Basketball Scores Big For Bluegrass In '86
Fans, However, Get Too Carried Away
What a year for college basketball. Exciting, thrilling unbelievable, and surprising are a few words that describe the 1985-86 year.
The Louisville Cardinals are the national champions. They deserved the championship because of their great team play. Denny Crum has always made sure that the Cardinals play a tough non-conference schedule. They may get beat but Coach Crum doesn't worry about the December schedule. All he wants is to get his team prepared for the NCAA Tournament. . .that's everyone's main goal.
You can't praise the Cardinals enough. At the end of the year, they had so many weapons that they were just too difficult to defend. The Cardinals' defense turned into a very tenacious, switching-type group.
Each player learned his role and the team's chemistry worked very efficiently. That's why they are the kings of college basketball. Congratulatons Cards!!!
Pulling For The Commonwealth All The Way
Strange as it may seem a lot of UK fans were hoping that Duke would win in the Final Four finale. When someone asked me if I was pulling for Duke I said, "No".
Dicky Beal
Cats' Pause Columnist
They couldn't believe that I was pulling for Louisville. However. I would be for any
Kentucky college in any situation.
It doesn't matter unless one of those teams were playing the University of Kentucky. Then, I change my tune.
The fans get caught up in the Louisville-Kentucky rivalry more than the players do. Each team respects the other's ability. There are no harsh feelings. True, each team plays hard to win, but after it's over. . .it's over.
The fans really make the meeting between the two schools more than what it really is. It's nice for the fans to stand behind their respective teams, but remember it's only a game. I hope I don't offend anyone but let's keep this thing in perspective. UK fans should congratulate the Cardinal fans and the U of L fans should accept victory graciously.
Okay, I may be asking too much, but you, the fans take the rivalry too seriously.
With U Of LOr UK You Can't Lose
Fourth Time Was Not Charm For 'Cats
Both teams had a great year. No matter who wins the NCAA championship, it's a championship that's in the Bluegrass for all to admire.
Watch Out U of L, UK As WKU Is On The Rise
What about the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers? They had a tremendous year. They really played well against Louisville and Kentucky.
Western had Denny Crum's team down by as many as 13 points at one time. The game, however, was played early in the season at Freedom Hall. WKU didn't win the game, but they got the respect that they deserve.
Playing the Kentucky Wildcats was really an emotional ballgame for the Sun Belt entrant. I felt that Western's inside game would give the 'Cats trouble. Clarence Martin (6-foot-8, 225 pounds), Tellis Frank (6-10, 225 lbs.) and Kannard Johnson (6-9, 220 lbs.) can bang with any front line in the country.
It just so happens that on this day Kenny Walker was his usual self  awesome. Walker scored 32 points and showed that he can hold his own against guys who are physically stronger.
Billy Gordon showed why he is one of the top flight guards in the Sun Belt Conference. He has the uncanny ability to shoot over people. Billy will be missed, but this Western team has so much talent that they can pick up the slack.
Point guard will also be a strong position for the Hilltoppers. I really like Kurk Lee (freshman) who showed a lot of composure. He made some mistakes against UK, but that is to be expected from a first-year player. Lee will mature into a fine point guard before his college career is over.
James McNary also is a solid point guard. He plays hard and has a lot of confidence.
If there is one thing that I don't like about McNary. . .it's his attitude. I hate to be critical of anyone but I don't feel like a person should say derogatory things about a team before you play them. That type of stuff is put on your locker to remind you of the opposition. Even in defeat McNary really didn't give UK credit. It's nice to have confidence, but there is a fine line between being confident and being good enough to say it.
In the future Western Kentucky will be heard from. Even with Clem Haskins leaving, whoever takes over the WKU position will have an enormous amount of talent to work with.
Western should and will get the recognition that they deserve.
Asking Too Much From The Wildcats
It was certainly unfair that the 'Cats had to play Alabama and LSU in the NCAA Tournament. It's tough enough beating a team three times in a season, but four? That's really asking a lot. I really don't think the selection committee felt that the teams (SEC) would go as far as they did.
Kentucky was at a disadvantage because it was on an emotional rollercoaster. Playing Western, then Alabama and LSU were all emotional games. It makes a big difference when you have to get fired up for games that will make or break your season. Playing Georgia Tech or Illinois would have helped the 'Cats. I really feel they could have beat both of those teams. No matter, the Wildcats had a great year.
Taking Timeout For A Special Cause
Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have in life or where we may be headed. Dwight Marshall, 20, has a brain tumor and life to him may end at any time. At the age of 20 you say to yourself, "Why?" Only God has the answer.
Kenny Walker, Leroy Byrd, Paul Andrews, Irving Thomas, Charley Andrews and myself went to see Dwight at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lexington. We hope the visit from some of the Wildcats helps Dwight's spirits.
I would like to thank those guys for taking time to do something that really means so much. Each person was very busy yet they found time to see Dwight. All of the guys showed that even though they are stars they don't let it go to their heads.
You won't find better human beings than the guys listed above. We certainly hope Dwight gets better. He's a champion in his own way. He's battling for something that's more important than anything in the world  life.