KENTUCKY BASKETBALL OUTLOOK, 1972-73
Three startersAll-SEC and All-NCAA Mideast Regional center Jim Andrews, 6-foot-ll, unanimous SEC All-Sophomore guard Ronnie Lyons, 5-10, and senior forward Larry Stamper, 6-6return to give first year coach Joe B. Hall a solid nucleus to build around.
Lost by graduation from last year's Southeastern Conference co-champions are starters Tom Parker (18.0), a two-time All-SEC performer who scored 1,238 career points, and guard Stan Key (12.5), reserve guards Bob McCowan and Kent Hollenbeck, and forward Dan Perry, who was forced to bypass his final year because of health problems.
The competition for starting berths is expected to be fierce among returning junior lettermen Rick Drewitz, a 6-7 forward-center, Ray Edelman, a 6-2 guard, and the seven-man sophomore group which was selected by Basketball Newt last season as the nation's No. 1 freshman team.
Hall feels at this point no one is assured of a starting berth, but if he had to select one man, Andrews would get the nod.
"Jim has the quickness, jumping ability and shooting touch to become the best center in the country," Hall said. "With increased motivation and sustained effort, he could lead Kentucky to a great season."
Hall not only must keep Andrews motivated, but healthy and out of foul trouble since lack of size and experience in a backup center could contribute to a severe stumbling block for the Cats, who have only Drewitz and 6-8 sophomore Bob Guyette listed at center-forward.
Lyons heads a guard corps which will perhaps be the strong point of the Wildcat attack. The classy "little man," who was named the SEC's "Best Ball-Handler," is geared for another fine season after scoring 13.2 points a game his sophomore year.
Edelman, who was used sparingly last year, returned 20 pounds lighter and figures to battle for the other guard post with sophomores Mike Flynn, 6-3, who emerged as a top defensive man as well as a hot shooter, and Jerry Hale, a 6-1 playmaker with a flair for hitting the open man.
Hall can always fall back on Jimmy Dan Conner, 6-4, last season's second leading frosh scorer (19.0) at guard, who expects to fight it out with Stamper for the forward position opposite sophomore Kevin Grevey, 6-5, leading frosh scorer (22.2), who seems to be the top contender for Parker's vacated forward post.
Not to be counted out are sophomore forwards G. J. Smith, 6-7, an excellent outside shooter who hit over 50 per cent from the field and led the frosh in rebounding, and Steve Lochmueller, 6-7, a rugged competitor who could be a factor if he recovers from a recurrent foot injury.
The Wildcats will depend on speed, quickness and good shooting to offset a lack of height. However, Hall's chief worry is the need of a proven big man to back up Andrews. An inexperienced bench will be taken care of in time by Hall's penchant for playing a lot of people.
While Hall has no immediate plans to play freshmen, one of his worries could be solved if Roger Wood, a 6-1 1 center, of Buffalo Grove, III., develops rapidly.
Other freshmen include Reggie Warford, 6-1, of Drakesboro, Ky., David Miller, 6-6, of Carrollton, Ky., Jeff Ray, 6-5, of Lexington, Ky., and Marc Moseley, 6-5, of Atlanta, Ga.
The Wildcats will employ their usual fast break and single post offense, but Hall will take advantage of good talent at guard to run the one-four quite a bit. Defensively the Cats will utilize the zone press more than they have in the past. Set defenses include the man-to-man, one-three-one, and other variations of the zone.
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