coleman     The home folks showed up in droves, hoping they'd witness a historic drive to Alabama's second SEC championship in four years.
  • Kentucky's Sparks lights up Alabama      The last name fit for the little buzzcut-sporting Kentucky guard who had the nerve to tell his coach what plays to call.
  • Tide’s Upset Hopes Fade Late Against Kentucky, 78-71     Patrick Sparks scored 26 points and hit seven of 10 three-point attempts to lead fifth-ranked Kentucky to a 78-71 win over sixteenth-ranked Alabama on Saturday afternoon at a sold-out Coleman Coliseum.
  • Sparks rekindled     Patrick Sparks made sure that Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith knew he was hot. 
  • Kentucky clinches SEC in Tuscaloosa     Alabama has shown it can go four rounds in the NCAA tournament.
  • Sparks shoots down Tide    JUNIOR HITS SEVEN THREE-POINTERS    When Patrick Sparks gets hot, just get him the ball and get out of the way. Sparks made seven three-pointers to lead Kentucky over Alabama 78-71 Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
  • Sparks' three-point wave turns Tide away      Patrick Sparks did something uncharacteristic during the first half of the University of Kentucky's basketball game at Alabama yesterday.
  • Second half was UK's encore    CATS DROWN OUT BAMA'S BLISTERING START    Forget your talking-head hosts, with their makeup and perfect hair. Forget those coaches-turned-studio jockeys with their run-on opinions and incessant yapping.
  • 'This is how we do it,' though Cats do it a bit differently    They clinched the title two games early, and this has been a transition year. It's easier to go through a change with stellar freshmen and accomplished veterans, but let's not cheapen the triumph with qualifiers.
  • Shooting Sparks    Patrick Sparks' seven three-point baskets yesterday was two short of the UK record. The all-time leaders: Player Date Total Tony Delk Jan. 20, 1996 9
  • UK wows 'GameDay'     Take a bow, UK fans. Your enthusiasm made a big impression on ESPN College GameDay producer Barry Sacks. 
  • Woo-wee: Obrzut comes up 'huge'    Sophomore big man Lukasz Obrzut had played 23 minutes against Southeastern Conference teams all season. So who knew he'd log 22 important minutes in Kentucky's 78-71 victory at Alabama?
  • TURNING THE TIDE    Key numbers from Kentucky's 78-71 victory at Alabama
  • BIG MAN DUNKS, LOGS SEASON-HIGH 22 MINUTES     Sophomore big man Lukasz Obrzut had played 23 minutes against Southeastern Conference teams all season. So who knew he'd log 22 important minutes in Kentucky's 78-71 victory at Alabama? 
  • Don't panic over NCAA report cards    MONDAY'S ACADEMIC STATUS IS PRELIMINARY, WON'T COST SCHOLARSHIPS YET    On Monday, the NCAA will make public how athletic teams performed in the classroom during the 2003-04 academic year. Kentucky fans should not overreact nor begin assigning blame should UK's numbers be less than exemplary.
  • The second-half Cats     Patrick Sparks did something uncharacteristic during the first half of Kentucky's game at Alabama Saturday. 
  • Kentucky makes 13 of 19 Three Pointers     Patrick Sparks wanted the ball, and Tubby Smith wasn't going to deny him.

          Women

      Baseball 

  • Kentucky Completes Sweep of Buffalo     Kentucky jumped out to a 7-1 lead and held on late for an 11-9 win to complete a three-game sweep of Buffalo on Sunday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
(2-26-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • UK  78  --  UA  71  (Final)
  • Sparks Fires Cats to SEC Regular Season Title     Patrick Sparks hit five of his seven 3-pointers in the second half and scored a season-high 26 points, lifting No. 5 Kentucky to a 78-71 comeback victory over 16th-ranked Alabama on Saturday to clinch the Wildcats' 43rd Southeastern Conference title.
  • Sparks shoots down Tide     When Patrick Sparks gets hot, just get him the ball and get out of the way. Sparks made seven three-pointers to lead Kentucky over Alabama 78-71 Saturday in Tuscaloosa. 
  • Wildcats Looking for 43rd SEC Championship at Alabama    After claiming a share of the SEC Eastern Division title with an 81-73 win over Auburn Wednesday, the Kentucky Wildcats travel to hostile Coleman Coliseum looking for their 43rd SEC regular-season title
  • Showdown on the boards     The topic was rebounding. That's a sore subject for Kentucky men's basketball coach Tubby Smith these days.
  • Cats might face Tide without Rondo    UK looks for 43rd SEC regular-season title    Kentucky hopes to meet its annual obligation to win the Southeastern Conference championship today. But the Cats might have to do it without freshman point guard
  • SEC title on line for Cats vs. Tide    The University of Kentucky basketball team might collect Southeastern Conference championships like lint, but it never gets old, even when the national title is the standard by which seasons are judged.
  • Bubble teams are feeling the crunch    How time flies. Two weeks from Sunday is Selection Sunday. Crunch time. Today's Kentucky-Alabama Tuscaloosa tilt is merely the local centerpiece of a weekend with national implications.
  • Wildcats looking to plug rebound gap vs. Alabama    After the University of Kentucky had gotten outrebounded for the fourth consecutive game en route to its fourth straight victory Wednesday night, leading rebounder Chuck Hayes was stumped by the team's tendency to get beat on the boards.
  • Hayes will start 101st game in a row    Senior forward Chuck Hayes will be starting his 101st straight game for Kentucky. The school record is 110, set by Alex Groza (1945-49).
  • Recovering Rondo won't play much     The anticipated matchup between two Southeastern Conference freshman of the year candidates in the University of Kentucky's Rajon Rondo vs. Alabama's Ronald Steele might not materialize.
  • UK offers Scott Co. 7-footer scholarship    GEORGIA TECH, UNC ALSO AMONG SUITORS    Big-man prospect Jared Carter of Scott County finds a scholarship offer from Kentucky "exciting." But he doesn't consider it a slam-dunk decision to commit to UK. It seems more like a prime-low-post-position decision.
  • basketball bonding    Ex-Kentucky standout Sam Bowie has become his daughter's biggest fan    More often than not the voice in Sam Bowie's head is telling the voice coming from his mouth to be quiet. But the former Kentucky All-American, NBA player and radio color commentator can't help himself.

          Women
  • UK Hoops To Host Arkansas on Senior Day    The Kentucky women’s basketball team plays its regular-season finale Sunday when the Wildcats meet the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks in Memorial Coliseum at 1:00 p.m. ET. Seniors Danyelle Payne, Sara Potts and Keiko Tate will be honored prior to tip-off during “Senior Day” ceremonies.

      Baseball 

  • Kentucky Coasts to Fourth Straight Win     Kentucky scored four runs in the first and added four in the third as it cruised to a 10-7 victory over Buffalo on Saturday at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
(2-25-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • Wins don't fix rebound woes    UK 'LIVING ON THE EDGE' AGAINST SMALLER, INFERIOR TEAMS    The opposition won the rebounding battle in six of the last seven games. Yet, Kentucky won six of those seven games. So does Kentucky have a rebounding problem or a rebounding inconvenience?
  • UK joins chase for big man    Perhaps sensing that others' offers were forthcoming, University of Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith offered Scott County High School center Jared Carter a scholarship Wednesday night after the fifth-ranked Wildcats beat Auburn at Rupp Arena.
  • Smith keeps Rondo out of practice to be safe    Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith kept freshman point guard Rajon Rondo out of yesterday's practice as a precaution. Rondo bruised a rib in the second half of UK's victory against Auburn on Wednesday.
  • An unlikely assist for Wildcats     Leave it to a former Kentucky Mr. Basketball, a guy averaging 2.8 points and 3.0 rebounds, to pave the way for the University of Kentucky to win its 43rd Southeastern Conference regular season title.
  • Azubuike showed he can be a scorer    After Kelenna Azubuike torched Auburn for a career-high 30 points Wednesday night, the obvious question was: Why doesn't he do it more often..

          Women

  • South Carolina Frontcourt Too Much for UK Hoops    Kentucky freshman guard Samantha Mahoney notched her first career double-double with a game-high 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds Thursday, but a dominant South Carolina post presence was too much for the Cats, as they fell 60-47 in the Colonial Center.
  • Cats' swoon continues in South Carolina    Iva Sliskovic scored 16 points, hitting all eight of her shots, and pulled down a career-best 15 rebounds as South Carolina beat Kentucky 60-47 last night.

      Baseball 
(2-24-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • Azubuike's career performance puts Cats on top     For the first six minutes, everything went according to the script.
  • Azubuike Attack Tames Tigers     Junior Kelenna Azubuike notched his second career double double with a career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds as he led Kentucky past Auburn 81-73 Wednesday night at Rupp Arena.
  • Azubuike stands tall     Kentucky junior swingman Kelenna Azubuike walked onto Rupp Arena's court and felt like a high-schooler again. 
  • Tigers scratch, claw, but fall    Auburn played hard, outrebounding the Cats 40-35, and taking 16 more shots, but couldn't overcome the size deficit and lost to the Cats 81-73
  • Cats' alter ego returns in another sloppy win     You know what they look like - they're the ones who struggled with Auburn last night.  
  • Azubuike to the rescue     Forward scores career-high 30 points, grabs 11 rebounds   Kelenna Azubuike did not argue when a reporter suggested he just played his best college game. "Points-wise, yeah, I guess," he said after his career-high 30 points led UK to a 81-73 victory over Auburn last night. "It was fun. I wanted to be aggressive. Get to the glass. Get to the bucket. Get fouled. And it worked."
  • Tigers give 'Cats a scare     Toney Douglas and the Auburn basketball team didn't get a win Wednesday night, but they made 23,063 University of Kentucky fans sit in stoned silence during timeouts and did enough to put an unexpected scare in the No.5 team in the nation.  
  • Wildcats' Azubuike stands tall    Facing Auburn's undersized team, University of Kentucky junior Kelenna Azubuike played like a giant. Azubuike had career highs in points (30) and rebounds (11) to help the fifth-ranked Wildcats put away the heady Tigers 81-73 at Rupp Arena Tuesday night.
  • Tigers hang tough     Auburn's Toney Douglas never doubted he would break out of his ice-cold shooting spell.  
  • Cats can impress by beating Tide    Tuesday chipped a bit of the luster off the approaching special Saturday. Louisiana State played spoiler. Alabama rolled into Baton Rouge and was beaten at the buzzer by a former Kentucky Mr. Basketball. The SEC West tightened. The gap between UK and Bama widened.
  • Hustling Tigers Battle Wildcats to the Finish     Toney Douglas scored 21 second-half points as Auburn played step for step with Kentucky in front of 23,043 at Rupp Arena for much of the game, but the talent and depth of the Wildcats was too strong as UK pulled out a 81-73 SEC basketball victory Wednesday night.  
  • Seeds may be decided early     By the morning of Selection Sunday, whether or not the University of Kentucky actually wins the Southeastern Conference tournament might have little or no bearing on whether or not the Wildcats earn their third consecutive No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Kentucky vs. Auburn Post-Game Quotes     Kentucky Head Coach Tubby Smith     “I really have to compliment Auburn. I thought Jeff (Lebo) really had his team ready to play. They really attacked offensively. We’ve had trouble defending the three and rebounding. We’ve been outrebounded five of the last six games. It’s a little bit disappointing. With long rebounds, we tell our players you have to box out deeper. When a team is playing a style where they spread the court like that, you have to run out and challenge shots. We did a good job challenging shots, but we kept flying by people and they would follow up and get offensive rebounds. You see a team get 21 offensive rebounds and you’re not doing a very good job boxing out. They took a lot more shots than we did. I thought, early on, we got the ball inside to Randolph (Morris) and he did a very good job. He was 4-for-4 in the first half and then he only had two more shots in the second half, which means we didn’t really get the ball inside like we wanted to. We have to give a lot of credit to Auburn because they took some things away from us. They were athletic enough and quick enough. You try to tell people and you try to tell your team – I think sometimes you don’t appreciate how good a team is until they show up and you have to play against them. Kelenna (Azubuike) had a very good night. I was impressed with his work all the way around. He logged a lot of minutes and I was very impressed with the 11 rebounds. He took care of the basketball and played an outstanding game. Thank goodness he was able to step up and be productive. Rajon (Rondo) had a bruised rib, that’s why he didn’t come back. We had him checked him out and had him x-rayed. It will be a day-to-day thing. He’ll see the doctors, keep icing it and we’ll see how that goes, but he should be fine. We’re very excited about clinching the (SEC) East (Division), at least a share of the Eastern Division title. That is something we play for, to win the SEC. Now, we have to get ready for a very good Alabama team.”  
  • Non-SEC losses 'not devastation'    On Selection Sunday, the Southeastern Conference won't be hurt by its 1-13 non-league record against ranked teams. But individual SEC teams, including Kentucky, might wonder about an effect on NCAA Tournament seedings.

          Women

  • Cats get last shot at SEC road    The Kentucky women's basketball team plays its final road game of the season today when it travels to South Carolina, and it will try to snap a five-game losing streak.

       Football

  • Archer pulls out of Miami job hunt   COORDINATOR TO STAY AT UK    University of Kentucky defensive coordinator Mike Archer said he withdrew his name from consideration for the defensive coordinator position with the NFL's Miami Dolphins and will remain at UK.
  • Archer staying with Wildcats after interviewing with Dolphins    Mike Archer, the University of Kentucky football team's defensive coordinator, withdrew from consideration for the same job with the Miami Dolphins yesterday, ending nearly a week of speculation about his future.
  • Archer to stay at Kentucky    University of Kentucky defensive coordinator Mike Archer has withdrawn from consideration for a position on the coaching staff of the Miami Dolphins, the university announced in a press release Wednesday.
(2-23-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • UK 81  --  AU  73  (Final)
  • Kentucky Looks to Clinch Share of East Against Auburn     Kentucky looks to clinch a share of its 11th SEC Eastern Division title against a depleted Auburn squad in Rupp Arena Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m.
  • Auburn poses same threat as Dogs did    LETDOWN LOOMS AS TIGERS LOOK TO UPSET   The last time Kentucky played a nondescript opponent, the Cats flirted with the wrong end of a monumental upset. Eleven days ago, UK expected Georgia to come to Rupp Arena with blindfold and last cigarette in hand. After UK's uninspiring nine-point victory, Coach Tubby Smith said he was "ashamed."
  • Father followed son's footsteps to Auburn    Auburn features college basketball's only father-son coaching combination in which the older man serves as an assistant to the younger.
  • These Tigers more like kittens    Auburn coach Jeff Lebo is taking the "don't ask, don't tell" approach to tonight's basketball game at the University of Kentucky
  • UK can clinch East tonight    It's been four days since the University of Kentucky played a nearly flawless game against Mississippi State. How quickly the players can forget it and focus on beating Auburn could mean the difference between getting upset and clinching at least a share of the Southeastern Conference East division title when the Wildcats host the Tigers tonight at 8 in Rupp Arena.

      Baseball 
  • Bertram Walk-Off Homer Lifts UK Over Cumberland     Junior Michael Bertram belted a three-run walk-off homer to cap a seven-run comeback in the ninth inning as Kentucky rallied to beat Cumberland College, 11-10, on Wednesday night at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
(2-22-05)

      Baseball 

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • Rondo steals spotlight     Whether it's a behind-the-back pass in traffic, a steal-and-spin move in the open court, or a ball-handling demonstration that stretches the entire floor and ends with an off-balance layup, Rajon Rondo knows how to electrify the Rupp Arena crowd.
  • Tigers' slide could worsen in trip to No. 5 Kentucky     Two straight losses for Auburn have come in embarrassing fashion.  The Tigers lost to Vanderbilt 67-43 after leading 22-7 with five minutes left in the first half. Auburn dropped a 57-45 decision to Georgia, the Southeastern Conference's worst team, by shooting only 31 percent from the field.  
  • Hayes Named to NABC All-District Team     Kentucky senior forward Chuck Hayes has been named first team All-District 7 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. The award, selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC, goes to the finest basketball players in the country.
  • Auburn lives, dies by the three-pointer    TIGERS BILL THEMSELVES AS THE NATION'S SMALLEST TEAM    Jeff Lebo, the former North Carolina guard, did not expect to start his coaching career at Auburn with a bang. Actually, he fretted it might be a season of distinction
  • UK's Morris comes of age    The hype that surrounded University of Kentucky freshman center Randolph Morris would have you believe that he should have been averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds from day one.
(2-21-05)

      Baseball 

  • Bat Cats crush George Mason 15-4    Kentucky scored in seven innings and bashed defending Colonial Athletic Association champion George Mason 15-4 yesterday at the Buccaneer Classic in Charleston, S.C.

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • Morris drives offensive high     After UK's offense went into cold storage in Columbia, S.C., on Tuesday and tempers in Lexington grew red-hot, Tubby Smith needed an answer fast.
  • Offense returns in primetime rout     A student holding up a handmade sign behind the Wildcat bench had one simple request of his mother before Saturday night's game with Mississippi State. He didn't want money. He didn't want food.
  • UK bounces back in crisp performance     For the University of Kentucky, the difference between losing to South Carolina and beating Mississippi State amounted to 34 more points, 11 fewer turnovers, 10 more assists and seven more steals.
  • 94-78 win just what UK needed     For a team that was struggling to score and re-establish its identity, this was just what coach Tubby Smith wanted.
  • Cats get more from Morris    CENTER'S PRODUCTION FOR UK REFLECTS GROWING CONFIDENCE    With the search for more consistent offense a high priority, Kentucky welcomed the production freshman center Randolph Morris provided last week.
  • Alabama looms as title tilt for Cats    Two weeks remain in the Southeastern Conference's regular season, but chances are good that the league's basketball title might be decided by the end of this week.
  • UK bounces back in crisp performance     For the University of Kentucky, the difference between losing to South Carolina and beating Mississippi State amounted to 34 more points, 11 fewer turnovers, 10 more assists and seven more steals.

          Women

  • UK Hoops Smash Single Season Attendance Record     For the second consecutive year, the Kentucky women’s basketball program set record-breaking numbers in home attendance as a school-best total of 73,683 fans have witnessed the Wildcats play this season.
  • Lady Dogs deal UK 5th straight loss    FRUSTRATIONS MOUNT AS CATS STUMBLE DOWN HOMESTRETCH    As if a blue thread is being pulled on the season, Kentucky continued to unravel yesterday with a 71-55 loss to Mississippi State.

      Football

  • Ex-Cat seeks medical scholarship    BUT UK INSISTS WILLIAMS ISN'T ELIGIBLE FOR ONE    A medical scholarship is the center of a dispute between the University of Kentucky and the family of former UK football player Dustin Williams.
(2-20-05)

      Baseball 

  • Baseball Blasts George Mason    Kentucky scored in seven different innings en route to a convincing win over defending Colonial Athletic Association champion George Mason, 15-4, on Sunday at the Buccaneer Classic.

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • Kentucky vs. Mississippi State Post-Game Quotes     Kentucky Head Coach Tubby Smith    “It was a good win for us tonight. I thought our kids really focused. We had a tough time defending Mississippi State in the first half and keeping them off the boards. I thought our guys came out in the second half and did a better job defending the ball. We played the game the right way—we moved the ball, and passed the ball. When that happens, the game becomes a lot easier. We were able to accomplish what we wanted tonight in distributing the ball properly and playing unselfishly. We had some good looks and some good opportunities. Mississippi State is a tough team to match up with. I am happy for Rajon [Rondo], he tied a record with eight steals. He can really change a game with his quickness, his athleticism and his defensive presence. I thought our guys responded well against a tough loss at South Carolina and we’re going to try to get ready for Auburn.”  
  • Men of steal    Rondo ties mark, gets half of Cats' 16 swipes    Chuck Hayes discarded his mask. Kentucky bid farewell to its recent poor play. Rajon Rondo separated Mississippi State from the ball.
  • (3) Kentucky 94, Mississippi St. 78     A big win for Kentucky might have been a season-killer for Mississippi State.
  • Cats follow loss with win    Rajon Rondo tied the school record with eight steals and Patrick Sparks made a blind layup over his head.
  • Smith's message sinks in     If Kentucky was looking for redemption in front of a national audience, it found it.
  • Kentucky turns code red to blue    AFTER TWO-GAME CRISIS, HAYES AND RONDO QUIET THE SIRENS AND RETURN CALM TO RUPP    You can come in off the ledge now. Everything is fine. Everything is back to normal. Crisis averted. Order restored. Breathing is again permissible. So is smiling. Everything is back to Blue.
  • Maybe now UK players can get some sleep    We are 25 days from the serious screaming in college basketball
  • Cats KO Bulldogs in 2nd half     Randolph Morris scored 17 points and Rajon Rondo had eight steals in Kentucky's 94-78 victory over Mississippi State Saturday night in Rupp Arena. 
  • UK fans broadcast their devotion on ESPN    "C-A-T-S! C-A-T-S!" Several hundred screaming bodies -- draped in blue and white and waving homemade signs -- provided a noisy backdrop to ESPN's College GameDay basketball show yesterday.
  • No. 3 'Cats dump Bulldogs 94-78     At first, Lawrence Roberts didn't know what happened. He just knew his leg wouldn't bend, and that it hurt. 
  • SEC staffers play bracketeers    COMMISSIONER SLIVE GETTING SCHOOLED ON EVE OF FIRST STINT ON SELECTION PANEL    For the Southeastern Conference office, Selection Sunday will be repetition Sunday. SEC staffers have already made selections and seeded teams for the NCAA Tournament. They've gone through the process four times beginning in January.
  • Kentucky gearing up for deep tourney run     Tubby Smith walks by the banners every day at Memorial Coliseum to get to his office. He sees them when he's conducting practice on the court.

          Women

  • Cats Struggle Against Mississippi State     A 14-point, six-rebound effort from Sarah Elliott was not enough for the Cats as they fell to Mississippi State, 71-55, Sunday afternoon in Memorial Coliseum.
  • Cats back home to face Bulldogs    The Kentucky women's basketball team returns to Memorial Coliseum to face Mississippi State at 3 today. The Wildcats (14-12 overall, 3-8 Southeastern Conference) suffered two road losses last week.
  • Big Second Half Lifts Mississippi State Over Kentucky    Mississippi State’s Tan White scored a game-high 23 points, including 16 in the second half, to lead three Lady Bulldogs in double figures en route to a 71-55 win over Kentucky Sunday in Memorial Coliseum. Freshman center Sarah Elliott tallied a team-high 14 points while freshman forward Chante’ Bowman added 12 points, which ties her career high.

      Football

  • Brooks might have another hole to fill    DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR MIKE ARCHER IN TALKS WITH DOLPHINS' SABAN; CATS LOOKING FOR D-LINE COACH    The start of spring football practice is less than six weeks away, and UK Coach Rich Brooks is still on the market for at least one, and possibly two, assistant football coaches.
  • Williams says injuries aren't why he left Cats    Former University of Kentucky football player Dustin Williams said he quit the team last week because of a dispute with one of UK's coaches, not because of the many injuries that had hindered his career.
(2-19-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • UK  94  --  MSU  78  (Final)
  • Big Second Half Leads to Blowout of Dogs     After holding a slim three point halftime lead, the Kentucky Wildcats (20-3, 11-1) used a 27-6 second-half run en route to a 94-78 pounding of Mississippi State Thursday night at Rupp Arena. Seven Cats scored in double figures, led by freshman Randolph Morris with 17 points. It is Kentucky's 50th overall and 15th consecutive 20-win season.
  • Tubby sends wakeup call to lackluster Wildcats     After two mediocre performances, University of Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith wanted to get his players' attention so he held a 6 a.m. practice Thursday, something he has done in the past. There's nothing like a little morning hoops to get the troops back in order.
  • Smith not leaning to lineup change      Tubby Smith says he's always contemplating changes that can make his team better.
  • Men's Basketball Pregame Press Conference Quotes - Mississippi State   Head Coach Tubby Smith       On Mississippi State… “There are things that we have to do better in order to be able to compete against Mississippi State, and number one is rebounding the ball. That’s something that has been a real challenge for us. We’ve got to do a better job there than in the South Carolina game. We didn’t take care of the basketball. Those two areas hurt us tremendously, because I thought we played well enough defensively. We just didn’t put points on the board and had some mental breakdowns. You can’t do that against a good team like Mississippi State. (MSU’s) Winsome Frazier has a couple of games under his belt and some practices. I’m sure he’ll be at full strength, and you combine him with a player of Lawrence Roberts’ caliber and with the way Shane Power is playing, it will be a tough matchup for us. We missed Sheray Thomas (against South Carolina). He’s healthy now and he gives us another body inside, another defender, another rebounder. He’s a guy that can probably match up against Lawrence Roberts as well as anyone else on the team other than Chuck Hayes.    
  • Smith starts 6 a.m. workouts again     As has been his custom in recent years, Kentucky coach Tubby Smith went back to his 6 a.m. practices Thursday - two days after the No. 3 Cats lost 73-61 at South Carolina.
  • UK's five-year run is unsurpassed     South Carolina exposed Kentucky a bit, forcing the Wildcats to shoot 26 percent on 3-pointers in a 12-point loss in Columbia on Tuesday night — the Wildcats' first conference loss of the season. 
  • A few questions for ESPN's Jay Bilas     ESPN analyst Jay Bilas will be in Lexington Saturday as part of ESPN's College GameDay coverage of the Kentucky-Mississippi State game. He answered these questions from sports editor Larry Vaught about the event:
  • Kentucky Looks to Rebound Against Bulldogs on Gameday    Following its first loss to an SEC opponent in 367 days, Kentucky returns home to Rupp Arena and hosts defending SEC champion Mississippi State.
  • 'Perfect game' for redemption    Cats want to resurrect game at center stage    Two games ago, Tubby Smith said he was "ashamed" to be Kentucky's coach. Three nights later, he said of the Cats' passing: "We suck." He's since instituted 6 a.m. practices and simplified the offense in the hopes of generating more scoring.
  • Cats going on offensive for Bulldogs    A typical University of Kentucky basketball practice keeps the players on the defensive, but the No. 3-ranked Wildcats have switched their focus to offense in the days following their upset loss at South Carolina.
  • Celebration costs Gamecocks    Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive fined South Carolina $5,000 for violating the league policy that prohibits spectators from going onto the court during or after a game.

          Women

  • UK Hoops Set For Rematch With Mississippi State     The Kentucky women’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum to face Mississippi State Sunday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. EST in the Southeastern Conference “Game of the Week” televised by Fox Sports Net South.

      Baseball 

  • Charleston Southern Rallies Past Kentucky     Charleston Southern rallied from a two-run deficit for a 3-2 win to hand Kentucky its first loss of the season on Saturday in the Buccaneer Classic.
  • Freshman takes no-hitter to 8th in Cats' win    UK OPENS WITH 6-1 ROUT OVER APPY ST.    Freshman Andrew Albers carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and Kentucky won its season opener yesterday, a 6-1 victory over Appalachian State in the Buccaneer Classic.

      Football
  • UK loses defensive line coach    Michael Gray, defensive line coach at the University of Kentucky, has resigned at UK in order to accept a coaching position at another school, Coach Rich Brooks has announced.
(2-18-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • ESPN show live at UK     Rupp Arena will be the focus of the college basketball world tomorrow as the ESPN Gameday crew will invade Lexington for UK's game against Mississippi State.
  • Mississippi State at crossroads     Back in January, Mississippi State senior Lawrence Roberts could finally laugh about the star-crossed way his season started.  
  • ESPN wants pep — and lots of it — for Rupp showings     Saturday's Lexington television highlight is unquestionably the one-day version of Survivor: Rupp Arena. Object? Just like the reality show, it's to outwit, outlast and outplay. 
  • Montgomery knows all fans don't like Cats     Since he almost always wears something with a University of Kentucky name or logo on it, Eddie Montgomery hears a lot about the Wildcats as he travels the country performing with Montgomery Gentry.
  • Kentucky rebounders getting outglassed     As Coach Tubby Smith saw it, Kentucky must -- literally as well as figuratively -- rebound from recent sub-par performances.
  • Frazier's return energizes MSU     There are a few things a fairly serious injury can't do to a shooter. 

          Women

  • Tigers too much for UK women    AUGUSTUS LEADS NO. 1 LSU    Seimone Augustus' right eye was almost swollen shut and her sprained right ankle needed to be iced down. Augustus, who injured the eye in practice when a teammate caught her with an elbow, scored 18 points to lead No. 1 Louisiana State to an 81-58 victory over Kentucky last night.

      Baseball 

  • Albers Pitches Wildcats to Win     Freshman Andrew Albers carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his first career start to lift Kentucky to a 6-1 season-opening victory over Appalachian State on Friday in the Buccaneer Classic.

      Football 

  • Cats lose projected starting middle LB    The University of Kentucky football team's beleaguered defense suffered another blow yesterday when Dustin Williams, the projected starter at middle linebacker in the team's new 4-3 alignment, left the team.
(2-17-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • UK fans, don't panic like your Cats did     Don't do as Chuck Hayes did, clanking that ill-advised three from the top of the key. Don't do as Patrick Sparks did, firing an errant triple from the Colonial Coliseum concourse before the shot clock had barely begun. 
  • Tubby: Cats need more basic training     During ESPN's post-game wrapup of Kentucky's 73-61 loss at South Carolina, play-by-play man Brad Nessler asked analyst Rick Majerus to explain the surprising result. 
  • Loss shows UK has major problems     If this was not coach Tubby Smith's most disappointing loss at Kentucky, it had to be close.
  • Cats showed plenty for Tubby to dislike    Tubby Smith didn't disguise his thoughts after the University of Kentucky basketball team's 73-61 loss at South Carolina on Tuesday night
  • Wildcats revert to old habits    The "S" talk can stop now. Speculation about whether the University of Kentucky would continue its streak of going undefeated in the Southeastern Conference like it did two years ago and discussions of whether or not the third-ranked Wildcats would earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament might have finally taken their toll on the Wildcats.
(2-16-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • South Carolina Hands Kentucky First Conference Loss     Tarence Kinsey scored 17 points and Carlos Powell had 12 in the second half to lead South Carolina to a rare victory over No. 3 Kentucky, 73-61 on Tuesday night.
  • CATS CLANK ONE   UK shoots 35 percent, commits 21 turnovers in loss   Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes called last weekend's lackluster victory over Georgia a "lesson-learning game." A 73-61 loss at South Carolina last night showed the Cats have yet to learn those lessons.
  • Cats far from perfect    The Cats' 19-game Southeastern Conference winning streak was snapped as South Carolina flew past the No.3-ranked Wildcats 73-61
  • South Carolina just wanted it more    First possession of the second half. Kentucky's ball. From the left wing, Kalenna Azubuike lofted the perfect lob pass. To the right of the goal, Rajon Rondo rose, caught and slammed. Tie score.
  • Kentucky's perfect SEC record spoiled    It was supposed to be redemption night for the University of Kentucky and the University of South Carolina. Neither team played well in its previous game, leaving both with something to prove in the second of two regular-season matchups between the teams Tuesday night.
  • Gamecocks end UK's win streak     Tarence Kinsey scored 17 points and Carlos Powell had 12 in the second half to lead South Carolina to a rare victory over No. 3 Kentucky, 73-61 on Tuesday night.
  • Bagging a big ’Cat   Gamecocks stun No. 3 Kentucky   South Carolina produced the kind of game Tuesday night that causes players to never want to leave the court. Not that the Gamecocks had much of a chance to rush off the Colonial Center’s floor.
  • South Carolina Shocks No. 3 Kentucky 73-61    Tarence Kinsey scored 17 points and Carlos Powell had 12 in the second half to lead South Carolina to a rare victory over No. 3 Kentucky, 73-61 on Tuesday night. It was the first home win for the Gamecocks (14-8, 6-5 Southeastern Conference) over the Wildcats (19-3, 10-1) since 1997, and it was just South Carolina's sixth victory in 41 meetings against Kentucky, which never looked in synch. Fans poured onto the court after the victory, arguably South Carolina's best in coach Dave Odom's tenure, and Kinsey stood on press row, slapping high-fives with celebrating students
  • Year Of The Rooster    Tarence Kinsey (right) led the celebration for South Carolina on Tuesday night. He had good reasons: 17 points and the Gamecocks' 73-61 upset of No. 3 Kentucky

      Baseball 

  • Coach Cohen Live Chat Wednesday    Baseball head coach John Cohen will be featured in a live chat on ukathletics.com Wednesday at noon ET. Fans can log on and ask questions beforehand or during the chat.
(2-15-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • USC 73  -- UK  61  (Final)
  • Men's Basketball Pregame Press Conference Quotes - South Carolina     Head Coach Tubby Smith    On the Georgia win… “You’re never really as bad as you look sometimes. I think that was the case with the Georgia game. The execution wasn’t there, but I thought Georgia had a lot to do with that. One of the things we’ve been working hard on is our rebounding. We’ve been struggling rebounding the ball.
  • Cats are human, too     Kentucky should be thankful its last contest wasn't the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament or the NCAA, for that matter.
  • Cats need to mature     One of those games, that's all it takes to end your basketball season when March comes around.  
  • Wildcats focus on rebounding as they visit Gamecocks     ``One of the things we've been working hard on is our rebounding,'' Smith said. ``We've been struggling rebounding the ball.'' 
  • Starless Kentucky still good     In a late-winter ritual that has become almost mundane, Kentucky's men's basketball team has positioned itself for a third consecutive No. 1 seeding in the NCAA tournament. 
  • UK an opportunity for South Carolina     As crazy as it sounds, University of South Carolina coach Dave Odom says No. 3 University of Kentucky is the perfect opponent for the Gamecocks in the wake of Saturday's 74-71 loss at home to Auburn. 
  • Gamecocks hoping to tame 'Cats     South Carolina needs a win against No. 3 Kentucky tonight if the Gamecocks have any hope of an at-large NCAA tournament bid.
  • South Carolina faces must win against No. 3 Kentucky     South Carolina desperately needs a win against No. 3 Kentucky on Tuesday night if the Gamecocks have any hope of an at-large NCAA tournament bid. 
  • With Georgia on mind, Cats eager to rebound     When UK travels to Columbia, S.C., tonight for a Southeastern Conference rematch with the Gamecocks, each team will enter the contest with an entirely different set of motives.
  • UK's Obrzut says 'I'm no quitter'     Lukasz Obrzut won't deny that he's disappointed with the way this season has gone for him, but he also says he's still convinced he can be a productive player for the University of Kentucky.  
  • Cats must hear wake-up call     Following a lackluster win over an intramural team called Georgia, UK felt sick - literally. 
  • Wildcats Head To Columbia Seeking 50th 20-Win Season    Following a 60-51 win over Georgia Saturday, the 19-2 Kentucky Wildcats face SEC East foe South Carolina Tuesday night looking to capture UK’s 50th (and 15th-consecutive) 20-win season 
  • Despite gaudy record, Cats have room to grow    Hayes said this team might be more talented than previous seasons No. 1 seeded UK teams, but it lacks the tough-minded approach.
  • Motivated Cats meet motivated Carolina    Both teams seek amends, post-season positioning    Past, present and future align when Kentucky plays at South Carolina tonight. Both teams look to make amends for poor performances last weekend. Each sees post-season implications in victory or defeat.
  • 'Cats look to regroup    Chuck Hayes quoted the phrase, "They say you're only as good as your last game" before the University of Kentucky practiced Monday afternoon to prepare for its game against South Carolina. If that's true, then the third-ranked Wildcats and the Gamecocks should consider themselves fortunate their seasons didn't end last Saturday.
  • Powell says Felton's criticism was just frustration talking    Called a "faker" and "flopper" by Georgia Coach Dennis Felton, South Carolina forward Carlos Powell dismissed those criticisms as the product of frustration.
(2-14-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • SEC Tournament Pep Rally Information   The Atlanta UK Alumni Club will be holding a pep rally at the SEC Tournament on March 11 at the Georgia World Congress Center Rooms B405-B407 beginning at 3:00 p.m. Cost is $15 per person - children under 10 are free.
  • Georgia teaches Wildcats a lesson     Kentucky hasn't felt this bad about a win in a while, and Georgia probably hasn't felt so positive about a loss. 
  • Cats struggle with Bulldogs, remain perfect     The No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats filed into the Rupp Arena tunnel after Saturday's game with their heads lowered in stunned silence. 
  • Sparks finds shot    Amid all of the ugliness Saturday at Rupp Arena, there was at least one nugget of good news for Kentucky: Patrick Sparks got his shot back.  
  • UK looks terrible in victory     This was not an enjoyable win for Tubby Smith.  "It's no fun when you don't play the right way," said the Kentucky coach after his team's surprisingly close 60-51 win Saturday over Georgia at Rupp Arena.
  • This Cat no longer tame    The basketball games on the concrete court in Bobby Perry's back yard often lacked rules, especially when the game was two-on-two among the four Perry brothers.
  • UK's win vs. 'Dogs feels like a defeat    If you're an optimist, you would still need a compass, a map and a global positioning satellite to find something positive about the University of Kentucky's 60-51 victory against Georgia in Rupp Arena on Saturday.

          Women
(2-13-05)

      Basketball 

          Men 

  • Free-throw shooting continues to be work in progress for Morris     Ninety-five minutes before game time, a trio of Cats in street clothes sauntered across Rupp Arena's parking lot. They caught the attention of Kentucky fans watching from above, waiting for officials to open the doors. 
  • Kentucky, Louisville lead way for area teams     Kentucky coach Tubby Smith is tied for the sixth-best winning percentage among active coaches in the NCAA Tournament, with a 24-10 record. 
  • Walk-ons run close to upset     Say this for Georgia coach Dennis Felton: Whenever he finally gets a full complement of players, he may be unbeatable. 
  • Missed FTs sink Georgia's upset bid     First place Kentucky got a late-game scare from last place Georgia in Lexington, but they held on for a 61-50 win to remain undefeated in league play.
  • Wildcats' lackluster effort, rebounding displease Smith     Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said his team was lucky he needed to rush to a postgame benefit for the Tubby Smith Foundation Saturday evening. 
  • A win despite itself   UK nearly blows second-half lead, earns Smith's disgust   The only suspense in Kentucky's 60-51 victory over Georgia yesterday was whether the control truck Jefferson-Pilot Sports needed to televise the game would arrive in time.
  • Cats at a loss after 60-51 win    Their heads hung as if the season had just been canceled.
  • Sorry effort warrants an apology   FINAL FOUR TEAM OF 1975 RETURNED TO RUPP TO WATCH THIS?    Dear 1974-1975 Kentucky basketball team: I'm sorry you had to see that. I'm sorry they brought you back to celebrate your Final Four run of 30 years ago, only to watch your alma mater, the Southeastern Conference's best team, sleepwalk to a 60-51 win over the SEC's worst team.
  • Kentucky vs. Georgia Post-Game Quotes     Kentucky Head Coach Tubby Smith     “We’re happy to get the win today after playing so ugly. Certainly, I have to give a lot of credit to Georgia because they are a team that is going to hound you no matter what the score. They are going to come with the same energy and the same effort and I thought they outworked us. It was pretty evident. You’re always concerned – coming off a big win over Florida, still undefeated in the league – teams are going to give us their best effort
  • Hoosiers remember '75 loss    It's been 30 years since the Kentucky team honored here yesterday won its way to the Final Four and gained a place in UK basketball lore.
  • Tubby gives 'Woo' his due over Alleyne   Kentucky's 60-51 victory over Georgia yesterday begged a question: What's the Polish word for resurrection? Sophomore Lukasz Obrzut, a seldom-used native of Poland, contributed four points in a five-minute stint in the first half. Freshman Ramel Bradley created those points, feeding the big man for a fast-break layup, then delivering another pass that resulted in a foul and two Obrzut free throws.

          Women