Kelenna Azubuike

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With Kentucky's season on the brink of collapse, coach Tubby Smith turned to an unexpected source to revive his team. Walk-on Ravi Moss hit two 3-pointers in the second half to help Kentucky wipe out a 10-point deficit here Sunday before the Wildcats faltered and lost 76-75 to UAB in the NCAA Tournament. "It just was not our night," said Moss. "We didn't make the plays we did all season. When you do that at his level, you lose. We knew they were a good team.

During the course of a college basketball season, Jim O'Connell gets to see most of the nation's top programs play in person because he's the lead college basketball writer for The Associated Press. Like many Kentucky fans, he expected more from the Wildcats this season and he understands why a 13-loss season like the one UK just had is unacceptable to the Big Blue faithful. "Kentucky is unlike any other situation in the country. No one else deals with the attention that Tubby Smith does," said O'Connell.

This could be the year Kelenna Azubuike makes his mark in college basketball by becoming a consistent contributor on what could be a national title contending team at Kentucky. Azubuike, a sophomore, has all the physical tools to be a success. He's a prolific scorer, soars above the rim and understands how to play within Tubby Smith's system. He spent last season mainly watching and learning from players like Keith Bogans and Gerald Fitch, but this year he has a chance to show he really is a rising star.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - If Vanderbilt's game plan was to force Kentucky to take, and miss, outside shots, it worked perfectly. The Wildcats were 0-for-10 from 3-point range in the second half and missed their last 14 3-pointers. Leading scorer Gerald Fitch was 5-for-17 from the field, including 1-for-10 from 3-point range. Kelenna Azubuike was 5-for-17 overall and just 2-for-6 from 3-point range. Those numbers helped Vanderbilt rally to beat the No. 5 Wildcats 66-60 Saturday.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith is almost in a no-win situation when it comes to highly-touted freshman Joe Crawford. No matter what Smith does, there seems to be a downside for him and his team. Crawford quit the team Monday, upset that he played only three minutes in a loss to Kansas the day before after getting in just four minutes the previous game against South Carolina. His parents and Smith had a meeting that apparently was far from friendly about just how much Crawford, a McDonald's All-American last year, should be playing.

LEXINGTON - Tubby Smith knows that senior Antwain Barbour is anxious to play after missing Kentucky's two exhibition games and first regular season game because of a team suspension. However, the coach said he doesn't think Barbour will be so anxious that he makes mistakes. "As long as he tries to do too much on the defensive end, I'll be happy," said Smith. "If he's taking charges and diving on the floor, I'll be happy. You can never do too much on the defensive end. "But he's mature enough to understand our system.

LEXINGTON - It will be awkward, but Kelenna Azubuike says a torn tendon in the pinky finger on his left hand will not impact his play. The University of Kentucky sophomore forward still expects to be in the starting lineup Friday when the Wildcats open their season by hosting Winthrop. "It just feels like a jammed finger," said Azubuike Tuesday. "It will be awkward, but at least it is not on my shooting hand. I don't use my left pinky that much when I shoot. I should be able to get used to it and be fine.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky likely will see a different style of play tonight when it takes on Ball State in Cincinnati. The Wildcats opened the season Saturday with an easy 77-46 victory over Coppin State, a team that played a matchup zone defense and tried to use a patient offense. "Ball State plays a lot more man-to-man defense. They are a little bigger and will play more physical," said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith Monday. "They also have a number of quick guys that can make the 3-point shot.

LEXINGTON - Whether they'll admit it or not, Kentucky may have been looking ahead to Saturday's game with North Carolina in the first half last night against Tennessee Tech. The Wildcats led just 40-33 at the half - shooting 41.4 percent - while allowing the Golden Eagles to make 52.4 percent of their shots. The second half was a different story. Again led by Kelenna Azubuike, Kentucky went on a 13-0 run to lead 57-38 and put the game out of reach in a 92-63 win in a tune-up before the No. 8 ranked Wildcats head to Chapel Hill to take on the ninth-ranked Tar Heels.

LEXINGTON - Last year Kentucky gave North Carolina a dose of what the Wildcats have been receiving from opponents this year. The Wildcats overcame a 43-40 halftime deficit at North Carolina by shooting 66.7 percent from the field in the second half to win 98-81, its third straight victory over the Tar Heels. The rivals meet again Saturday in Rupp Arena and No. 8 Kentucky will be trying to reverse what has become a disturbing trend - building a big early lead and then losing most, or all of it, in the second half.

During the course of a college basketball season, Jim O'Connell gets to see most of the nation's top programs play in person because he's the lead college basketball writer for The Associated Press. Like many Kentucky fans, he expected more from the Wildcats this season and he understands why a 13-loss season like the one UK just had is unacceptable to the Big Blue faithful. "Kentucky is unlike any other situation in the country. No one else deals with the attention that Tubby Smith does," said O'Connell.

AUSTIN, Texas - Kelenna Azubuike doesn't want Kentucky's season to end the same way it has the past two years. "We had the talent to go a long way last year, but we lost (in the second round). Two years ago we lost a heartbreaker (in the regional final). I don't want to have that same feeling again," said Azubuike. "We are younger this year, but I really think we can keep going. " Kentucky tries to do that today when it takes on Michigan State at 5:05 p.m. in the Austin Regional final.

AUSTIN, Texas - Kelenna Azubuike doesn't want Kentucky's season to end the same way it has the past two years. "We had the talent to go a long way last year, but we lost (in the second round). Two years ago we lost a heartbreaker (in the regional final). I don't want to have that same feeling again," said Azubuike. "We are younger this year, but I really think we can keep going. " Kentucky tries to do that today when it takes on Michigan State at 5:05 p.m. in the Austin Regional final.

LEXINGTON - Kelenna Azubuike has learned one thing from his previous NCAA Tournament experiences. "You have to stay aggressive and play with confidence," said the Kentucky junior forward. "You can't miss a shot or make a mistake and let that dictate how you play the rest of the game. You've still got to be aggressive and go play even if you miss a shot or make a bad play. You can't let up. " Azubuike and the Wildcats open NCAA Tournament play Thursday in Indianapolis against Eastern Kentucky.

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.

Kentucky coach Tubby Smith is almost in a no-win situation when it comes to highly-touted freshman Joe Crawford. No matter what Smith does, there seems to be a downside for him and his team. Crawford quit the team Monday, upset that he played only three minutes in a loss to Kansas the day before after getting in just four minutes the previous game against South Carolina. His parents and Smith had a meeting that apparently was far from friendly about just how much Crawford, a McDonald's All-American last year, should be playing.

LEXINGTON - While avoiding saying that Kansas could not win in Rupp Arena Sunday, South Carolina coach Dave Odom made it clear that No. 8 Kentucky is a clear favorite in his mind. "I cannot see Kansas without (All-American Wayne) Simien ... I would give Kentucky an edge playing at home. We know how good Kentucky is inside. We know Kansas is playing without its best inside player (Simien)," Odom said. If the second-ranked Jayhawks had Simien, Odom might feel differently. Simien scored 20 points in mid-December when they beat visiting South Carolina 64-60.

LEXINGTON - Whether they'll admit it or not, Kentucky may have been looking ahead to Saturday's game with North Carolina in the first half last night against Tennessee Tech. The Wildcats led just 40-33 at the half - shooting 41.4 percent - while allowing the Golden Eagles to make 52.4 percent of their shots. The second half was a different story. Again led by Kelenna Azubuike, Kentucky went on a 13-0 run to lead 57-38 and put the game out of reach in a 92-63 win in a tune-up before the No. 8 ranked Wildcats head to Chapel Hill to take on the ninth-ranked Tar Heels.

LEXINGTON - With one swift dunk on the fast break, Kelenna Azubuike may have busted out of his early-season shooting slump. Struggling to find his shot over Kentucky's first two games, and going just 1-for-6 in the first half Friday against Georgia State, the junior forward made six straight shots over the first 5:07 of the second half during a 19-3 run in the Wildcats' 77-59 win at Rupp Arena. "I was looking for anything to get me going. I had a good little streak there," said Azubuike, who tied for game-high honors with 16 points.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky likely will see a different style of play tonight when it takes on Ball State in Cincinnati. The Wildcats opened the season Saturday with an easy 77-46 victory over Coppin State, a team that played a matchup zone defense and tried to use a patient offense. "Ball State plays a lot more man-to-man defense. They are a little bigger and will play more physical," said Kentucky coach Tubby Smith Monday. "They also have a number of quick guys that can make the 3-point shot.