GAME NOTES: Fresh off the program's most lopsided loss since 1989, the Kentucky Wildcats get back to action today against the LSU Tigers, who managed a surprising win in their last outing. Kentucky carried a five-game win streak and plenty of confidence into Nashville on Tuesday for a clash with No. 24 Vanderbilt. To the shock of everyone, the Wildcats failed to compete, as they were crushed by the Commodores in a 93-52 final. That ugly loss certainly didn't help UK's resume' with the NCAA Tournament fast approaching, as a solid 6-3 SEC record is tempered a bit by a 12-10 overall mark. As for LSU, it marched into Gainesville on Wednesday and left with a surprising 85-73 victory over the Florida Gators. The Tigers are still just 2-7 in league play, but they were able to give Butch Pierre his first victory as head coach since taking over for the fired John Brady. The Wildcats hold a commanding 77-22 series lead over LSU, including a 70-63 victory over the Tigers last season.

Kentucky relies heavily on the trio of Patrick Patterson, Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley to be productive at the offensive end of the court. Patterson is scoring 16.6 ppg, and he is pulling down 7.8 rpg. The rookie is shooting 58.2 percent from the floor and has 28 blocked shots to his credit. Crawford is close behind with 16.3 ppg, and Bradley adds 16.2 ppg. The Wildcats are generating 70.3 ppg while allowing 67.0 ppg on 39.6 percent shooting from the floor. Bradley scored 21 points in the ugly loss to Vanderbilt on Tuesday. Crawford managed 11 points, and Patterson finished with 10 points. The Wildcats had five assists against 17 turnovers in that tilt, and they shot only 32.7 percent from the floor. Defensively, they permitted the Commodores to make good on 55.4 percent of their field goal attempts.

Five players scored in double figures for LSU in the surprising win over Florida on Wednesday. Anthony Randolph led the way with 22 points, and Marcus Thornton hit 8-of-11 shots from the floor en route to 20 points. Chris Johnson also finished 8-of-11 on his way to 19 points, and both Garrett Temple and Terry Martin posted 10 points in the clash. LSU connected on 60 percent of its field goal attempts in the contest and finished with 19 assists against only 11 turnovers. The club also earned a 10-4 edge in points from the foul line and forced 19 turnovers, and all of those positives enabled the Tigers to overcome a 39-22 rebounding disadvantage. Thornton is scoring 19.5 ppg this season, and Randolph adds 14.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg. Add 55 blocks to his resume' and Randolph has made a major impact up front. As for Johnson, he rounds out a trio of double-digit scorers with 12.0 ppg.

Despite playing on the road, Kentucky gets the nod here as it is eager to restore some pride after the beating it suffered on Tuesday. As for LSU, it will likely suffer a letdown after the impressive road win over Florida.