Central Michigan

Kentucky coach Joker Phillips knows what his team must do to play better than it did in Thursday's narrow 14-3 win over Western Kentucky. “We have to get some things we have been seeing in practice translated to the game. We have been seeing us play a lot cleaner than we played last night,” Phillips said Friday. “We have seen guys go up and make plays down the field that we did not make. We ran the ball efficiently in practice against our defense (and didn't in the game).” He also didn't downplay the fact that his offensive line, considered a team strength, did not play well against the Hilltoppers, one reason UK¿had just 190 yards of total offense.

Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips won't have to say much to motivate his team for tonight's instate showdown against Louisville. “Our kids know about this rivalry,” the Kentucky coach said earlier this week. “They know.” Phillips said the game between the two schools is “magnified” when compared to high school rivalries many of the youngsters on the team are used to, especially running back Josh Clemons, who will be making his first start against the Cardinals. “I think the instate kids here in Kentucky are familiar with it and they express it to the kids who are not from the state of Kentucky.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky senior offensive guard Stuart Hines has been chosen as finalist for the Danny Wuerffel Trophy presented by the All Sports Association. The award goes to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with outstanding academic and athletic achievement and is named after former Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel of Florida. Other Southeastern Conference players among the 13 finalists are junior offensive lineman Barrett Jones of Alabama and senior punter Drew Butler of Georgia.

LEXINGTON - Raymond Sanders knew Kentucky fans were worried last week when Kentucky was struggling through an abysmal first-half offensive performance against Central Michigan. “We were worried, too, and I understand, and we understand, that we have to improve. We are out there playing and we know it is tough on our fans when we are not getting the ball in the end zone, but they have to understand we are working and we are going to improve,” said Sanders, a sophomore running back.

Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips kept Kentucky's bowl streak alive in his first season as coach of the Wildcats. Phillips defeated Louisville, knocked off South Carolina, the team's first-ever victory over Steve Spurrier and led Kentucky to a school record fifth consecutive bowl appearance. In his second season, Phillips has a chance to win eight games, providing the Wildcats win a couple of marginal games and stay away from potential letdowns during the course of the season.

LEXINGTON - At first glance, Kentucky's 11-3 record going into 2009 seems impressive, especially compared to the 6-7 mark the Cats had a year ago in coach Billy Gillispie's initial season. But is Kentucky really ready for prime time? Certainly, Monday's 84-52 win over Central Michigan was entertaining for Big Blue fans, but the talent disparity was so great that the Cats should have won by this margin or more. Gillispie knew that and used the game to rotate players and even let stars Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson spend a little more time on the bench than normal when they made mistakes.

LEXINGTON - The first time Kentucky was on national television this season, it was embarrassed at Louisville in a 59-28 loss. The Cats did much better Saturday. They led 7-6 at No. 5 Florida late in the first half before eventually losing 26-7. "We got the (TV) audience to the second half this time anyway," Brooks said Sunday. "Actually, we got them into the fourth quarter. I think this exposure was good for us. It was good from an image standpoint and for recruiting. "It's good to be on TV, but it is even more important to play well on TV. Now we need to be good enough to get on TV ourselves when we are winning games.

LEXINGTON - The first time Kentucky was on national television this season, it was embarrassed at Louisville in a 59-28 loss.The Cats did much better Saturday. They led 7-6 at No. 5 Florida late in the first half before eventually losing 26-7. "We got the (TV) audience to the second half this time anyway," Brooks said Sunday. "Actually, we got them into the fourth quarter. I think this exposure was good for us. It was good from an image standpoint and for recruiting. "It's good to be on TV, but it is even more important to play well on TV. Now we need to be good enough to get on TV ourselves when we are winning games.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky coach Joker Phillips is not worried about how the fans support the Wildcats despite a small crowd for the opening win over Western Kentucky in Nashville, Tenn., or a non-sellout for Saturday's win over Central¿Michigan. “I thought it was a good crowd,” Phillips said Sunday when asked about Saturday's crowd that was announced at 58,022. “This is our fourth year in a row to play on the road (in the first game) and come back and have a crowd like the one yesterday.

LaRod King says it's not hard to evaluate how Kentucky's receivers played in Thursday's 14-7 win over Western Kentucky or what lies ahead for that group. “We have no choice but to get better. This was probably our worst game ever,” said King, who had two catches for 41 yards and one score, after the game in Nashville. “It was as simple as that. I can't explain it or make excuses. We have to come out and take this as a lesson learned.” Several UK¿receivers, including King, dropped passes.