Kentucky Wildcats

THE LOWDOWN

Head Coach: Tubby Smith
2003-04 Record: 27-5 (13-3 SEC)
SEC Finish: 1st (East)
Key Losses: F Erik Daniels (14.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.8 apg), G Gerald Fitch (16.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg), G Cliff Hawkins (10.3 ppg, 5.2 apg)
Postseason: NCAA: Defeated Florida A&M 96-76, lost to UAB 76-75 in the second round

RETURNEES (returning starters in bold)
No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Yr.	Pts.
21	Shagari Alleyne	C	7'3"	So.	0.8
24	Kelenna Azubuike	G/F	6'5"	Jr.	11.1
5	Josh Carrier	G	6'5"	Sr.	1.2
44	Chuck Hayes	F	6'6"	Sr.	10.7
11	Preston LeMaster	G	6'2"	Jr.	0.0
2	Ravi Moss	G	6'2"	Jr.	1.7
10	Lukasz Obrzut	C	7'1"	So.	1.2
13	Bobby Perry	F	6'7"	So.	1.3
1	Brandon Stockton	G	5'9"	Jr.	1.0
23	Sheray Thomas	F	6'7"	So.	1.7
Complete 2003-04 Team Stats

FRESH FACES
No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.
3	Ramel Bradley	G	6'3"
32	Joe Crawford	G	6'4"
33	Randolph Morris	C	6'11"
4	Rajon Rondo	G	6'1"
22	Patrick Sparks	G	6'1"

Tubby Smith has enjoyed the luxury of veteran lineups during most of his first seven years as Kentucky's head coach, but this season's edition of the Wildcats will have a markedly different look. Instead of counting on experience to pull his team through the ups and downs of a long season, Smith knows this group might require a bit more touch. He's coaching what could be his most talented team at Kentucky, but it also will be one of his youngest.

"This year will be interesting from the standpoint that all of these freshmen are very highly touted and very talented," Smith said. "Blending those guys into our system will be a challenge because our system is pretty complex on offense and defense."

While most rookies have learned Smith's system from the bench, at least three of UK's four incoming freshmen are expected to play significant minutes, and two (center Randolph Morris, guard Joe Crawford) could start right away.

FRONTCOURT

While Morris, a 6-foot-11 center from Atlanta, will certainly garner his share of attention, senior power forward Chuck Hayes remains the heart and soul of a team that has earned a reputation for its blue-collar approach to the game, especially on defense. Since his sophomore season, Hayes has been one of the 'Cats' most respected locker room leaders, and his 2003-04 averages of 10.7 points and 8.1 rebounds made him indispensable for a team that lacked inside presence.

Now that Hayes will tag-team with a legitimate center in Morris, the Wildcats' inside game is now a position of strength. Morris gives the 'Cats a post presence -- mostly on defense -- that it lacked a year ago. Smith expects Morris' size and shot-blocking ability to deter opponents' penetration.

UK also can count on more minutes from sophomore forward Sheray Thomas, who blossomed late in his freshman season as a player who isn't afraid of contact.

Smith brought in a pair of twin towers a year ago in 7-1 Lukasz Obrzut and 7-3 Shagari Alleyne, but neither appeared prepared for the level of play in the SEC. Alleyne likely will redshirt this season because of his dire need for an injection of strength in his frail frame.

BACKCOURT

The loss of Gerald Fitch and Cliff Hawkins might seem devastating for some teams, but Kentucky simply will reload with Crawford, fellow freshmen Rajon Rondo and Ramel Bradley, and transfer Patrick Sparks.

Two of those four figure to earn starting positions, with Sparks and Crawford the favorites going into the season. Sparks, who spent two seasons at Western Kentucky and was a member of the Hilltoppers team that upset the 'Cats at Rupp Arena in 2001, was named the 2003 Sun Belt Conference tournament's Most Outstanding Player. He sat out last season as a transfer but impressed his new teammates with his shooting and passing in practice.

Crawford is an athletic shooter capable of catching fire from long range or driving to the basket, which could give him the edge in the battle for minutes at shooting guard.

Offsetting all of the newness in Smith's three-guard alignment will be junior Kelenna Azubuike, who moved into a starting role last season and never relinquished it. Azubuike hit his stride at the end of the season, scoring 69 points in five postseason games. He enters 2004-05 as the top candidate to lead the Wildcats in scoring.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Kentucky has entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 overall seed each of the past two seasons, only to be disappointed by an early exit. Last year, UAB shocked the nation by overcoming a late six-point deficit to knock off the 'Cats, who haven't visited the Final Four since winning it all in 1998.

This team again figures to be a force in the SEC and rack up impressive win totals, but another failed bid to reach the Final Four will be hard for Big Blue Nation to tolerate.

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