January 2005 WildcatZone.Com News Archive

(1-31-05)

      Basketball 

          Men

          Women

  • Strong Inside Game Leads UK Hoops to Win over South Carolina    A big first half run by Kentucky gave it a 13-point advantage and the Wildcats held on to defeat the South Carolina Gamecoks, 66-50, Sunday afternoon in Memorial Coliseum. Senior Sara Potts led UK with 17 while freshman Sarah Elliott added 16 points and nine rebounds.
  • Elliott puts a hurtin' on Carolina    Freshman plays through pain as Cats end skid   Sarah Elliott spent most of this week in a cold tub or with an oversized ice bag strapped to her left knee. The freshman injured it in the first half Thursday night and could barely walk on Friday because of the soreness and swelling.
  • COACH AIMS TO INCLUDE ALUMNI IN HER PROGRAM    Kentucky held its second annual Alumni Weekend and had an end zone full of former players who were in Lexington for the weekend. It's a part of Coach Mickie DeMoss's plan to bring back and recognize former players and their contributions to the program.  

      Football

  • Healing begins after 3 long years    TRANSFORMED PROGRAM RISES FROM PAPERWORK, SET TO REBUILD    Probation. It's a word that has followed Kentucky football around like the plague the last several years. While it seems like eons ago that the sins of former recruiting coordinator Claude Bassett (academic fraud, payments to high school coaches and prospects) set off this firestorm, it was actually three years ago today that UK was slapped with a one-year bowl ban, a loss of 19 scholarships, and a reduction in overall scholarships from 85 to 80.
(1-30-05)

      Basketball 

          Men

  • Sparkplug     Kentucky players held their breath Saturday as they waited to see whether Eric Ferguson's 3-point attempt at the game's end would fall for an Arkansas victory. But the shot missed, and the No. 7 Wildcats survived for a 68-67 victory.
  • UK’s Smith Impressed With Young Arkansas     Kentucky coach Tubby Smith had shed the dark blue coat by Saturday’s halftime, and we swear his hair was growing grayer.
  • It's UK, by a nose    With Hayes no factor, supersub Perry stars again    For the second straight game, Chuck Hayes' broken nose unmasked Bobby Perry as a clutch player for Kentucky. Perry, who helped UK win at Tennessee earlier in the week when an elbow fractured Hayes' nose, made several clutch plays down the stretch in a 68-67 victory at Arkansas yesterday.
  • Cats survive 'scary' ending    The wild dash ended with Arkansas guard Eric Ferguson's shot landing a few inches long of a stunner. As his younger University of Kentucky teammates hugged in celebration, Chuck Hayes stood by himself for a few seconds and let out a sigh.
  • Who was that Masked Man?    HAYES, A 76 PERCENT FREE-THROWER, COMES UP SHORT WITH GAME ON LINE    Call re-write. Somebody botched the script. Anyone who's ever watched a TV rerun knows the masked man -- you kids, ask an elder about the legend of the Lone Ranger -- always rides to the rescue at the end.
  • Cats still working on free throws    University of Kentucky coach Tubby Smith continues to look for methods to improve the Wildcats' free-throw shooting.
  • Hayes admires Cats' survival skills    For Chuck Hayes, Kentucky's 68-67 victory over Arkansas yesterday showed his team's finely tuned survival instincts. "Since I've been here, our whole deal is we find a way to win," he said. "This year, some of the wins have been ugly. Some look very nice.
  • KENTUCKY WILDCATS 68, ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 67 : Ouch! This one hurts     Stan Heath tallied the gains and the deficits, the glimpses of his young team growing up and the ones of them still committing youthful indiscretions after Arkansas’ oh-so-close loss to seventh-ranked Kentucky on Saturday
  • Last-Second Shot Doesn’t Go; Hogs Fall to No. 6 UK     Eric Ferguson’s three-pointer with 10 seconds remaining gave Arkansas a chance but his three at the buzzer was off the mark as No. 6 Kentucky escaped Bud Walton Arena with a 68-67 victory over Arkansas on Saturday.

  • Cats get out of the bag    An Arkansas team with no best shot to give Kentucky the past couple of seasons gave the seventh-ranked Wildcats a truly best shot Saturday.

          Women

  • Kentucky Fends Off Gamecocks, 66-50    A big first half run by Kentucky gave it a 13-point advantage and the Wildcats held on to defeat the South Carolina Gamecoks, 66-50, Sunday afternoon in Memorial Coliseum. Senior Sara Potts led UK with 17 while freshman Sarah Elliott added 16 points and nine rebounds
  • Cats look to snap 3-game SEC slide   INJURED ELLIOTT WILL GET LIMITED MINUTES    UK's second-leading scorer, Sarah Elliott, is expected to see limited action today as the Cats look to snap a three-game losing streak against South Carolina in Memorial Coliseum.
  • Gamecocks Look For Third Win In Last Four Trips To Kentucky     South Carolina (6-14 overall; 0-6 Southeastern Conference) heads to Lexington to take on Kentucky (13-8 overall; 2-4 SEC) at 2 p.m. EST Sunday at Memorial Coliseum
(1-29-05)

      Basketball 

          Men

  • UK  68 --  Ark 67  (final)
  • No. 7 Cats Edge Arkansas on Road, 68-67    Patrick Sparks made a 2-pointer with 24.2 seconds to play, enabling No. 7 Kentucky to hold on for a 68-67 victory Saturday over Arkansas
  • Cats narrowly escape Fayetteville with win     Patrick Sparks made a 15-foot field goal with 20 seconds left, which proved to be the game-winner in a 68-67 victory over Arkansas today in Fayetteville. 
  • FOCUS ON IMPROVEMENT     This Saturday we will be venturing into one of the great environments in all of college basketball. Bud Walton Arena provides Arkansas with a tremendous home court advantage. Their fan base is both loud and knowledgeable so it’s not an easy place to play.
  • Wildcats look to remain perfect in SEC     Arkansas sophomore Ronnie Brewer understands what Kentucky's talented freshman class is going through as it plays Southeastern Conference road games.
  • Men's Basketball Pregame Press Conference Quotes - Arkansas     Head Coach Tubby Smith    On the win at Tennessee… “I like some of the things we did against Tennessee. We need to continue that type of play and that type of production. We’ve been getting good production from our bench all year and we need to continue that type of play. We still have a lot of room for improvement.  
  • Kentucky Rolls Into Fayetteville With Undefeated League Record     Kentucky, off to its best start since the 1998 National Championship club began the season 19-2, takes its undefeated SEC record on the road to Arkansas Saturday for the second of three-straight conference road games. The game will be nationally televised by CBS and will tipoff at 3:30 p.m. ET.
  • Big Blue bull’s-eye    No SEC team, in Stan Heath’s estimation, has played better basketball lately than Kentucky
  • Cats again wear target    Beating UK could jump-start Hogs' season    Arkansas fills a familiar role against Kentucky today: the ambitious opponent that wants to use a victory over UK to establish an identity in college basketball.
  • UA-UK matchup: Not what it once was   
    When the Arkansas  Razorbacks entered the Southeastern Conference for the 1991-92 basketball season, they made their presence known by knocking the league’s biggest bully off the hill, at least in the regular season. In fact, the Razorbacks whipped the Kentucky Wildcats in their first four regular-season conference meetings and established that there was room at the top of the SEC for more than just one team. It wasn’t complete hegemony for the Hogs. The Wildcats did get the best of the Razorbacks in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament in 1993, ’ 94 and ’ 95, but it was clear the SEC now had two prime-time programs.
  • Even with the mask, it's 'the same old Chuck'    With a mask to protect his broken nose, Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes will look like LeBron James today at Arkansas. But the Cats don't expect him to play like LeBron James.
  • Cats expect Hayes to be his old self    Chuck Hayes' University of Kentucky teammates already are having fun with the protective mask that covers his broken nose.
  • Watching SEC is like a winter trip to dullsville    This is not a winter to go crazy about Southeastern Conference basketball. This is a winter to sit on your hands.
  • 'Cats brace for 'best shot'    Arkansas head coach Stan Heath captured the essence of today's nationally televised game between the University of Kentucky and the Razorbacks. UK will play the second of three consecutive Southeastern Conference road games at 3:30 p.m. in raucous Bud Walton Arena, where it is 2-3.

          Women
(1-28-05)

      Basketball 

          Men

  • Wildcats trust in Hayes to bounce back     Kentucky lost three starters from last year's team, but the Wildcats' one returning senior starter has been a pretty good anchor to build a team around. 
  • Cats' start carries a familiar tune     Everything changed in Mississippi. On a chilly night in Oxford, UK turned up the heat to battle back from a 13-point halftime deficit and defeat Ole Miss 53-50. 
  • Not redshirting UK's Thomas right decision     So much for wondering whether or not Kentucky should have redshirted Sheray Thomas this season.  
  • Perry, Thomas fill in for Cats' heart and soul    TANDEM BREAKS OUT AFTER HAYES BREAKS NOSE AT TENNESSEE    An injury to the seemingly indispensable player can be devastating to most college basketball teams. For mighty Kentucky, it merely creates opportunities for lesser lights to shine.
  • "Hogs-Wildcats Always Special"     While Arkansas fans have debated who can be “THE” football rival for the Razorbacks in the Southeastern Conference, no such debate has been necessary in basketball. Since the day the Hogs joined the SEC, Arkansas-Kentucky basketball has been a special event. 
  • Hogs expecting to see Hayes in UK lineup    SMITH SAYS SENIOR CAN HANDLE THE PAIN    Kentucky expects senior forward Chuck Hayes to play at Arkansas on Saturday. So does Arkansas. "I don't think a mask is going to slow him down," said Michael Jones, the Arkansas player expected to be matched up with Hayes at tipoff. "Hopefully, we play as a team and our team effort will slow him down instead of his mask."
  • Majerus impressed by depth of Cats    The University of Kentucky basketball team might not belong in the same conversation with Illinois and Wake Forest on the national scene, ESPN analyst Rick Majerus said, but the No. 7-ranked Wildcats could be closing the gap.
  • Freshmen getting the job done    Necessity has caused almost all of the Southeastern Conference head coaches to rely heavily on freshmen this season. The apparent talent of the youngsters has made the move a lot easier to accept. Out of 12 league teams, No. 24 Mississippi State, South Carolina and Ole Miss are the only ones who don't have at least one freshman starter.
  • Stan Heath Press Conference - Kentucky     Arkansas plays host to No. 6 Kentucky on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in a game nationally televised by CBS Sports. The Razorbacks, who were off on Wednesday, are 14-5 overall and 2-4 in the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky, who is 15-2 overall and 6-0 in the SEC, is coming off a win at Tennessee on Tuesday. Following is a partial transcript of head coach Stan Heath’s press conference.

          Women

  • The Streak Comes to an End    Kentucky had its 12-game home winning streak snapped with a losing effort against Vanderbilt. Leading the way for Kentucky was freshman center Sarah Elliott with 20 points.
  • Cats can't contain Vandy's post tandem   Coach Mickie DeMoss called it before her Kentucky team's game against No. 23 Vanderbilt. She said stopping the Commodores' inside duo of Carla Thomas and Ashley Earley was a tough task.
  • Too many turnovers doom Cats' chances    10-game home win streak is snapped    In a competitive conference with little room for error and in a game with even less room for it, Kentucky made way too many to beat Vanderbilt.
(1-27-05)

      Basketball 

          Men

  • Ex-Modesto Christian star hurt in Kentucky's victory over Tennessee     Senior forward Chuck Hayes has played in every game and never even missed a practice because of injury since he's been at Kentucky.  
  • UK's Crawford shows he can shoot, too     Tennessee freshman guard Chris Lofton again showed why he's become the best 3-point shooter in the Southeastern Conference here Tuesday. However, Kentucky freshman Joe Crawford also proved he can shoot, too.
  • Thomas, Perry help UK overcome loss of Hayes     This was not the way that Sheray Thomas or Bobby Perry wanted to be noticed.
  • Kentucky capable of shooting poorly     Using recent history to decipher an upcoming college basketball game is risky at best and can be plumb embarrassing.
  • Hogs try to build mo against UKY     After snapping a four-game losing streak with the second largest Southeastern Conference victory in Arkansas history, building momentum is a must for Stan Heath's Razorbacks. 
  • UK's iron horse may become masked man     Kentucky expects Chuck Hayes to return to practice today wearing a mask to protect the broken nose he suffered at Tennessee. 
  • Wildcats' Hayes will play Saturday    Senior forward Chuck Hayes, who has started 93 straight games for the University of Kentucky's basketball team, has been cleared to play after suffering a broken nose in the Wildcats' 84-62 victory at Tennessee on Tuesday night.
  • Hayes cleared to play Saturday    For one game, life without Chuck Hayes wasn't as bad as expected. After the University of Kentucky's second-leading scorer and top rebounder left UK's game against Tennessee Tuesday night in the first half with a broken nose, other Wildcats -- including sophomores Bobby Perry and Sheray Thomas -- delivered career performances.

          Women

  • (#23)VU  73  --  UK  67  (Final)
  • Kentucky women feel right, at home    UK LEAVES ROUGH ROAD BEHIND TO HOST VANDY    Most people enjoy traveling. They like getting out on the open road, seeing unusual destinations, meeting new, interesting people.
(1-26-05)

      Basketball 

          Men

  • UK’s Hayes Listed Day-To-Day    Kentucky senior forward Chuck Hayes, who broke his nose during the first half of the Wildcats’ 84-62 win at Tennessee Tuesday night, is listed as day-to-day following an evaluation by team doctors Wednesday. Doctors have cleared the Modesto, Calif.,-native to return to action, but his status for Saturday’s game at Arkansas won’t be determined until later in the week.
  • Minus Hayes, Cats still roll     Ever since Tubby Smith declined to offer Chris Lofton a scholarship, the UK head coach has had to answer the questions.
  • Kentucky overcomes felled star     Senior forward Chuck Hayes has played in every game and never even missed a practice because of injury at Kentucky.
  • Bench full of Chuck wannabes     For four years and 116 games, Chuck Hayes has been a constant for UK. 
  • Wildcats crush Vols, 84-62     It might have been a nice gesture from an old rival, but Kentucky senior forward Chuck Hayes didn't remove himself from the game on purpose to lend Tennessee a fighting chance on Tuesday night.
  • Funeral attire: Crump's clothes prelude performance against Cats     Dressed in head-to-toe black, Brandon Crump looked more Johnny Cash or Waylon Jennings Tuesday night than captain of Tennessee's rudder-less basketball team. 
  • UT crumbles with Crump on bench     Tennessee's basketball team got its first taste of life without Brandon Crump last night, and it wasn't pretty. 
  • Wildcats blow past Vols     For a second, it seemed as if the basketball gods said, "Here's your chance, Tennessee."
  • Wildcats display depth and dominance in defeat of Vols     Tennessee played the entire game without Brandon Crump. Kentucky played the second half without All-America candidate Chuck Hayes.
  • UK makes own breaks    A shot went up and University of Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes did what has become automatic. He planted himself in the lane and positioned himself for a rebound like he has hundreds of times before in a UK uniform.
  • Dazed but unfazed    Reserves step up when Hayes goes down    A television timeout set up a made-for-TV moment that punctuated Kentucky's 84-62 victory at Tennessee last night. As Bobby Perry headed for the bench, UK Coach Tubby Smith intercepted the reserve forward and offered a high-five salute.
  • No. 7 Kentucky 84, Tennessee 62     Patrick Sparks scored 19 points and Kelenna Azubuike added 17 to lead No. 7 Kentucky to an 84-62 victory over Tennessee on Tuesday night.
  • Broken but not beaten    No. 7-ranked UK weathered the loss of senior leader Chuck Hayes, who suffered a broken nose in the first half, and Rajon Rondo's foul trouble to roll to another lopsided Southeastern Conference win, 84-62 over Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena last night.
  • Kentucky wins sixth in row against Vols    Tennessee's Bluegrass two-step is in the books. Actually, it was closer to a Bluegrass stomp. Kentucky picked up where Louisville left off, ripping through the Vols for an 84-62 victory that was never in doubt.
  • HAYES TAKES LICKING; CATS KEEP CLICKING   Chuck Hayes was on one knee. There was 6:30 left in the first half and Kentucky's senior forward was kneeling on the floor of Thompson-Boling Arena. His eyes were flooding. His nose was throbbing.
  • No. 7 Kentucky Downs Tennessee, 84-62    Chris Lofton scored 17 points and Major Wingate posted another solid game with 14 points and six rebounds, but No. 7 Kentucky owned the boards and came away with an 84-62 victory.
  • Wildcats show they might be growing up   Maturation is a most perplexing process. It never seems to happen on time; it advances amazingly soon or slogs its way to conclusion.
  • Cats applaud Crawford's play   Joe Crawford went from prodigal freshman to productive reserve in Kentucky's 84-62 victory at Tennessee last night. Crawford, who left the team for a week earlier this month, made two of three shots from beyond the arc en route to an eight-point game.

          Women

  • UK Hoops Return Home To Face No. 23 Vanderbilt     The Kentucky women’s basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum after two consecutive road games last week. The Wildcats will play host to the 23rd-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores Thursday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. ET.
(1-25-05)

      Basketball 

          Men

  • UK 84  --  UT  62 (Final)   Hayes out of game with broken nose.
  • Kentucky vs. Tennessee Post-Game Quotes     KENTUCKY HEAD COACH TUBBY SMITH    "The game was strange, what with so many different combinations for us, offensively, and defensively. We were able to create some mismatches. We had opportunities in the first half with some shots close-in where we did not capitalize.
  • Kentucky loses second-leading scorer, but still bests Volunteers     Senior forward Chuck Hayes has played in every game and never even missed a practice because of injury since he's been at Kentucky.  
  • Cats crush Big Orange     Kentucky didn't even need its senior strongman Chuck Hayes to whip Tennessee 84-62 tonight in Knoxville.
  • No. 7 Kentucky Downs Tennessee, 84-62     Patrick Sparks scored 19 points and Kelenna Azubuike added 17 to lead No. 7 Kentucky to an 84-62 victory over Tennessee on Tuesday night.
  • (7) Kentucky 84, Tennessee 62     Senior forward Chuck Hayes has played in every game and never even missed a practice because of injury since he's been at Kentucky
  • Kentucky Vs Tennessee Game Preview     It has been almost eight years since Kentucky played three straight Southeastern Conference road games.  The way the Wildcats are currently playing, that shouldn't pose too much of a problem.
  • Wildcats take to the road in SEC     Chuck Hayes likes going on the road.  "That's when you get your most rest," Kentucky's senior co-captain said Monday. "You lay in the hotel bed, and they feed you three times a day. It's always good."
  • Road tests continue for Cats     If the last two games in Knoxville are any indication, UK's trip to Thompson-Boling Arena Tuesday night should be another nail biter.
  • Men's Basketball Pregame Press Conference Quotes - Tennessee     Head Coach Tubby Smith     On the LSU game…     “Overall, it was a very good game. We didn’t make too many mistakes. I was glad we were able to get some penetration. I thought Rajon (Rondo) did a good job. Other than the rebounding, I thought we played fairly well. Hopefully, it’s something we can build on as we go down to Knoxville because it’s always a tough time in Knoxville.”
  • Down year in league leaves Cats no room for conference errors     Let's face it.  The Southeastern Conference is just not that good this year.   For the first time since 1996, the SEC may send only four teams to the NCAA Tournament.
  • UK's Sparks finds his rhythm     Playing three straight Southeastern Conference road games is not something any coach wants to do, but at least Kentucky's Tubby Smith has to believe his team gained some needed confidence Saturday for its road trip.  
  • Kentucky Takes Unblemished League Record to Knoxville     Kentucky, the only undefeated team in SEC play, takes its 14-2 record and 5-0 league mark on the road to Knoxville Tuesday to face the Tennessee Volunteers. The ESPN game will begin at 7:00 p.m., a change from its original 9:00 p.m. start.
  • UK may quicken pace     Five Southeastern Conference games and five victories later, the University of Kentucky has shown a versatility that has enabled it to remain the only unbeaten team in SEC play. It has won ugly against South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi.
  • Kiddie Cats? More like Consistent Cats lately    SMITH'S YOUNG PLAYERS BUYING INTO TEAM CONCEPT    An irony as eye-catching as Tennessee orange looms over Kentucky's game at Knoxville tonight. UK enters the game hopeful of having belatedly found a consistent level of play based on teamwork. Yet an unscripted moment -- bordering on rebellious -- enabled the Cats to win their last game at Tennessee.
  • Consistency is Cats' next goal    Sure, the 14-2 record is gaudy and the No.7 ranking is nice and shiny, but University of Kentucky men's basketball coach Tubby Smith can't help but feel something has been missing this season.
  • Lofton: Minutes matter most     No regrets. No hurt feelings. That's the attitude former Mason County star Chris Lofton will take into tonight's game against Kentucky.
  • Vols struggling to find identity    Will the real Tennessee men's basketball team please stand up? Sophomore forward Major Wingate wants to believe that it's the team that beat Mississippi State and won in overtime at Florida. That means the imposter would be the team that lost to Chattanooga, blew the Nebraska game and was pummeled by at home to Vanderbilt.
  • Tennessee vs. Kentucky - Game Preview    Tennessee returns to SEC action to meet its oldest and most familiar league opponent when the Vols take on the Kentucky Wildcats for the 197th time on Tuesday, Jan. 25. ESPN will televise the game at 7 p.m. (EST). The Vols are playing their only home game in a six-game stretch. UT just completed a three-game road trip. 
  • More than just a game     In a lot of ways, for a variety of reasons, it's showtime for Andre Patterson. "It's more than just a game," Tennessee's junior forward said Monday.
  • Pick up pace? Volunteers say no thank you     This isn't the time for an uptempo track meet.   Not for Tennessee (10-8, 3-2), which hosts Southeastern Conference-leader Kentucky (14-2, 5-0) tonight at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tipoff for the two rivals' 197th meeting, televised by ESPN, is 7.

      Noteworthy Cats from the Past

  • Pelphrey foresees big things in Mobile     A Kentucky basketball icon returned to the state over the weekend without much fanfare. But John Pelphrey hopes that you'll be hearing big things out of his South Alabama team soon.  
(1-24-05)

      Basketball 

          Men

  • Alleyne plays big for UK     The scouting report told University of Kentucky center Shagari Alleyne all he needed to know about Louisiana State center Glen Davis, aka "Big Baby."
  • Alleyne plays big against Davis     The contrast couldn't have been sharper: The long, tall frame of Kentucky's Shagari Alleyne next to the thick, stocky body of LSU's Glen Davis.
  • Shooting not a problem any more for Kentucky     When your shots are falling, everything else seems to work better, Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith said. 
  • Cats clamp down on Tigers' front line duo     Chuck Hayes called them the best tandem of post players the Cats would face all season. 
  • UK bench takes a stand     When a 6-foot-9, 310-pound freight train steams toward you in the lane, it has to be hard to stand still. 
  • Bench does it all in win over LSU     No matter what substitution Tubby Smith made, it seemed to be right one.  
  • UK FANS TO ENJOY TASTE OF MAJERUS   Colorful analyst part of ESPN team for Tuesday's game   It isn't often that a sportswriter will give up that press row seat, free media buffet and close-up view of the cheerleaders. But there's a strong temptation to stay home and watch the telecast of Tuesday's Kentucky-Tennessee game.
  • To-do lists for locals entering the second half    We've seen enough, or at least enough to start telling folks what to do. The closet coaches get their way today. Let me start the conversation with my to-do lists for those beloved college basketball teams at Louisville, Kentucky and Indiana.
  • Alleyne plays big for UK    The scouting report told University of Kentucky center Shagari Alleyne all he needed to know about Louisiana State center Glen Davis, aka "Big Baby." The fact that Alleyne applied what he studied and even recited from it after UK beat LSU, 89-58, on Saturday at Rupp Arena could symbolize the turning point the eighth-ranked Wildcats' coaching staff has been hoping for with this group of sometimes casual and sometimes serious basketball players.

          Women
  • Lady Vols deliver early knockout    UT OPENS WITH 22-2 RUN AND FLOORS OUTMATCHED UK    There was question after question this week. There were the constant calls from Knoxville numbers popping up on Coach Mickie DeMoss' cell phone.
  • No. 7 Lady Vols put away UK with 22-0 run    The No. 7 Lady Vols never looked back after an early 22-0 run, beating UK 67-49.
  • AFTER OPENING PLEASANTRIES, IT'S THE USUAL BUTT-KICKING    They were all so nice about it. Seemed so glad to see her. When Mickie DeMoss took a pre-game hug from her former boss, the fans cheered. When DeMoss smiled and waved up at the crowd on her way to the visitors' bench, they cheered again.

      Football

  • Archer, Cats kiss 3-4 goodbye    'Let's face it, we were bad' against the run    The days of the Kentucky defense operating out of a base 3-4 scheme appear to be over. Kentucky struggled mightily stopping the run last season, finishing last in the Southeastern Conference and near the bottom of Division I-A in run defense. That has led UK Coach Rich Brooks and defensive coordinator Mike Archer to the conclusion that the Cats need to go to a 4-3 alignment, a change that will take place this spring.
(1-23-05)

      Basketball 

          Men
  • UK-LSU game notes     Notes from Saturday's UK-LSU game:  * Kentucky shot 54.2 percent (32-for-59) from the field, the third time in five SEC games the Cats have gone over 50 percent. The Wildcats also made a season-high 11 3-pointers by going 11-for-20 from long range.
  • Cats school LSU     As Associate Coach David Hobbs sketched the plan to beat Louisiana State on a pre-game blackboard, he sensed that Kentucky would play well.
  • Hit-and-miss Cats always bring 'D'     Go ahead and lament the uneven offense. That's fine. No argument here. The ball in its hands, Kentucky is off key one night, string music the next. Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks. 
  • Lesson learned, lesson served at Rupp Arena     If LSU is to get back in a triumphant groove after having its three-game winning streak snapped into bits in an 89-58 loss Saturday at Kentucky's Rupp Arena, it must get the ball more often to the animated redwood tree posing as freshman Glen Davis.
  • MORRIS' FOULS HAVE TUBBY CONCERNED    Morris fouls   Freshman center Randolph Morris matched his high for minutes played against a Southeastern Conference opponent. He played 18 minutes, the same time he logged against South Carolina and Georgia.   
  • Crawford gets surprise court time     Prodigal freshman Joe Crawford must not read the newspapers, watch television sportscasts nor listen to talk radio.
  • Wildcats lean on bench    When University of Kentucky men's basketball coach Tubby Smith went to his bench early in the second half yesterday, the Wildcats' eight-point lead over Louisiana State seemed comfortable enough.
  • Alleyne ready for prime time     Admit it. You were convinced that when the Morehead States and Campbells disappeared from the University of Kentucky basketball schedule that Shagari Alleyne would disappear from coach Tubby Smith's playing rotation.
  • Kentucky sends LSU reeling with 89-58 rout     It's not quite back to square one for the LSU men's basketball team. But there aren't too many intermediate steps between where the Tigers wound up Saturday and where they stood two weeks ago when they began Southeastern Conference play on a sour note. 
  • No. 8 Kentucky rediscovers 3-point touch in routing LSU     When a basketball team is scoring easy baskets, it brings to mind layups and short jump shots.
  • Neltner's homecoming not a winner     Ross Neltner and Brandon Bass trod heavy footsteps in Rupp Arena with four minutes remaining in Saturday's 31-point loss to Kentucky. As they broke from a timeout, Neltner slung his arm around Bass' waist and spoke into his ear.
  • Wildcats render LSU big men null, void     They studied. They watched film. They planned.   If Kentucky was to defeat Louisiana State and stay perfect in the Southeastern Conference, the victory would come by stopping the interior tandem of Brandon Bass and Glen Davis. 
  • Prodigal Crawford scores 5 in return : UK Notebook     Rupp Arena hushed as freshman guard Joe Crawford stepped to the free-throw line in Kentucky's 89-58 defeat of LSU.
  • Hot-Shooting Wildcats Down Tigers, 89-58      Kentucky's shooters seem to be finding their rhythm against Southeastern Conference opponents.

          Women
  • LADY VOLS USE EARLY RUN TO TOP KENTUCKY 67-49    The Tennessee Lady Vols rode an early 22-0 run to defeat the visiting Kentucky Wildcats, 67-49, on Sunday afternoon in Thompson-Boling Arena to improve to 14-3 on the season and remain unbeaten in the SEC
  • Sure Shooting Vols Out Gun Cats, 67-49     No. 7 Tennessee raced to a 22-2 lead midway through the first half and held the Wildcats to six field goals before halftime en route to a 67-49 victory on Sunday.
  • DeMoss returns to Tennessee as opposing coach    Tennessee coach Pat Summitt doesn't take all the credit for bringing in one of the best recruiting classes ever in women's college basketball.
  • Lady Vols welcome back DeMoss     Tyler Summitt has his impression down perfect.    He claps. He shuffles his feet. He waves with his hands in an effort to push the players down the floor.
  • LADY VOLS ENTERTAIN KENTUCKY AND MICKIE DEMOSS SUNDAY    The #7/9-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (13-3, 3-0 SEC) return to Thompson-Boling Arena for a Mickie DeMoss homecoming match-up against the Kentucky Wildcats (13-6, 2-2 SEC). Entering the game, the Lady Vols have won 37-consecutive SEC regular season games dating back to 2002.
(1-22-05)

      Basketball 

          Men
  • UK  89  --  LSU  58  (Final)
  • Cats Take Care Of Tigers, 89-58    No. 8/8 Kentucky remains undefeated in conference play after a 89-58 victory over LSU Saturday at Rupp Arena. UK (14-2, 5-0) was led by juniors Kelenna Azubuike with 16 points and Patrick Sparks with 15.
  • Kentucky vs. LSU Post-Game Quotes     Kentucky Head Coach Tubby Smith   “I thought we came and played one of our better games today. I thought we were focused and ready. We had good balance in our attack and everybody that played contributed in some form or fashion.  
  • Cats cruise past Tigers     Kentucky blew away Louisiana State today and memories of the horrid first half at Mississippi.
  • SEC Notebook    Wildcats praise Hayes:  Kentucky's coaching staff credited senior Chuck Hayes for igniting the come-from-behind victory at Ole Miss on Wednesday night.
  • Men's Basketball Pregame Press Conference Quotes - LSU     Head Coach Tubby Smith    On the victory at Ole Miss… “Anytime you can get a win on the road, it’s a good win. We didn’t play well against a good Ole Miss team that really got after us. When you only shoot 20 percent in a half and 13 percent from three (point range), you’re going to struggle. Hopefully, we can bounce back. It would have been devastating if we had lost, but we did win and we had some positive things to build on like the comeback and the rebounding down the stretch. The free-throw shooting in the second half was better, we missed only one.”
  • Smith: UK must start fast vs. LSU     One of these days, Kentucky coach Tubby Smith says, his players will realize they need to stop playing poorly in the first half.
  • LSU a 'big' test for Cats     Kentucky and LSU both face unique challenges for Saturday's game here.
  • 'Baby' trouble for UK     There is nothing little about "Big Baby." Not his baseball glove-sized hands or his size 16 feet. Not the 6-foot-9 frame that supports all 310 pounds of him and his generous backside that makes it nearly impossible for defenders to handle.
  • 'Big Baby' comes to Rupp    LSU's Davis makes immediate impact    At 6-foot-9 and 310 pounds, LSU freshman Glen Davis is hard to overlook. Then you throw an eye-popping debut season and an irresistible nickname, it's easy to understand why "Big Baby" has made a big splash.
  • Cats search for focus    The words coming from the University of Kentucky's elders reflect their seriousness. The Wildcats might be the only Southeastern Conference team without a loss, but that doesn't mean they're satisfied with their play.
  • Slow starts concern Tubby     Three times now, the University of Kentucky has survived a disastrous start
  • Growing tired of growing pains    Mississippi represented old mistakes resurfacing for Kentucky. Once more, the Cats took ill-advised shots, backed down in the face of pressure defense and failed to appreciate a determined opponent
  • Davis, Hayes delivering in crunch time     LSU freshman Glen Davis has just started down his college basketball career path, and the last few steps have been marked by drama and huge numbers.  
  • Wildcats' Hayes had his time with 'Coach Carter'    When University of Kentucky basketball player Chuck Hayes and a few of his buddies went to see the movie, "Coach Carter," last night, he had a little different perspective than most.
  • Wildcats to test LSU's mettle    In the past three games, LSU's basketball season has taken a near-180-degree turn. 
  • Tigers Travel to Lexington for SEC Showdown, CBS at 12:30 p.m.     The LSU Tigers arrived late Friday afternoon and went through about a 50-minute walk through at Rupp Arena in preparation for Saturday's game with the eight-ranked University of Kentucky. 
(1-21-05)

      Basketball 

          Men
  • Kentucky Returns Home Briefly to Face LSU Fighting Tigers     Two teams that barely escaped conference losses this week meet up at Rupp Arena Saturday as Kentucky returns home to face LSU in a CBS showdown. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET
  • Hayes isn't big enough for the two of them    Kentucky needed a big performance from senior Chuck Hayes to win at Mississippi on Wednesday. 
  • Letter of discontent     Joe Crawford wasn't enjoying much of a freshman year, but his sophomore year really could have been a washout. 
  • Woman asks UK to put flag on jerseys     Elizabethtown's Stacey Martinez said it really started bothering her while she was watching the Kentucky-Kansas basketball game on national television 12 days ago.
  • Remember when LSU-UK basketball mattered?     I know, I know, it's championship week in the NFL. For what it's worth, Bill Belichick is the best coach in the universe but Bill Cowher and Jim Mora Jr. make better copy. 
  • Other Cats must help out inside to stop LSU's star duo down low    Kentucky needed a big performance from senior Chuck Hayes to win at Mississippi on Wednesday. The Cats might need two Hayes-like performances to beat Louisiana State on Saturday.
  • Hayes is Cats' only banger on the inside    While University of Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes continues to gobble up most of his team's rebounds, he must feel lonelier than a scarecrow.
  • Freshmen fizzle on, off court    Joe Crawford certainly looked like a talent when he and Malik Hairston led Detroit's Renaissance High to the Michigan Class B championship last winter. There was no reason to believe otherwise when Crawford scored 15 points in the McDonald's All-American Game, which was filled with future NBA players.
  • No fear of UK in league play     University of Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith knew it.   So did associate head coach David Hobbs, a former head coach at Alabama.

          Women

  • UK Hoops Take On No. 7 Tennessee     The Kentucky women’s basketball team hits the road for its second straight conference road game when the Wildcats face seventh-ranked Tennessee Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in Thompson-Boling Arena
  • Mississippi State’s Hot Shooting Too Much for Cats     Mississippi State’s Tan White scored 19 of her game-high 29 points in the first half Thursday as the Bulldogs defeated the Kentucky women’s basketball team 72-59 in Humphrey Coliseum. Senior guard/forward Sara Potts and freshman center Sarah Elliott each scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats, who were out-rebounded 41-34 in the game.
  • White sparks Lady Bulldogs   With the clock waning in the first half, Tan White dribbled slowly, taking her time up the floor. The clock finally ticked to one, and the Mississippi State guard casually let fly what amounted to a half-court shot.
  • Lady Bulldogs Top Kentucky, 72-59     The Mississippi State University women's basketball team (14-3, 3-1 SEC) extended its homecourt win streak to 10 games by defeating the Kentucky Wildcats (13-6, 2-2 SEC), 72-59, on Thursday night in Humphrey Coliseum. Senior guard Ebonie Ferguson tallied a career-high 17 points, while senior guard Tan White, a preseason Wooden Women's Award candidate, scored 19 of her 29 points in the first half.
  • White leads Bulldogs' offensive barrage    It was a game of contrasting shooting performances as Mississippi State won its 10th straight home game, defeating Kentucky 72-59.
  • Bulldogs shoot out Cats, 72-59    The Mississippi State women's basketball team defeated UK 72-59 last night at Humphrey Coliseum.
(1-20-05)

      Basketball 

          Men
  • Kentucky at Tennessee Game Time Changed    The Kentucky at Tennessee men's basketball game on Tuesday, January 25 has been moved to a 7:00 p.m. ET start on ESPN. The game was originally scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
  • Cats fire many early blanks, 'Warrior' Hayes takes over     For the first 20 minutes of last night's contest at Ole Miss, the Kentucky Wildcats that combined to shoot 56 percent over their last two games were nowhere to be seen.
  • UK needs to avoid sleepwalking in order to escape nightmares    This was all too familiar.   
    Last night, the Cats decided to re-enact the first half of this season's Louisville game, and it wasn't pretty.
  • Eddie's effort enough to scare No. 8 Wildcats    Ole Miss' bruising forward Tommie Eddie insisted he saw something in Kentucky on Wednesday night. 
  • A cold night in Mississippi     Chuck Hayes and Rajon Rondo saved Kentucky on a night when the shots were not falling. The Wildcats came from 15 points down in the first half to beat Mississippi 53-50 in Oxford, Miss. 
  • Wildcats pull out ugly win on road     Kentucky fell into a deep hole, ignored a horrendous first half and escaped with an improbable road victory. 
  • UM's grit, all-out effort nudged out by UK talent     Kentucky coach Tubby Smith didn't hesitate even for a split second when this question was asked post-game Wednesday night:     Does anybody play you harder than Ole Miss? 
  • Rebel upset bid falls short     The uniforms were blue and white. The future Hall of Fame coach was patrolling the visiting team's bench. The opposing team's roster was stacked with former prep All-Americans. 
  • Rebels clang, Wildcats hang    When Londrick Nolen's 3-pointer clanged off the back of the rim with a couple ticks left on the clock, Tad Smith Coliseum was officially deflated
  • No. 8 Cats Edge Scrappy Ole Miss Squad, 53-50     Freshman Rajon Rondo scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half, and No. 8 Kentucky rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Mississippi 53-50 on Wednesday night. 
  • Rally Cats strike again   Hayes helps UK come from way back    Whether Chuck Hayes becomes an All-American, the voters will decide. But Kentucky's campaign slogan on his behalf -- "All He Does is Win" -- came to life here last night.
  • Back to living dangerously    Kentucky didn't look ready to play. Not even at the tip. Mississippi won the jump. Kentucky was caught flat-footed. Cavadas Nunnery, a 5-foot-9 guard, streaked under for a Mississippi layup.
  • Wildcats avoid Oxford blues    Reports of the University of Kentucky's offensive resurgence were greatly exaggerated, but the Wildcats' old reliables — defense and Chuck Hayes — turned a potentially ugly loss at Mississippi into a comeback victory.
  • Wildcats claw way to win    The University of Kentucky had been in this situation before, down double-digits at halftime with a hostile crowd rooting against it. Perhaps that was to be expected when playing archrival Louisville. But this was Ole Miss, a team it had beaten four straight times, one picked to finish near the bottom of the Southeastern Conference.
  • Rebels Miss Opportunities, Fall To Wildcats 53-50    Ole Miss had the ball trailing 51-50 in the final moments, but Kendrick Fox missed a 3-pointer with 19 seconds to play and Kentucky's Patrick Sparks hit two free throws to extend the Wildcats' lead to three. Ole Miss' largest lead was 29-14 on Todd Abernethy's three-point play with 15.4 seconds left in the half.

          Women

  • MS St  72  --  UK  59   (Final)
  • Cats may find it tough at Mississippi State    The Kentucky women's basketball team tries for its third straight Southeastern Conference win tonight against Mississippi State in Starkville.
(1-19-05)

      Basketball 

          Men
  • UK 53  --  Ole Miss  50 (halftime)
  • Men's Basketball Pregame Press Conference Quotes - Ole Miss     Head Coach Tubby Smith   On the Georgia game…     “We’ve had some time to go back over film and study our game against Georgia. I thought we played a pretty good game, even though Georgia’s a team that’s limited in its personnel. I thought we did some good things. I like the way we’ve been shooting the ball the last couple of games. That’s a big help. That can cover up for a lot of mistakes, when you’re making shots. We’re still working hard to improve our free-throw shooting, which is an area that has been plaguing us most of the year. We’ve got to improve in those areas. We’ve improved in a lot of other areas, but if we can get that resolved, we’ll be okay.”
  • Wildcats Continue Road Swing Against Ole Miss     A pair of team on SEC winning streaks collide as eighth-ranked Kentucky travels to Oxford, Miss., Wednesday to face Ole Miss.
  • Back on the tightrope    Son, husband divide Donna Smith's loyalties    Once again, Donna Smith must be concerned about a wardrobe malfunction. The wife of Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith must be careful about her attire for tonight's game at Mississippi. Kentucky blue is required. But she also needs Mississippi colors, because her youngest son, Brian, is a walk-on for the Rebels.
  • Smith 'emotional' about facing his son     Kentucky coach Tubby Smith admits it will be "emotional" when he coaches against his son, Mississippi freshman Brian Smith, Wednesday night.
  • Cats' youth may be a liability against Mississippi's veterans     Though they don't boast the most impressive record or the most imposing roster UK has seen this season, the Ole Miss Rebels have one thing the Cats haven't seen in a long time: A starting lineup that features five upperclassmen.
  • Young faces Tubby     Tubby Smith, coaching against family is anything but routine, even though his Wildcats won four straight from 1998-99 against Georgia when eldest son G.G. Smith played for the Bulldogs.
  • Dad, son on opposing teams     Brian Smith doesn't talk that often with his father these days.   It's the busiest time of the year for each of them, but they did chat on the phone a couple days ago.
  • Cats welcome back, forgive Crawford    Prodigal freshman Joe Crawford spoke to his teammates, explained his abrupt departure and gained acceptance back within the Kentucky basketball family.
  • UK's Crawford needs slower pace     It took only one week for Kentucky guard Joe Crawford to come to his senses. It took only one week for him to realize he was still just a freshman.
  • So much for instant gratification     Joe Crawford certainly looked like a talent when he and Malik Hairston led Detroit's Renaissance High to the Michigan Class B championship last winter. There was no reason to believe otherwise when Crawford scored 15 points in the McDonald's All-American Game, which was filled with future NBA players.
  • Is Crawford drama ended, or just Act I?   Good, we're moving on. "I trust him," University of Kentucky senior leader Chuck Hayes said of Joe Crawford. "He gave us his word. He could change his mind; I could change my mind about what I'm going to wear tomorrow." Shoot, we're stopping again.
  • UK looks to move ahead    The patriarch of the temporarily disjointed University of Kentucky men's basketball team wasn't in the mood to talk about the subject that has consumed the team and fans for about a week.
  • Cats run afoul of poor foul shooting   Those straight-shooting Wildcats seem to have figured out their offensive problems everywhere except the free-throw line.

          Women

  • UK Hoops Travels to Mississippi State   Riding a two-game winning streak in league play, the Kentucky women’s basketball team travels to Starkville, Miss., Thursday in search of its first Southeastern Conference road win. Tip off is set for 8 p.m. EST in Humphrey Coliseum.
  • Elliott, 6-6, a tall order for UK foes    "She really plays all of 6-6. She has long arms and keeps the ball high. … Teams just don't have an answer for her size." — UK coach Mickie DeMoss, speaking of UK's Sarah Elliot.
  • Lady Bulldogs Enjoy Two-Game Home Stance Starting With Kentucky On Thursday    The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (13-3, 2-1 SEC) look to rebound back from their third loss of the season, hosting the Kentucky Wildcats (13-5, 2-1 SEC) on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. CT. State's 12-game winning streak came to an end with the 83-71 loss at Arkansas last Sunday. Kentucky is red hot in the SEC right now enjoying wins over 18th-ranked Georgia, 71-63, and Ole Miss, 70-63, this past week.
(1-18-05)

      Basketball 

          Men
  • Crawford Returns to Kentucky Squad    Kentucky freshman guard Joe Crawford, who has missed the last two games while exploring the option of transferring, has returned to the basketball team. 
  • Tubby: Time for Crawford to 'mend fences'    UK COACH DOESN'T SPECIFY 'SANCTIONS' FRESHMAN WILL FACE AFTER ABORTED TRANSFER    Prodigal freshman Joe Crawford faces "sanctions," as Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith put it, before his abrupt departure from the team can be put to rest.
  • Crawford returns to Cats    University of Kentucky freshman guard Joe Crawford returned to practice yesterday, but it remains to be seen when he'll return to a game.
  • Crawford officially a Wildcat again    University of Kentucky freshman guard Joe Crawford was allowed to rejoin the team Monday, a week after he left because he wasn't happy with his playing time. "We're pleased that Joe is back with us and working out with the team," UK head coach Tubby Smith said in statement Monday "As a leader, it's important to have patience and give young people the space to make their own decisions."
  • Youngest Smith is Rebel of the family    Father and son will be on opposite benches tomorrow night when the Wildcats visit Mississippi, where Brian Smith (son of Tubby and Donna Smith) is a freshman guard.

          Women

  • UK's Elliott named SEC player of week    Kentucky freshman center Sarah Elliott was named the Southeastern Conference's women's basketball player of the week, the first Wildcat to receive the honor since November 2003.
(1-17-05)

      Basketball