The Associated Press

LEXINGTON - Kentucky coach Tubby Smith knows exactly what the Wildcats have to do to beat No. 10 Notre Dame today.

The problem is figuring out exactly how to stop Irish point guard Chris Thomas.

"Chris Thomas is as talented a point guard as we're going to run into this year," Smith said Friday. "This will be a real challenge."

UK (12-3) was one of the few teams that found a way to shut down Thomas last season. Point guard Cliff Hawkins harassed him into 4-of-15 shooting and four turnovers as the Wildcats beat Notre Dame 72-65 in South Bend.

The 6-foot-1 Hawkins, UK's best 1-on-1 defender, likely will draw the defensive assignment on Thomas again and relishes the challenge.

"It's going to be fun," Hawkins said. "He's a great guard. I'll do my best to contain him, stay in front of him and make him make tough decisions."

But the 6-foot-1 Thomas is a much better player now than he was last year as a freshman, Smith said. He averages 17 points per game and ranks seventh in the country in assists (7.3 per game).

"Much more experienced, much more poised," Smith said of Thomas. "He's taking good shots, making better decisions and he's giving the ball up a lot quicker. That comes with experience."

Thomas' unselfishness creates another defensive quandary for Smith, whose team ranks last in the Southeastern Conference in 3-point field goal defense.

If the Wildcats swarm Thomas as he penetrates the lane, that will open gaps for Notre Dame sharpshooters Matt Carroll and Dan Miller, who are a combined 75-of-189 from 3-point range.

But if Thomas gets by Hawkins and no Wildcats are there to help, Thomas is likely to score himself or get to the free throw line, where he shoots 89 percent.

"It makes it pretty tough," Smith said. "On the penetration, we can't give the help we normally would. You can't help off Matt Carroll or Dan Miller or Thomas. They can all knock the 3 down."

Thomas had 22 points and four assists in the Irish's 74-64 win over Seton Hall last Sunday. But he had only five points on 2-of-15 shooting in Notre Dame's 72-55 loss at No. 3 Pittsburgh on Jan. 6.

Irish coach Mike Brey didn't say much to his star after the dismal performance.

"The thing I try to do through this is not overreact, panic, over-coach him, over-analyze," Brey said. "My feeling after the Pitt game was: 'We're not going to talk about this a whole lot. I need you to come in and give me three or four days of good practice.'

"Chris is such a student of the game, when he makes a mistake, he knows it before I say anything."

Notre Dame will be playing for only the second time this season on an opponent's home court. The Irish have never won in Lexington in seven visits.

"If they can control the tempo and the flow, their chances of winning the game are enhanced," Smith said. "We have to make a conscious effort to run the floor and pressure them as much as possible."

No. 16 UK vs. No. 10 Notre Dame

Tipoff: 2:05 p.m. today, Rupp Arena (23,000), Lexington.

Records: ND 14-2, UK 12-3.

Radio: WSAI-AM (1530).

TV: Ch.12, 7.

Series: UK leads 39-17.

NOTRE DAME

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Dan Miller	Sr.	6-8	14.6
Jordan Cornette	So.	6-9	2.8
Torin Francis	Fr.	6-10	10.3
Matt Carroll	Sr.	6-6	20.1
Chris Thomas	So.	6-1	17.0

Coach: Mike Brey (56-43, third season; 155-75 overall).

KENTUCKY

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Chuck Hayes	So.	6-6	8.5
Erik Daniels	Jr.	6-8	10.0
Marquis Estill	Sr.	6-9	11.1
Keith Bogans	Sr.	6-5	17.6
Gerald Fitch	Jr.	6-3	12.1

Coach: Tubby Smith (144-46, sixth season; 268-108 overall).