Wildcats

LEXINGTON - With all the hoopla that surrounds the Kentucky basketball program and the big future expectations many of the current Wildcats have, there's still no place quite like home for the players at Christmas. “I can't wait just to go home (to Indianapolis) and spent time with my family that I¿have not seen in a while, so that should be fun,” Kentucky guard Marquis Teague said before UK's Christmas break started after the Wildcats' win Thursday over Loyola (Md.). “I miss my family a lot.” Teague isn't the only one. “We all talk about going home and seeing our families a lot. We don't get to see them much, so the time we do get to spend with them we are going to enjoy it. At the end of the day, we are kids that want to see our mothers and fathers on Christmas just like everybody else does.” Guard Jarrod Polson had a short commute home to Wilmore in Jessamine County for the holidays.

LEXINGTON - One game is all Kentucky coach John Calipari needed to see to know that Mississippi could give his top-ranked Wildcats problems Saturday. “They were up 20-4 on Florida and got beat,” said Calipari. “They have played well and done some really good stuff. We expect it to be a tough battle. You are talking about a team that is very, very physical. Mississippi is playing well.” The Rebels (15-10, 5-6 Southeastern Conference) come in to Kentucky off a 102-76 loss at home to Vanderbilt on Thursday night.

It’s not hard for Kentucky coach John Calipari to remember why Georgia was able to beat his Wildcats three weeks ago in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams. “Georgia beat us good down there. It was close, we got back in it and then they spread it out again. They played rougher than us. They were physical. They were good,” Calipari said. “We couldn’t drive the ball and get a clean look (at the basket). We weren’t playing through bumps.

Kentucky will be facing one of the Southeastern Conference’s more unique players when it plays at South Carolina on Saturday night. Freshman guard Bruce Ellington has seemingly done the impossible — replaced South Carolina star Devan Downey. Ellington is averaging 15 points and 3.5 assists per game for the Gamecocks (12-5, 3-1 Southeastern Conference), who are leading the conference race despite being picked to finish last in the SEC Eastern Division. “I think Ellington has really lessened the burden of the loss of Downey because he is an outstanding player,” Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said.

LEXINGTON — Doron Lamb insists he doesn’t mind coming off the bench for Kentucky. So far, his play verifies that. The freshman guard is the 13th-ranked Wildcats’ third-leading scorer at 12.4 points per game going into Wednesday afternoon’s game against Winthrop. He’s shooting 46 percent from the field, 48.6 percent from 3-point range and a team-high 78.8 percent at the foul line. He’s got only 19 assists, but he’s also made just 12 turnovers in 280 minutes of play — or one turnover every 23 minutes.

LEXINGTON - Terrence Jones might have been the only one surprised that it took him until Saturday to get his first double-double this season. The Kentucky forward regularly had double-doubles last year when he was the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, and many more were expected this season when he was named the Preseason SEC Player of the Year. However, his 15-point, 11-rebound effort in Saturday's win over Mississippi was his first this season.

HOOVER, Ala. — No player has had a greater impact on Kentucky football the last two years than Randall Cobb. He’s done everything from catch game-winning passes to throwing game-winning passes to running for game-winning scores. He’s been special in returning kicks and even holds for extra points and field goals. More importantly, Cobb’s leadership has been essential during two more bowl seasons and he’s also become one of the most popular players.

LEXINGTON — Junior DeAndre Liggins didn’t mince words about his play or why Kentucky lost its Southeastern Conference opener at Georgia Saturday. “I thought I didn’t play with a lot of energy. I didn’t play well defensively. Our offense wasn’t going, and I think they (Georgia) wanted it more than us,” said Liggins on Monday. Kentucky coach John Calipari didn’t disagree with what happened in UK’s 77-70 loss. “They wanted it worse than we did. I have some guys who have to learn what it means to be committed,” Calipari said.

LEXINGTON — Getting dropped to No. 3 on the depth chart when Kentucky went to Florida to play was a bitter blow to sophomore tailback Donald Russell, a Florida native. However, two weeks after his demotion, he got his chance again to show what he could do and responded with nine carries for 32 yards and two catches for 19 yards in last week’s 37-34 loss to Auburn. With starter Derrick Locke’s status for this Saturday’s game against No. 10 South Carolina in limbo because of a shoulder injury, Russell could get a chance to shine once again.

LEXINGTON — DeAndre Liggins has had a simple philosophy this season. “I just have to try to learn from my mistakes and try to do whatever it takes to help our team. That’s all I can do,” said the junior guard. He’s averaging 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game and has been Kentucky’s most consistent defender. He’s shown an improved 3-point shot — he’s 7-for-18 from 3-point range — and a willingness to try and be a more vocal leader.