Jarvis Varnado

LEXINGTON - Jarvis Varnado knew what it would take for Mississippi State to beat Kentucky. "We triple-teamed (Patrick Patterson)," the Mississippi State forward said. "We had to because he's such a great low-post player. " The scheme worked for Varnado and the Bulldogs, who defeated the Wildcats for the third time in a row for the first time in school history. Not only did Mississippi State slow down Patterson in its 66-57 win at Rupp Arena, but it also limited guard Jodie Meeks' scoring production.

Before the season started, Barry Stewart said Mississippi State teammate Jarvis Varnado heard what some people were saying about him. "He caught wind that people were saying he's a good player, but that he had to step his offense up to be a great player. That seemed to really motivate him," said Stewart. Kentucky will find out how motivated the 6-9 junior is Tuesday when it hosts Mississippi State (14-7, 4-2) in a game that suddenly is a must-win for both teams. Both teams were unbeaten in Southeastern Conference play, but both now are on two-game losing skids.

LEXINGTON - If a team puts two, or even three, defenders on Kentucky sophomore center Patrick Patterson, that should leave one or two other players open. So why did Kentucky have so much trouble scoring against Mississippi State on Tuesday night when the Bulldogs did just that? "If they double Pat, we are playing four-on-three. But we did not catch the ball well enough and were not strong enough to get out of the double-team," Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie said. "Once you do get out of that double-team, you should shoot a layup or an easy shot.

LEXINGTON - Jarvis Varnado knew what it would take for Mississippi State to beat Kentucky. "We triple-teamed (Patrick Patterson)," the Mississippi State forward said following the Bulldogs' 66-57 win over the Wildcats Tuesday night at Rupp Arena. "We had to, because he's such a great low-post player. " The scheme worked for Varnado and the Bulldogs, who defeated the Wildcats for the third time in a row for the first time in school history. Not only did Mississippi State slow down Patterson, but also limited guard Jodie Meeks' scoring production.

ATLANTA -- Mississippi State coach Phil Cunningham knows the Kentucky fans will swarm into the Georgia Dome here tonight when UK plays Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Cunningham, a Kentucky native, doesn't think that gives UK quite the edge some think it does. "It can be an advantage. I know when we played them last year (in the tourney), they had a big crowd. This place is so big that I don't think it affects the players as much as it could in a smaller arena.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky native Rick Stansbury knows better than to underestimate what it will take to beat Kentucky in Rupp Arena. Even though the Wildcats have lost three home games this season, including Saturday's 78-77 decision to South Carolina, the Mississippi State coach knows his team will have a difficult task tonight. "Rupp Arena is always one of the most difficult places in the league, or country, to go play at," said Stansbury. "It's not just because of the crowd, but because they have a good team.

LEXINGTON - Maybe it was a bit of a gamble, but it was one Mississippi State was willing to take. The Bulldogs came into Rupp Arena on Tuesday determined not to let Kentucky stars Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson beat them. That meant that any time Patterson got the ball, they always double-teamed him and often had three defenders surround him - which one reason Patterson had a season-high six turnovers. When Meeks had the ball, guard Barry Stewart stayed glued to him and had help any time a screen was set. So what if that meant leaving open other players?

LEXINGTON - Mississippi State literally could block Kentucky's path to a 2-0 start in Southeastern Conference play. The Bulldogs are averaging 8.6 blocked shots per game going into tonight's ESPN game with visiting Kentucky. Jarvis Varnado leads the SEC in blocks with 83, including 10 in Saturday's win over Georgia. "Jarvis tweaked his ankle Saturday and missed (practice) Sunday, but he should play Tuesday," Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury said Monday. "He has played well and changes things around the rim for everybody we play.

LEXINGTON - If a team puts two, or even three, defenders on Kentucky sophomore center Patrick Patterson, that should leave one or two other players open. So why did Kentucky have so much trouble scoring against Mississippi State on Tuesday night when the Bulldogs did just that? "If they double Pat, we are playing four-on-three. But we did not catch the ball well enough and were not strong enough to get out of the double-team," Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie said. "Once you do get out of that double-team, you should shoot a layup or an easy shot.

LEXINGTON - Jarvis Varnado knew what it would take for Mississippi State to beat Kentucky. "We triple-teamed (Patrick Patterson)," the Mississippi State forward said. "We had to because he's such a great low-post player. " The scheme worked for Varnado and the Bulldogs, who defeated the Wildcats for the third time in a row for the first time in school history. Not only did Mississippi State slow down Patterson in its 66-57 win at Rupp Arena, but it also limited guard Jodie Meeks' scoring production.

LEXINGTON - Maybe it was a bit of a gamble, but it was one Mississippi State was willing to take. The Bulldogs came into Rupp Arena on Tuesday determined not to let Kentucky stars Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson beat them. That meant that any time Patterson got the ball, they always double-teamed him and often had three defenders surround him - which one reason Patterson had a season-high six turnovers. When Meeks had the ball, guard Barry Stewart stayed glued to him and had help any time a screen was set. So what if that meant leaving open other players?

LEXINGTON - Maybe it was a bit of a gamble, but it was one Mississippi State was willing to take. The Bulldogs came here Tuesday determined not to let Kentucky stars Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson beat them. That meant any time Patterson got the ball, the Bulldogs always double teamed him and often had three defenders surround him - one reason Patterson had a season-high six turnovers. When Meeks had the ball, State guard Barry Stewart stayed glued to him and had help any time a screen was set. So what if that meant leaving open other UK players.

LEXINGTON - Jarvis Varnado knew what it would take for Mississippi State to beat Kentucky. "We triple-teamed (Patrick Patterson)," the Mississippi State forward said following the Bulldogs' 66-57 win over the Wildcats Tuesday night at Rupp Arena. "We had to, because he's such a great low-post player. " The scheme worked for Varnado and the Bulldogs, who defeated the Wildcats for the third time in a row for the first time in school history. Not only did Mississippi State slow down Patterson, but also limited guard Jodie Meeks' scoring production.

Before the season started, Barry Stewart said Mississippi State teammate Jarvis Varnado heard what some people were saying about him. "He caught wind that people were saying he's a good player, but that he had to step his offense up to be a great player. That seemed to really motivate him," said Stewart. Kentucky will find out how motivated the 6-9 junior is Tuesday when it hosts Mississippi State (14-7, 4-2) in a game that suddenly is a must-win for both teams. Both teams were unbeaten in Southeastern Conference play, but both now are on two-game losing skids.

ATLANTA -- Mississippi State coach Phil Cunningham knows the Kentucky fans will swarm into the Georgia Dome here tonight when UK plays Georgia in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Cunningham, a Kentucky native, doesn't think that gives UK quite the edge some think it does. "It can be an advantage. I know when we played them last year (in the tourney), they had a big crowd. This place is so big that I don't think it affects the players as much as it could in a smaller arena.

LEXINGTON - Mississippi State literally could block Kentucky's path to a 2-0 start in Southeastern Conference play. The Bulldogs are averaging 8.6 blocked shots per game going into tonight's ESPN game with visiting Kentucky. Jarvis Varnado leads the SEC in blocks with 83, including 10 in Saturday's win over Georgia. "Jarvis tweaked his ankle Saturday and missed (practice) Sunday, but he should play Tuesday," Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury said Monday. "He has played well and changes things around the rim for everybody we play.