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Cason Wallace Repeats as SEC Freshman of the Week

Kentucky men’s basketball freshman Cason Wallace repeated as the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week on Monday

Kentucky men’s basketball freshman Cason Wallace repeated as the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after scoring 20 points and adding a pair of assists and a career-high three blocks in a win over Florida on Saturday.

The award is the fourth weekly SEC honor and third in as many weeks for a Wildcat. Oscar Tshiebwe earned SEC Player of the Week honors Jan. 23, while Wallace picked up his first conference Freshman of the Week award Dec. 27.

After missing the Ole Miss game, Wallace returned to the starting lineup and led the Cats with 20 points in a 72-67 win over the Gators. He also added three rebounds, three blocks and a pair of assists. The freshman from Dallas scored 10 of Kentucky’s final 16 points in the game, including seven of the final 10. The contest was Wallace’s 14th double-figure scoring game of the season and the second 20-point performance.

Kentucky has dominated the weekly SEC awards with John Calipari at the helm. UK has won more weekly SEC honors (123) than any other school during the Calipari era, including 93 SEC Freshman of the Week awards and 30 SEC Player of the Week honors.

Wallace ranks among the league leaders in steals per game (6th/2.00), assists per game (7th/3.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (7th/1.90-to-1). He sits third on the team with 11.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Wallace and the Wildcats take on Arkansas at 9 p.m. ET tip Tuesday at Central Bank Center at Rupp Arena. The game will be televised by ESPN.

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Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter’s Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.

On This Day in UK Basketball History

On March 31, 1975, Coach John Wooden closed out his coaching career by leading the Bruins over Kentucky for their 10th NCAA title in 12 years.

 

On March 31, 1984, Georgetown outscores UK 23-2 at the start of the second half to defeat the Wildcats, 53-40, in the NCAA semifinal game in Seattle.

 

On March 31, 1997, despite losing its star, Derek Anderson, to a knee injury on Jan. 18, UK returns to defend its NCAA title in the National Championship game, trying to become the second team in 24 years to repeat as national champion, falling in overtime to Arizona, 84-79. Ron Mercer and Anthony Epps nailed three-pointers inside the last minute to force overtime. But with four Wildcats fouling out, Arizona outscored UK by five in the extra period in Rick Pitino's final game as coach at Kentucky.

 

On March 31, 2008, long time Kentucky basketball manager Bill Keightley passed away at the age of 81 in Cincinnati. Affectionately known as “Mr. Wildcat”, he had been associated with the Wildcats’ basketball program since 1962. Keightley, who manned the “Bill Keightley Equipment Room” in Memorial Coliseum, was as much a fixture around UK basketball as the seven national championship trophies on display in the Joe Craft Center. A crowd of over 3,000 payed their respects at a tribute to Mr. Keightley held in Rupp Arena. Former players, coaches and managers traveled from across the country to eulogize him.

 

On March 31, 2012, Kentucky finally put away pesky Louisville, who outrebounded Kentucky 40-33, 69-61, in the Final Four to advance to the national championship game.  Kentucky shot a dazzling 57 percent with Anthony Davis leading the way with 18 points and 14 rebounds.  Darius Miller added 13 points, and Doron Lamb had 10. Kidd-Gilchrist had nine, all in the second half.  Former Kentucky coach turned Louisville coach, Rick Pitino, congratulated Calipari and told him he'd be rooting for the Wildcats.

 

Wildcats Born on This Date

March 31, 1988

Deandre Liggins
34 Deandre Liggins

March 31, 2004

Brandon Garrison
10 Brandon Garrison

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