2008–09 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team

The 2008–09 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represents the University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky

The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...

in the college basketball

College basketball

College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....

season of 2008–2009. The team's head coach

Head coach

A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...

was Billy Gillispie

Billy Gillispie

Billy Clyde Gillispie , also known by his initials BCG, is an American college basketball coach. Since 2011, he has been the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Texas Tech University...

, who was in his second year as coach. The Wildcats play their home games at Rupp Arena

Rupp Arena

Rupp Arena is an arena located in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. Since its opening in 1976, it has been the centerpiece of Lexington Center, a convention and shopping facility owned by an arm of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and serves as home court to the University of...

in Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky

Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...

. The team's season started with a controversial early Midnight Madness

Midnight Madness (basketball)

Midnight Madness is an annual event on college campuses that celebrates the first day in mid-October that the National Collegiate Athletic Association permits formal basketball practices each college basketball season. In some cases, the name has literal meaning since an event is scheduled...

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

2009 National Invitation Tournament

-Semifinals and finals:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 31 and April 2* denotes each overtime played-NIT Championship:...

, ending a streak of 17 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship

NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship

The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...

dating back to 1992.

Roster

#	Name	Height	Weight (lbs.)	Position	Class	Hometown	Previous Team(s)
1	Darius Miller	6'7"	223	G/F	Fr.	Maysville, KY Maysville, Kentucky Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Mason County HS
2	Matt Scherbenske	6'0"	165	G	Jr.	Lexington, KY Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Oak Hill Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) Oak Hill Academy is a co-educational, private Baptist-affiliated secondary school in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, United States. Oak Hill's enrollment of approximately 150 students is 98% boarders, serving grades 8–12... Oral Roberts Eagles Oral Roberts Granville "Oral" Roberts was an American Pentecostal televangelist and a Christian charismatic. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University....
3	Kevin Galloway	6'7"	215	G/F	Jr.	Sacramento, CA Sacramento, California Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Sacramento HS Sacramento High School Sacramento Charter High School is an independent public charter high school located in the Alhambra Triangle, adjacent to the Oak Park neighborhood in Sacramento, California. Its charter was approved by the Sacramento City Unified School District's Board of Trustees on July 21, 2003... Southern Idaho College of Southern Idaho College of Southern Idaho is an American public community college. Its main campus is in Twin Falls, Idaho, with outreach programs in Boise, Hailey, Burley and Gooding....
22, 5	Ramon Harris	6'7"	218	G/F	Jr.	Anchorage, AK Anchorage, Alaska Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	West Anchorage HS West Anchorage High School West Anchorage High School is a public high school in Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska and part of the Anchorage School District.-History:The school was established as Anchorage High School in 1953, during a boom period in Anchorage...
10	Landon Slone	6'3"	188	G	Fr.	Paintsville, KY Paintsville, Kentucky -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 4,132 people, 1,681 households, and 1,079 families residing in the city. The population density was 786.1 people per square mile . There were 1,901 housing units at an average density of 361.7 per square mile... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Paintsville HS Paintsville High School Paintsville High School is a secondary-level school located in Paintsville, Johnson County, Kentucky and is part of the Paintsville Independent School District. Its student enrollment as of 2006 was 344 in grades 7 through 12...
11	Adam Delph	6'1"	161	G	Fr.	Louisville, KY Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	PRP Pleasure Ridge Park High School Pleasure Ridge Park High School is a High School located at 5901 Greenwood Road in the Pleasure Ridge Park neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky. It is part of the Jefferson County Public Schools district...
12	Mark Krebs	6'5"	207	G	Jr.	Newport, KY Newport, Kentucky Newport is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is part of the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metro Area which... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Newport Central Catholic HS Newport Central Catholic High School Newport Central Catholic High School is a coed private secondary school in Newport, Kentucky and part of the Diocese of Covington. It is located in the center of Newport overlooking the Cincinnati Skyline and Ohio Valley. Founded in 1896 with a Roman Catholic affiliation, it serves students in...
13	Michael Porter	6'3"	198	G	Jr.	Modesto, CA Modesto, California Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California.... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Modesto Christian
14	Mark "Buddy" Halsell	5'11"	182	G	So.	St. Charles, MO, U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	St. Charles HS St. Charles High School St. Charles High School is a public high school serving grades 9 through 12 in the city of St. Charles, Missouri, USA. The other high school in St. Charles, MO is St. Charles West High School.-History:... SW Illinois Southwestern Illinois College Southwestern Illinois College is the sixth largest community college in Illinois with campuses in Belleville, Granite City, and Red Bud, plus 20 off-campus sites throughout the district, including Scott Air Force Base and East St. Louis Community College Center...
15	AJ Stewart	6'7"	218	F	So.	Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Arlington Country Day HS Arlington Country Day School Arlington Country Day School is a private school in Jacksonville, Florida. A non-sectarian coeducational school, it offers a K-12 education and enrolls over 400 students a year...
21	Perry Stevenson Perry Stevenson Perry George Stevenson is an American professional basketball player. A power forward, he formerly played for the University of Kentucky men's basketball team...	6'9"	215	F Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...	Jr.	Lafayette, LA Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Lafayette HS Lafayette High School (Louisiana) Lafayette High School is a public four-year high school located in Lafayette, Louisiana.With an enrollment of 2279 students, Lafayette High is one of the largest schools in the state of Louisiana...
23	Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.Meeks played college basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats...	6'4"	208	G	Jr.	Norcross, GA Norcross, Georgia As of 2010 Norcross had a population of 9,116. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 40.8% white , 19.8% black or African American , 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 10.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race and 4.3% reporting two or more races... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Norcross HS Norcross High School Norcross High School is located in Norcross, Georgia. It is part of the Gwinnett County Public Schools. It serves the cities of Norcross and Peachtree Corners....
25	Donald Williams	6'3"	205	G	Fr.	Baton Rouge, LA Baton Rouge, Louisiana Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Progressive Christian Academy
30	Dwight Perry	6'1"	173	G	Jr.	Durham, NC Durham, North Carolina Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Southern HS Southern High School (North Carolina) Southern High School is located in Durham, North Carolina, USA. Southern is a 4A school in the North Carolina School District. Southern has prominent football, baseball, and basketball programs as well as the Symphonic Soul of the South Marching Band. There are currently 1574 students. Southern is...
33	Matt Pilgrim	6'8"	233	F Power forward (basketball) Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...	Jr.	Cincinnati, OH Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Bridgton Academy Bridgton Academy Bridgton Academy is an all-male college preparatory boarding school in North Bridgton, Maine. The school offers a true transitional year, to help students who have completed their senior year of high school gain the academic skills, study skills, self-discipline, and self-confidence necessary to... Hampton Hampton University Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
34	DeAndre Liggins DeAndre Liggins DeAndre Liggins is an American professional basketball player drafted by the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft with the 53rd pick. He is a 6-6 210 lb. shooting guard out of Kentucky.- External links :* * *...	6'6"	202	G	Fr.	Chicago, IL, U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Findlay Prep (Las Vegas, NV)
43	Jared Carter	7'2"	277	C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...	Sr.	Georgetown, KY Georgetown, Kentucky Georgetown is a city in Scott County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 29,098 at the 2010 census. The original settlement of Lebanon, founded by Rev. Elijah Craig, was renamed in 1790 in honor of President George Washington. It is the home of Georgetown College, a private liberal arts... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Scott County HS
54	Patrick Patterson Patrick Patterson (basketball) Patrick Davell Patterson is an American basketball player with the Houston Rockets. He played collegiately for the University of Kentucky. He is a 6'9", 235-pound power forward who grew up in Huntington, West Virginia...	6'9"	235	F/C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...	So.	Huntington, WV Huntington, West Virginia Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at... , U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	Huntington HS Huntington High School (West Virginia) Huntington High School is a four year high school located on top of a hill just outside of Huntington, West Virginia. It was established in 1996 through the consolidation of the old Huntington and Huntington East High Schools. The school has a student body of approximately 1600 students. Huntington...
55	Josh Harrellson Josh Harrellson Josh Harrellson is a former American college basketball player. Standing 6 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing 275 pounds, he played center for the Kentucky Wildcats from 2008 to 2011...	6'10"	265	C Center (basketball) The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...	So.	St. Charles, MO, U.S. United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...	St. Charles HS St. Charles High School St. Charles High School is a public high school serving grades 9 through 12 in the city of St. Charles, Missouri, USA. The other high school in St. Charles, MO is St. Charles West High School.-History:... SW Illinois Southwestern Illinois College Southwestern Illinois College is the sixth largest community college in Illinois with campuses in Belleville, Granite City, and Red Bud, plus 20 off-campus sites throughout the district, including Scott Air Force Base and East St. Louis Community College Center...

Incoming signees

2008–09 schedule and results

VMI

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
VMI	57	54	111
UK	47	56	103

North Carolina

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	25	33	58
UNC	41	36	77

Delaware State

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
DSU	23	19	42
UK	37	34	71

Longwood

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
LW	24	33	57
UK	51	40	91

Kansas State

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	37	37	74
KSU	29	43	72

West Virginia

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	16	38	54
WVU	26	17	43

Lamar

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
LU	30	31	61
UK	56	47	103

Miami-FL

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UM-FL	46	27	73
UK	26	41	67

Mississippi Valley State

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
MSVU	31	34	65
UK	39	49	88

Indiana

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
IU	13	41	54
UK	36	36	72

Appalachian State

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
ASU	21	48	69
UK	53	40	93

Tennessee State

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
TSU	24	34	58
UK	59	43	102

Florida Atlantic

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
FAU	37	32	69
UK	37	39	76

Central Michigan

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
CMU	23	29	52
UK	42	42	84

Louisville

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	35	36	71
UL	38	36	74

Vanderbilt

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
VU	27	33	60
UK	31	39	70

Tennessee

Jodie Meeks

Jodie Meeks is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.Meeks played college basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats...

set two single-game school records in Kentucky's 90–72 win at Tennessee. He scored 54 points in the game, breaking Dan Issel

Dan Issel

Daniel Paul Issel is a retired American Hall of Fame professional basketball player and coach.-Collegiate playing career:...

's previous record of 53 points, which had stood since 1970. Meeks also scored 10 three-point field goals in the game, breaking a record that had been held by Tony Delk

Tony Delk

Tony Lorenzo Delk is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team. He was team leader of the 1996 University of Kentucky Wildcats team that won the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...

since 1996.

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	41	49	90
UT	37	35	72

Georgia

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	38	30	68
UGA	19	26	45

Auburn

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
AU	33	31	64
UK	34	39	73

Alabama

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	19	42	61
UA	25	26	51

Ole Miss

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	39	41	80
UM	37	48	85

South Carolina

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
USC	36	42	78
UK	37	40	77

Mississippi State

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
MSU	37	29	66
UK	24	33	57

Florida

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UF	30	35	65
UK	30	38	68

Arkansas

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	40	39	79
UA	29	34	63

Jodie Meeks broke thr 40 point barrier again this game with 45 points. He set the record for most points in Arkansas' stadium, Bud Walton Arena

Vanderbilt

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	30	34	64
VU	30	47	77

Tennessee

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UT	24	34	58
UK	31	46	77

South Carolina

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	28	31	59
USC	46	31	77

LSU

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
LSU	36	37	73
UK	28	42	70

Georgia

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UGA	47	43	90
UK	49	36	85

Florida

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	22	31	53
UF	29	31	60

Ole Miss

First-round game in the 2009 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament

2009 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament

The 2009 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament took place on March 12–15, 2009 in Tampa, Florida at the St. Pete Times Forum. The first, quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds were televised by Raycom/LF Sports, and the SEC Championship Game was seen on CBS....

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	36	35	71
UM	38	20	58

LSU

Quarterfinals of the 2009 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	23	35	58
LSU	28	39	67

UNLV

First Round of the 2009 NIT. Game played at Memorial Coliseum (on the campus of UK) instead of Rupp Arena due to a scheduling conflict with the 2009 KHSAA Sweet Sixteen Boys' Championship.

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UNLV	24	36	60
UK	36	34	70

Creighton

Sweet 16 of the 2009 NIT

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	31	34	65
CU	33	30	63

Notre Dame

Quarterfinals of the NIT

Teams	1st Half	2nd Half	Final
UK	26	41	67
ND	34	43	77

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	Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.Meeks played college basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats...	Guard
12/22	Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.Meeks played college basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats...	Guard
12/29	Patrick Patterson Patrick Patterson (basketball) Patrick Davell Patterson is an American basketball player with the Houston Rockets. He played collegiately for the University of Kentucky. He is a 6'9", 235-pound power forward who grew up in Huntington, West Virginia...	Forward
1/19	Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.Meeks played college basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats...	Guard
2/16	Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.Meeks played college basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats...	Guard
SEC Player of the Week

SEC Freshman of the Week

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

Pre-Season All-SEC

Team	Player	Position
First	Patrick Patterson Patrick Patterson (basketball) Patrick Davell Patterson is an American basketball player with the Houston Rockets. He played collegiately for the University of Kentucky. He is a 6'9", 235-pound power forward who grew up in Huntington, West Virginia...	Forward
Second	Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks Jodie Meeks is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.Meeks played college basketball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats...	Guard
All-SEC

Class of 2009 Commitments/Signees

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