Eddie Tabs Walker As Nations Best
Lock May Get Tutored By Issel
If Kenny "Sky" Walker isn't named College Player of the Year it won't be because Kentucky Coach Eddie Sutton hasn't promoted his 6-8 senior forward.
"No one deserves the honor more than Kenny Walker," says Sutton. "I just hope I can convey that message to the nation. In a two-year period no one has been more important to his team than Kenny Walker.
"He also epitomizes what a student-athlete should be because he goes to class. He's just a class person on and off the floor."
Walker, who is hitting 56.4 percent from the field, averages 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Last season he averaged 22.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game and became the first player to lead the Southeastern Conference in both categories since Bernard King of Tennessee in 1977.
Larry Vaught
Cats' Pause Columnist
"Last year people said he couldn't be Player of the Year because the team didn't win," says Sutton. "This year his stats are not as impressive but he has made us a winner.
"A year ago he carried the team until some of these other guys matured. He was more valuable to UK than Patrick Ewing was to Georgetown.
"But he's a more complete player now. He leads the team in taking charges. That may not be important to the media but it's important to coaches. One of the greatest plays an individual can make is taking a charge. For a superstar to do that is asking a lot because he jeopardizes his body every time he gets in front of a moving body.
"Walker, though, is the most complete and unselfish player Kentucky has. He's also one of the best defensive forwards in college basketball."
Still, it won't be easy for Walker to beat out others in larger media markets for Player of the Year honors. What would help him more than anything would be for UK to win the SEC Tournament this week and then play at least three NCAA games in which he shines. That would also enhance Sutton's chances to be named Coach of the Year for the third time.
Both Walker and Sutton deserve the national honors. Walker's play has been sensational for two seasons while Sutton has done of the best coaching jobs I've ever seen this season.
"If Kenny doesn't get Player of the Year it will be a great injustice," says Sutton. Walker would surely add the same thing about his coach.
And what would happen if Sutton heard someone criticize his star. "I've never heard any negative comments about Kenny or I might go to war," says Sutton.
That devotion to his players is one reason Sutton has been so successful this season and deserves the national honors just as much as Walker.
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THE SEC will showcase its talent in Rupp Arena this week during the annual conference tourney.
All-conference teams won't be announced until the season is over but here's my choices for the first team  Walker, Chuck Person of Auburn, Buck Johnson of Alabama, Tony White of Tennessee and Roger Harden of Kentucky.
Walker, Person and Johnson were easy choices. All three are class players and have been for three years. They are three of the best forwards in the nation and have carried their teams this season.
White was another easy choice. He leads the league in scoring and has enjoyed a fantastic season.
Harden could be a controversial choice to some. However, his play is one reason UK has surprised so many people. Twice he hit shots at the end to win key games. He set a new single season assist record and got the ball inside to Walker and Winston Bennett. His leadership and defense are also vastly underrated by many. Players have more impressive stats than Harden but he belongs on my first team.
Here's my own "most underrated" squad  Bennett, Joe Ward of Georgia, Terry Coner of Alabama, Donald Hartry of Georgia and John Williams of LSU. Let Wimp Sanderson of Alabama coach this team because he has not gotten the credit he deserves this year, either.
And my votes for most improved go to James Blackmon of Kentucky and Derrick McKey of Alabama.
Robert Lock
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IF UK DOES not win the SEC tourney don't expect fans in Rupp Arena to react the way some did at Georgia when the Wildcats celebrated winning the conference crown.
UK players were pelted with ice, cups and a variety of four-letter words as they cut down one net after securing the SEC title with a win over the Bulldogs.
"I just thought it was normal to cut down the nets after winning a championship," says Sutton. "If Georgia or any other team does that in Rupp Arena I would expect them to do that.
 "It surprised me that it caused so much controversy at Georgia when we tried to cut the nets down. I thought that was part of college basketball. I hope if another team wins the tournament our fans would understand that cutting down the nets is part of the game."
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SOPHOMORE CENTER Rob Lock may get some special tips from former UK All-American Dan Issel before this season ends.
Sutton wants Issel, who retired from the NBA after the 1984-85 campaign, to tutor the 6-10 UK center before next season. However, the UK coach thinks Issel could even help improve Lock's play this year.
"Dan is anxious to help and Rob is interested in getting his help," says Sutton. "We will definitely do that in fall practice but there are some subtle ways Dan could help this year.
"Issel was a great finesse player. He had a terrific head and shoulder fake. He would expose the ball to the defensive player and then make his move. Rob needs to learn that."
Lock has recently shown that he could become a big-time player, a fact Sutton has never doubted. But even Lock admits that he wasn't pushing himself until recently. That's why sophomore Cedric Jenkins had received more playing time than him until three weeks ago.
"Cedric worked harder than I did and wanted it more," says Lock. "Finally I got in a position where I was tired of sitting and watching. I wanted to play.
"This team can go a long with a big person helping. If I can play well it would help us in the NCAA. That's why I've been working so hard."
And getting a few tips from Issel certainly can't hurt.