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LEXINGTON¿ - Billy Joe Murphy isn't backing down from top-ranked LSU. “What an opportunity we have to go in and play the No. 1 team in the country at their place,” Murphy, a Kentucky offensive tackle, said earlier this week. “That's the way we've got to approach it. We've got to put Florida behind us and learn from it.” The senior was redshirted when the Wildcats stunned the top-ranked Tigers 43-37 in triple overtime four years ago at Commonwealth Stadium. The loss was one of only two setbacks that season for LSU, which went on to win the national championship.

LEXINGTON – Aaron Dotson has a new level of respect for Kentucky following his team's 82-44 loss to the Wildcats Saturday at Rupp Arena. “They’re a really good team and they have some real unselfish players,” he said. “Everybody likes to share (the ball) and all the guys are getting their shots.” Throughout the season, Kentucky has developed a knack for three-point shooting, but also has been successful distributing the wealth on offense.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Azia Bishop characterized her week of practice leading up to Sunday's game against LSU as "rough. " She wasn't focused, she wasn't exerting herself. But Sunday was a different story. She scored a career-high 17 points, and No. 5 Kentucky pulled away late to top LSU 73-60. "It was my day, I guess," Bishop said. Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell agreed with Bishop's assessment of her week at practice but said Sunday was both vindication for a long week and a source for further frustration: If Bishop can play like she did Sunday, Mitchell asked rhetorically, why doesn't she always?

LEXINGTON - Kentucky football coach Joker Phillips knows his team needs a lift. Nothing would give his team more of a boost than an upset over top-ranked LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La. The Tigers (4-0) snatched the top ranking from Oklahoma following a 47-21 victory at West Virginia last weekend in Morgantown. “It would be huge for our program if we could somehow put together a clean game (on) both sides of the ball, which is what it will take to beat those guys,” Phillips said.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky and LSU both face unique challenges for Saturday's game here. For Kentucky, it's finding a way to stop LSU's potent one-two inside punch of sophomore Brandon Bass and 310-pound freshman Glen Davis. For LSU, it's not turning the basketball over and maintaining a relatively slow pace that will keep the Rupp Arena crowd from becoming a deciding factor in the game. Both teams are coming off close wins. Davis had six points and a decisive blocked shot in overtime to help LSU beat Arkansas 66-63 Wednesday while the Cats overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to win 53-50 at Mississippi.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky has added former Northwestern State head coach and LSU assistant coach Bradley Dale Peveto as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator. “Bradley Dale impressed me greatly during the year we worked together,” said Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, who was on the Houston staff with Peveto in 2000.  “He has a relentless work ethic and excellent experience as a special teams coordinator and defensive coach.” Peveto most recently spent four seasons as the head coach at Northwestern State, where he guided the team to consecutive seasons with five or more wins for the first time since 2004-05.

LEXINGTON - John Calipari couldn't say enough about Alex Poythress following Kentucky's 75-70 triumph over LSU on Saturday at Rupp Arena. Calipari had plenty of reasons to gloat after Poythress scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, securing his fourth double-digit outing in the team's past five games. Poythress had just six points in the Wildcats' 59-55 loss at Alabama last week, but made a strong recovery with a dominating performance against the Tigers. “I was so proud of Alex, I can't begin to tell you,” Calipari said afterward.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Terrence Jones highlighted a 27-point performance with a 13-0 run on his own and No. 1 Kentucky pulled away in the second half for a 74-50 win over struggling LSU Saturday night. Anthony Davis had 16 points and 10 rebounds despite briefly leaving the game when he hurt his right shoulder in a scramble for a loose ball. Darius Miller added 13 points including three 3-pointers for Kentucky (21-1 7-0 Southeastern), which has won 13 straight games. Johnny O'Bryant III had 12 points and nine rebounds for LSU (12-9, 2-5)

LEXINGTON - This has been such a strange season for Kentucky that there was no way coach John Calipari was going to let LSU get off a potential game-tying, 3-point shot. Who could blame him considering that it might have takens a heads-up move by associate coach John Robic seconds before to keep UK in position to claim a 75-70 win. Calipari had Archie Goodwin foul Anthony Hickey before he could take a shot after Kyle Wiltjer hit two free throws with 3.1 seconds left to play to give UK a 73-70 lead.

LEXINGTON - Louisiana native Dicky Lyons Jr. never really considered playing for LSU. In fact, he's not even sure LSU recruited him - or had a chance because he committed to UK, where his father played, after his junior year. Lyons even told his high school coach to keep letters from other colleges, including LSU. "My upbringing was Kentucky," Lyons said. "I was 10 when Dad got his number retired at Kentucky. I loved Kentucky, and that's where I wanted to go. " Lyons didn't enjoy last year's 49-0 loss at LSU. He's hoping for a much better fate when No. 17 UK hosts No. 1 LSU on Saturday.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Kentucky coach John Calipari revealed on the Southeastern Conference coaches teleconference this week that he called coaches Johnny Jones of LSU and Mark Fox of Georgia to compliment them on what they have done with their teams this season. Jones said Wednesday before the start of the SEC tournament that he appreciated what Calipari did. “I have a great deal of respect for Coach Calipari. You're talking about a guy who had his team in numerous Final Fours, has won the championships, and for someone of that caliber to call  you and talk about your team and your program where they are and when you've gone through your highs and your lows at the same time, it meant a lot,” Jones said.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Anthony Hickey of LSU needed some “guidance” from coach Johnny Jones earlier this season, but now the former Christian County standout seems to be playing his best for the Tigers. “I thought early there were some challenges there for Anthony,” Jones said Wednesday before the start of the Southeastern Conference tournament. Jones said he wanted to make sure Hickey “was on the right path” and showing the leadership the team needed at point guard. “I think he struggled with that early on, but I think he's grasped it and I think he's welcomed it with open arms,” Jones said.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -   No. 8/7 Kentucky women's basketball puts its four-game winning streak on the line when it travels to Baton Rouge, La., for a Sunday afternoon matinee with LSU at 2 p.m. CST/3 p.m. EST in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The game will not be televised but broadcast live on the UK IMG Sports Radio Network with Neil Price. Fans can also follow the UK Hoops team on Twitter at @UKHoopCats. Use the hashtag #UKHoops to comment on the game. The¿Wildcats (23-3, 11-2)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Azia Bishop characterized her week of practice leading up to Sunday's game against LSU as "rough. " She wasn't focused, she wasn't exerting herself. But Sunday was a different story. She scored a career-high 17 points, and No. 5 Kentucky pulled away late to top LSU 73-60. "It was my day, I guess," Bishop said. Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell agreed with Bishop's assessment of her week at practice but said Sunday was both vindication for a long week and a source for further frustration: If Bishop can play like she did Sunday, Mitchell asked rhetorically, why doesn't she always?

LEXINGTON - This has been such a strange season for Kentucky that there was no way coach John Calipari was going to let LSU get off a potential game-tying, 3-point shot. Who could blame him considering that it might have takens a heads-up move by associate coach John Robic seconds before to keep UK in position to claim a 75-70 win. Calipari had Archie Goodwin foul Anthony Hickey before he could take a shot after Kyle Wiltjer hit two free throws with 3.1 seconds left to play to give UK a 73-70 lead.

LEXINGTON - John Calipari couldn't say enough about Alex Poythress following Kentucky's 75-70 triumph over LSU on Saturday at Rupp Arena. Calipari had plenty of reasons to gloat after Poythress scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, securing his fourth double-digit outing in the team's past five games. Poythress had just six points in the Wildcats' 59-55 loss at Alabama last week, but made a strong recovery with a dominating performance against the Tigers. “I was so proud of Alex, I can't begin to tell you,” Calipari said afterward.

What do Kentucky fans and coach John Calipari have in common? Easy. They are all disappointed with the Wildcats' loss Tuesday at Alabama. “To be honest, I'm disappointed, but my disappointment is more with me than it is with the individual players on this team,” Calipari posted Thursday on www.coachcal.com. “Over the years, we have always taken great pride in getting guys to accept roles, to play for their teammates and to play to win versus playing not to lose. Our teams have always played tough both mentally and physically.

He has been to Rupp Arena both as a player and an assistant coach at LSU, but now Johnny Jones will be making his first appearance in the arena as LSU's head coach. He called Kentucky “one of the most talented teams out there” and said he has a “great understanding” of what type challenge his team will face Saturday afternoon. “I have spent a lot of years going there. It is one of the greatest college atmospheres out there. The fan support is second to none. They create an environment conducive to letting their team have a great deal of success there,” Jones said.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky has added former Northwestern State head coach and LSU assistant coach Bradley Dale Peveto as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator. “Bradley Dale impressed me greatly during the year we worked together,” said Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, who was on the Houston staff with Peveto in 2000.  “He has a relentless work ethic and excellent experience as a special teams coordinator and defensive coach.” Peveto most recently spent four seasons as the head coach at Northwestern State, where he guided the team to consecutive seasons with five or more wins for the first time since 2004-05.

After losing its first four games last year, including a 14-3 decision to Kentucky in Nashville, Western Kentucky won seven of its last eight games - the only loss was 42-9 at LSU - to create a big buzz about coach Willie Taggert's program. “Expectations went up a lot. We expect our guys to even work harder,” said Western linebackers coach Karl Maslowski during a stop in Danville last week for the Kentucky High School Football Coaches Clinic. “We have been harder on them than we have been the last two seasons just because we are trying to get them not to be content with being second in the conference.