The Associated Press

LEXINGTON - Vanderbilt has a lot of history - both long-standing and recent - to overturn if the Commodores hope to continue their best start ever.

At 12-0, the 20th-ranked Commodores have won more games than they did all of last season, when they finished 11-18. But Vanderbilt hasn't beaten Kentucky at Rupp Arena since the Wildcats began playing there in 1976.

The Commodores also will be returning to the site where last year they had their most lopsided loss in more than five decades. Kentucky - then ranked No. 2 and on its way to an undefeated Southeastern Conference record - embarrassed Vanderbilt 106-44. Vanderbilt hadn't lost that badly since 1947, when Kentucky defeated the Commodores 98-29 in the SEC Tournament.

"It was the longest night of my life," said Vanderbilt forward Matt Freije, the SEC preseason player of the year and one of four Vandy starters back this season. "It seemed like the game went on forever and ever and ever."

Vanderbilt, which beat Auburn 59-53 in its SEC opener Wednesday, comes into Lexington this season ranked high, but not as high as No. 7 Kentucky (9-1). The Wildcats, whose only loss came to archrival Louisville, are fresh off a 61-56 win over then-No. 9 North Carolina and eager to begin defense of their SEC title.

"We beat them three times last year, but they are still going to come to play," Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes said of Vanderbilt. "Last year was last year, and they weren't playing as well then. It is a new year, and we are defending SEC champions, so we have to defend (the title)."

Critics say Vanderbilt's undefeated record is largely a result of playing 10 home games and leaving the city limits of Nashville only once all season - a trip that resulted in a 95-60 win at TCU last Saturday. Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said that win proves wrong the critics' line of reasoning.

"It shows that our confidence is real, it's not imagined, it's not a function of playing at home and building a good record," Stallings said. "That's a gratifying thing."

Stallings said Vanderbilt's early success is due in part to improved team chemistry.

Vanderbilt trailed Auburn 53-48 with 5:32 left before holding Auburn scoreless the rest of the game. Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said Vanderbilt's depth was the key to the Commodores' win and something he hoped Kentucky can emulate.

"You have to have a bench to go against Vanderbilt, because they will wear you down with their subs, and that's why it's critical to develop (the bench), especially with the style of play that we want to play," Smith said.

No. 7 UK vs. No. 20 Vanderbilt

Tipoff: 7 p.m. today, Rupp Arena (23,000), Lexington.

Records: UK 9-1 (0-0 Southeastern Conference), VU 12-0 (1-0).

Radio: WSAI-AM (1530).

Line: UK by 11.

Series: UK leads 126-36.

VANDERBILT

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Corey Smith	Jr.	6-6	6.3
Matt Freije	Sr.	6-10	18.8
Julian Terrell	So.	6-9	8.5
Jason Holwerda	Jr.	6-6	6.3
Mario Moore	So.	5-11	9.4

Coach: Kevin Stallings (74-59, fifth season; 197-122 overall).

KENTUCKY

Player	Yr.	Ht.	PPG
Kelenna Azubuike	So.	6-5	9.8
Chuck Hayes	Jr.	6-6	11.7
Erik Daniels	Sr.	6-8	14.8
Gerald Fitch	Sr.	6-3	17.8
Cliff Hawkins	Sr.	6-1	10.6

Coach: Tubby Smith (173-48, seventh season; 297-110 overall).

TV information

The game will not be available on local TV. It is being broadcast by Fox Sports South, which is not carried by local cable systems. All remaining UK games this season will be available locally.

---Neil Schmidt