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Kentucky 102, Mississippi State 97-
(Continued from page 5)
of both Woods and backup Richie Farmer.
Not only did Woods score 18 points, but he also had his hands in five assists and three steals while penciled in for a mere miscue in 27 minutes at the point.
Following a 7-2 run by MSU. Woods spun inside for an eight-footer to give UK an 85-75 lead. Moments later he again successfully tested his offensive skills inside, this time widening the lead to 92-80. "I took their big man one-on-one." Woods remembered, "and he couldn't handle me."
Next, it was Farmer who made the score 94-80 with a bucket of his own against taller timber.
As for Farmer, in 15 minutes he was able to produce seven points while committing one turnover. He turned in the game's most dazzling play, a twirling left-handed layup in the second half.
"I think they both are coming on," Pitino said. "I told Sean before the game that 'you may be making mistakes right now but you're
going to be a great guard because you've got a super attitude. You take criticism well."
"As long as you stay confident, young people may lose a battle in a game or two but will win the wars in the end.
"I'm really pleased with Richie; he's playing more north and south each game."
^Factor IV. A free-throw teeter-totter weighing 25 to 19 in Kentucky's favor.
UK attempted 3720 earmarked to Hanson and Feldhauscompared to MSU's 31. Hanson drilled eight while Feldhaus connected on six.
"We're starting to play a lot better in this style," Feldhaus said. "It's fun as it can be. You're never standing around, you're always on the move."
Zero for nine in the first half. Feldhaus didn't hesitate to take a three-pointer early in the second stanza. His first field goal at the 18:56 gave UK a 43-35 lead, offsetting a Burns' tip in. "I wasn't down," Feldhaus said. "I had some shots that I should have made.
Kentucky 111, Tennessee Tech 75
(Continued from page 7)
rangebut there were times when most courtside observers, even Miller himself, thought he couldn't miss.
"I just felt it," the 6-5 sharpshooter said. "I came down and 1 said. 'Whenever I see an opening, I'm gonna shoot." My eyes light up. For instance, when you were playing last year and you would see an opening, you had to look around to pass the ball before you'd shoot. But now. if you have an opening, you shoot. So my eyes light up. My eyes get big whenever I see an opening.
"It just feels good. If you ever watch Stevie Wonder playing the piano...he's moving his head and hes in the rhythm, that'sjusi how it feels. It's a great feeling."
And it's contagious, too.
"Yeah, it's real contagious," Brassow said. "Derrick wasn't missing. Reggie wasn't missing. And I felt like, 'If they're not gonna miss. I'm not gonna miss either.'
"Everything was clicking. Derrick was hitting. The crowd was getting in it. You had the adrenaline going and you just wanted to put up the shots. When Derrick started hitting, everybody started hitting. That was the key right there. They never had a chance going into the second half."
Having TKO'd Tech by the half, the 'Cats assaulted the record books after the break. Following Miller's lead, Kentucky fired up an NCAA-record 41 threes for the game. The Cats hit 18seven tor Miller, tour each tor Brassow and Hanson, two for John Pelphrey and one for Richie Farmerleaving them just
Coach Pitino really doesn't worry about that...To tell you the truth he never did say one word about me missing a shot. He stays positive with you all the time."
Feldhaus christened the win at the :13 mark with two free throws, the second being UK's 100th point. The last time the 'Cats reached the century mark against an SEC team was in 1981 versus Auburn (102-74).
Confidence is an intangible easy to spot. In UK's case, it hit Mississippi State like a brick. "After tonight people who play Kentucky can't say 'they just have Derrick and Reggie,'" Miller said. "Feldhaus is playing. Richie is playing. Pelphrey is playing. Davis is playing. Look at the stat sheet and see the minutes distributed between the players...Everybody played. That's the exciting thing about itit's a total team effort."
Kentucky trailed once. A Burns six-foot bank pushed the 'Dogs ahead 9-7. But UK quickly tied the score, aided by a back-door play from Pelphrey to Miller. Pelphrey then tossed in a three-point bucket, putting Pitino's
"little team that could" ahead for the resl of the evening.
Two consecutive Miller three-pointers lipped the margin to four18-14. Burns was all set to conclude a I'astbreak with a jam when Davis, taking advantage of the new SEC six-foul rule, fouled Burns before he could get the shot off.
"Obviously, we look to play good hard clean basketball," the UK head coach said. "I'm really really pleased these guys are not surrendering a layup. They know the importance. We want to keep a team under six layups per game and they understand that."
The particular play inspired a deafening roar from the home folks. And with the crowd behind it even more, UK, a winner for the second time in three outings, was off to the races.
"I'm so tickled with this basketball team." Pitino said. "I can't tell you how proud and happy I am with this group. I never ever expected this after five-and-half, six weeks of practice. I really didn't."
one short of another NCAA mark, currently held by Valparaiso and St. Francis, Pa.
They still weren't through, though. The 111 points represents the highest total at UK since Joe Hall's 1979-80 club lit up South Carolina 126-81, and gives the 'Cats their first back-to-back 100-point games since the 1978-79 season, two stats that say Kentucky is coming around a lot sooner than most people expected.
"They're adjusted right now," Pitino said. "They're a very bright group of young men. And I think that's a talent. I really do. They listen and they're very bright individuals. They absorb things quickly. And that's why I think we're playing this way."
Yes, folks. Pitino Ball has caught on. Just ask Earl Wise.
Derrick Miller goes for three.
Kansas 150, Kentucky 95
(Continued from page 9)
fering three personal fouls early in the game. He lasted a grand total of 3:34 of the second period before picking up his fourth Ibul and again headed to the sidelines.
That, again, is when Kansas just killed Kentucky inside.
"We had to get our fannies drilled tonight." said Pitino of the loss. "If we want to get better we have to take these kinds of losses. You have to learn your lessons while you're rebuilding."
Pitino was particularly upset with his front-court play, although guard Sean Woods sat out much of the first half with two fouls.
Asked when Woods did re-enter in the first half. Pitino said. "The backcourt was not our problem, there's not that much difference between Sean (Woods). Richie (Farmer) and (Tony) Cooper.
"The frontcourt killed us. I said earlier in the year we can't play without Reggie. In the second half, we just threw it up. but Kansas is a "real team."
Was there a message to Kansas lor the future concerning the high score?
"We have no anomosity toward Kansas." said Pitino. "we're not like the Cowboys or Eagles."
Kentucky players, restraint in place, still couldn't conceal their feelings.
After taking blame for the loss and labeling himself as selfish with his second-half shooting (three of 12 from the field). Miller said he was only trying to "bring us back" with his long-range bombs which were so successful in the firs! half and failed in connecting in the second period.
Asked if he fell Kansas rubbed salt in open wounds. Miller first said yes. then caught himself and said Kansas was only trying to play hard. "I just took some bad shots." said Miller, "bin they'll (referring to the Wildcats who will return next season) remember this game next year.''
Hanson also wanted to shoulder some of the
blame.
"I can take a lot of the blame. 1 didn't show the leadership I should have today." said Hanson. "We didn't play as hard as we usually do."
Hanson, who said this was the toughest loss he had ever experienced, said the memory won't fade quickly. "We won't forget this one." he said.
Williams played down the blowout, but his actions of escorting Pitino three-quarters the length of the court after the game's end seemed an unsuccessful effort to make Pitino believe there were no intentions of running up the score.
And what did Williams (ell Pitino?
"I just told him I felt tor him. I know exactly where he is because I was there last year." Williams said, referring to the Kansas probation of one year in '89. "We did the only thing we could do. because they kept pressing us. I'm assuming thai's the way he (Pitino) felt.
"That might not make any difference (to Pitino). but that's Roy Williams. Take it or leave it."
The UK coach obviously thought such a comparison between KU of last season and UK this season is no eompursion at all.
"Anybody who compares us to Kansas is nuts." said Pitino. "They come off a national championship and minor probation. Their adversity is a little bit different than ours."
Kentucky not only was banned from the postseason tournament lor two years, but was limited to three schoarships per year for two seasons, and juniors as well as seniors were permitted to transfer to another school without having to sit out a year to become eligible.
Pitino. who was upset with the Big Fight Conference officials, especially the first 25 minutes, was lagged with two technical fouls.
His first came alter he heaved a towel on the floor in the first half
Miller, who chose lo stay calm and speak only with chosen words with reporters immediate-
ly after the game, broke his guarded silence when a Kansas reporter informed Miller that Williams had said he felt sorry tor UK. "It's a fine time to say thatafter the game." Miller snapped.
Kansas hit a torrid 61.2 percent from the field for the game on a blazing 52 of 85 attempts.
Leading all scorers for Kansas was Terry Brown who tallied 31 points on II of 17 from the field, including seven of 10 from the three-point line. Double-figure scoring aiso came from five other Jayhawks.
Kansas manhandled the 'Cats on the boards to the tune of 53-32.
Miller's 32 was high for Kentucky as UK hit 17 of 40 from three-point land. John Pelphrey. who hit five of 10 from the three-point range.
(Continued from page 9)
The series was revived for this season when athletics director CM. Newton announced a two-year series. The renewal brought cheers from Kansas folks, but don't look lor the series lo be extended beyond next season.
For many Kentucky fans, even before the lopsided loss, the question was "Why this year?" iluring a periixl when Kentucky obviously doesn't have the talent to match up. even if the game were played in Lexington.
Then there was the thought of KU pouring on the coals long after the game had been decided.
In fact, there was only 3:31 remaining in the game and Kansas leading by 131-90 when reserves Malcolm Nash and Kirk Wagner, the 10th anil llth Jayhawks on the rosier, saw their first action.
Rick, was it a ease of running up the score?
"I have no comment lo that." responded Pitino.
Then there was the officiating. Kick's response?
"For all of you. for all of the future. 1 don't comment on officiating." the UK boss said. "If
added 20 points and Farmer scored 19 while hitting four of tour from long range.
Turnovers, which had been an asset to UK in the Wildcats' first four games, turned sour. Kentucky suffered 27 mistakes compared to only 15 for the Kansas team.
Jayhawk Kevin Pritchard. the senior guard who scored 17 points and once wanted to attend Kentucky with then-signee Rex Chapman, made no secret about not wanting to suit up against the Wildcats in Rupp Arena.
When someone pointed out thai he wouldn't be part of the traveling squad when the team pays a visit to Kentucky next season. Pritchard sighed and uttered a single phrase.
"Thank God." he said.
you'd like to commentwhich you very rarely doyou comment on it. But don't ask me about officiating because 1 will not say a negative or a positive word."
Maybe not. but his actions were loud. Like a pair of technical fouls and shades of a third which would have meant immediate ejection.
The first technical came at 15:01 of the first half and Kentucky trailing 17-16 after Pitino had been upset with several calls iluring the first five minutes of the game.
Was Pitino trying to get a technical?
"No." said Pitino. "I was upset with the call each time."
Willi 16:03 left in the second half and UK trailing 92-70. Pitino goi his second technical.
Coach, how tough was the loss?
"Nobody likes to lose by that many points." said Pitino. "it was very embarrassing."
Your toughest game ever?
"I've never had a loss quite like this in my life." admitted Pitino.
Neither has Kentucky.
KU 150, UK 95: A one-of-a-kind loss