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2008–09 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team

2008–09 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
South Carolina 10 – 6   .625 21 – 10   .677
Tennessee 10 – 6   .625 21 – 13   .618
Florida 9 – 7   .563 25 – 11   .694
Vanderbilt 8 – 8   .500 19 – 12   .613
Kentucky 8 – 8   .500 22 – 14   .611
Georgia 3 – 13   .188 12 – 20   .375
West
No. 21 LSU 13 – 3   .813 27 – 8   .771
Auburn 10 – 6   .625 24 – 12   .667
Mississippi State† 9 – 7   .563 23 – 13   .639
Alabama 7 – 9   .438 18 – 14   .563
Ole Miss 7 – 9   .438 16 – 15   .516
Arkansas 2 – 14   .125 14 – 16   .467
† SEC Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2008–09 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the college basketball season of 2008–09. The team's head coach was Billy Gillispie, who was in his second and final year as coach. The Wildcats played their home games at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The team's season started with a controversial early Midnight Madness event on October 10, 2008, which is not the traditional date for celebration that coincides with the first day of NCAA-sanctioned regular practice sessions that occurred on October 17, 2008.

On March 15, 2009, the Wildcats accepted a bid to the 2009 National Invitation Tournament, ending a streak of 17 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship dating back to 1992.[1]

Roster

2008–09 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F 1 Darius Miller 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 223 lb (101 kg) Fr Mason County Maysville, Kentucky
G 2 Matt Scherbenske 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jr Oak Hill Academy (VA)/Oral Roberts Lexington, Kentucky
G 3 Kevin Galloway 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Sacramento/Southern Idaho Sacramento, California
F 5 Ramon Harris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 218 lb (99 kg) Jr West Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska
G 10 Landon Slone 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 188 lb (85 kg) Fr Paintsville Paintsville, Kentucky
G 11 Adam Delph 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 161 lb (73 kg) Fr Pleasure Ridge Park Louisville, Kentucky
G 12 Mark Krebs 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 207 lb (94 kg) Jr Newport Central Catholic Newport, Kentucky
G 13 Michael Porter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 198 lb (90 kg) Jr Modesto Christian Modesto, California
G 14 Mark Halsell 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 182 lb (83 kg) So St. Charles/Southwestern Illinois St. Charles, Missouri
F 15 A.J. Stewart 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 218 lb (99 kg) So Arlington Country Day Jacksonville, Florida
F 21 Perry Stevenson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Lafayette Lafayette, Louisiana
G 23 Jodie Meeks 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 208 lb (94 kg) Jr Norcross Norcross, Georgia
G 25 Donald Williams 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Fr Progressive Christian Academy Baton Rouge, Louisiana
G 30 Dwight Perry 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 187 lb (85 kg) Jr Southern Durham, North Carolina
F 33 Matt Pilgrim Current redshirt 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 233 lb (106 kg) Jr Bridgton Academy/Hampton Cincinnati, Ohio
G 34 DeAndre Liggins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Fr Findlay Prep (NV) Chicago, Illinois
C 43 Jared Carter 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 277 lb (126 kg) Sr Scott County Georgetown, Kentucky
F 54 Patrick Patterson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 235 lb (107 kg) So Huntington Huntington, West Virginia
C 55 Josh Harrellson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 265 lb (120 kg) So St. Charles/Southwestern Illinois St. Charles, Missouri
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

2008 signees

College recruiting information (2008)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
DeAndre Liggins
G 		Chicago, Illinois Findlay Prep 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 202 lb (92 kg) Jun 27, 2007 
Recruit ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 89
Darius Miller
G/F 		Maysville, Kentucky Mason County 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 223 lb (101 kg) Sep 7, 2007 
Recruit ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 91
Kevin Galloway
G/F 		Sacramento, California College of Southern Idaho 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Mar 10, 2008 
Recruit ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: n/a
Josh Harrellson
C 		St. Charles, Missouri Southwestern Illinois Community College 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Apr 29, 2008 
Recruit ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: n/a
Recruit rankings:   Scout: 15    Rivals: 21
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN, and On3 may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

2008–09 schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 3, 2008*
7:00 pm, FSN South 		Missouri-Saint Louis W 111–53  0–0
 Rupp Arena 
Lexington, KY
November 7, 2008*
7:00 pm, FSN South 		Ouachita Baptist W 94–72  0–0
 Rupp Arena 
Lexington, KY
Non-Conference Regular Season
November 14, 2008*
7:00 pm, FSN South 		VMI L 103–111  0–1
 Rupp Arena (22,579)
Lexington, KY
November 18, 2008*
9:00 pm, ESPN 		at No. 1 North Carolina L 58–77  0–2
 Dean Smith Center (21,538)
Chapel Hill, NC
November 22, 2008*
12:00 pm, FSN South 		Delaware State
2008 Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational 		W 71–42  1–2
 Rupp Arena (21,594)
Lexington, KY
November 24, 2008*
7:00 pm, FSN South 		Longwood
2008 Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational 		W 91–57  2–2
 Rupp Arena (20,105)
Lexington, KY
November 28, 2008*
11:59 pm, ESPNU 		vs. Kansas State
2008 Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational 		W 74–72  3–2
 Orleans Arena (5,000)
Las Vegas, NV
November 29, 2008*
10:30 pm, ESPN2 		vs. West Virginia
2008 Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational 		W 54–43  4–2
 Orleans Arena (5,500)
Las Vegas, NV
December 3, 2008*
7:00 pm, FSN South 		Lamar W 103–61  5–2
 Rupp Arena (21,350)
Lexington, KY
December 6, 2008*
5:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 22 Miami (FL) L 67–73  5–3
 Rupp Arena (24,109)
Lexington, KY
December 7, 2008*
3:00 pm, FSN South 		Mississippi Valley State W 88–65  6–3
 Rupp Arena (21,476)
Lexington, KY
December 13, 2008*
4:00 pm, CBS 		Indiana W 72–54  7–3
 Rupp Arena (23,767)
Lexington, KY
December 20, 2008*
12:00 pm, FSN South 		Appalachian State W 93–69  8–3
 Freedom Hall (10,173)
Louisville, KY
December 22, 2008*
7:00 pm, FSN South 		Tennessee State W 102–58  9–3
 Rupp Arena (21,958)
Lexington, KY
December 27, 2008*
3:00 pm, FSN South 		Florida Atlantic W 76–69  10–3
 Rupp Arena (24,018)
Lexington, KY
December 29, 2008*
7:00 pm, FSN South 		Central Michigan W 84–52  11–3
 Rupp Arena (22,944)
Lexington, KY
January 4, 2009*
4:30 pm, CBS 		at No. 18 Louisville
Battle for the Bluegrass 		L 71–74  11–4
 Freedom Hall (20,078)
Louisville, KY
SEC Regular Season
January 10, 2009
2:00 pm, Raycom 		Vanderbilt W 70–60  12–4
(1–0) 		Rupp Arena (24,249)
Lexington, KY
January 13, 2009
9:00 pm, ESPN 		at Tennessee W 90–72  13–4
(2–0) 		Thompson-Boling Arena (20,474)
Knoxville, TN
January 18, 2009
9:00 pm, Raycom 		at Georgia W 68–45  14–4
(3–0) 		Stegeman Coliseum (9,090)
Athens, GA
January 21, 2009
9:00 pm, Raycom 		Auburn W 73–64  15–4
(4–0) 		Rupp Arena (22,760)
Lexington, KY
January 24, 2009
3:00 pm, Raycom 		at Alabama W 61–51  16–4
(5–0) 		Coleman Coliseum (15,316)
Tuscaloosa, AL
January 27, 2009
7:00 pm, ESPN 		No. 24 at Ole Miss L 80–85  16–5
(5–1) 		Tad Smith Coliseum (6,852)
Oxford, MS
January 31, 2009
3:00 pm, Raycom 		No. 24 South Carolina L 77–78  16–6
(5–2) 		Rupp Arena (24,322)
Lexington, KY
February 3, 2009
7:00 pm, Raycom 		Mississippi State L 57–66  16–7
(5–3) 		Rupp Arena (21,940)
Lexington, KY
February 10, 2009
9:00 pm, ESPN 		Florida W 68–65  17–7
(6–3) 		Rupp Arena (24,355)
Lexington, KY
February 14, 2009
1:00 pm, CBS 		at Arkansas W 79–63  18–7
(7–3) 		Bud Walton Arena (19,041)
Fayetteville, AR
February 17, 2009
9:00 pm, ESPN 		at Vanderbilt L 64–77  18–8
(7–4) 		Memorial Gymnasium (14,316)
Nashville, TN
February 21, 2009
1:00 pm, CBS 		Tennessee W 77–58  19–8
(8–4) 		Rupp Arena (24,394)
Lexington, KY
February 25, 2009
7:00 pm, Raycom 		at South Carolina L 59–77  19–9
(8–5) 		Colonial Life Arena (16,035)
Columbia, SC
February 28, 2009
4:00 pm, CBS 		No. 18 LSU L 70–73  19–10
(8–6) 		Rupp Arena (24,411)
Lexington, KY
March 4, 2009
8:00 pm, Raycom 		Georgia
Senior Night 		L 85–90  19–11
(8–7) 		Rupp Arena (23,889)
Lexington, KY
March 7, 2009
2:00 pm, CBS 		at Florida L 53–60  19–12
(8–8) 		O'Connell Center (12,131)
Gainesville, FL
SEC Tournament
March 12, 2009
1:00 pm, Raycom 		(E4) vs. (W5) Ole Miss
First Round 		W 71–58  20–12
 St. Pete Times Forum (N/A)
Tampa, FL
March 13, 2009
1:00 pm, Raycom 		(E4) vs. (W1) No. 20 LSU
Quarterfinals 		L 58–67  20–13
 St. Pete Times Forum (N/A)
Tampa, FL
National Invitation Tournament
March 17, 2009*
9:30 pm, ESPN 		(4) (5) UNLV
First Round 		W 70–60  21–13
 Memorial Coliseum (8,327)
Lexington, KY
March 23, 2009*
7:00 pm, ESPN 		(4) at (1) Creighton
Second round 		W 65–63  22–13
 Qwest Center Omaha (16,984)
Omaha, NE
March 25, 2009*
7:00 pm, ESPN2 		(4) at (2) Notre Dame
Quarterfinals 		L 67–77  22–14
 Edmund P. Joyce Center (7,636)
Notre Dame, IN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Season honors and awards

All-SEC

Team Player Position
First Jodie Meeks Guard
First Patrick Patterson Forward
All-SEC

SEC Player of the Week

Date Player Position
12/1 [2] Jodie Meeks Guard
12/22 [3] Jodie Meeks Guard
12/29 [4] Patrick Patterson Forward
1/19 [4] Jodie Meeks Guard
2/16 [5] Jodie Meeks Guard
SEC Player of the Week

SEC Freshman of the Week

Date Player Position
12/8 [6] DeAndre Liggins Guard
SEC Freshman of the Week

Pre-Season All-SEC

Team Player Position
First Patrick Patterson Forward
Second Jodie Meeks Guard
All-SEC

Class of 2009 signees

The signees who formed the 2009-10 recruiting classes are considered one of the best all-time recruiting classes [7]

College recruiting information (2009)
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
John Wall
PG 		Raleigh, North Carolina Word of God 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 184 lb (83 kg) May 18, 2009 
Recruit ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 98
DeMarcus Cousins
PF 		Mobile, Alabama LeFlore 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 250 lb (110 kg) Apr 8, 2009 
Recruit ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 98
Daniel Orton
C 		Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Bishop McGuinness 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 265 lb (120 kg) Oct 12, 2008 
Recruit ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 97
Eric Bledsoe
G 		Birmingham, Alabama Parker 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) May 6, 2009 
Recruit ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 90
Jon Hood
SG 		Madisonville, Kentucky Madisonville-North Hopkins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) May 25, 2008 
Recruit ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 91
Darnell Dodson
G/F 		Greenbelt, Maryland Miami-Dade CC 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Apr 22, 2009 
Recruit ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 95
Recruit rankings:   Scout: 1    Rivals: 1    ESPN: 1
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, ESPN, and On3 may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

References

  1. ^ Kentucky-UNLV Preview Article from ukathletics.com, retrieved 2009-03–19. Archived 2009-06-02.
  2. ^ "www.secsports.com". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  3. ^ "www.secsports.com - This Week In SEC Men's Basketball - 12/22". Archived from the original on December 27, 2008. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  4. ^ a b "www.secsports.com". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  5. ^ "www.secsports.com". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved February 17, 2009.
  6. ^ "www.secsports.com". Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  7. ^ DeCourcy, Mike (May 19, 2009). "With Wall Kentucky could have all-time recruiting class". SportingNews.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2010.