October 26, /?cftf
'87 Should Be Bennetts Year To Take Over
Intimidation' Best Describes This 6-7 Senior
In 1984 the Twin TowersSam Bowie and Melvin Turpinled Kentucky to a berth in the Final Four. For the last two seasons Kenny Walker's name was the main topic when striking up conversation about the Wildcats.
Winston George Bennett III your time has arrived.
In 1983 he became a special addition to Joe B. Hall's club. You knew there was something special about Bennett when he decided not to attend his hometown institution. He instead became the first Derby City native to sign with the hoop 'Cats in more than a decade, enemy territory for Louisville Cardinal supporters.
Three years have past and the UK senior is anxious to begin his final season for Eddie Sutton's Wildcats. Despite the absence of Walker and Roger Harden, many preseason publications have tabbed Kentucky in the Top 10 and in some cases a Top Five selection. Preseason expectations and a frosh named Rex Chapman have dragged atop the coattails of last year's success. Some 'Cat fans believe this team will be more exciting
Nick Nicholas
Cats' Pause Columnist
than the 32-4 club. More exciting? C'mon.
"It's possible," Bennett said in a recent interview. "There's always room for improvement. Coach Sutton is not going to allow it to be any other way. Hopefully, I'm not going to allow it to be any other way; I'm not going to allow us to lose. I don't think any of my teammates are going to do that."
Kentucky's 6-foot-7, 210-pound physical forward has witnessed many things during the past three seasons in a Wildcat uniform. From the goodplaying in the Final Four, Academic All-SEC, being a part of UK's 32-4 season, and All-SEC as a playerto the badsuffering both bitter defeats and various medical problemshave followed Winston Bennett throughout his college career.
Sprained Ankle Almost Healed
Currently, Bennett is once again on the mend after severely spraining an ankle in a pickup game. When the first Blue-White scrimmage rolls around, meanwhile, he'll be roaming in and out of the paint like the Bennett of old.
Speaking of injuries, last year Sutton said he would have taken a sabbatical if Kenny Walker was ever injured and lost for the season. He probably would have the same remarks if Bennett, the team's defensive specialist, would be sidelined with a season-ending injury.
Sutton already has labeled Bennett as an "All-American" candidate. No question about which UK player is the leader of this year's team.
"I see this year as being a different year for me," said Bennett. "In the past, we've always had a guy that would lead our ballclub.
"Now it's my turn. I'm suppose to be at the helm and lead the ballclub. I'm going to be looked upon for a lot of the leadership qualities. I feel like I can uphold that in that I've been somewhat of a leader down through the years since I've been here."
"Down through the years" he's logged 2,662 minutes in 100 ballgames. There's not many college players today with more experience than Bennett.
The former Louisville Male and Mr. Basketball selection has steadily progressed during his three seasons at the University of Kentucky. His offensive output has risen, from 6.5 ppg as a freshman, to 7.2 ppg, to 12.7 ppg last year. It's those intangibleshustle and determinationwhich have helped Bennett snare 541 rebounds in three years, including a 7.0 rpg last season.
Yet, Bennett is not satisfied.
"The levels of betterment are far beyond what we really think. So, there's always room to get better and you have that opportunity. That's what I try to keep my mind on."
Trying to improve on his basketball skills will be a tough order for the senior forward. Throughout Bennett's college career he's started in 63 straight games, hit double digits in 28 of 36 games last season, 46 steals in '86, and was team captain in '86 and co-captain in '85.
If it's possible. Bennett has been slowed down because of numerous medical setbacks. In 1985 prior to the start of the season he dealt with both knee surgery and pneumonia. It was a critical period for Bennett, both physically and emotionally.
"I really wasn't able to get in the swing of the whole season," Bennett remembered. "It threw my whole balance off; I didn't shoot well and my accuracy was off. My confidence was lacking. It just took away from the character of Winston Bennett on the basketball court."
In 1984-85 he played in 30 of 31 games, missing only the season opener against Toledo. Nevertheless, you could see he was suffering.
Other problems like back ailments and a sprained ankle have made him wonder at times why him? Why so many injuries?
Adapting to injuries, he's learned, is just part of playing sports. "Whether it's basketball, football or baseball you're going to be injured unless you're extremely lucky."
"You have to keep it all in perspective," he continued. "You have to get up once you've been knocked out and keep on pluggin' away. You know it can't get too much worse."
Possesses A "Big Valentine"
It takes a lot to knock this man down. To steal a line from Sutton, Bennett has overcome various medical problems because of his "Big Valentine."
Intimidation is the best description for Winston Bennett. . .ah, make that Winston Bennett best describes intimidation. U of L color analyst Jock Sutherland told TCP last year. "I doubt if there is a forward in the country that is more ferocious a player than Winston Bennett. He takes no prisoners. You could put Godzilla in there and Winston
Senior Forward Winston Bennett
would go out there and call him a bad name just to get his attention." Too much effort at times also can be damaging.
Bennett's reputation proceeds him, especially with the officials. When involved in a close call the blame usually gets whistled Bennett's way. He believes he's improved in that phase of his game, however.
"Experience and maturity have really helped me along the lines of not commiting as many fouls," said Bennett, who fouled out of six games in '86 compared to 10 early exits as a sophomore. "Anytime you guard a team's best player or AU-American player you're going to get in some type of foul trouble. A lot of my fouls were maybe out of desperation and maybe trying a little too hard to try to stop this man.
"In any case, where you're guarding a guy like a Chuck Person or, for instance Kenny Walker, you can't go in and totally shut them down. You just have to try and contain them as best as you possibly can. Hopefully, you'll get a lot of help from your teammates also."
[Continued On Page 26]