The Associated Press

LEXINGTON - Kentucky coach Tubby Smith was angry, and he let senior guard Keith Bogans know. It was Jan. 14, early in the Southeastern Conference season, and the Wildcats trailed Vanderbilt 36-28 at halftime. Behind closed doors, Smith ripped the players, focusing much of his wrath on Bogans.

As Bogans put it: "He knows once he gets in my face, that gets the other guys going."

It sure did.

TENNESSEE at UK

• Tipoff: 8 p.m. today, Rupp Arena (23,000), Lexington. • Records: UK 22-3 (12-0 SEC), UT 15-8 (7-5). • Radio: WSAI-AM (1530). • TV: ICN-6 (in Northern Kentucky only). • Series: UK leads 131-62. • Line: UK by 14 1/2.

The Wildcats came out with an overwhelming defensive effort in the second half, allowing Vanderbilt just four baskets after the break en route to a 74-52 victory.

That was the sixth straight victory in what has become a nation-leading 16-game winning streak for No. 2-ranked Kentucky (22-3, 12-0 SEC).

And the Wildcats haven't come close to losing since, winning by an average of 17 points over the likes of Notre Dame, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi State.

Kentucky will go for its 17th consecutive win today against Tennessee (15-8, 7-5).

"What's keeping us going is that nobody's on his own individual thing," Bogans said. "It's all about the team, and everybody's trusting one another, believing in one another."

That helps when it comes to defense, a big reason for Kentucky's run.

In SEC action, Kentucky leads the league in scoring defense (58 points per game), field goal percentage defense (40 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (28 percent).

Bogans credits team chemistry for the success, saying players are friends, no one hogs the spotlight and there's no trace of the internal bickering that hurt last year's 22-10 team.

But another big reason why Kentucky is on course for a No. 1 seeding in the NCAA Tournament, of course, is Bogans. He leads the team in scoring average (16.4), assists (74) and steals (33).

"In the past, I've been caught up in getting down about not making a shot or letting a play bother me, instead of just playing through it," he said. "This year, I told myself to just put the team first and everything else will fall into place. So far, that's how it's been."

The team's togetherness was on full display as the reserves closed out a 70-55 rout of then-No. 1 Florida on Feb. 4. Bogans beamed and hopped in place, Gerald Fitch twirled a towel, and the rest of the benched Wildcats laughed and embraced as the final two minutes ticked away.

Fitch didn't have moments like that last season. He often was at the center of the team's off-court troubles, fighting with a teammate on a plane and getting caught with fake identification at a nightclub.

Smith dismissed four players from last season's team but kept Fitch.

And the junior point guard has made the most of his second chance, starting every game and averaging 12.6 points. He scored 31 in Kentucky's 66-50 win over Arkansas on Feb. 19.

"The biggest reason for me doing so well is to give back to Tubby," Fitch said. "There's a lot I can do better, but we've been winning, so I can't complain."

Also contributing is Fitch's backup, Cliff Hawkins, who missed the first two months of the season because of an academic suspension.

Hawkins is averaging 21 minutes and is second on the team to Bogans in assists (71).

Smith said Fitch and Hawkins often correct each other's defensive mistakes in practice.

"It's a positive thing - positive reinforcement," Smith said. "When you see guys competing in practice, like Gerald and Cliff, and they're helping one another, that's the best thing about it."

Kentucky's frontcourt has become just as strong and deep as the guard line: Senior center Marquis Estill is averaging 10.8 points and leads the team with 44 blocks; sophomore forward Chuck Hayes averages a team-best 6.7 rebounds; junior forward Erik Daniels is averaging 10 points; senior center Jules Camara has 32 blocks.

Daniels, Estill and Camara are shooting better than 50 percent from the field.

"I don't think there's a most valuable player on this team," Estill said. "Everybody's playing well, everybody's contributing, no matter when they come into the game."

Today's lineups:

KENTUCKY	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Chuck Hayes	So.	6-6	8.8
Erik Daniels	Jr.	6-8	10.0
Marquis Estill	Sr.	6-9	10.8
Keith Bogans	Sr.	6-5	16.4
Gerald Fitch	Jr.	6-3	12.6

Coach: Tubby Smith (154-46, sixth season; 278-108 overall).

TENNESSEE	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Jon Higgins	Sr.	6-3	8.7
Ron Slay	Sr.	6-8	21.9
Brandon Crump	So.	6-10	10.3
Thaydeus Holden	Sr.	6-0	8.2
C.J. Watson	Fr.	6-1	9.7

Coach: Buzz Peterson (30-24, second season; 135-74 overall).