From press row at Rupp Arena before UK-Alabama:
- Ravi Moss is not starting after all. Smith had said on Thursday he would probably start the senior, but the posted lineup has Rondo, Sparks, Thomas, Morris and Obrzut. Tubby’s going tall, a move he hinted at in press conference on Friday.
- The guess here is that the Cats will play much better today. Despite its win at Auburn on Wednesday, Alabama is still hurting without its top scorer, Chuck Davis. On the perimeter, UK should be able to take advantage of Bama’s freshman guard, Brandon Hollinger, who has been playing a lot of point lately.
- Big key today will be how UK’s Randolph Morris plays against Alabama’s Jermareo Davidson, who has scored 37 points and grabbed 22 rebounds in Bama’s two conference contests. As one SEC coach put it, Davidson stands 6-10, but plays like he’s 7-1 because of his wingspan. He is only 220 pounds, however, and has been pushed around at times.
- Both Rekalin Sims (back) and Bobby Perry (ankle) are not dressed. Perry turned an ankle in practice on Thursday, UK coach Tubby Smith said yesterday. Joe Crawford, who is battling tendinitis, is dressed.
- CBS team has Ian Eagle on play-by-play and Bill Raftery (below) on color.
- The officials are J.B. Caldwell, Rick Crawford and Mike Nance. This is the third game in UK’s last five that Caldwell has worked.
