All Out, All the Time
"That just gives you a great indication of the respect people have for this program, and for what Rick Pitino and his staff wete able to do hete at UK," Smith said, while contemplating the great ttadition at Kentucky. "Having said that, I would ventute to say that prior to Rick Pitino, it was probably the same thing. Kentucky has always been one of the top-10 teams. For instance, we're celebrating the golden anniversary of the 1948 NCAA Champs this season."
From the days of the legendary Coach Adolph Rupp, UK has won six NCAA Championships while becoming the winningest program in the nation with 1,685 victories. UK owns the best winning percentage of any team in college basketball at 76.2 percent. The Wildcats have made 12 appeatances in the Final Fout, won 38 Southeastern Conference titles and 20 SEC Tournament Championships.
Is Smith impressed? Absolutely. Concerned about expectations? Not hardly.
"I think people in the basketball world and the knowledgeable fans would tecognize that we have lost six NBA Draft picks, and we lack the experienced depth that Kentucky basketball has had in the last few yeats," Smith said. "In tact, we're replacing four veteran players with four freshmen with absolutely no experience."
E MUST PLAY within ourselves, play to our strengths.."
For 1997-98, consider the UK roster as a set of well-built shelves in need of testocking.
"We want to be the best team possible and just take it one day at a time, one game at a time," Smith said. "Especially this yeat with a new coach and new faces. And when I say new faces, I'm talking about Heshimu Evans and Jeff Sheppard. They're going to be new because they didn't play last year, along with out incoming freshmen.
"This is a transition."
Easing the pains of change will be the Wildcats' style. Much of what Smith had implemented at both Tulsa and Georgia was learned at UK, under the tutelage of Pitino. "Pitinoball" is now "Tubbyball," an all-out, all-the-time style creating fun and enthusiasm for both playets and fans alike.
"Our styles ate similat in a lot of ways," Smith explains. "We try to push the ball up the court. We think out defense creates our offense. We've been one of the best defensive teams in the league at Geotgia and Tulsa. I expect that to continue hete because we are a very athletic team and we did ptess a lot like Kentucky. If there's a difference, I may emphasize halfcourt man-to-man more."
The numbers don't lie. Last yeat, Georgia finished just 3.1 points pet game behind UK in scoring defense, while finishing second in the Southeastern
The transition is not limited to a new coaching staff. The Wildcats have lost 63.3 percent of their points production from last year's NCAA Runner-up squad. The departures were Derek Anderson, Anthony Epps, and Jared Prickett, whose eligibility had all expired, and Ron Mercer, who opted tor the NBA two yeats early. In summary, the Wildcats lost its top two scoters, the SEC's Player of the Year, the school's No. 2 all-time assists man and two players who played in more than 140 games during their four-year careers.
Conference in opponents' field goal percentage (39.3%), first in opponents' three-point field goal percentage (30.7%), and second to the Cats in field goal percentage differential (4-5%).
"We must play within ourselves, play to our strengths," Smith said. "It will he critical that we communicate to our players where our strengths and weaknesses he. blow we handle the expectations and how they'll accept the new regime will determine our
New Look
The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team will wear Nike uniforms and shoes as part of an all-sports conttact the UK Athletics Association signed with Nike in May 1997. In addition to new game uniforms, Nike will supply practice gear for the Wildcats. It's the fitst Nike equipment used by the basketball team since the 1988-89 season.
According to the deal, all UK sports teams will wear Nike shoes and equipment through the 2001-02 season. UK will receive $ 11 million in cash, clothing and equipment over the life of the five-year contract. And, thanks to Nike's national and international matketing ability, the Wildcats should see an increase in royalty revenues.
Kentucky is one of only 14 schools that have an exclusive all-sports contract with Nike. Thete is an option fot an additional five years.
A look at the new Nike uniform can be found on page 18 of this media guide.
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