were players of the year in Kentucky and Georgia, respectively. May enjoyed two excellent games in the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star Series this summer, and Walker played well in the McDonald's Classic in Chicago and was a member of the South team in the National Sports Festival.
Minniefield, who, along with Turpin, was named to the player's all-conference team heads the list of backcourt candidates. He averaged 11.3 ppg. and 6.3 assists per game last season. Starter Master, who averaged 13.4 ppg. as the team's second leading scorer, returns to give the Wildcats outstanding outside shooting.
Other guard candidates are veterans Beal (3.3 ppg.) and Mike Ballenger (0.5 ppg.) and freshman Roger Harden (6-1). Beal enjoyed an excellent trip to the Orient this summer and figures to battle for increased playing time. Ballenger saw action in only 12 games last season. Harden earned "Mr. Basketball" honors in Indiana.
Once again, more than half of the Wildcats' games will be against team's that participated in postseason play in 1981-82. Kentucky shows only two games on its non-conference road schedule, but those games are at Indiana and Notre Dame. Villanova and Illinois, both expected to be national powers, visit Rupp Arena for nationally televised contests. Kansas replaces Notre Dame for UK's annual game at Freedom Hall in Louisville. The SEC is expected to show even better balance from top to bottom this season.
COACH HALL ON THE 1982-83 SEASON OUTLOOK  "We lost only two players and pick up five. Both Chuck Verderber and Bo Lanter were important to us last year, but by picking up three excellent freshmen and having Sam Bowie and Bret Bearup return, we're adding a lot to our squad. We're especially helping ourselves with size, something we lacked last season. I definitely feel we should be a better ball club this year. Another year of maturity,
plus the experience we received on our trip to the Orient this summer, has helped us. I think it could be a very good year for us."
COACH HALL ON SAM BOWIE 
"The outcome of Sam Bowie's injury and his progress will definitely play a big role in making the difference between us being a very good team or just a good team. If Sam is back 100 percent, I think this team will be one of the outstanding ones we've had since I've been here at Kentucky."
COACH HALL ON THE 1982-83 SCHEDULE  "Our schedule is again demanding. It begins with the Russian National Team, which will be one of the tallest teams Kentucky has ever faced. We will face a challenge in our final contracted game of the Notre Dame series which will be played in South Bend. Villanova is picked to be one of the top teams in the East
with the bulk of its starting lineup returning. Illinois should be a top 10 ranked team with several outstanding freshmen to go with their veterans. In the UKIT, we have Tulane, a team that competes very strongly in the Metro Conference; Rutgers, a team that features a former Wildcat in Clarence Tillman; and Duquesne, which is rich in basketball tradition. We travel to Indiana for a very important game to us and they have everybody back. We always look forward to our game in Louisville, and Kansas is a good rival to play in Freedom Hall. This year in the SEC we go to a Saturday-Monday schedule for the most part. Playing two games per trip is more demanding, but it's as fair for one team as it is another. We see a lot of strength in our conference. Both Tennessee and Alabama return the bulk of their squads and are championship contenders. Nearly every team in the league will be improved."