Nov. 21, 2010
UK Returns to EA Sports Maui Invitational
It's been four years, but the Kentucky Wildcats found their way back to Maui for the prestigious EA Sports Maui Invitational. The last time UK appeared on the island, they posted a 1-2 record which included a win over DePaul and losses to No. 5 UCLA and the John Calipari-coached Memphis Tigers in the 2006 Maui Invitational.
Kentucky will face the Oklahoma Sooners in the first round in a match-up of teams that haven't met on the hardwood in 23 years. The Wildcats enter the tournament on a two-game winning streak to open the 2010-11 campaign, while the Sooners enter on a three-game winning streak of their own.
Kentucky has posted a 8-4 (.667) record on the island, a record that includes the 1993 Maui Invitational Championship.
CAT SCRATCHES
- Kentucky is in its 108th season of basketball.
- Kentucky is the all-time NCAA leader in wins with 2,025.
- The Wildcats were picked to finish second in the SEC East by select media and received two votes to win its 45th SEC title.
- Kentucky is 2-0 against Oklahoma, however the two haven't met since the 1987 season.
- The Wildcats have rolled up a 54-9 record against schools comprising the Big 12 conference.
- Kentucky is 8-4 all-time in the Maui Invitational and 10-4 in games played in Hawaii.
- Freshman Brandon Knight received a vote from the media to be named the SEC Player of the Year and was selected a first team All-SEC performer. League coaches named Knight and Darius Miller to their second team.
- Terrence Jones became only the second freshman in school history with a 20-10 game in his debut.
- UK has opened the season shooting 47.7 pct. (21-44) from 3-point range in its first two games.
