Smith holds tryouts for Kentucky's five starters

<p>Kentucky coach Tubby Smith is advertising five new job openings this week: his team's starters for the stretch run.</p><p>With the Wildcats in jeopardy of missing the NCAA Tournament for the first time under his watch, Smith is trying in mid-February a practice technique typically reserved for mid-October.</p><p>Every player _ star and bench-warmer alike _ has been graded in practice this week. Those who do well get to play. Those who do great get to start. And those who struggle, regardless of their track record, get to sit.</p><p>"It re-emphasizes what's important," Smith said. "The little things _ ball pressure, being in the proper position. We're talking about going back to the fundamentals, and a good way to do it is just to measure everything."</p><p>It's an atypical approach for this late in the season, but this is an atypical year for Kentucky (15-9, 5-5 Southeastern Conference).</p><p>Forget about the regular-season title _ the Wildcats are four games behind East-leading Tennessee, and the Volunteers have already won a head-to-head meeting in Lexington. In fact, whoever loses Wednesday's home matchup with Georgia (14-9, 4-6) could also lose a shot at making the NCAA's field of 65.</p><p>Kentucky's players say they understand desperate times call for desperate measures, so many are embracing the new practice grading system.</p><p>"With this new slate thing, I guess it kind of benefits someone who wants to play _ get a chance to prove yourself again," said forward Rekalin Sims.</p><p>Sims has seen his playing time drop off dramatically because of a nagging back injury and lack of production, but Smith acknowledged Sims was one of the players who graded well during Monday's practice. Whether it was well enough to start him, the coach isn't saying.</p><p>Guard Ramel Bradley, who has been effective coming off the bench, said this might be his chance to finally break into the starting lineup.</p><p>"I think at first guys didn't feel like there was any point to it, but then it was just like, 'OK, well I guess we're just going to have to flow with it and just go hard,' " Bradley said. "Basically what he said was he's going to evaluate everybody right now from jump street all over again."</p><p>Forward Bobby Perry, who has started the last six games, didn't seem overly concerned that he would lose his job. Smith has often cited Perry has one of the team's hardest-working players during practice.</p><p>"It helps us concentrate more on the details, the specifics of what we're supposed to do individually," Perry said.</p><p>Although Kentucky has already beaten Georgia in Athens once this year, the Bulldogs are a much improved team since then and the Wildcats have struggled mightily at Rupp Arena. Their SEC record there currently stands at 2-3.</p><p>Smith acknowledged it has been a rough season but is hopeful the fresh approach will stir some momentum for the final six games.</p><p>"We're physically healthy, so now it's a matter of getting mentally healthy," he said.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2006/2/130143