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Hall Puts "Amen" To Kentucky's Selection
Sky Walker Will Remain At UK
When Joe Hall resigned as head basketball coach at Kentucky he told UK officials only one thing.
"I told them they needed to get a successful coach who could come in here confident," says Hall. "I thought they needed a successful, proven coach who could come in with the support of the media and the fans."
And UK officials did just that with the hiring of Eddie Sutton.
Sutton is considered by most to be one of the top five coaches in the country and he feels he is ready to cope with the pressure of UK's winning tradition.
"You have pressure every place you go," says Sutton, who took his last nine Arkansas teams to the NCAA Tournament. "We built a monster at Arkansas. We went 22-13 this year, our worst record in nine years, and people were unhappy.
Larry Vaught
Cats* Pause Columnist
"But I'm going to coach the game the same whether I'm at Arkansas, Kentucky or Rhode Island. Besides, the fans will like me until I lose my first game."
Sutton, though, is thrilled to be at Kentucky. "I'm flattered and honored to be here," says Sutton. "This is the best job in the country and I had my mind made up if I was offered the job I would come."
"The hiring of Eddie Sutton will do nothing but enhance the Kentucky basketball program," said Hall. "He's a great coach and I couldn't be more pleased for him. He's one of the people I thought should be considered for the job."
Sutton shares the same respect for Hall, who guided UK to 298 victories during his 13-year career.
"Joe Hall is a heck of a coach," said Sutton. "I've admired him for years and years. He did an outstanding job trying to follow Adolph Rupp, who was one of the great coaches of all time.
"But if Rupp had to coach today it would be more difficult for him to win as many SEC (Southeastern Conference) titles. That's why Joe's record is so impressive."
Sutton's credentials are just as impressive, though. Twice he has been national Coach of the Year and four times he was the Southwest Conference Coach of the Year. His teams were almost impossible to beat at home as he compiled a 121-8 home-court mark.
Sutton does not have any Kentucky ties but university officals obviously felt it would be best to bring in a new man with fresh ideas.
"You can get so caught up with things that you don't have time to coach," said Hall. "Maybe the fact that Eddie has not grown up with the Kentucky tradition will be a plus for him."
Sutton, though, shouldn't have any trouble making a place for himself in the Bluegrass. He knows how to deal with,.the media and influential boosters. But he's also sincere and that's what will impress fans across the state.
He took one immediate positive step by retaining Leonard Hamilton, Hall's top assistant coach the last five years.
Many UK fans felt Hamilton had been slighted when he was not even considered for the vacancy created by Hall. Sutton, though, moved quickly to heal those wounds and Hamilton says he is glad to be working for another quality coach.
"I think keeping coach Hamilton around is a smart move," says UK All-American Kenny Walker. "He's been a big asset to the program and just having him still here will make the whole situation better."
Having Walker around next year won't hurt either. As soon as Sutton was named coach Walker made it official that he would return to UK for his senior year.
"I still have not reached my potential as a player and person," says Walker, the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year last season. "I made up my mind even before the season ended that I would be back but I didn't say much about it."
Sutton watched Walker play twice this year in the NCAA tourney. He knows what having Walker will' mean to next year's team.
"We might have the player of the year right here," says Sutton. "I've coached some great ones, such as Sidney Moncrief, and I think Kenny Walker could be 'Mr. Basketball' next year."
Players like that type enthusiasm in a coach. And Sutton is both enthusiastic and intense.
He also believes in a style of play that will please both the players and fans. Junior guard Roger Harden says, "He doesn't just speak of the fast break, he runs it. It didn't really matter to me who got the job but he will certainly work in my mind.
"And I think everybody will stay to play for him. I know I'm definitely looking forward to playing under him."
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ONE OF the most touching moments at the Final Four for me came when former Gov. A.B. "Happy" Chandler shared his memories of Adolph Rupp.
Chandler talked about the former UK coach as part of the awards presentation for the Adolph F. Rupp Trophy, which goes to The Associated Press college basketball Player of the Year.
"No day passes that I don't miss Adolph," says Chandler. "He didn't like many folks and not many liked him. But he didn't give a damn. He was bent on perfection in basketball.
"When Rupp came to Kentucky basketball wasn't important. Nobody gave a damn about basketball in the south. He beat the teams everywhere but the bottoms of their feet. And if they had laid down he would have beat them there, too.
"Finally they all got mad and fought back. Rupp humiliated them until they had to put some emphasis on basketball."
Chandler recalled that after Rupp's first year at UK the administration offered the coach a one-year contract worth $2,800.
"I told him, 'Adolph, if they offer you a one-year contract after you win, what will they offer when you lose,'" said Chandler. "I told him to tell them he didn't want the job. But they gave him a three-year contract and after that he didn't have any contract problems."
Chandler even offered advice to Joe B. Hall when he replaced Rupp 13 years ago.
"I told Joe that if Jesus succeeded this fellow he would have a tough time," said Chandler. "I told Joe to do things his own way.( And Joe did a good job."
Sounds like good advice to pass on to Eddie Sutton.
Kenny Walker
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Roger Harden
MICHIGAN'S Bill Frieder, who was named AP Coach of the Year during the Final Four, paid the Kentucky basketball program a huge compliment while in Lexington.
"Anybody who can get the Kentucky job better take it," said Frieder. "It is the General Motors of college basketball."
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MEMPHIS STATE Coach Dana Kirk certainly enjoyed Lexington's hospitality even though the Tigers lost to Villanova in the semifinals.
"I've never had such good treatment," said Kirk. "Things can't be done any better than what they were here. Lexington has great basketball tradition and the organization here was as precise as any I've ever seen.
"I've been to the Final Four 19 straight times and it can't be done any better than what Lexington did."
He's exactly right. Lexington did a splendid job hosting the Final Four. In fact, the whole operation was so impressive that it may now be possible to entice the NCAA to bring its biggest show to Lexington once again in the future. ? ? ?
WALKER literally got "caught" by the Final Four excitement in Lexington.
Walker and UK teammates Roger Harden and Winston Bennett went to the Hyatt to watch the post-game celebration after Villanova stunned Georgetown. They should have known better.
"We walked in and people started chanting, 'Go Big Blue' right in the lobby of the Hyatt," says Harden. "They were pouring beer, cokes and I don't know what else on us. They were just going crazy.
"Bennett and I got away but Walker didn't. They put Walker on their shoulders and passed him around the lobby. That was one time I was glad to be a six-foot white guy that could blend into the crowd."