Looking Back, Andrews Glad He Chose UK
Sutton: 'Paul Does All We Ask'
He never got to play as much as he hoped but if he had it all to do over again, Paul Andrews would still come to Kentucky to play basketball.
"If you grow up in Kentucky, this is where you dream of playing basketball," said Andrews. "I'll always cherish memories of my four years here."
Coaches, players and fans said farewell to seniors James Blackmon and Andrews Sunday when Kentucky faced Oklahoma. As Andrews stood at midcourt, it was impossible not to think about his other big moment in the spotlight at
	Larry Vaught Cats' Pause Columnist
	
Rupp Arena.
Four years ago Andrews hit the shot heard around Kentucky when his desperation half-court shot at the buzzer went in to give Laurel County its first state championship.
"That's probably still my biggest thrill," said Andrews.
Andrews played behind some outstanding guards during his UK career. Jim Master, Dicky Beal and Roger Harden were already at Kentucky when Andrews came. Blackmon arrived the same season as Andrews. Ed Davender came a year later and this season UK added Rex Chapman.
That didn't leave many opportunties for the 6-3 Andrews, an All-State selection his final year in high school when he averaged 21 points per game and finished second to teammate Winston Bennett in the voting for Mr. Basketball.
"Paul Andrews always does a super defensive job and does all that we ask," said UK coach Eddie Sutton. "He always grades out well when we check films and he is one of the hardest workers we have in practice."
"I haven't had the opportunity to play all I wanted but I have been behind some great players," said Andrews. "I
Casey Says Paul Has Bright Future Ahead
understood that but I never stopped working."
Every team needs players to do that. Andrews always pushes UK's other guards in practices. He's the first player to arrive for team meetings and one of the first to make curfew.
UK assistant coach Dwane Casey probably sympathizes with Andrews' role more than any other person at Kentucky. Casey was in the same position during his career when UK had Larry Johnson, Truman Claytor, Kyle Macy and Jay Shidler.
"Paul does remind me a lot of myself," said Casey. "He's a role player but he's always enthusiastic. He sacrifices scoring and glory to do the little things it takes to help a team win."
He didn't worry about scoring. Even though he is a
capable outside shooter he normally passed up his shot to look for an open teammate.
Andrews was happy to play defense, take a charge, grab a rebound, make a steal or do anything else to help Kentucky win.
Only once did he lose his intensity and self-confidence at Kentucky. He became discouraged midway of his sophomore year and thought of leaving UK. However, he stayed and has never complained about playing time since then.
"Paul has stuck in there when a lot of guys would have got discouraged," said Casey. "I know what that takes because I
Paul Andrews
had to do the same thing. It's not easy.
"The key to a guy like Paul, though, is that he is always ready to play. When he gets his chances, he makes the most of it. He responds to any situation that we ask him to and does his best."
Not every Wildcat does that. Kentucky has been up and down like a yo-yo all season because not every player always comes mentally prepared to play. That attitude has cost UK several wins this season.
Andrews, though, always came prepared. If he got a chance to play, the dedicated senior was always ready. If he didn't get to play, he made sure he was ready for the next game.
Casey thinks Andrews will be just as prepared after basketball ends when it is time for him to start another phase of his life.
"He's a clean-living citizen from a good family," said Casey. "He is the type guy I would hire in a heartbeat and any executive should want him in his corporation.
"Cream always rises to the top and Paul will be a success no matter what he decides to do with his life."
If the business world does get tough, Andrews can use the same advice he has for future Wildcats.
"I would just tell any player coming here to keep his head up, play hard and give all he can any time he goes on the floor," said Andrews. "If you do that, you'll be successful no matter what the statistics show."
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JUST TRYING to answer fan mail could become a full-time job for UK's basketball coaches.
"Coach or one of us tries to answer every piece of mail," said UK assistant coach Doug Barnes. "In the morning the first thing I do is work on the mail. You have to stay caught up and I probably do eight to 10 letters per day. It's a problem but it is a nice problem to have."
Sutton delegates out different types of mail to each coach.
"Dwane (Casey) usually gets the recruiting mail," said Barnes. "James (Dickey) gets the toughest questions or comments. Coach Sutton also takes some of the tough ones himself. I get the easy ones to answer. Seriously, though, we
(Wild)Cat Tale
Dear Sir:
There are very few small children in western Kentucky that have not heard about the Wildcats of Kentucky. Many fathers have been known to put a basketball in their son's hands the minute they get home from the hospital.
I was taking my young grandson, Jared Tanner Forrester, who has just had his 5th birthday, to town. Getting in the car and noticing the dirty cat's paws on the hood, up the windshield and the top of the car, I said, "It looks like that cat has been on our car again." Jared said, "What kind of cat is it, Grandmommie?" I said, "I really don't knowit must be a wild cat, though, because I have never seen him." Then Jared replied, "Well, I couldn't tell you what he looks like, but I do know the color of 'emthey're blue'."
Yours truly,
Mrs. Bill Howie Wickliffe, Kentucky
WLW Listener In N.M.
Dear Sir:
I wanted to congratulate all of you associated with The Cats' Pause for producing such a fine sports magazine. Despite the criticism voiced by many readers regarding some of the writers. I find each one interesting and enjoyable in his own way. even when I (infrequently) disagree with what they say.
I've been amazed to discover (and I want to alert other displaced Kentuckians residing in the West) that WLW (radio 700 of Cincinnati) broadcasts can be heard all the way out here in New Mexico! Interference from other stations and fade-outs occur, but on the whole the transmission quality is remarkable considering the distance.
The criticism I've read in TCP about Joe B. Hall's TV broadcast performance and qualifications certainly surprises me. He has been excellent so far (infinitely better than many others, especially Dick Vitale) and I hope he continues to do well. A broadcast with Joe B., Tom Hammond and Ralph Hacker would be utterly spectacular if only it could occur. The only difficulty would be in NOT turning down the sound of the TV to be able to listen to the best radio announcer in the country, Cawood Ledford.
Go Blue,
Jeffrey Neil Burch Albuquerque, New Mexico
Lock's Slam Jam