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Ole Miss has sounded what it calls a “red alert” for Tuesday night’s game against Kentucky.

The Rebels got permission from the SEC office to wear red uniforms. Plus, the school asked fans to wear red at the game.

In Andy Kennedy’s three seasons as coach, Ole Miss has a 40-5 record in home games.

Ole Miss did not answer the call for a “red alert.” The Tad Smith Coliseum (a.k.a. the “Tad Pad”) was hardly half filled, if that, at tip off.

Kentuckian Scotty Hopson acknowledges that Tennessee’s game against Kentucky Tuesday night captures his full attention.

Hopson, who played for University Heights in Hopkinsville, became a national prospect with his play in the spring and summer recruiting circuit. He originally committed to Mississippi State, then signed with Tennessee despite overtures from UK.

Hopson is averaging 8.6 points. He’s started 10 of 14 games. He’s made 47.4 percent of his shots (41.5 percent from three-point range).

Here’s a portion of a question-and-answer session Hopson had with Tennessee’s press corps Monday night:

Q: As a Kentucky native, is this game a little more special than most to you?
HOPSON: “Of course it’s a big game. This is why I came to Tennessee, to play against Kentucky in a game like this and hopefully get a victory.
“Of course it’s not going to feel the same. I’m from Kentucky, so it’s a big game for me. My family’s going to be here — more of my family, I mean. It’s going to be a big game.”

Q: What do you know about this Kentucky team?
HOPSON: “From seeing the scouting report, they run a lot of screens for Jodie Meeks. He’s going to get his shots, and (Patrick) Patterson’s going to get his plays, so we’re just going to have to stop them.”

Q: Do you worry about getting too hyped up for this one? You usually look like a pretty calm guy.
HOPSON: “It’s another SEC game. I’m geeked up for this game, just like I would be any other game. I’m going to go out there and be confident and do the best I can.”

Q: Have you noticed a different intensity during SEC play?
HOPSON: “The intensity is another level, man. Watching film is a lot longer. You have to do a lot more. The preparation is a lot different, so it feels pretty big.”

Q: Where is your game right now, offensively?
HOPSON: “I think my game has really come around, in terms of being an all-around player. At the beginning of the season, coaches told me to really look for my shot and hunt that shot. Coach Pearl is still telling me that, and I’m still working toward it, but putting it on the floor is my game. I’ve got to go to my strengths and stay away from my weaknesses. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Q: Getting back to Kentucky, what do you have to focus on when guarding Meeks?
HOPSON: “I saw a lot of screens on film. I saw a lot of shots, and a lot of them going in. I’m just got to the best I can defensively to stop him when I get the chance. Hopefully I can help my teammates out against him.”

Louisville may have slipped from a pre-season top 5 ranking to No. 18. And if Kentucky wins at Louisville on Sunday, the Cardinals may drop out of the rankings.

Yet, UK Coach Billy Gillispie spoke of U of L as a formidable opponent.

Speaking of Louisville’s “outstanding” half-court defense, Gillispie said, “That’s why they were a pre-season No. 3 team and why they’re playing to that ranking.”

More than once, Gillispie noted Louisville’s experience and depth of talent.

“They can always put five guys out there you have to guard,” the UK coach said. “That sounds simple. But not too many people do that.”

Of his own team, Gillispie noted UK’s relative lack of experience and the team’s only previous game on an opponent’s court. No. 1 North Carolina roared to an early lead and went on to beat Kentucky 77-58 on Nov. 18.

“We have to make major steps forward,” he said. “Last time on the road we had a horrific start. We can’t do that again. . . . The most scary part of an inexperienced team is taking them on the road.”

With five of UK’s next seven games on the road, Gillispie said UK will need to be improved.

“I think we’ll be very, very, very well prepared,” he said.

Gillispie dismissed the suggestion that a loss in its last game will give Louisville added incentive to play well against Kentucky.

“I’d say they’ll give their best shot because that’s what they normally do,” he said.

In response to other questions, Gillispie said that:

– Ramon Harris is doing better and should be expected to play at Louisville. Harris has missed five games and played a total of 15 minutes in two other games since he collided head to head with teammate Michael Porter when UK played Lamar on Dec. 3.

– Freshman Darius Miller is practicing normally. Miller’s father noted his son’s frustration earlier in the week.

Miami got word on Thursday that its star guard, Jack McClinton, can play against Kentucky on Saturday.

McClinton got into a fracas at Ohio State on Tuesday. The incident could have been considered a fight, which raised the possibility that he could be suspended.

McClinton is an all-ACC caliber player who has scored more than 1,100 points in his career.

Here’s a portion of the release from Miami:

The Atlantic Coast Conference office reviewed the play in question from Tuesday’s men’s basketball game versus Ohio State that resulted in the ejection of McClinton and determined that the officials administered the call properly and that no further action will be taken.

“Jack is absolutely a leader and valued member of this team,” said fifth-year Miami head coach Frank Haith. “He’s a young man of high character who reacted inappropriately and has paid the price. Now we will move forward and re-focus on men’s basketball and our upcoming game at Kentucky.”

After committing 31 turnovers against Kansas State on Friday, Kentucky faces potentially even more defensive heat against West Virginia in Saturday night’s finals of the Las Vegas Invitational.
West Virginia cooked Iowa 87-68 in Friday’s other semifinal. In that game, WVU feasted on an Iowa team that started three freshmen and a sophomore.
“Their level of intensity and aggressive play was something we hadn’t experienced,” Iowa Coach Todd Lickliter said. “They took us out of all our sets.”
Kentucky can say it has experienced defensive heat. Beginning with Virginia Military Institute in the opener and followed by North Carolina and Kansas State, the Cats have had their new ball-handling core severely tested on a regular basis.
UK Coach Billy Gillispie expected more of the same against West Virginia.
“They’ll get up and after us like everyone should,” Gillispie said of the Mountaineers.
UK will go into the game averaging 23 turnovers a game. Against Kansas State, the Cats brought the ball upcourt by committee with even big man Patrick Patterson getting a few turns.
When asked about so many players bringing up the ball, Gillispie said the move was born of “a lot of guys didn’t want it. We ran from it.
“We’re one-tenth of the composure department (from) where you need to be.”
West Virginia’s pressure made Iowa crumble. The Hawkeyes committed 17 first-half turnovers.
“It’s hard to compete with that,” Lickliter said.
WVU Coach Bob Huggins, whose teams are synonymous with intensity and physical play, shrugged when asked about the heat applied to Iowa. In his typical deadpan delivery, he said of the pressure, “We just do what we do.”
Much like Kansas State, West Virginia carries on collectively this after losing last season’s individual star, in WVU’s case, forward Joe Alexander.
“The wonderful thing about this bunch is from Day One, they bought in,” Huggins said. “They weren’t sure quite what it was, but they bought in.”
West Virginia opponents are averaging 22.3 turnovers a game.
Kansas State Coach Frank Martin is a disciple and unabashed admirer of Huggins. Earlier this week, Martin spoke of how similar their philosophies are. The only significant difference comes on offense, where Kansas State gives its players a bit more freedom to create, Martin said.
Gillispie spoke of West Virginia bringing a similar challenge as Kansas State. But the UK coach said West Virginia was better offensively, better rebounders, more experienced and more talented.
Fatigue might be another challenge for Kentucky. The Kansas State game was an exhausting 94-foot, 40-minute battle.
“Our guys left their souls on the court,” Martin said. “I thought their guys played hard as heck, too.”
Now UK must play arguably a superior opponent using the same energy-draining strategy within 24 hours.
Although on record as no fan of a late tipoff in a two-games-in-two days scenario, Gillispie said, “We’ll be ready to play. . . . We’ll play better.”
Huggins 0-fer vs. UK
Huggins, the sixth winningest active Division I coach, has an 0-2 record against Kentucky. Of the opponents he’s coached against more than once, Huggins has failed to beat only seven: Kansas (0-4), Michigan (0-2), Illinois (0-2), Georgetown (0-2), Notre Dame (0-2), Ohio State (0-2) and UK.

North Carolina Coach Roy Williams made it official at a Monday afternoon news conference: All-American center Tyler Hansbrough will not play against Kentucky in Tuesday night’s game.

Hansbrough has been sitting out more than two weeks because of a stress reaction in his right shin. Without rest, a stress fracture could develop.

Williams has repeatedly noted that UNC will use a conservative approach on Hansbrough’s return, erring on the side of caution.

The Tar Heels started two high-profile freshmen in their opening game against Penn last Saturday. Tyler Zeller, once a recruiting target of Kentucky’s, started and scored 18 points.

Ed Davis came off the bench and contributed a double-double: 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Tennessee planned to retire Ernie Grunfeld’s jersey at halftime on Sunday.

Before the game, Grunfeld held a news conference to reflect on the honor. He called it a “humbling experience.”

A reporter noted that his ex-teammate, Bernard King, had his jersey retired at halftime of Tennessee’s home game against Kentucky last season.

“The biggest rivalry is between Tennessee and Kentucky,” Grunfeld said. “When you beat Kentucky, you earn your victory.”

Grunfeld noted that Tennessee won six of eight games against Kentucky when he played.

Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie spoke glowingly of his counterpart in Saturday’s game: Arkansas coach and former UK player John Pelphrey.

When asked about the warm reception expected for Pelphrey, Gillispie said, “He deserves it. His jersey is hanging in the rafters here. Just a fantastic person.” [Hear Gillispie's Friday news conference.]

Of Pelphrey’s return home as a head coach, Gillispie said, “We’ll embrace that 100 percent. Now when the game starts, we’re going to go at it like crazy. But we’ll definitely welcome him back, and I’ll be one of the guys clapping hands.”

UK does not plan any ceremony or presentation to recognize Pelphrey, spokesman Scott Stricklin said.

Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie and his players expressed a key to Saturday’s game against South Carolina: contain Gamecock guard Devan Downey.

Downey excels in dribbling into the heart of an opposing defense. He’s scored 20 or more points in four straight games and ranks No. 3 among Southeastern Conference players in assists.

“We’re going to have to have very strong help,” UK guard Ramel Bradley said of defending Downey. “We have to stop him from dribble-penetrating, because he’s very good.”

Downey also leads the SEC in steals (3.5 per game).

Stopping opponents from dribbling to the basket area has not been a Kentucky strength this season.

“We’ve been inconsistent at it,” Gillispie said. “He’s outstanding at it.”

[Hear Gillispie's Friday press conference.] 

South Carolina starts four players 6-foot-7 or shorter. So UK faces an unorthodox opponent.

“I don’t think you can play conventionally and match up with them,” Gillispie said. “If you play conventionally all the time, you’ll be hoping they miss.”

Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie called for better defense when the Cats play No. 3 Tennessee on Tuesday night.

UK’s defense figures to be much better against the Vols than at Florida on Saturday night. That’s the highest priority, even higher than combating Tennessee’s superior depth by slowing the tempo.

“If we don’t gaurd better than at Florida, it doesn’t matter what tempo we play,” Gillispie said at a Monday news conference. “I knew it was bad (at Florida). But once you see it on tape, it makes you want to throw up.”

In particular, Gillispie found UK’s defense on the ball handler and in helping beaten teammates sickening.

Rounding off, Tennessee has seven players averaging 7.0 points or better this season. The Vols have 12 players averaging double-digit minutes with no one logging more than Chris Lofton’s 28.3 minutes.

By contrast, UK has three players averaging more than 32 minutes (Patrick Patterson, Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley). Bradley has played every one of UK’s 135 minutes in Southeastern Conference play, and all 175 minutes of play for the Cats this month.

Gillispie dismissed fatigue as a factor. “I don’t buy it,” he said before suggesting that fighting fatigue is a battle of mind over matter. You get tired “if you allow your mind to allow you to get fatigued,” he said.

Meanwhile, Crawford saluted Tennessee, saying the Vols were “much better” than Florida. The rankings would support such a contention.

And Crawford said UK would want to slow the Vols, who favor a fast-breaking, pressing attack.

“I think we want to slow it down,”  Crawford said. “I don’t think we’re going to let them go to their strength.”

UK’s depth got help at Florida when Jodie Meeks and Derrick Jasper played. The pair had been nursing injuries. Meeks participated in much of practice Monday, Gillispie said. Jasper practiced on a more limited basis.