UK forward Alex Poythress will be back in his home state Thursday night as Kentucky opens SEC play at Vanderbilt. Beofre heading to Nashville, Poythress downplayed the return calling it a "normal game."

His home of Clarksville, Tennessee is only about 50 miles from Nashville. As a high school star, Poythress was named Mr. Basketball in the state and the Gatorade Player of the Year. Coach John Calipari worked with him individually during semester break to improve his game. "Everybody's just looking for fight. They really don't care how he shoots the ball, if he turns it over some, I don't think anybody cares. "They're zeroed in on, 'is he out there in a battle, is he competing, does he have a sense of urgency or not?'"

Calipari said he hopes Poythress is starting "to get it," and that will carry over to the games.