Joe Crawford

Joe Crawford, Senior guard Numbers: He was ninth in scoring in SEC play with 15.4 points per game and was second on the team overall with 14 points per game last year ... He was 34-for-85 from 3-point range during conference play and shot 35 percent (63-for-180) overall during the season ... He had six games of 20 points or more ... He has 900 career points in 97 games. What's to like: He became a more complete player last year. Not only did he increase his scoring, but his rebounding also increased.

LEXINGTON -Southeastern Conference coaches thought so highly of Kentucky senior Joe Crawford that they put him on the preseason all-conference second team. New Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie is not quite that enamored with Crawford yet since he had him on Kentucky's second team for the season-opening exhibition game against Pikeville College last week. "You earn your minutes in practice," Crawford said. "I have not shown him (Gillispie) the work ethic yet he wants to see for me to get more minutes.

Kentucky picked up another key verbal commitment Monday when Michigan guard Joe Crawford told Tubby Smith he would sign with the Wildcats in April. Rivals.com has Crawford ranked as the No. 3 shooting guard and 18th best player overall. He averages 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists per game. Smith signed two guards - Ramel Bradley and Adam Williams - in November and also got a commitment over the weekend from Louisville guard Rajon Rondo. Crawford said the chance to play next year and Smith's history of preparing players for the NBA persuaded him to go ahead and make his college choice.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith confirmed this morning during the Southeastern Conference teleconference that freshman Joe Crawford has rejoined the team. Crawford left the team a week ago and returned home to Detroit. However, he later contacted Smith about returning to Kentucky. Smith said he would not "dispel" rumors about what had gone on with Crawford. "The fact is he is back here. He is under some sanctions," Smith said. "He is back working out with the team. From that point on, there is not much more to speculate.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky senior guard Joe Crawford continues to be sidelined by a foot injury, and his status for Saturday's game at Georgia still is not clear. "Joe has not been able to practice (this week). The last action I saw Joe was against Tennessee (on Jan. 22)," Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie said on Thursday's Southeastern Conference teleconference. Crawford is UK's third-leading scorer at 16 points per game and has averaged almost 32 minutes per game. Gillispie says sophomores Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks have been "limited" in practice this week.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky junior guard Joe Crawford has no problem with bigger expectations being placed on him and classmates Randolph Morris and Ramel Bradley this season at Kentucky. In fact, Crawford welcomes the attention he's getting, including that from coach Tubby Smith. "He has put us (the juniors) in more of a leadership role. He has given us the ball. He's talking to us and showing us how to do certain things he wants us to do and telling us what to tell other people.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky junior guard Joe Crawford has no problem with bigger expectations being placed on him and classmates Randolph Morris and Ramel Bradley this season at Kentucky.In fact, Crawford welcomes the attention he's getting, including that from coach Tubby Smith. "He has put us (the juniors) in more of a leadership role. He has given us the ball. He's talking to us and showing us how to do certain things he wants us to do and telling us what to tell other people. You can tell he expects more and trusts us more," Crawford said.

ATHENS, Ga. - Billy Gillispie and his Kentucky Wildcats are keeping their three-game winning streak in perspective. The Wildcats aren't ranked and they don't even make the RPI's top 125, so there's no need to talk about their hopes for postseason play in March. But at least they can call themselves winners again. Joe Crawford scored 26 points, including a 3-pointer to start a 10-0 run to open the second half, and Kentucky overcame the loss of Ramel Bradley to beat Georgia 63-58 on Saturday.

LEXINGTON - After Kentucky beat Texas Southern, Joe Crawford admitted he was tired. "I need to fight through that and push myself to get in better shape," said Crawford, a senior guard. Of course, it was almost understandable that Crawford would be tired after he fought his way off coach Billy Gillispie's bench and into the starting lineup for the first time this season. Crawford played all 20 minutes in the first half and another 16 minutes, 19 seconds in the second half before leaving the game with 3:41 to play.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie has never questioned Joe Crawford's offensive abilities. Gillispie, along with every other college coach in the nation, knows Crawford the scorer, but Vanderbilt found out how intimidating he can be on the defensive end. He can be equally effective. Although Crawford managed just five points, it was his defense that helped pull Kentucky through in a 79-73 win over Vanderbilt in double overtime Saturday at Rupp Arena. "He was great all day long," Gillispie said afterward.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Scoring 35 points didn't mean much to Joe Crawford. The Kentucky senior didn't care that he matched his career high, scored the most points of any UK player in a NCAA game since Tayshaun Prince had 41 in 2002 or had the sixth-best scoring game in NCAA play in UK history. All that mattered to Crawford was that his team lost 74-66 to Marquette in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday to end his season and Kentucky career. "I just wanted to stay in the tourney.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Senior Joe Crawford emphasized how being an underdog could help Kentucky because it would possibly take some pressure off the Cats' younger players. Finally, though, Crawford admitted that today's NCAA Tournament game with Marquette does present some extra pressure for him. "I am putting the most pressure on myself because I know every game could be my last," Crawford said before Wednesday's practice at the Honda Center. "I'm not ready for my Kentucky career to end. So if that means putting extra pressure on myself, then that is what I am going to do. " Crawford's past NCAA performances could also be putting pressure on him. He has only shot 28.6 percent (14-for-49)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Jerel McNeal and Marquette cut short Kentucky's record 49th NCAA tournament appearance. McNeal scored 20 points and Wesley Matthews hit eight free throws in the final 31 seconds to help the Golden Eagles beat the Wildcats 74-66 in the first round of the South Regional on Thursday. Marquette overcame 35 points by Kentucky senior Joe Crawford, who matched a career high before fouling out. Ramel Bradley added 19 for the Wildcats. Sixth-seeded Marquette (25-9)

ANAHEIM -- As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Joe Crawford sat on the Kentucky bench with a towel over his heading trying to hide the tears that flowed down his cheeks. In the stands, his mother, Sylvia, who was wearing a No. 32 UK jersey in honor of her son, was also crying. It was that kind of emotional end to Crawford's career at Kentucky here Thursday when the Wildcats lost 74-66 to Marquette in the NCAA Tournament despite a memorable performance by Crawford. He came into the game with 37 total points in eight previous NCAA games.

LEXINGTON - He's become a prolific scorer, solid defender and reliable rebounder. However, Joe Crawford's leadership might be the most important ingredient he's added for Kentucky this year. It didn't start when UK made its surprising Southeastern Conference run that has lifted UK to 11-4 in conference play - and back in solid NCAA Tournament contention - going into Sunday's Senior Day game against Florida in Rupp Arena. Instead, it began early in the year when Crawford was coming back from a summer injury and trying to work his way into new coach Billy Gillispie's good graces.

LEXINGTON - He's become a prolific scorer, solid defender and reliable rebounder. However, Joe Crawford's leadership might be the most important ingredient he's added for Kentucky this year. It didn't start when UK made its surprising Southeastern Conference run that has lifted UK to 11-4 in conference play - and back in solid NCAA Tournament contention - going into Sunday's Senior Day game against Florida in Rupp Arena. Instead, it began early in the year when Crawford was coming back from a summer injury and trying to work his way into new coach Billy Gillispie's good graces.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Joe Crawford and Patrick Patterson scored 15 points apiece as Kentucky held off Mississippi 58-54 on Wednesday. Ramel Bradley added 14 points and five rebounds for Kentucky (16-10, 10-3 Southeastern Conference), which moved to within one game of No. 1 Tennessee for first place in the SEC's Eastern Division. The Wildcats play at the Volunteers on Sunday. Chris Warren led Ole Miss with 25 points and Dwayne Curtis had 12 points and 15 rebounds, but the Rebels (18-9, 4-9)

LEXINGTON - Proving he can play defense is something Kentucky senior Joe Crawford takes great pride in now. "Joe has always been a tough defensive guy," UK coach Billy Gillispie said. "He's a very, very competitive person. He does not like his guy to catch the ball or score. He's tried hard on defense all year. " Crawford quickly smiles when asked how long he's had this defensive mentality. "Since he came here," Crawford said referring to Gillispie. "In high school, I was a good defensive player, but I came to college and struggled and forgot what made me good.

ATHENS, Ga. - Billy Gillispie and his Kentucky Wildcats are keeping their three-game winning streak in perspective. The Wildcats aren't ranked and they don't even make the RPI's top 125, so there's no need to talk about their hopes for postseason play in March. But at least they can call themselves winners again. Joe Crawford scored 26 points, including a 3-pointer to start a 10-0 run to open the second half, and Kentucky overcame the loss of Ramel Bradley to beat Georgia 63-58 on Saturday.