2008 Woodie Awards
Storylines abound in Lexington
Pelphrey leads Razorbacks against his alma mater
Matt Jones
Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Sports
There is more than one storyline heading into Saturday's Southeastern Conference showdown between Arkansas and Kentucky.
One such storyline centers around the fact no current Arkansas player has ever beaten Kentucky, and no Arkansas team has left Lexington with a win since the Razorbacks won a national championship in 1994.
Another storyline centers around first-year Kentucky coach Billy Gillespie turning down the Arkansas job last spring to accept an extension at Texas A&M, only to take the UK job a month later.
And, of course, there is former Kentucky player John Pelphrey leading the Razorbacks in his first trip to Rupp Arena - where his No. 34 jersey hangs from the rafters - as an opposing head coach.
But in a match-up surrounded by so much historical context, perhaps the most important storyline heading into the nationally televised game lies in the here-and-now, and the fact both teams are in the thick of heated divisional races and could each boost its NCAA Tournament resumes with a win.
"Kentucky is obviously doing very, very well," said Pelphrey, who lettered at Kentucky from 1989-92. "They are undefeated at home in the SEC and has done something no one else in the league has been able to do - beat Tennessee. Billy Gillespie is doing an outstanding job. It's always difficult when you take over a program. Their injuries have been well documented, but they are as hot as anyone in the SEC."
Kentucky has turned its season around since conference play began after surprising losses to Gardner-Webb, San Diego, Houston and UAB in non-conference play, and starting the season 7-9 overall.
"Throughout the course of a season, everybody has losses that shouldn't happen," Pelphrey said. "We all have those. I think (UK) was getting adjusted to a new coach, they had injuries and they had a short turnaround between games.
"Anytime there is a change, it takes time for players to adjust."
And Kentucky has adjusted. The Wildcats have upset Vanderbilt and Tennessee already at home during conference play and have won seven of their last eight games.
One such storyline centers around the fact no current Arkansas player has ever beaten Kentucky, and no Arkansas team has left Lexington with a win since the Razorbacks won a national championship in 1994.
Another storyline centers around first-year Kentucky coach Billy Gillespie turning down the Arkansas job last spring to accept an extension at Texas A&M, only to take the UK job a month later.
And, of course, there is former Kentucky player John Pelphrey leading the Razorbacks in his first trip to Rupp Arena - where his No. 34 jersey hangs from the rafters - as an opposing head coach.
But in a match-up surrounded by so much historical context, perhaps the most important storyline heading into the nationally televised game lies in the here-and-now, and the fact both teams are in the thick of heated divisional races and could each boost its NCAA Tournament resumes with a win.
"Kentucky is obviously doing very, very well," said Pelphrey, who lettered at Kentucky from 1989-92. "They are undefeated at home in the SEC and has done something no one else in the league has been able to do - beat Tennessee. Billy Gillespie is doing an outstanding job. It's always difficult when you take over a program. Their injuries have been well documented, but they are as hot as anyone in the SEC."
Kentucky has turned its season around since conference play began after surprising losses to Gardner-Webb, San Diego, Houston and UAB in non-conference play, and starting the season 7-9 overall.
"Throughout the course of a season, everybody has losses that shouldn't happen," Pelphrey said. "We all have those. I think (UK) was getting adjusted to a new coach, they had injuries and they had a short turnaround between games.
"Anytime there is a change, it takes time for players to adjust."
And Kentucky has adjusted. The Wildcats have upset Vanderbilt and Tennessee already at home during conference play and have won seven of their last eight games.
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