Vanderbilt

LEXINGTON - Kentucky may counter Alabama's size by going to a bigger starting lineup for Saturday's game that would include both Randolph Morris and Lukasz Obrzut. Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said Morris would start Saturday after coming off the bench to score 10 points and grab seven rebounds Tuesday in his first game back after a 14-game suspension. It was assumed Obrzut, a junior center, would be the one going to the bench. "We might try to get bigger," Smith said today.

LEXINGTON — Kentucky and Georgia both started Southeastern Conference play with three straight losses. Yet both teams are talking about the possibility of winning the SEC Eastern Division going into Saturday night’s game here. The Bulldogs, 3-4 overall, are now 2-3 in SEC after a 43-0 win over Vanderbilt following a 41-14 victory a week earlier against Tennessee. Kentucky, 4-3 overall, is 1-3 in conference action after knocking off then No. 10 South Carolina 31-28. “People always say year in and year out that anybody can win on any given weekend, and that’s what’s happening right now,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said Sunday.

LEXINGTON ? Corey Peters has no problem admitting that Kentucky's season is on the line Saturday at Vanderbilt. The Wildcats take a 5-4 record into the game and need one more win to become bowl-eligible. However, Peters knows the Cats need to win at least two of their remaining three games against Vanderbilt, Georgia and Tennessee to assure themselves of a fourth straight bowl bid. "Our season is on the line. That is fair" said Peters Monday. "There is no guarantee you go to a bowl game with six wins based on how other SEC teams are also doing.

LEXINGTON -- Joe Crawford admits it was hard to watch the tapes of last year's games against Vanderbilt, especially the Commodores' 57-52 win in Lexington that was their first ever victory at Rupp Arena. "It was a sad thing to look at, but we went through a lot this summer, and we've had some hard practices, and hopefully it will pay off," Crawford said. "It was hard to be a part of that. But were looking to change that this year. " But the Wildcats, who have won 11 straight, will have to watch for another letdown Saturday when Vanderbilt comes back to Rupp Arena for a 3 p.m. tip-off.

LEXINGTON - Vanderbilt's 49-22 loss at No. 17 Florida last week did nothing to change Kentucky coach Rich Brooks' view of the Commodores. "Vanderbilt, obviously, is a better team than last year. Defensively, they are one of the better teams in our league. Florida dented them a little bit last week, but they are still top three or four," said Brooks. "Offensively, they present different problems because of the option and quarterback run game. Their receiver, Earl Bennett, is a big-time player.

LEXINGTON - Lackadaisical play and mental mistakes put Kentucky in a hole that even a second-half rally couldn't overcome. No, this wasn't VMI's stunning 111-103 upset of Billy Gillispie's basketball team on Friday night. Instead, this was the Kentucky football team throwing away a chance to improve its bowl situation by losing 31-24 here to Vanderbilt Saturday night. With scouts from six bowls watching, Kentucky (6-5) looked far from a bowl-worthy team. The offense generated just 241 yards, the special teams made costly mistakes and the defense couldn't get stops while allowing 406 yards.

LEXINGTON - Tubby Smith never worried about Antwain Barbour losing his confidence even when he was missing shots and spending far more time on the Kentucky bench than anyone imagined when the season started. "He's a kid that is always upbeat," said the Kentucky coach. "He has a great smile and air about him. The players love him. We love him. Everybody wants him to play well. He may have struggled all year, but he never got down and it finally paid off. Now we have more options.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky can't have a winning season and has known for weeks it won't be going to a bowl game. The offense has struggled to score points and the defense has been just as vulnerable during a seven-game losing streak. Perhaps that's why the Wildcats are using Senior Day as a rallying point as they prepare to host Vanderbilt Saturday. "It is the last game our seniors have at home," said junior linebacker Jon Sumrall. "We want to do our best to send them out on a good note.

LEXINGTON - Kentucky coach Rich Brooks thinks quarterback Andre Woodson deserves to be mentioned along with any quarterback receiving Heisman Trophy or All-American consideration. "I think he is probably one of the best kept secrets in college football when you talk about the best quarterbacks in the country," Brooks said Sunday. Woodson completed 29 of 42 passes for a career-high 450 yards and four touchdowns in Saturday's 38-26 win over Vanderbilt. It was his second straight game to lead UK to a come-from-behind win in the fourth quarter.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Kentucky's chances for going unbeaten in Southeastern Conference play just keep looking better. The sixth-ranked Wildcats had about as easy a time beating Vanderbilt 84-70 Saturday as Big Blue fans did obtaining tickets to a supposedly sold-out game. Kentucky opened the game with a 9-0 run, built a 17-point halftime lead and put the game away with a 14-2 run midway of the second half that left more than the Kentucky fans who made up about one third of the crowd impressed.