By Neil Schmidt
The Cincinnati Enquirer

NEW ORLEANS - Kentucky is trying not to be short-sighted. Its coaches wrote "eight more" in large letters on its locker-room blackboard after Friday's game, referring to how many more victories are needed to capture the Southeastern Conference and NCAA Tournaments.

Yet in this season of feats, a big one is right under its collective nose: the No. 1 ranking.

With Arizona having lost Thursday to UCLA, second-ranked UK is poised to assume the top spot Monday in the season-ending rankings.

"That would be great for us, but I think it'd mean more pressure on us," junior guard Gerald Fitch said. "You have a lot more teams trying to get you. So it's both good and bad."

The last time UK held that post was seven years ago, in this same event and place - UK lost the top spot when it dropped the 1996 SEC championship game to Mississippi State in the Superdome.

"It's an accomplishment, but we're not going to be concerned about it," junior Cliff Hawkins said. "We just want to get a No. 1 seed."

That seems certain. UK jumped to No. 1 in the RPI on Friday.

UK already had advocates for it being No. 1. Louisiana State coach John Brady, who faced both UK and Arizona this season, has called UK the better team.

"I think Kentucky's better because they're more physical," Brady said last month. "They rebound better. From a defensive standpoint, they're a tougher team."

In the second halves of the last 15 games, UK has trailed for less than four minutes.

"The (No. 1) ranking doesn't matter much," sophomore Chuck Hayes said. "The regular season's over, so it's pretty much out the window."

MEA CULPA: Fitch was troubled by how his benching at the start of Friday's game may have contributed to UK's early deficit. "The one thing I didn't want was a slow start, and have people pointing fingers at me," he said.

MORE HONORS: UK coach Tubby Smith was named national coach of the year Friday by ESPN.com, a day after Foxsports.com bestowed the same honor.

JUMPING JULES: The sharpest showing Friday came from fifth-year senior Jules Camara, who matched a season high with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting and added five rebounds.

He had a personal 6-0 run over a one-minute span that pulled UK from a 26-22 deficit into the lead - dunking on a fast break, making a 15-footer, and stealing a pass for another fast-break jam.

Camara led UK in SEC play with 57.4 percent shooting.

CAT TALES: Keith Bogans now has 1,837 career points, just six shy of UK's top five all-time scorers. ... UK is 27-3 in this event the past 12 years, going for its ninth title in that time. ... The Wildcats have won 21 of their last 22 meetings with Vanderbilt.