Spring Break
Wildcats finding their rhythm
Around the SEC
Brandon Harris
Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Sports
Kentucky might be getting back on track.
Days after upsetting then-No. 3 Tennessee, the Kentucky Wildcats got above .500 in Southeastern Conference play with a 78-70 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.
The Wildcats (9-9, 3-2 SEC) started the season in disappointing fashion, losing at home to Gardner Webb, followed by four straight losses to North Carolina, Indiana, UAB and Houston. They also lost at home to San Diego.
But since then, the Wildcats have slowly crawled back into a respectable position. They defeated Vanderbilt in double overtime, fell just short of streaking Florida in overtime, took out Tennessee and defeated South Carolina.
"We're awfully excited about the way our guys are playing," Kentucky assistant Glen Cyprien said. "We're starting to think these guys have bought in to what we're trying to do offensively and defensively."
Kentucky guard Ramel Bradley was named the SEC Player of the Week, and forward Patrick Patterson was named the league's Freshman of the Week. Bradley and Patterson each played all 40 minutes in the win over the Gamecocks, combining for 48 points and 19 rebounds.
"(Their minutes) are a minor concern, but those guys have been iron men," Cyprien said. "They've put in a lot of time in practice. The understand for us to be really good and for us to make a run in the SEC toward the end of the season, they know they'll have to play a lot of minutes."
Now, the Wildcats must play four of their next five games away from Rupp Arena, starting with a game at Georgia on Saturday.
Florida heating up
Not much was expected from the defending national champions this season, but they've delivered anyway.
The Florida Gators (18-3, 5-1 SEC) defeated their first ranked opponent of the season with a 86-64 thrashing of No. 13 Vanderbilt on Saturday.
"I don't know if there's another team in the country that lost what we lost last year," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "It was quite a loss. My thing coming into the year is I know a lot of this is based on results. But, for me, what I've always tried to focus on is our team being the best we can be. You've got to be willing to let the results fall where they may."
Days after upsetting then-No. 3 Tennessee, the Kentucky Wildcats got above .500 in Southeastern Conference play with a 78-70 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.
The Wildcats (9-9, 3-2 SEC) started the season in disappointing fashion, losing at home to Gardner Webb, followed by four straight losses to North Carolina, Indiana, UAB and Houston. They also lost at home to San Diego.
But since then, the Wildcats have slowly crawled back into a respectable position. They defeated Vanderbilt in double overtime, fell just short of streaking Florida in overtime, took out Tennessee and defeated South Carolina.
"We're awfully excited about the way our guys are playing," Kentucky assistant Glen Cyprien said. "We're starting to think these guys have bought in to what we're trying to do offensively and defensively."
Kentucky guard Ramel Bradley was named the SEC Player of the Week, and forward Patrick Patterson was named the league's Freshman of the Week. Bradley and Patterson each played all 40 minutes in the win over the Gamecocks, combining for 48 points and 19 rebounds.
"(Their minutes) are a minor concern, but those guys have been iron men," Cyprien said. "They've put in a lot of time in practice. The understand for us to be really good and for us to make a run in the SEC toward the end of the season, they know they'll have to play a lot of minutes."
Now, the Wildcats must play four of their next five games away from Rupp Arena, starting with a game at Georgia on Saturday.
Florida heating up
Not much was expected from the defending national champions this season, but they've delivered anyway.
The Florida Gators (18-3, 5-1 SEC) defeated their first ranked opponent of the season with a 86-64 thrashing of No. 13 Vanderbilt on Saturday.
"I don't know if there's another team in the country that lost what we lost last year," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "It was quite a loss. My thing coming into the year is I know a lot of this is based on results. But, for me, what I've always tried to focus on is our team being the best we can be. You've got to be willing to let the results fall where they may."
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