By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

LEXINGTON - Senior Day is something of a secular holiday here, and Kentucky rarely disappoints its faithful. Its victory Sunday over Florida was its seventh consecutive Senior Day victory. It has won 39 of its last 40 such games and is 80-4 since 1920 in its final home game.

This UK senior class thus far has a record of 101-28 and has won four Southeastern Conference Eastern Division titles, two SEC regular-season crowns and two SEC Tournament championships.

As for UK's seniors: Erik Daniels, Cliff Hawkins, Gerald Fitch and Antwain Barbour have all had problems in the past, including such transgressions as academic suspension, fights with teammates and brushes with the law. Yet UK coach Tubby Smith lauded the group as a whole for how it matured.

"I think some of those incidents, those altercations, have made them stronger, made them better people," Smith said.

BAD LUCK: Senior walk-on Matt Heissenbuttel was to have made his first career start along with UK's four other seniors, but he sprained an ankle Saturday in practice and couldn't play. He was announced as a starter, but then Chuck Hayes came in as a "substitute" before the opening tip.

"He can hardly walk," Smith said of Heissenbuttel. "... How bad of luck is that?"

SEED TALK: A No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed, figured a pipe dream three weeks ago, now seems within UK's grasp.

The Wildcats began play Sunday at No. 3 in the Ratings Percentage Index, a spot ahead of Mississippi State. It is presumed that one or the other will garner a No. 1 seed, so perhaps whichever wins the Southeastern Conference Tournament will get that honor.

"We have to play a lot better in the SEC Tournament," Smith said. "We feel that's the only way we can get a No. 1 seed."

FRIENDLY WAGER: Chuck Hayes, a junior, said he and senior Erik Daniels have a bet about which will record a triple-double first. Each gave it a good run Sunday: Daniels had 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Hayes had 12 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

"I was flirting with it," Hayes said. "But I'll have another year to do it."

There is only one recorded triple-double in UK history: Chris Mills had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Austin Peay on Dec. 27, 1988.

SHE'S BACK: UK's most celebrated fan, Ashley Judd, was in attendance after also witnessing UK's victory Wednesday at South Carolina. She had a cast on her broken left foot and was carried to the court by a cheerleader to be the "Y" in the spelling of "Kentucky" during a timeout.

CAT TALES: UK's totals Sunday for rebounds (53) and assists (25) each represented the second-highest totals of the season. ... UK has won 16 straight games when Hayes rebounds in double figures, as he did Sunday, and is 12-0 in his career when he notches a double-double.

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E-mail nschmidt@enquirer.com