Saturday, January 08, 2000
Vandy looking to change luck at Rupp
Commodores starting hot
The Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Vanderbilt brings more than just another losing streak into Rupp Arena for today's game with No. 25 Kentucky.
The Commodores have never won at Rupp and haven't beaten Kentucky in Lexington since 1974, when the Wildcats still played at Memorial Coliseum.
This year, though, there is reason for optimism in Nashville. Vanderbilt is off to a 10-1 start under first-year coach Kevin Stallings and opened its Southeastern Conference schedule Wednesday with an 87-77 home upset of No.6 Florida.
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VANDERBILT at UK
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• When: 5 p.m. today
• Where: Rupp Arena (23,000), Lexington
• Records: UK 9-4, Vandy 10-1
• TV: Insight Ch. 6
• Radio: WSAI-AM (1530), WNKR-FM (106.5)
BY THE NUMBERS
• 23-0: UK's record against Vanderbilt in Rupp Arena
• 40.5: Vandy's 3-point percentage, tops in the SEC
• 1: Ranking in SEC scoring leaders of Vandy's Dan Langhi
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“We've never beaten them in Rupp before, but we've never had Coach Stallings before,” said Sam Howard, who made seven of eight 3-point attempts in scoring 22 points against the Gators.
Vandy's 87 points were the most scored against Florida this season and offered a rebuttal to those who argued that the Commodores' strong start was due mainly to a weak non-conference schedule.
“I think the way they played vs. Florida got the attention of anyone who might not have thought (Saturday) was a big game,” Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said Friday.
Smith's Wildcats (9-4) closed the pre-conference portion of their schedule with a rush, winning five straight after four losses in five games.
“We still have a tendency to lose our concentration. Again, that comes with more maturity and with a more veteran team,” Smith said.
Today, Kentucky will have to find a way to stop the perimeter game of Howard, who is making 46.7 percent of his 3-point attempts this season, and Dan Langhi, who is leading the SEC with 23.5 points a game.
DEREK WATCH: The Derek Smith Watch is in its waning days. The Kentucky freshman tight end from Highlands will decide this weekend whether to join UK's basketball team.
Smith has been given grudging approval from football coach Hal Mumme to play. Basketball coach Tubby Smith called Derek's home Thursday night and talked to Derek and his parents, Chris and Carolyn.
Derek will speak with Tubby Smith again today. Carolyn Smith said her son probably will decide Sunday and make an announcement Monday.
“It has kind of been like negotiating,” Carolyn Smith said. “Derek just wants to make sure everyone's happy with whatever decision he makes.”
Mumme expressed concern about Derek's ability to maintain his football conditioning program while playing basketball.
“When we recruited Derek, we told him he could play basketball, and I'm certainly not going to stand in his way,” Mumme said Wednesday.
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