Joe Crawford

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.

PHILADELPHIA -- While he has no tangible evidence to support his belief, Kentucky sophomore Joe Crawford remains convinced that the NCAA Tournament is going to provide redemption for his team's disappointing season. "I'm very anxious to play. I want to go prove that we are still a good team. We all do," said Crawford here Thursday before the Wildcats went through their mandatory open practice. The Cats had already done their serious work for tonight's game against UAB at a morning practice at Villanova.

CINCINNATI - Knowing his former high school coach was watching him play at Kentucky for the first time, Joe Crawford was eager to prove how much his game had improved. "I'm a better, tougher player now than I was in high school. I wanted to make sure I showed that," said Crawford. Crawford did that and more Friday in UK's 71-63 victory over Ohio. By halftime, he had tied his career high with 14 points. He finished the game with 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range.

LEXINGTON - While most of the attention on Kentucky's woes this season has been blamed on the lack of leadership due to Chuck Hayes' graduation and the lack of a low-post presence because of Randolph Morris' ineligibility, little has been mentioned about UK's struggle to replace Kelenna Azubuike. Azubuike was last year's leading scorer, a solid rebounder and a dependable defender. But he left Kentucky after his junior season to try his luck in the NBA draft. Many thought sophomore Joe Crawford, a high-profile recruit, would compensate for Azubuike's departure and provide the same numbers Azubuike did. However, Crawford has missed three games because of knee and hip injuries and is averaging just 6.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 19.5 minutes per game going into Saturday's game against No. 4 Louisville Cardinals.

LEXINGTON - Joe Crawford couldn't wait to start his college basketball career at Kentucky. He was one of three McDonald's All-Americans in UK's highly-touted freshman class last year. He knew the Wildcats could be a national championship contender. He also thought his defensive prowess and scoring ability would make it easy for him to become an instant impact player. But while point guard Rajon Rondo and center Randolph Morris became fixtures in the starting lineup as freshmen, Crawford watched more than he played.

As the deadline approaches for players to pull their name out of the NBA draft if they want to retain their collegiate eligibility, Kentucky center Randolph Morris again finds himself at the center of more rumors. Some sources now are saying Morris realizes coming back to Kentucky for his sophomore year is far more realistic than staying in the draft in hopes of being a first-round choice. Those same sources indicate that more than one NBA scout and/or executive has felt Morris has been "lazy" in workouts and has acted like he's destined to be a first-round draft choice.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Once he returned to the Kentucky basketball team and was trying to readjust to his role with the Wildcats, freshman Joe Crawford found help from an unexpected source -- assistant coach Scott Rigot. "Coach Rigot saw that I was down. He would come up and joke with me, which helped a little bit when I was really down," said Crawford. "I also got to where I would go to him and ask him how I looked and what I needed to work on. I just needed someone else's opinion on things and he was there for me. He helped me through some tough times.

ATLANTA -- Joe Crawford left Kentucky once, but he says he won't do it again. "I am committed to Kentucky and staying here," said the freshman guard after Friday's 76-62 win over Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Crawford talked about his one-week absence from Kentucky in early January for the first time after the Cats' victory. Crawford, like UK's other freshmen, has been off limits to the media this season. "No, I don't regret what happened," said Crawford.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee freshman guard Chris Lofton again showed why he's become the best 3-point shooter in the Southeastern Conference here Tuesday. However, Kentucky freshman Joe Crawford also proved he can shoot, too. Lofton, the former Mason County standout who was Kentucky's 2004 Mr. Basketball, was 5-for-9 from 3-point range and scored 17 points for the Volunteers in their 84-62 loss to Kentucky. "It was fun playing against Kentucky. I just wish the outcome could have been different," Lofton said.

LEXINGTON - As far as Chuck Hayes is concerned, there's no reason to doubt Joe Crawford's word that he plans to spend his college career at Kentucky. "He could change his mind, but I could change my mind about what I am going to wear, too," Hayes said Tuesday. "He gave us his word and I believe him. " Crawford, a freshman, rejoined the Kentucky basketball team Monday one week after he quit the team. Kentucky coach Tubby Smith met with his players Saturday night when they returned from their win at Georgia to discuss Crawford's possible return, then met with Crawford and his parents Sunday.