By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEXINGTON - Antwain Barbour clanged a 3-pointer on his first shot Wednesday, then blew a layup and was 0-of-2. A here-we-go-again sigh leaked from the crowd.

Then a funny thing happened: Nothing. Barbour wasn't pulled from the game, and a minute later he drained a 3-pointer, giving his season a potential turning point.

All Barbour would do is make his final four shots, all 3-pointers, for 12 points in the most critical contribution of his star-crossed UK career.

"I've been trying to do this all year," he said.

The senior swingman could be a key to the season if he becomes a reliable reserve.

"Antwain is as good an athlete as we have," UK coach Tubby Smith said. "... Everyone wants him to do well."

After his opening miss Wednesday, Barbour stood 1-of-14 on 3-point attempts this season. The former junior-college All-America was averaging just 2.6 points entering the game.

Barbour said he hasn't been bothered by what he hears from fans and the media about his struggles.

"I know I can score," he said. "I've been doing it all my life. ... I've just got to be patient."

KEY RECRUITS: UK seemingly completed its recruiting this week by securing commitments from two premier guards on consecutive days.

The big catch is 6-foot-4 shooting guard Joe Crawford of Detroit's Renaissance High. The consensus top-25 national prospect committed a day after point guard Rajon Rondo, a Louisville native playing at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., had done so.

Crawford picked UK over Michigan, to which he had withdrawn an earlier verbal commitment. Rondo chose UK over Louisville.

They will join two more newcomers in UK's backcourt. Ramel Bradley of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., signed in the fall, and Patrick Sparks is sitting out this season at UK after transferring from Western Kentucky.

UK also has signed swingman Adam Williams of St. Albans (W.Va.) High.

CAT TALES: Gerald Fitch, who had 14 points, made his 100th career start Wednesday. ... UK has led at the first TV timeout in 15 of its 16 games, including a 10-4 lead Wednesday. ... UK has a 12-game winning streak against Southeastern Conference West teams.

E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com