After the NIT awards presentation, a gleeful bunch of Wildcats were silenced as Hall entered the dressing room and held up his hand for attention.
"I have never been in a position like this before in my life," he said. "You have exceeded everyone's wildest dreams and it is a time for celebrating. But I want you to remember NOW that we got here because of discipline. If we are to continue the Kentucky tradition, it will be a disciplined onethat is my belief and I will never waver from that belief. When we get back home, your studies must be placed as top priority so we can be ready for next year.
"Some people have said this was a great ending. They are wrong. It is a great beginning because the NIT championship IS only the beginning for you.
"Fellas, there is one person in this room we ail owe more to than we can ever repay. Will our only senior, Reggie (Warford), stand up, and let's show him what we feel for him."
An explosion of shouts and back slaps resulted for several moments as Warford tearfully accepted the accolades of his teammates.
"Coach, I have the game ball for Reggie," said Givens. who passed it around for team autographs.
It was an emotional but fitting climax for Warford's career, which saw him play only 22 minutes in three years. But his final year was to be quite different.
He shucked his bench status when he started his first ever game Jan. 5 at Alabama, and with the exception of the Providence game when he injured himself in pre-game warmups, started every one after that, with the Wildcats winning 14 of 20 games. But the gritty little southpaw saved the best for last, hitting seven of 10 shots to spark the Cats to the NIT title over UNCC.
Sitting alone on a bench, drained of strength and emotion, Warford looked up and said to no one in particular, "Now maybe they will remember me as a basketball player instead of a piano player," alluding to his reputation as a fine pianist.
The nine day visit to New York proved to be an educational venture as well as an athletic winner. Members of the team and official party were treated to the usual sight seeing spectacles of the nation's largest city, including museums, cathedrals, skyscrapers, etc. But the most awe inspiring trip had to be the visit to the Statue of Liberty Friday after the big semi-final win over Providence. Other highlights included Broadway plays, an ice hockey game in the Garden, and the finals of the Golden Gloves, rated as one of New York's biggest drawing cards.
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