Scouting Kentucky
Kentucky, currently ranked 18th in the AP poll and 19th in the ESPN/USA Today poll, enters the game with a record of 11-3 and winners of five straight after earning a 62-55 home win over South Carolina Saturday night in Lexington, Ky. The Wildcats’ three losses this season came against Virginia, Michigan State and Louisville.

Senior guard Keith Bogans leads the team in scoring with 17.7 points per game and is followed by junior guard Gerald Fitch, who is averaging 11.6 points per contest. Junior forward Erik Daniels is Kentucky’s leading rebounder with 5.9 rebounds per game, while senior forward Marquis Estill and sophomore forward Chuck Hayes are tied for second with 5.5 boards a game.

Last season, the two schools split with Vanderbilt claiming an 86-73 win over No. 11 Kentucky on Senior Night. The win was the Commodores’ first over Kentucky since defeating the No. 1.

Three...Dot...Data vs. Alabama
For the third time in the past four games, Matt Freije was VU’s top scorer...Julian Terrell was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field...Terrell and Russell Lakey tied for the team lead with five rebounds, which is the lowest number of boards for the team leader this season...All eight of the Commodores’ victories have come when they shoot 40 percent or better from the field...Even in knocking off the No. 4 team in the nation, the Commodores only set three individual season-high marks...Jason Holwerda has led VU in assists in the past two games...Because of the high field goal percentage by both teams, Vanderbilt had just 25 rebounds and the combined rebounds were just 54, which are both season lows...This was just the second time this season VU was outrebounded and still won (ETSU)...Vanderbilt has scored no fast-break points in the past two games...Points in the paint: VU 20, UA 34...Points off turnovers: VU 12, UA 22...Second-chance points: VU 6, UA 12...Fastbreak points: VU 0, UA 15.

Common Opponents
Vanderbilt and Kentucky have played three common opponents with Vanderbilt posting a 2-1 record and Kentucky recording a 3-0 record against those teams.

Opponent VU UK
Tulane W, 66-46 W, 76-60
Indiana L, 56-73 W, 70-64
High Point W, 81-75 W, 84-64

Vanderbilt Takes Down a Top-5 Opponent
Vanderbilt evened its SEC record at 1-1 Saturday with a 70-69 win over No. 4 Alabama. It was the first Vanderbilt victory over a Top-5 opponent since the Commodores beat No. 4 UCLA Nov. 22, 1995, in the Maui Invitational. Also, it was the first home win over a Top-5 foe for Vanderbilt since the Dores beat No. 1 Kentucky, 101-86, Jan. 13, 1993.

Vanderbilt Versus Ranked Opponents
Vanderbilt improved to 1-3 this season and 10-18 under Kevin Stallings versus ranked opponents after defeating No. 4 Alabama, 70- 69. In the 36 games versus ranked opponents leading up to Stallings’ arrival (1994-99), VU won just six games.

All-time, the Commodores are now 64-171 against ranked opponents and are now 45-57 versus ranked opponents at home.

Vanderbilt vs. Ranked Foes in 2002-03
Date Opponent W/L Score
12/1/02 vs. #12 Connecticut L 70-76
12/9/02 at #6 Indiana L 56-73
12/30/02 at #6 Notre Dame L 63-76
1/11/03 vs. #4 Alabama W 70-69

Commodores & Tide Find the Bottom of the Net
Vanderbilt and Alabama put on the best shooting performance of any Commodore game this season, shooting a combined 52 percent (52-100). Vanderbilt shot 56.8 percent from the field, which is the thirdbest mark this season and the best in the past 10 games, while Alabama shot 48.2 percent from the field. Vanderbilt also had tremendous success from three-point range, posting a 61.5 three-point percentage (8-13), which is the second-best mark this season.

The teams also each posted an even better half. The Commodores shot 60 percent (15-25) in the first, while the Crimson Tide shot 57.7 percent (15-26) in the second half.

Lakey Hits Clutch Threes
Vanderbilt junior guard Russell Lakey is beginning to make a habit of hitting the big three-pointer when the Commodores need it most. With Vanderbilt clinging to a two-point lead over No. 4 Alabama Saturday, Lakey stared down a dwindling shot clock and drained a three-pointer that gave VU a five-point lead with 20 seconds remaining.

Earlier this season versus Georgia Southern, it was Lakey’s threes that busted the game open for Vanderbilt. Lakey went 4-for-4 on threepointers in the final 6:08 of the first half to turn a seven-point Commodore lead into a 21-point advantage by the intermission.

Last year at home versus LSU, Lakey again made his long-range presence felt. In his first action after missing six games due to a broken foot, Lakey made just one basket — a three-pointer with 49 seconds remaining that sealed the win for Vanderbilt.

No. 35 is No. 1 Against Top Teams
Matt Freije has proven this season that he will show up for the Commodores in the big games. In four games against Top-25 teams, Freije is averaging 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Against No. 12 Connecticut, Freije scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. At No. 6 Indiana, he once again put the team on back, scoring a team-high 18 points and pulling down a team-high nine rebounds. At No. 6 Notre Dame, Freije scored a season and game-high 23 points and also grabbed six rebounds. Then against No. 4 Alabama, he scored a team-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field.

Hundley Gives Vanderbilt Quality Play in Three Straight
Scott Hundley had a good 10 days with solid performances against College of Charleston, at Auburn and against No. 4 Alabama. Against College of Charleston, he scored six points, which was the most for him since scoring 11 versus Connecticut. Hundley then came back to score nine points at Auburn before recording a season-best 12 points against Alabama on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and a 4-of-5 performance from the charity stripe.

In addition to his scoring, Hundley showed his all-around game against College of Charleston as he tied a career-high with five assists to go along with no turnovers. For the season, he is seventh in the SEC in assist/turnover ratio with 2.27 assists for every turnover.

Terrell & Moore Rank Among SEC’s Top Freshmen
Among SEC freshmen, forward Julian Terrell is second in blocks (0.85), fourth in rebounds (4.2), sixth in field goal percentage (.500) and ninth in steals (0.92). Among SEC freshmen, guard Mario Moore is sixth in assists (2.08).

Complete Notes