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How Good Is This Kid Chapman?
Young Rex Already A Living Legend
Everyone else in the Bluegrass state is talking or writing about freshman superstar Rex Chapman. So I guess it's my turn to jump on the bandwagon.
Ask yourself this question. Have you ever heard about or seen a freshmen at the University of Kentucky who has experienced the impact Chapman has? The kid is already a living legend in this state. And he's only played a few games.
Letters are pouring in to the university mailboxes for the 6-5 Owensboro native. Phone calls are being received from fans all over the country. Sports Illustrated has already run a feature story on
Mel Holbrook
Cats' Pause Columnist
him. Newspapers, magazines and television stations are following suit.
The burning question is what's Chapman doing playing college basketball? He looks more like a professional player who deserves
UK's SuperRex Chapman
to be in the big leagues, running up and down the court with the likes of Dr. J., Larry Bird and Mike Jordan.
Though he's so young. Chapman is already the team's leading scorer, averaging 17 points per game. He's scored 26 points three times and 24 once, entering last week's Tennessee contest.
Going into that matchup with the Vols, Chapman had scored 170 points in 10 games. If he can stay at that pace for the remainder of the season, he would easily top the 500 mark in points scored, become the all-time freshman scoring leader at Kentucky and become the first rookie to lead UK in scoring since Alex Groza turned the trick in 1946^7.
"I'm continually amazed at Chapman," says UK coach Eddie Sutton. "He always hits the big-time shots for us when we are in crucial situations."
Other opposing coaches have praised Chapman as "great" and said he was mainly responsible for their team's losing to the Wildcats.
Need A Bucket? Go To SuperRex
Chapman has been mainly responsible for a lot of UK's victories this surprising season. The Wildcats are finding that whenever they need a big basket, they should just turn the ball over to Chapman and he'll usually deliver. For example, in the big win at Auburn, Chapman hit many im-
portant three-point baskets that helped Kentucky pull away to a big lead before an Auburn run fell short.
Against Louisville at Freedom Hall, Chapman's big baskets helped UK dominate the inside, which was a big factor in the runaway 85-51 massacre.
In the Georgia loss, also at Freedom Hall, Rex helped UK almost pull out a victory after playing terribly the entire contest. Chapman showed he wasn't afraid to try the big jumper even though he'd had an off night from the field.
Smart Enough To Not Read His Press Clippings
Chapman, meanwhile, continues to downplay his own individual performance in favor of the team. That's very wise, considering he has many teammates who also helped UK post a 7-3 record prior to the Tennessee game.
"I can't control what people write or say about me," said Chapman. "When you start believing what you see on television or read in the newspapers, you're in trouble. Individual performance doesn't mean anything to me. The team is more important than an individual any day."
When this season started, people were wondering just how UK was going to make it without starters Cedric Jenkins and Winston Bennett, both out with injuries. Jenkins is back, although not at full strength. Bennett is out for the season.
Coming in, UK's only proven consistent major college performer was guard Ed Davender. Davender has a past full of winning performances. UK could always count on him for a steady game. The others were up and down. It was difficult to tell just how they were going to perform.
But Chapman has made up for their absences. And, when Jenkins gets healthy and Mike Scott becomes eligible this week, there's no telling what the future holds for the Wildcats this season.
No. 3 Will Have Bearing On How Far UK Goes
Chapman, certainly, will have something to say about it. no matter
what happens. He's already helped the Wildcats to their first Top 10 ranking of the season (UK checked in at No. 9 in the Associated Press poll last week). How far Kentucky goes may depend upon how well his sweet outside jumper is swishing.
"It's a matter of winning and losing," said Chapman. "I'm going to do anything it takes to win, whether it's hitting a three-point shot or making a steal."
Chapman is in such an ozone during a game that he doesn't remember half what he does out there on the court. He does recall
Chapman At His Best
specific plays being set for him but, after that, most of it's a blank. That's the tendency most great players have.
"I don't think that much about it," he says. "I just try to do whatever it takes."
No matter what SuperRex does the rest of the season, or during the remainder of his career at the University of Kentucky, he's already made a big impact upon this basketball crazy state and country. The future couldn't be brighter for probably one of the most modest people you'd ever want to meet.
VIEWPOINT
l*r To ! UBtor
Fan Of 'Cats & Cards
Dear Sir:
I am a fan of both the Cards and the Cats. There is nothing I would like more than to see both teams meet in the finals of the NCAA Tournament, with, of course, Kentucky winning.
I think it's ludicrous that so many people in Kentucky love one team and hate the other. Here we are, fortunate enough to have two of the greatest basketball powers in the country 75 miles apart and in Kentucky, and people still complain.
In response to Robert Dishman of Jeffer-sonville, Ind., (Dec. 12 issue) I guess 34
'Cats & Cards
points was enough to put up in order to make him shut up.
I'm now living in the Lone Star State, and boy, college hoops down here is the pits. I've been spoiled by the Cards' and the 'Cats' continued success and fortunately between the two teams there are a lot of national broadcasts. Nothing is better, though, than the UK vs. UL series.
Keep up the good work guys,
Steve MacDonell Dallas, Texas
Illinois 'Cat
Dear Sir:
I am renewing my Cats' Pause again this year because of the excellent coveragejthat is given to the University of Kentucky sports program. I live in Illinois and all these people think of is the Big Ten sports or DePaul basketball. Even though I like Lou Henson and the U of I program, nothing compares to Eddie Sutton and the 'Cats or Jerry Claiborne and his football 'Cats. I watched the Blue-Gray game yesterday jtt so I could see the big White K on Jerry's hat.
Thanks again for keeping me informed on what's hapening on the Kentucky sports scene. If it wasn't for The Cats' Pause and WLW in Cincinnati, I wouldn't have any idea of what was going on in Kentucky.
Thanks again,
Charles Puozzoli Effingham, Illinois