[Stardust]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/notebook?p...ywatch0913

Andy Katz

This was the toughest week to choose a player.

Hasheem Thabeet of Connecticut and Blake Griffin of Oklahoma had season-best performances Saturday. But those performances weren't as significant as what Meeks did for the Wildcats.

Kentucky was reeling. The Wildcats had lost three in a row, including two straight at Rupp Arena, and were on the verge of a third consecutive defeat, this time to rival Florida. Meeks carried the Wildcats. He hit a fadeaway 3-pointer with less than five seconds remaining. Nick Calathes of the Gators missed the front end of a three-shot foul with less than a second remaining, and Kentucky escaped with a 68-65 win.

But Meeks' inside balance, Patrick Patterson, hurt his ankle in the Florida game. He couldn't play on the road against Arkansas. No Patterson could easily have meant trouble for Kentucky. Sure, Arkansas was without suspended point guard Courtney Fortson, but the Wildcats could have wilted on the road. They didn't, simply because of Meeks. He carried them with 45 points, making 17 of 24 shots and seven of 12 3s. Meeks had a combined 68 points in two of the most important wins for Kentucky this season.

Florida's shocking loss at Georgia meant the Gators slipped a game behind Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee in the SEC East standings. Had Meeks not rescued Kentucky against the Gators, the Wildcats conceivably could've continued their slide, spun completely out of the division race and lost their chance at an NCAA berth. Six games remain for the Cats -- three at home, three on the road -- and now they matter because of Meeks' week.