Kentucky Wildcats vs. Charleston Southern Buccaneers: Notes on the Bucs and 'Cats

Find Glenn's UK versus Dillard basketball game "Postmortem" here.

The Kentucky Wildcats find their ship quickly taking on water.  After a hopeful start to the season, the 'Cats have dropped five of their last six games, making their record a disappointing 4-5 overall, and 1-4 in the SEC.  The culprit?  Turnovers.  Fifteen of which the boys in blue have committed in the fateful six game stretch (all 15 miscues have been in the five losses).  Proving UK's offense, while good, is not good enough to overcome defensive deficiencies and an abundance of turnovers.

Today, though, offers the Cats an opportunity to end the 2010 season on a high note, for FCS opponent Charleston Southern arrives in Lexington, leading off a three-game slate of contests the 'Cats should be favored to win.  And with running back Derrick Locke's return -- albeit, in a supporting role -- which should aid an ailing Wildcat running game, the time is now for the 'Cats to put past failures in the rear-view mirror, and focus on valuing the ball, and again, learning how to win.

For a look at the Buccaneers, as well as how some individual 'Cats rank in the SEC, and other stats and stuff, follow me after the jump:

Charleston Southern Personnel

Quarterback Andrew Trudnowski: 6-4, 212 lb senior -- Trudnowski is 75-144 (52.1%) through the air for 875 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.

Trudnowski took over the starting signal-caller spot for senior A.J. Toscano after Toscano tore his ACL in the Buc's game with Gardner-Webb on October 9. 

Running back DeMarcus Moon: 5-10, 197 lb senior -- Moon has carried the ball 95 times or 323 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and six touchdowns.

Running back B.J. Hackworth: 6-0, 240 lb junior -- Hackworth has 31 rushing attempts for 151 yards (4.9ypc).

Wide receiver/running back Gerald Stevenson: 5-10, 165 lb senior -- Stevenson has caught 43 passes for 643 yards (15.0 yards per reception) and two touchdowns.  The dual-threat has also ran the ball 33 times for 154 yards (4.7 ypc).  Stevenson also returns punts and kick-offs -- Nine punt returns for a 10.1 average, and 12 kick returns for an outstanding 38.2 average and three touchdowns.  Stevenson averages 192.3 all-purpose yards per game.

Stevenson is an All-Big South performer and finds himself on not one, but two FCS watch-lists: Wide Receiver of the Year and Kick Returner of the Year.  If 'Cat fans are looking for the player capable of beating UK, this is the guy.

Wide Receiver Kwame Krakue: 5-10, 178 lb senior -- Krakue  has made 29 catches for 400 yards (13.8 ypr) and three touchdowns.

Wide receiver Anthony Chalmers: 6-2, 185 lb junior -- Chalmers (no relation to Mario) has caught 20 passes for 258 yards (12.9 ypr) and three touchdowns.

Wide receiver Deon Lee: 6-1, 200 lb senior -- Lee has snagged 20 passes for 247 yards (12.4 ypr) and three touchdowns.

Wide receiver James Nunley: 5-10, 178 lb freshman -- Nunley has caught 14 passes for 207 yards (14.8 ypr) and two touchdowns.

Linebacker Chris Patrick: 6-0, 218 lb senior -- Patrick leads the Bucs with 63 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sacks.

Linebacker Fred Godfrey: 5-11, 225 lb senior -- Godfrey has made 50 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.

Buccaneer Notes

CSU averages 22.6 points per game, and gives up 37.4 ... CSU averages only 89.9 rush yards per game, and gives up an average of 197.9 yards on the ground ... CSU opponents are averaging 230.9 yards through the air ... CSU averages 338.6 yards of total offense, and gives up 428.8 ... The Bucs are a minus-5 in turnover margin ... CSU has rushed for 105 yards on 60 attempts (1.7 ypc) over their last two games ... CSU's longest rush of the season is 22 yards by Gerald Stevenson ... Stevenson also had 198 receiving yards versus Mars Hill ... Defensive back Charles James had three interceptions against Liberty.

Wildcat Particulars

On the year, UK averages 141.1 rushing yards per game ... Since Derrick Locke went down three games ago, the 'Cats have averaged 70.3 rushing yards per game ... The 'Cats average 278.3 passing yards per game ... UK is averaging 32.8 points per game ... The 'Cats are giving up 30.8 points per game ... Kentucky is piling up the yards, averaging 419.4 total yards per game ... They are also giving up the yards, allowing 180.3 rush yards per game ... UK's passing defense is a bit better, giving up only 169.4 yards through the air.

Top Ten 'Cats

The following Kentucky football players rank in the SEC's top ten in the noted categories:

Randall Cobb: 1st in receptions per game (6.6); 5th in receiving yards per game (75.8); 6th in points per game (7.1): 6th in punt return average (8.7); 7th in kick return average (23.6); and 2nd in all-purpose yards per game (179.9).  

Mike Hartline: 2nd in passing yards per game (266.9); 2nd in total passing yards (2,402); 3rd in total offense per game (263.1).

Chris Matthews: 5th in receptions per game (4.7); 6th in receiving yards per game (69.2).

Danny Trevathan: 1st in tackles (97, 10.8 pg) -- No other Wildcat is in the top 20; 6th in tackles for loss (10.5); t4th in fumbles forced (3).

Ryan Tydlacka: 3rd in punting average (45.4).

Thanks for reading and Go 'Cats!