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UK Basketball: Gordon has 2nd shot at Cats

January 15, 2008|LARRY VAUGHT

It was just one shot, but it's a shot that Mississippi State fans still remember well.

Guard Jamont Gordon hit a 3-point shot at the end of regulation in the 2007 Southeastern Conference Tournament that helped beat Kentucky 84-82 in overtime. He'll get a chance to help beat the Wildcats again tonight when the teams meet in Starkville, Miss.

"I think that win helped us a lot. It motivated us a lot and gave us hope. It let us believe that we could beat anybody. It helped us work harder in the offseason, and even in the NIT. We became closer and became a better team because of that win," said Gordon, a junior guard averaging 17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this year.

"I will always remember that shot. I used to watch basketball when I was younger and see guys hit shots like that and not believe. Now I have done it, too. A lot of people still come and remember that I hit that shot. They all like to talk about it. It was very special beating a team that calls the SEC Tournament the Kentucky Invitational. It was big for us."

Tonight's game is big for both teams as well. Kentucky is coming off a win over then-No. 13 Vanderbilt that broke an 11-game losing streak to ranked teams. It evened UK's record at 7-7, but put the Cats at 1-0 in SEC play.

Mississippi State is 11-5 overall, but is 2-0 in SEC play after winning at LSU and beating Georgia at home.

"We have better team chemistry this year. We are young, but we have the leaders to show the young guys what to do," Gordon said.

'I think he is the best guard in the nation'

Teammate Charles Rhodes, who averages 15 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, says Gordon's play is why the Bulldogs have a good team.

"Jamont is really good. He is one of the best passers I have ever played with. Jamont is a great guard. He really helps me a lot," said Rhodes, who missed three games with an ankle injury. "I think he is the best guard in the nation."

So is he the best player in the SEC?

"I don't know because Charles Rhodes is in the SEC, too," Rhodes laughed and said. "I don't want to give him too much props and build him too high, but he's really good."

Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury values what Gordon does on both ends of the court for his team.

"Jamont is as good as there is in the league from one end to the other. There's no question about that," Stansbury said.

Of course, Gordon believes a healthy Rhodes is as good as any big man in the SEC. Stansbury hopes Rhodes is able to play after slightly re-injuring his ankle on Saturday.

"Charles Rhodes is the best big man out there. He is the very best when he wants to be. When he decides that he really wants to play, nobody can stop him," Gordon said. "What he does best is finish around the basket. One on one, he can take anybody."

Rhodes is looking forward to playing against a Kentucky team that doesn't have Randolph Morris, a starting center the three previous years.

"I knew they were going to miss him a lot. They have (Patrick) Patterson, but they are not as good inside this year," Rhodes said. "I just don't think you can survive playing a small lineup all year in the SEC. They might get mad with that comment, but I think they need some big guys to step up if they want to win."

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