Smith was an assistant at Kentucky from 1989-91. He spent the past two seasons at Georgia, where he compiled a 45-19 record and reached the NCAA Tournament both seasons. He replaced Rick Pitino, who left after eight seasons and one national title to coach the NBA's Boston Celtics.
Dewayne Krom led Morehead State (0-1) with 11 points. Morehead State shot just 28 percent (16-of-58) from the field.
The game was a homecoming for Morehead State coach Kyle Macy, who played for Kentucky from 1978-80 and had his number retired last season. Macy became coach of Morehead State on March 14, replacing Dick Fick. He was a two-time All-American at Kentucky and led the Wildcats to the NCAA title in 1978.
Edwards was 6-of-6 from the field, including two 3-pointers. The Wildcats connected on 58 percent (35-of-55) overall, including an amazing 68 percent (21-of-31) in the first half.
Heshimu Evans' 10 points gave Kentucky three players in double figures. Jamaal Magloire pulled down eight rebounds and added eight points. Nazr Mohammed blocked five shots. The Wildcats' pressure defense forced 21 turnovers, converting them into 31 points.
Kentucky has won all six meetings between the teams, including a 96-32 rout on Dec. 16, 1995. Including a 71-64 victory in the 1961 NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats have won by an average of more than 30 points.
(9) KENTUCKY 88, Marehead State 49
MOREHEAD ST (49)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Knight 15 0-4 3-4 0-2 0 2 3
Lloyd 28 3-11 1-2 3-6 0 1 8
Krom 30 4-11 3-5 3-4 0 3 11
Davenport 20 2-3 0-0 0-0 1 2 4
Jenkins 17 1-4 0-2 2-2 2 2 2
Boone 19 0-5 5-5 1-3 2 0 5
Stone 15 2-5 0-0 0-0 0 0 4
Docks 20 2-2 0-0 1-1 2 1 5
J Webb 33 2-10 3-3 3-6 1 3 7
D Webb 3 0-3 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
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TOTALS 200 16-58 15-21 13-24 8 14 49
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Percentages: FG-.276, FT-.714. 3-Point Goals:
2-12, .167 (Knight 0-3, Lloyd 1-2, Boone 0-4,
Docks 1-1, J Webb 0-1, D Webb 0-1). Team
rebounds: 8. Blocked shots: 2 (J Webb, Lloyd).
Turnovers: 21 (Knight 9, J Webb 4, Krom 4,
Davenport, Docks, Jenkins, Lloyd). Steals: 6 (J
Webb 3, Jenkins, Knight, Lloyd).
KENTUCKY (88)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Edwards 19 6-6 1-1 0-0 2 0 15
Padgett 19 0-7 2-2 4-6 4 1 2
Magloire 12 4-4 0-0 2-8 0 2 8
Turner 17 6-8 0-1 0-1 3 3 12
Sheppard 23 2-3 2-3 0-1 4 0 7
Smith 23 2-3 2-3 0-3 2 0 7
Mohammed 15 2-2 1-2 0-4 0 2 5
Mills 13 2-2 0-0 0-1 0 1 5
Evans 18 5-7 0-0 0-3 3 1 10
Anthony 14 1-5 1-4 0-2 3 4 3
Hogan 11 2-4 0-0 1-2 0 1 6
Bradley 13 3-4 2-3 4-4 0 4 8
Masiello 3 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
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TOTALS 200 35-55 11-19 11-35 21 20 88
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Percentages: FG-.636, FT-.579. 3-Point Goals:
7-16, .438 (Edwards 2-2, Padgett 0-1, Turner 0-2,
Sheppard 1-2, Smith 1-2, Mills 1-1, Evans 0-1,
Anthony 0-2, Hogan 2-3). Team rebounds: 3.
Blocked shots: 17 (Magloire 5, Mohammed 5,
Bradley 4, Padgett, Evans, Anthony). Turnovers:
17 (Edwards 5, Smith 3, Magloire 2, Anthony,
Bradley, Hogan, Mohammed, Padgett, Sheppard,
Turner). Steals: 16 (Padgett 3, Smith 3, Turner
3, Edwards 2, Anthony, Bradley, Hogan, Mohammed,
Sheppard).
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Morehead St 20 29 - 49
Kentucky 48 40 - 88
__________________________________
Technical fouls: None. A: 23,097. Officials: Don
Rutledge, Curtis Shaw, Brent Smith.