xt7bvq2s7n9h https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7bvq2s7n9h/data/mets.xml The Kentucky Kernel Kentucky -- Lexington The Kentucky Kernel 2007-10-31 Earlier Titles: Idea of University of Kentucky, The State College Cadet newspapers English Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Kentucky Kernel The Kentucky Kernel, October 31, 2007 text The Kentucky Kernel, October 31, 2007 2007 2007-10-31 2020 true xt7bvq2s7n9h section xt7bvq2s7n9h KENTUCKY KERNEL

VVPDNESDAY, ()( l()BltR ll, 2007

Billy Gillispie
welcomed
lolty goals .
when. he ﬁrst
arrived in the
Bluegrass.
Tonighthe
begins the
journey to?
return UK to
prominence.

COO-OCOIOQI'OOCOCIOOOO.

’ INSIDE .
Player-by-pla'yer '
analysis of the '
women's meter,

Contentme-
Breakthw'vn;

1 An ln-depth look , ,
at the teams of
the SEC

Columnist:
Success this
season will be
decided by the

players. not the
coach ‘

Player-by-player
analysis of‘the
men's roster

PAGE K4

THE

By Travis Waldron

Maldronmtykerneleom

In late December 1954. The Philadelphia In-
quirer wrote. “Apparently the University of Ken-
tucky basketball dynasty is to continue forever."

No one knew then that UK‘s dominance of
the college basketball world would continue for
the next 50-plus seasons. and the Inquirer‘s state-
ment has stood as a testament to the UK way of
basketball since it was written.

But now. mired in a l0-season Final Four
drought. the UK program has found itself on the
brink of a new era, one headed by a man UK fans
have come to know simply as “Billy Clyde.“

Billy Gillispie. only the sixth UK coach since
1930. inherits a program aching for the fresh start
the new coach offers. Previous head coach Tubby
Smith endured a 10-year ride ﬁlled with a nation-
al championship and numerous late-season let-
downs. Finally. the fan frustration came to a
breaking point over the last two seasons.

UK limped to a 22-13 season two years ago
and a similar 22-12 record last year. each time
falling in the second round of the NCAA Tourna-
ment.

Still. the Cats ~ ranked No. 22 in the
ESPN/USA Today preseason poll —— are a talent-
ed team. Gillispie said.

“These guys have been very well coached.
and they've been very well taught." he said. “I‘ve
never gone into a situation where the team won as
many games as they did. Usually that‘s not when
coaching changes occur. I‘m very fortunate to be
in this position. for many reasons. but you don‘t

SECTION A ~

‘G’ F

usually inherit as many good players as we‘ve in-
herited.“

Gillispic has started the new era by seemingly
doing everything right — signing blue-chip re-
cruits. getting fans excited and handling the me-
dia with the charm of the Southern gentleman he
says he is.

But Gillispie knows as well
as anyone that none of that mat—
ters to LK tans it he doesn‘t do
something else just as well:
win basketball games.

“It's easy to be fantastic
when we haven‘t lost any
games." Gillispie said.

(iillispie's goals. at least.
are in line with the fans‘
expectations.

“Win every game." he
said. "That‘s the short-term
(goal). And the long-temt is
win every game."

UK's success this sea—

son will likely depend
on the depth and experi-
ence of the backcourt.
The top-three returning
scorers are all guards.
and ﬁve played in at least
29 games.

Senior guard Ramel Bradley. the only (‘at to
start all 34 games last year. was third on the team
with 13.8 points per game. He logged double—fig—

See Gillispie on page A4

Win every game. That’s the short-term (goal).
And the long-term is win every game.”

— Billy Gillispie, head coach

Senior
guard
Hamel

Bradley

Mitchell helps Cats put the past behind

Players mentally tougher

Conference play

disappmnttng 20— H o\era|l record. in
cluding a 6-8 record tn Southeastern

so“

#11

Senior guard
Samantha
Mahoney

B James Psnni _n
ipanningtonakylternaleom

With the beginning of a new
season. the UK women‘s basket-
‘ball players can finally put last
year’s disappointments behind
them.
Last season was ﬁlled with late:
game meltdowns when the Cats
failed to pull out close games. While
ﬁrst-year UK head coach Matthew
Mitchell doesn‘t like to speculate on
what happened late in games last year.
he has taken a different approach to
making sure his players are more fo~
cused and prepared at the end of
games.
“Our minds are very powerful

ﬁrstlssselroojwmnm.

. . afterdisa ointin season
We PD 9

tools." Mitchell said. “and we‘re trying
to sharpen our players' minds as well as
their bodies."

Mitchell knows the (‘ats can only
be mentally tough during their games if
the players are given opportunities to
test their mindset in practice.

Last season. ll of the Cats' l4 loss»
es were by ll) points or less. Despite so
many close games. Mitchell is not us-
ing last year‘s results as a motivational
tool for his team.

“We honestly have not had one
conversation about last year." Mitchell
said. "That's not anything I think can
beneﬁt us right now."

The Cats came into last season
ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press
preseason poll. Mth such high expecta-
tions to ﬁll. the team ﬁnished with a

0f the eight conference games the
Cats lost last season. three were in
overtime.

Since UK tell just short in so many
close contests last year. senior guard
(‘hantc Bowman said the team must
improve in crucial situations

“We were upset when we lost those
close games last year." Bowman said
“We need to continue to put in the work
and progress as a team."

Mitchell said even with four retum—
ing starters. the Cats are not the most
talented team in the SEC. However.
that isn't stopping him from preparing
his players to work hard.

“It's our job as coaches to point
them in the right direction. but they‘re
the ones who ultimately have to get it
done." Mitchell said. “I stress that the
only way to prepare for that is to give
your absolute maximum from a pre-

TOP PHOTO BY nlﬂl storm, ABOVE PHOTO BY IMO lmlL LEFT PHOTO BY ELLIOTT m | Sid“

Newsroom: 757-1915. Advertising: 257.2872

pared standpoint,"

All the players said they‘re striying
tor the goal Mitchell set

“We want to be kmmn .ts a hard»
working team. because that makes us
so proud of ourselves." \llltl ttcshman
guard Amber Smith. “We want to go
out there and gtye it cyct‘ythtng we
have."

With the (‘ats‘ first exhibition game
against Kentucky Wesleyan on Thurs-
day. Mitchell and this year‘s UK Hoops
players are CVLllt‘tl to hit the ﬂoor at
Memorial (‘oltseum to prove what hard
work on the practice court can do for a
team.

“We will not he the most talented
team in the SEC this year. but we do
have enough talent that if we maximize
our talents and come together as a
team. we can be very special.“ Mitchell
said. “We try not to fool the players
into thinking just anything can happen.
We‘re going to have to work hard in or-
der to be that team "

t t

PAGE A2 | Wednesday. October 31, 2007

\\'()t\il~:t\"s BASKIi'i‘lttLL Rris'i‘lgR

Carly
Ormerod

Class

Junior
Position
Guard
Height

5' 8"
Hometown
toutsvdle Ky

For the third straight season, it vvill be
0rmerod's responsmility to pilot UK's
offense from the paint guard position
Known for her great ball handling skills
and heady play, Ormerod led the Cats
in both assists [122) and steals (41) to
go along With 9 9 pomts per game ‘n
2006-07 Her take—charge attitude
makes her the ideal floor general for
the Cats this season

is Sarah

$5? Elliott
Class
Senior
Position
Center
Height
6'6"
Hometown

Elliott will no doubt be the anchor in
the middle for this year's UK Hoops
team. The Cats' greatest post threat
was last year's leading scorer, averag
ing 135 pomts per game The 67foot~6
senior blocked a teamvhigh 50 shots,
averaged 7 0 rebounds per game as a
junior and has the potential to control
the paint defensively this season

Samantha
Mahoney

Class
Senior
Position
Guard
Height

5' i0"
Hometown
Detron

Mahoney averaged i2 4 points as a tu—
nior last season while averaging more
than 30 minutes a game The Detmit
native could be the Cats' greatest scorr
ing threat With the ability to penetrate
and finish strong near the basket or
step outSide and knock down perimeter
lump shots ihe senior started all 34
games for LiK Ias‘. season

Bowman

Class
Senior
Position
Guard
Height

5 l ‘
Hometown
Dilt'riil

Bowman is innwn mic? mi re ‘rir "a
leadership and defensive hi on '
her scor‘no prowess is'w "ass

iust 3 7 points per game for my career
The sector has started 9’ :i‘ "no (it?
games shes oiave't il‘ thanks "

part it” HE.” "P’Velvii’ltiﬁ ~€"‘,“'ilv 1’“
strong WO’K iitt‘t Bowria' in
.th to prev i'tiA thew "‘arigif i ‘ ":

Team as a ‘ ’arfer zeta " f“

(-ifii

Amani
Franklin

Class

i; ,rr
Position
[ice ' _:

Height

Hometown

LNG]? .' ‘ii:

Frarik‘in got ”ritte' a" i .e' - "
even; game
a freshma" “a - " aw tilt“, , '
pOints c r‘ ' ~- , .t‘e:
She came ' ‘7'” l (Tint/:12? EN" wi’i’f “
the seasn" ‘rrr no 1. ' Veer bes'
pornts adaie't Flair ta i1” ‘et‘ 75 This
Cats hope i'r’l’WI‘" r-rir':
She left of‘ as: was“ a: it w 7" Lil-

tinued irnprqvuweet 3% ti cid new (.l‘
into one of llk \ r‘i:

‘iii a avid :2 ' i»:
ii” lid” is it:

i 7

41‘ "1_]"".‘i/i‘l">‘

it i?\l“ll\‘it. r w

”it Eleia
§ Roddy

Class

Junior
Position
Forward/Center
Height

8‘ 3’
Hometown
Columbus Ohio

A tiirn ACl, cost Roddy her entire 2006*
07 season but the forward was able to
redst‘irt and gaiii another year of eligi
bility The Cats Wlll rely heaviiy on Hod
dy's aggresme play in the trorttcaurt in
2007 08 Expect to see Roddy in the
starting lineup as long as she stays
healthy

Carly
Morrow

Class
Freshman
Position
Guard
Height
5' ll"
Hometown
, Chattanooga Tenn

Referred to by some scouts as a cam
fied gym rat,” Morrow was recruited for
her abilities as a pure outstde shooter
As a freshman, Morrow could already
be one of the Cats' most potent outs:de
threats, and With her work ethic and
time in the gym, she wrll only get bet
ter

Lydia
Watkins

Class

Sophomore

Position

Guard/Forward

Height

' 6' 1"
Hometown
\ /‘ HopkinSVille, Ky

After missing her entire sen-or season
of high school With a back iniury
Watkins stepped :cto UK and averaged
9 8 minutes as a t'eshman Playing With
eight screws her back, Watkins dis
played fearlessness on the court, taking
eight charges for the Cats last season
With a toll season under her belt
‘i’l/alkiris shouiit Ci "tiriie it: see CﬁﬂSiS'
some for the ‘io'.

ward 8'70 lilid'i‘i ,., ﬁrm“

38771 lT‘ll'ltlTBS 8:3

, Jenne
2 Jackson

Class
‘ Junior
" Position
' Forward/Center
Height
6 l"
. Hometown
i iirrﬁiilii Kt

xerv to H lilrj'y last year thu‘nei
roi‘f‘ 'ie ci‘i'i clerati‘y which
_;fjf'i(’\0l‘ 7‘: tekt’: ‘th more “39:7
Sitiil r, as a suvhrii . She was
‘-"<’ stilt; rut! 4' i‘: term in 0
it season. ave'ao
"‘ " 'iwei’t \

:Tarr‘esi ‘0' he '

'niQt‘i’S ti"

h .irtair‘r' ii:

ri‘i’u one ;
il ti'eakzi,.'

_il7l;‘iii g’

Cauna
Bett

Class
freshen
Position
.it‘f‘it"
Height
.1, r;
Hometown
, Gadsdei‘ ;a
' A iwit ii ‘1ii‘liil", to .r‘i‘ii 'i pin ‘ts
ls ‘Ei“’ l»: iniii'i' and e
An active
- {a ‘. Heft :ins‘esses the
' 1' l‘l‘r tiaslil an: the size to
.3, are impact in llK's
"wiry" Bett : key to pay behind
’ :t she ri‘ii‘d he the
it mi 1th T‘i‘,’ ah the bench

‘ hitll‘ t.t":;iI

win. a: "r

F ‘3 in:

page”

Chelsea
Chowning

Class
Senior
Position
Guard

former Kentucky Miss Basketball run
nerruc Chowning returns to the Blue
grass for her final year of college eligi-
bility after spending the spring of 2007
playing amateur ciub basketball in Ger
many Chowning played at XaViei
where she averaged 2 7 mm per
game, trom 2003 to 2005 before trans
ferring to UK's College of Pharmacy

Ali
Lomax

Class

Freshman
Position

Guard

Height

5' 9"

Hometown

Lake Uswego, Ore

The Oregon native passed up several
scholarship offers from schools in the
Pacific Northwest to walk on at UK af
ter averagng l0 0 paints, 5 5 rebounds
and 5 0 assists per game as a senior in
high school Her father, Neil, nlayed l0
seasons as quarterback in the NH for
the Arizona Cardinals, and her older
brother Nick is a redshirt sophomore
quarterback for Boise State With her
lineage of athletics, lomak is expected
to provide the Cats with gritty defense
and intangibles

.» Brittany
Edelen

Class
Sophomore
Position
Forward

At Just. 5-foot-9, Edelen played both the
snail ‘oi'ward and power forward posi-
tions last season, and she is arguably
the Cats best raw athlete The under
sized Edeler excels at rebounding and
can knife her way to the basket and iln'
,sh The sophomore pulled dowrx i 752
rebounds inner high school career at
Washington (Toiirty —« the ‘ifth most in
state hstdrv and Will continue to be
a domna't‘ fonts ’“ the beads for UK
this .eascr‘

*‘ * Amber
Smith
Class
ireshman
Position
Guard
Height
55'
Hometown
\ ”Winter Have", iia

:Smith iiiiii back UL) Urmerod at the point
gii ird DO