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Andrews Sidelined With Knee Injury
Senior guard Paul Andrews sprained his knee during practice and as of last Monday (Dec. 7) he will miss three weeks according to UK coach Eddie Sutton.
Andrews becomes the fourth Wildcat forced to the sidelines. Already Winston Bennett is lost for the season with a knee injury while Cedric Jenkins is still recovering from an ankle injury. The 6-9 forward/center is expected to be ready for game action in early January.
Todd Ziegler was suspended due to a shoplifting charge. His availability won't be known until after his case is concluded. Ziegler is scheduled to make a final court appearance on Dec. 23.
Currently, Kentucky is down to seven scholarship players and two walk-ons.
Regarding Andrews' injury, assistant coach Wayne Breeden told Tlte Cats' Pause, "It could happen anytime in practice. But we've just had that kind of luck."
Andrews' injury was defined by team orthopedic specialist Dr. Michael Ray as being a "medical collateral ligament sprain of the right knee."
While no surgery was required, Andrews did have to walk on crutches for a few days. The injury happened during a defensive drill when he was hit on the outer region of his right knee.
He's averaged one point per game while playing 16.6 minutes a contest. Meanwhile, last Monday Andrews wasn't the only Wildcat who was suffering.
Two days following UK's loss at Indiana, James Blackmon also suffered an injury dur-
Thomas Gives 'Cats New Look
Andrews Joins Injured List
ing practice. While going after a loose ball early in the session, Blackmon suffered a cut on the chin. The cut required 14 stiches. However, he was back the next day.
And. . .guard Rex Chapman's play was limited because of the removal of an impacted wisdom tooth (Sunday). He shot free throws and ran through some offensive patterns during this particular session. Chapman was back to regular workouts the next day.
Irv Coming Into His Own This Season
Irv Thomas insists he didn't lose confidence in his ability when he played sparingly during the 1985-86 basketball season.
"I always believed in myself and my ability," said the 6-7 University of Kentucky sophomore. "However, I think I did hit a point where I didn't practice as hard as I could because I knew I wasn't going to play.
"That's all behind me now, though. This is a new year and I know I have an opportunity to play." Thomas^ who played only 82 minutes in 19 games last
Larry Vaught
Cats' Pause Columnist
season, could be Kentucky's most improved player. He gained valuable experience on UK's summer exhibition tour but also played and lifted weights regularly when the team returned home.
"Irv came back with a tremendous attitude and could turn out to be a key player for us this year," said UK Coach Eddie Sutton. "I felt like he would do more for us last year but it's hard for a freshman to go against quality players without having some setbacks.
"Irv's biggest problem is that he still plays in spurts. He's inconsistent just like most sophomores are. But I still believe he can be an outstanding player."
He showed he could be just that at Indiana when he had 10 points and 10 rebounds in UK's narrow loss.
Thomas brought some impressive credentials to Kentucky. He averaged 18.6 points, 14.5 rebounds and 5.15 blocked shots per game his senior season in Miami, Fla., and led his team to a 38-1 record and state championship. He hit an un-| canny 64 percent from the field that year.
Thomas, who had attended summer camp at Kentucky, picked the Wildcats over Minnesota, Florida and Georgia Tech and became Joe Hall's final recruit when Hall resigned after the 1984-85 campaign.
Now Thomas is ready to step forward and prove that he I belongs at Kentucky, especially since injuries have sidelined I forwards Winston Bennett and Cedric Jenkins.
'I'm more comfortable here now," said Thomas. "Last year I wasn't as strong or experienced as I am now.
"I didn't get to play as much as I expected last season but I'm ready to step in now and play regularly. I feel really good about myself and think I'm ready to play my best basketball.
"But my biggest concern is just helping the team win. Everybody expects a lot from us even though we lost Kenny Walker and Roger Harden and have had some injuries. We may even have less overall talent than we did last year but I think we will have another successful year."
Thomas can play center, his high school position, or forward. He also feels he can block shots, get out on the fast break, rebound, hit the 15-foot jumper and get the ball inside.
The UK sophomore knows his defense will be better this year after going against All-American Kenny Walker and Winston Bennett in practice all last year.
"I played center in high school but now I can go out on the floor and guard people after working against Winston and Kenny," said Thomas, who hopes to play in the National Basketball Association when he leaves Kentucky. "I'm a more versatile player now than when I came here because I have learned to make the transition to playing out on the floor."
Thomas, like most players, wanted to earn a starting position and did. He could have accepted another role but his goal was to start.
"Starting matters to every player no matter what some say," said Thomas. "Everybody takes pride in feeling they are the best a team has to offer at a certain position.
"But no matter what I try to play the best I can, do what the coaches want and help the team. We feel we can win a national championship and I want to be a big part of that in any way I can."
ASSISTANT coaches always look for things to use, or not use, when they become head coaches.
"You are always looking for things that you might be able to use yourself if you become a head coach," said UK assistant coach James Dickey. "But you always have to coach your own personality no matter what you learn.
"WhenDwane (Casey) gets his shot at a head job, I'm sure he'll have some of the philosophy of Joe Hall, Clem Haskins and Eddie Sutton in him. But he'll still have to call his own shots just like Joe Hall did when he took over from Adolph Rupp."
Still, when Dickey gets a chance to watch a Bobby Knight or Denny Crum he is always looking for things he might be able to use.
"The first thing you always have to do is concentrate on helping your team win," said Dickey. "But it is good to look at another coach and try to improve your knowledge of the game. It's helpful to examine their philosophies and tendencies."
UK Assistant lames Dickey Stresses Patience
GOING FROM a reserve's role to the spotlight in one year is not easy for any UK player. That's why Dickey thinks everyone should be patient with Rob Lock, Richard Madison and Irv Thomas.
"Last year Irv played behind two pretty good players in Kenny Walker and Winston Bennett," said Dickey. "Now he is expected to start and produce like them but that just doesn't happen.
"Richard and Rob helped us at times last year but they were not in a position of having to produce every game like we need for them to now.
"We don't have depth in our front line and those guys have to play. Our five guards are as good as any in the country but it will take time for our big guys to develop. We just hope we can be more consistent in conference play and hopefully the NCAA."
After 10 Years, Sutton Agrees To Coach Festival
SUTTON turned down chances the last 10 years to coach a team at the U.S. Olympic Festival before finally agreeing to serve in 1987 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
"I did not want to give up that much time in the summer until our sons were older," said Sutton. "This year the committee caught me in a weak moment and I told them I would I do it."
Sutton may have also agreed to coach the team because freshmen guards Rex Chapman and Derrick Miller have to be two of the leading candidates to be invited to the Olympic Festival.
"I would hope the selection committee would take some of our younger players so I would have a chance to coach them," said Sutton.
Sutton even admitted that he would be interested in j coaching the 1992 U.S. Olympic team if the opportunity ] arose.
"It would be a great honor to represent the U.S. in the I Olympics," said Sutton. "But for a year it is almost a fulltime job and takes away from your own program.
"Bobby (Knight) made five or six trips to Europe to scout before the last Olympics. It takes a lot of time but any college coach would be eager for the opportunity."
John Thompson of Georgetown will coach the 1988 Olympic team but the two leading candidates for 1992 have to be I Sutton and Denny Crum of Louisville.
Pay Up On That There Milkshake
UK ASSISTANT coach Dwane Casey owes Oscar Combs, publisher of The Cats' Pause, a milkshake.
Combs told Casey before the Indiana-Vanderbilt game j that he expected the Commodores to win since the game was in Nashville and Indiana would be coming off its emotional win over Kentucky.
Casey didn't waste any time taking that wager. That night Vandy upset Indiana just as Combs predicted.
Casey shouldn't feel too bad, though. The win cost me a milkshake, too. Hope Oscar doesn't mind blowing his diet for a couple of well-earned milkshakes.