PAGE 8    THE CATS'  PAUSE, DECEMBER 22, 1979
Cats Will Face Another Indiana Team
Kentucky 69, Indiana 58.
As is always the case when these two defensive-minded teams go at one another, it wasn't a thing of beauty. In a game of finesse and touch, it was a war, played with intensity like probably no two college teams play with.
"It was physical," said Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall. "It was a very good game."
"It was a physical game," echoed Hoosier coach Bobby Knight. "Kentucky plays good, physical defense."
There is no garbage when these two teams meet. When two points are scored, they are earned. Nothing comes easy.
It's not a matter of which team looks the best, but which one makes the other look the worst. The gameplan is to disrupt the other team's offense. Whoever causes the most disruption wins.
Both teams played eye-to-eye for 40 minutes. It is not a place for a timid player. The team that lasts the longest usually wins.
Kentucky's defense caused the most disruption and the Wildcats lasted the longest. Therefore they won.
Neither team could establish a consistent offensive attack, but Kentucky's defense proved to be the deciding factor in this one.
It was so good that combining two different stretches in the second half, Indiana went 12 minutes and eight seconds   without   a    single point.
The NCAA record Rupp Arena crowd of 23,798 certainly played a factor. They were louder than ever and picked the Cats up when they did anything right.
It should also be pointed out that Indiana played the game without injured starter Steve Bouchie, and the second half without injured Randy Whittman. Plus catalyst Isiah Thomas played only 26 minutes because of foul trouble.
Anyway you look at it, Kentucky was the best team on this particular Saturday night. The Wildcats and their poised freshmen have now proven they are a national contender.
Both teams are to. be reckoned with in the future. They could meet again probably in the Mideast Regionals.
The Wildcats could not afford to celebrate long Saturday and it almost seemed as though everyone had forgotten Monday night's game with Georgia, which actually was more important   than   the   Indiana game
For now, Kentucky had taken a TO
lead in the Indiana-Kentucky three-game series. This Saturday the Wildcats could meet Purdue in the finals of the UKIT. One week later Notre   Dame   visits   Freedom Hall.
On three consecutive Saturday nights, Kentucky could meet teams from the Hoosier state who are ranked among the nation's best. Supremacy should be established by 1980.
Another strong field will participate in this year's UKIT this weekend.
The Wildcats lost to Texas A&M in last year's first round, only the second time in the tourney's history UK didn't play in the title game.
It was an embarrassment the Wildcats will be out to amend, when they meet California in the opening round Friday.
Purdue and Southern Methodist will play in the other first round contest. The Boilermakers are in the top 10, while SMU owns a victory over Kansas.
Kentucky and Purdue are favored to meet in the final, which could present several interesting matchups.
The Boilermakers feature 7-1 center Joe Barry Carroll, who has established himself as the nation's best pivotman and is second in the nation in scoring It could present quite a test for young Sam Bowie.
If the two teams meet, it will also be the first time UK All-American Kyle Macy has played against the school from which he transferred after his freshman season. The coaches and players have changed since Macy left but it's still Purdue.
It will be quite a tourney. I'll go with favorites and say UK by six over Purdue in the championship game.
More good news for the Wildcats came on Saturday morning.
Seven-foot Melvin Turpin announced that he will attend UK next year, after completing spring semester at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia.
Turpin's arrival will allow Joe Hall the luxury of having two seven-footers on his team and possibly two in the lineup. And Turpin is no ordinary giant.
Big Mel could probably start for most any college team in the nation right now and will probably improve more than a normal player, because Turpin didn't begin playing organized basketball until his sophomore year in high school.
Turpin is already strong for his age and a year on the UK weight program will make him quite a speciman. He has  the  tools  to  be   a  great one.
It is also obvious to those who talk to him that Turpin has matured greatly since his senior year. A somewhat confused youngster last year, Turpin has grown-up immensely at the military school.
With 6-9 Bret Bearup also com mitted  to  UK,  Joe  Hall  can now concentrate on bringing in a guard or two to strengthen his backcourt next year.
Kentucky will probably sign one or possibly two guards. It is already a great recruiting year. It's nice to have
r
Go Big Blue
WHITAKER COAL SALES
"Boosters of the University of Kentucky"
Elmer Whitaker, President
Hazard, Ky,
that guaranteed by Dec. 15.
Valerie Still and Debbie Yow's Lady Kats continue to roll, as they plastered Indiana 102-52 in Saturday's preliminary game. The Lady Kats were 5-0   on   the   year   after   the win.
The 6-1 Still is proving to be as good a basketball player as her brother Art was a football player at Kentucky.
The freshman scored a school-record 38 points against the Hoosiers and hauled down 19 rebounds. She missed only five of 20 shots.
TIDBITS: Turpin, who was cheering with his UK shaker during the Wildcat's game with Indiana, wasn't the only Wildcat recruit on hand. Brad Waller, a 6-4 guard from Illinois, watched the big victory. Some say Waller's game resembles that of another Wildcat form Illinois, Jay Shidler. His father obviously got caught up in the game. Standing outside the UK locker room after the game, Mr. Waller was overheard saying, "I'm not even from here and I'm excited." . . . Another outstanding prepster who watched the game was Winston Bennett from Louisville Male High School. The 6-5 Bennett is already establishing himself as one of Louisville's top players and he is only a FRESHMAN . . . While media from all over the country covered the game, scouts were abundant too. They came from Purdue, Michigan State, Tennessee and California, just to mention a few . . . The UK cheerleaders, under the guidance of T. Lynn Williamson, have been chosen among the top five groups in the country and will appear on CBS-TV in a contest to decide the nation's finest cheerleading squad . . . The Rupp Arena crowd let out a big ovation when it was announced Eastern Kentucky University had won the Division I-AA football national championship . . . Not enough can be said for the job Fred Cowan and Derrick Hord did on Hoosier All-American Mike Woodson, who hit just four of 18 shots and did not score the second half. There were several interesting matchups, as Indiana opened with forward Woodson guarding UK guard Dwight Anderson and IU guard Randy Whittman on UK forward LaVon Williams. Super-quick
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