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By Rob Miech SportsLine College Basketball Editor |
Feb. 6, 2000
The most intriguing team in the country continued to appear sluggish and
disoriented Saturday, except for its freshman point guard.
Kentucky rookie floor leader Keith Bogans was the difference against a
pesky South Carolina zone defense, smacking the Gamecocks with 21 points. Four days earlier, his career-high 25 were critical in a big victory over Tennessee.
The numbers don't add up for Kentucky -- its 42.6 percent shooting would
be the worst in the Southeastern Conference if not for Auburn (.421). And the Wildcats' average of 68.9 points would be last in the league if not for South Carolina (66.7).
Kentucky's 3-point shooting, their staple, is at the bottom
of the conference, at 29.6 percent.
So why is Kentucky atop the SEC East at 7-1 (Tennessee and Florida are both 6-2)? First, it's one of the more relentless teams in the nation, owning a No. 2 in the most recent SportsLine Ratings Percentage Index courtesy of a strength-of-schedule rated the toughest in the country.
Second, Bogans.
Coach Tubby Smith is enamored with the toughness and aggressiveness that
Bogans, a freshman who earned McDonald's All-America acclaim at the hallowed Hyatsville (Md.) DeMatha High, has shown since he was slipped into the starting fold after Kentucky's 4-4 start.
The Wildcats are now 17-5 and humming, having only lost at Auburn since
Bogans' start. Jamal Magloire had 23 points and 11 boards against South Carolina, recording his ninth double-double in the last 15 games. And Bogans (13.0 ppg) has overtaken Tayshaun Prince (12.8) in team scoring in SEC games.
Those three will have to intensify their efforts Tuesday when the
Wildcats play the Florida Gators in Gainesville. The right foot that Jules Camara injured against the Volunteers earlier in the week will sideline him for two or three weeks.
Camara, a 6-11 sophomore from Senegal, has averaged 8.3 points and 6.1 rebounds against SEC foes. His absence puts some pressure on 6-9 freshman reserve Marvin Stone, and cuts Smith's scholarship players to nine.
Kentucky plays at Tennessee on Feb. 23 and plays host to Florida in a
regular-season finale that might determine the winner of the division, and then the always-rough SEC tournament in Atlanta.
"I guess a cat has nine lives," sophomore guard J.P. Blevins said after
Saturday's victory. "Well, we're down nine."
But, as it has shown, Kentucky can rarely be counted out of a game.
Dropped out: Utah
Freshman Keith Bogans has led Kentucky's resurgence.(AP)
Rk
Team
Pv
The Scoop
1
Cincinnati
1
Kenyon Martin rises from early tumble to terrorize UAB (31 points, 16 boards). The Bearcats are becoming very unselfish.
2
Syracuse
2
The Orangemen go non-conference this week at
Louisville (Thursday) and at home Sunday against UCLA. Poor Bruins.
3
Duke
3
Chris Carrawell is proving that the run for national
player of the year honors is a three-man contest -- himself, Martin and Mo Peterson.
4
Stanford
5
The Cardinal had two solid wins in Los Angeles this
weekend and are eyeing their March 9 showdown against Arizona in Tucson.
5
Ohio State
6
The Buckeyes won for the 12th time in 13 games on
Sunday at Ann Arbor and will threaten for a return Final Four ticket.
6
Michigan State
7
No way could the Spartans have lost with Ali in the
house. Muhammad, can you be in Indy in two months?
7
Arizona
8
More efforts like Saturday's from Luke Walton (12
points, eight assists, six boards, three steals) will be a boon to coach Lute Olson.
8
Kentucky
13
Just in case anyone has forgotten, Tubby Smith is
15-5 over the last six NCAA Tournaments. Don't ever take one of his teams lightly.
9
Tennessee
4
No shame in losing at Kentucky, but the
Volunteers had better be ready for everything Florida has in its arsenal Saturday in Knoxville.
10
Florida
11
The gunnin' Gators tattooed Georgia with 54
bench points, frosh Brett Nelson chipping in 17.
11
Connecticut
9
Calhoun was shocked about the Huskies' poor play
in East Lansing. What did Shakespeare say about the head that wears the crown?
12
Indiana
14
Since not taking a shot against Michigan
State, senior forward Larry Richardson is 23-for-28 in his last six games.
13
Tulsa
15
Golden Hurricane thump gritty Southern Methodist before blasting Billy Tubbs' TCU squad by 33 points.
14
Auburn
16
Chris Porter averaged 20.7 over last three,
all double-figure wins. The next two are at LSU and at Vandy, though.
15
Kansas
10
Jayhawks have lost three of their last five,
but we won't drop them unless they lose to Oklahoma State on Monday.
16
Oklahoma
NR
Victor Avila is the other talented Mexican
big man for the Sooners, who shoot a Big 12 best .407 from 3-point land.