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Davender Makes AU-UKIT Again, This Time As MVP
Kentucky junior Ed Davener, who scored 36 points in the UKIT last weekend, captured All-UKIT honors for the second time. The only time he didn't make the team was his .freshman season when he scored 27 points in an opening win over East Tennessee only to be get but two points against Cincinnati in the championship contest.
Davender. chosen the MVP by the sports writers and sportscasters covering the two-night tournament, scored 23 points in the championship win over Boston University after scoring 13 points in the opening victory over Iona College.
Guard Rex Chapman came ever-so-close to be the first ever freshman to win the Most Valuable Player trophy. He finished a mere three votes behind Davender in the overall voting which was based on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis with the first place vote counting five points.
Chapman, the tournament's high scorer with 42 points, opened with 16 points against Iona and then turned his volume to high in the title game against Boston University, scoring 26 points.
Making the All-UKIT team with Davender and Chapman were Boston's Paul Hendricks and Drederick Irving and Texas A&M's John Trezvant.
Junior center Rob Lock just missed out making the All-UKIT team according to UK assistant sports information director Brad Davis.
Lock, according to Davis, tied for sixth in the final balloting for the five-man squad.
Lock led the Wildcats on Friday night while scoring 19 points and hauling down 11 rebounds in UK's 75-59 win over Iona.
In the 81-69 victory over Boston University, junior Richard Madison pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds and scored 12 points, the first time he has compiled double-digit marks in those two categories at the same
Christmas Not Easy For Basketball 'Cats
Look For Kentucky To Beat Cards
This time of year can be pretty tough for the basketball Wildcats. Knowing that Christmas is just around the corner means as a player you might get to go home for a day or two. Having to take your finals can really drain you mentally. It's a big relief when you finally take your last exam. The typical question that will be asked by coaches, teammates and family is, "How did you do on your finals?" It seems as if that's the only question that's appropriate. It's always nice to know that when finals are finally over, you have a chance to relax.
In my four years at UK, the Christmas break was a welcomed
	
	Dicky Beal Cats' Pause Columnist
	
change. Our Christmas present was winning the UKIT for four straight years. I know a lot of fans don't think that the UKIT has good, strong teams but you have to realize that every team that plays in the tournament is usually tough to beat. The teams usually come into the tourney with nothing to lose and everything to gain. A victory over UK would make their season.
Because of the headlines that may be written about the other team in the tournament, they usually come out fired up. The opposing teams will be reading how the 'Cats have dominated the tournament. They also will be reading how the 'Cats will be them because these teams aren't major powers. Every time an opposing team plays in the tournament they hear the same old thing.
Kentucky & UKIT-A No-Win Proposition
This puts pressure on Kentucky. With everyone thinking that UK should breeze through the annual tournament, it almost puts them in a no-win situationif the 'Cats win the UKIT then they must have played against weak teams. If UK doesn't win the tournament, then the team must not be very good. It just a catch-22 situation.
Opportunity Awaits Rob Lock
and I guess that's something Kentucky players will have to put up with. I doubt it will ever change.
The players get to see more of each other and less of the general public this time of year. During Christmas break we stayed busy the whole time. My- first year I thought that we could sleep in during the vacationI was wrong. Coach Hall had the team up bright and early every day. Now of course we had curfew, but being the happy-go-lucky young men that we were, we usually stayed up later than we were supposed to. If you could see show some of the guys (including yours truly) look in the morning, you would recommend that the team go back to bed.
Christmas "VacationCoach Hall Kept Us Busy
Coach Hall had us doing numerous activities that would keep us busy. We would get up at 9 a.m. for breakfast. After eating we would either play tennis or go bowling. I was terrible at both, but
some of the guys were pretty good. It was a lot of fun to meone roll a gutter ball or get hit by a tennis ball. We al
see so-so took
Never Nervous Pervis
classes to improve our television interviewing. We did an interview and watched ourselves on the playback. Then we were taught certain things to improve our interviews.
Nobody looked forward to two-a-day practices. The morning workouts were usually sluggish. Most of the guys would go back to sleep after being interviewed. If you could sleep, even for 15 minutes, you had better take advantage of it. Extra hours of sleep came few and far between.
The late practices were usually a bit more spirited. Everyone's attitude was to act fired up, that way coach Hall would be in a good mood. If we did everything right, the practices would be short and sweet. Most of the guys had lady friends that they wanted to see. That was another inspiration to make practice go smoothly.
Sometimes we were too tired to go out. I can remember going to bed after a few practices. Especially my freshman year. Some of the guys used to tease me because I was so tired.
Christmas For The 'Cats?A Win Over U of L
Usually the big game was against Notre Dame after Christmas. This year, the big game will be against Louisville. Don't be surprised if UK beats the Cards. If Kentucky had Louisville's front-court and Louisville had Kentucky's backcourt, you would have a national championship team. Both teams have different strengths in different areas, but I think UK will win because their pressure defense will cause a lot of turnovers.
I don't think that UK's dynamic freshmenRex Chapman and Derrick Millerwill be intimidated. Their outside shooting will be a big key for the 'Cats' success at Freedom Hall. I don't think Louisville has found any guard-leadership yet. The team hasn't molded together like they do every year around tournament time.
Rob Lock has a chance to show what type of player he can be. He will be facing the best center in the country in Pervis Ellison. If Lock looks at the matchup as an opportunity rather than a mismatch, he should be able to hold his own, though. Ellison cannot be stopped. He can be contained.
The Cards can't handle pressure all over the floor. Kevin Walls is a good ballhandler, but after him, it gets kind of shaky. I look for Ed Davender, James Blackmon and Chapman to shoot the lights out. If Louisville lets Herb Crook or Tony Kimbro bring the ball up the court, UK will make them pay.
The biggest key for UK to win will be for the 'Cats to win the battle of the boards. Lock, Irv Thomas, Richard Madison and the guards must box Louisville off the glass. Kentucky will have to concede the fact that Ellison will be tough to stop. If everyone else is held in check, UK will leave the Derby City with a victory.
This certainly is a big game. Both teams will benefit from a win, but it's only a stepping stone for the entire season. UK will be dominant once they get some key players back in action. The Cardinals aren't really a good team until tournament time. This game is going to help the 'Cats because of the pressure-packed atmosphere.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone!!!
And look for a late Christmas present from the 'Cats. . .
. . .A victory at Louisville.