The Blazers used their full court pressure and trapping defense to force 16 turnovers on the Wildcats. Nine of those 16 turnovers were steals for UAB who were led by senior point guard Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson with 3. Tony Johnson, a Morganfield, Kentucky native, and Ronnell Taylor followed closely behind Squeaky with two steals each.

Kentucky dominated the offensive glass with 19 rebounds, but they only pulled down 21 defensive rebounds and allowed UAB to get 15 offensive boards. Those 15 offensive rebounds, combined with the 16 turnovers gave Birmingham more opportunities on the offensive end.

Offensively the Blazers dished out 19 assists compared to only 12 turnovers. They also shot eight of 18 from the three point line. As a whole, Mike Anderson's team shot 44.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three in the game.

Led by senior guard Gerald Fitch in his last game as a Wildcat, Kentucky shot 44.3 percent from the field, and 35 percent from three. Fitch scored 17 points, on five of 16 shooting from the field, including four of nine from three point range. Fitch also pulled down 7 rebounds, in his 38 minutes of game action.

Saddled with foul trouble, Erik Daniels played only 24 minutes. Daniels scored 12 points, grabbed ten rebounds, and dished out four assists. Daniels was easily Kentucky's most effective weapon early on, but a couple of phantom fouls sent Daniels to the bench and never game him the chance to get his rhythm going.

Kentucky's lack of depth reared it's ugly head again, as three starters played over 30 minutes. Fitch played 38 minutes, Kelenna Azubuike played 37 minutes, and Chuck Hayes played 33 minutes. Kentucky saw four players come off the bench for playing time. Antwain Barbour, played 26 minutes off the bench, and was the only one of the four in double figures.

In contrast the Blazers played 9 players in double figure minutes. Only sophomore forward Demario Eddins played more than 30 minutes.

Tubby Smith will now get to work on next season. A very young and talented team will take the floor for the Wildcats. No matter how talented the newcomers are, the Wildcats will miss the five seniors, Antwain Barbour, Erik Daniels, Gerald Fitch, Cliff Hawkins, and Matt Heissenbuttel.

Brian C. Eldridge

March 20th, 2004

His underdog Rattlers were down only ten points with less than ten minutes remaining in the game. Trailing is never a good thing, but when you are the lowest seed in the tournament, and you are facing the top seed being ten down isn't that bad.

Kentucky gave up 70 points for only the third time all season to the Rattlers, who used eight first half three pointers to trail only 60 to 52. FAMU went on an eight to one run in the first three minutes of the second half to cut the lead to three. From that point on, Gillespie saw his team score 16 more points to finish the game.

The Wildcats held FAMU to 32 percent from the field in the second half after they scorched the nets for 53 percent in the first half. The Wildcats stiffling defense also forced 17 turnovers, including eight steals.

A&M put in a solid effort defensively themselves, forcing Kentucky into 17 turnovers of their own, and stealing the ball 13 times. Unfortunately for the Rattlers, they could not stop Kentucky from scoring. The Wildcats shot a blistering 57 percent from the field for the game. Tubby Smith surprisingly saw his team match the more heralded three point shooters from Tallahassee with 11 threes for the game.

Lead by Gerald Fitch's 26 points and four three pointers, the Wildcats pulled away from FAMU with a 35 to 16 run to finish the game. Forward Chuck Hayes barely missed a triple double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. The other three starters, Cliff Hawkins, Erik Daniels and Kelenna Azubuike also scored in double figures with 14, 18, and 14 respectively.

FAMU was led by Terrance Woods' 24 points. Michael Harper scored 13 points for the Rattlers and Demarcus Wilkins added 16.

Kentucky will take on the UAB Blazers on Sunday at five o'clock eastern.

Brian Eldridge

Led by Cliff Hawkins' career high 23 points, the Cats stopped a two game losing streak to the Bulldogs. Hawkins effort was matched by Georgia's star point guard Rashad Wright. Wright scored 23 points, 15 of those points coming from five three pointers.

Kentucky led the game most of the way, but could not pull away until the final minute of the game. Numbers wise, the game was even. Georgia took 53 field goal attempts making 23, and Kentucky took 51, making 24. Kentucky had 9 steals, to Georgia's one, but Georgia had 12 offensive rebounds compared to Kentucky's 7. There was one statistical difference in the game, however. Georgia made only six of 16 free throws, for a frigid 37 percent. Kentucky made 15 of 21 free throw attempts for 71 percent.

Kentucky outscored Georgia 17 to eight over the last 5:35 to put away the game. During a two mininte- 30 second stretch, the Cats scored 12 points to only one three point field goal for the Bulldogs.

Georgia native, Gerald Fitch followed up Hawkins big game with 15 points of his own. Junior forward Chuck Hayes scored ten points, and pulled down four rebounds. Kelenna Azubuike sparked the Wildcats with 11 points include two explosive second half dunks.

Kentucky will play the winner of the South Carolina - LSU game tomorrow. Kentucky swept the season series with South Carolina, and defeated LSU in their only contest, in Baton Rouge earlier this month.

Written by Brian C. Eldridge