xt7dz02z3q20 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7dz02z3q20/data/mets.xml University of Kentucky 1988  athletic publications English University of Kentucky Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. University of Kentucky Basketball Media Guides (Men) Basketball, 1988 text Basketball, 1988 1988 2012 true xt7dz02z3q20 section xt7dz02z3q20   1987-88 UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Nov. 24 (Tues.) Nov. 28 (Sat.) Dec.  1 (Tues.) Dec. 5 (Sat.) Dec. 12 (Sat.) Dec. 18(Fri.)
Dec. 19 (Sat.)
Dec. 28 (Mon.)
Dec. 31 (Thurs.)
Jan. 2 (Sat.)
Jan. 6 (Wed.)
Jan. 9 (Sat.)
Jan. 13 (Wed.)
Jan. 16 (Sat.)
Jan. 20 (Wed.)
Jan. 23 (Sat.)
Jan. 27 (Wed.)
Jan. 31 (Sun.)
Feb. 3 (Wed.)
Feb.  6 (Sat.)
Feb. 10 (Wed.)
Feb. 13 (Sat.)
Feb. 17 (Wed.)
Feb. 20 (Sat.)
Feb. 24 (Wed.)
Feb. 28 (Sun.)
Mar.  2 (Wed.)
Mar.  5 (Sat.)
Mar. 10-13 (Thurs.-Sun.)
* ALL TIMES EASTERN
All-Americans....................
Ail-Time Results...................
Alumni Association................
Athletic Staff.................____
Basketball Hall of Fame.........
Blue and White Fund...............
C.A.T.S.........................
Coaches' Records................
Coaching Staff ...............
Former Players...................
Hagan, Cliff......................
Honors.........................
Lettermen .......................
Lexington and the Bluegrass.....
Louisville Results .................
Media Information.................
Media Outlets....................
Memorial Coliseum................
National Champions...............
NCAA Information ................
Opponent Profiles.................
Outlook.........................
Player Profiles ...................
Polls (Wire Service)...............
Radio/TV Networks................
Records.........................
Retired Jersies...................
Review of 1986-87 Season .........
Road Headquarters ...............
Roselle, Dr. David (UK President)----
Roster....................... 
Rupp Arena .....................
Scores versus All Opponents........
Southeastern Conference ..........
Opponent	Site	Tipoff*	TV
SOVIET UNION (EXH)	LEXINGTON	7:30	UK-TV (Delayed)
HAWAII	LEXINGTON	8:00	UK-TV (Live)
CINCINNATI	LEXINGTON	8:00	UK-TV (Live)
Indiana	Indianapolis	2:00	ABC-TV
LOUISVILLE	LEXINGTON	1:30	CBS-TV
UKIT-UNC-Char. vs. Mid. Tenn.	LEXINGTON	6:30	
Kentucky vs. Miami, O.		9:00	UK-TV (Live)
UKIT-Consolation Game	LEXINGTON	6:30	
Championship Game		9:00	UK-TV (Live)
ALASKA	LEXINGTON	8:00	UK-TV (Live)
VANDERBILT	LEXINGTON	8:00	ESPN
Georgia	Atlanta	7:00	ESPN
MISSISSIPPI STATE	LEXINGTON	7:30	UK-TV (Delayed)
AUBURN	LEXINGTON	8:00	ESPN
Alabama	Tuscaloosa	10:00	ESPN
TENNESSEE	LEXINGTON	1:00	UK-TV (Delayed)
FLORIDA	LEXINGTON	8:00	SEC-TV
LSU	Baton Rouge	2:00	CBS-TV
Vanderbilt	Nashville	8:30	
NOTRE DAME	LOUISVILLE	1:30	ABC-TV
OLE MISS	LEXINGTON	7:30	UK-TV (Delayed)
Mississippi State	Starkville	4:00	SEC-TV
Auburn	Auburn	8:30	
ALABAMA	LEXINGTON	1:00	SEC-TV
Tennessee	Knoxville	8:00	SEC-TV
Florida	Gainesville	2:30	NBC-TV
LSU	LEXINGTON	8:00	SEC-TV
SYRACUSE	LEXINGTON	2:30	CBS-TV
GEORGIA	LEXINGTON	8:00	SEC-TV
Ole Miss	Oxford	8:30	
SEC Tournament	Baton Rouge		SEC-TV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Telephone Directory ... Tournament Information
Tradition ............
UKIT Records........
UK Spirit............
University of Kentucky . Wildcats in the Pros ...
...............153
...............122
................69
...............119
................34
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CREDITS
The 1987-88 UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL FACTS BOOK is published by the University of Kentucky Athletics Association, Cliff Hagan, Director. Compiled and edited by Sports Information Director Brad Davis with editorial assistance by Russell Rice, Stephanie Wallner and Joyce Baxter. Design, typesetting and layout by H6st Communications, Lexington. Color separations by Computer Color Corp., Lexington. Printing by Host Communications, Lexington; Stephanie Reinhardt, consultant.
Photography by UK Photo Services (John Mitchell, Ken Goad, Bill Wells, Clay Owens); Bradley Photography, Dallas, Texas; Bill Strauss; Jim Jennings; and Ken Weaver.
Permission to reprint materials contained in this publication, whether in part of in whole, must be obtained from the editor. Additional copies of this publication are available for $5.50. Write to: Sports Publications, UK Memorial Coliseum, Lexington, KY 40506. (606) 257-3838. The University of Kentucky is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution.
ON THE COVER: Much of Kentucky's success in 1987-88 could depend on how well forward Winston Bennett (25) returns from a year off because of knee surgery. Also featured is the logo commemorating the 50th anniversary of the NCAA Final Four, which will be celebrated in Kansas City next spring. Kentucky has appeared in the Final Four nine times and has won five NCAA championships. (Cover photo: LightWorks, Lexington, Ky.) MEDIA INFORMATION
TO THE MEDIA:
It often seems that college basketball is "in season" year-round here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Still, that doesn't diminish the exictement that spreads throughout the state in the late fall and winter months as our second "religion" hits full stride. It begins with the legendary "Midnight Practice" Oct. 15 and continues through the NCAA Tournament in March.
As the 85th season of Kentucky basketball gets underway, Wildcat fans are excited  with plenty of reason. Combine the return of Winston Bennett with four returning starters, including guards Rex Chapman and Ed Davender, and an incoming freshman class that has been rated as best in the country, and it is understandable why the Big Blue faithful are "chomping at the bit."
The Kentucky sports information staff has undergone some changes in the last year. Our goal remains the same, however  to provide you with the best service possible. Brad Davis, the assistant SID for the last three seasons, has been elevated to Sports Information Director. Joey Howard, formerly of Ole Miss, has been named assistant SID. Davis will once again be your primary contact for Kentucky basketball.
We are all looking forward to working once again with our friends in the media during the 1987-88 season. This media guide was designed to assist you while covering the Wildcats and we welcome your comments and suggestions for improvements.
Here's to a great 1987-88 basketball season  for the Kentucky Wildcats, and for you.
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY SPORTS INFORMATION PHONE DIRECTORY
Office: (606) 257-3838 Nights/Weekends: 257-6474
HOME NUMBERS:
Davis: (606) 277-4005 Vicini: (606) 278-7773 Howard: (606) 271-6230 Baxter: (606) 734-4736
CREDENTIALS  Credentials for UK home games are issued for working media only and should be requested as early as possible. Requests must be made in writing on company letterhead and are honored only from sports editors of daily newspapers and sports directors of radio and television stations. Requests from weekly newspapers and radio stations will be accepted only from those who will be attending games in a working capacity and will be filled on a space-available basis. All requests for media credentials should be made to: Brad Davis, Sports Information Director, Memorial Coliseum, Avenue of Champions, Lexington, KY 40506-0019. Passes will be held at the media Will Call gate, located on the Patterson Street Entrance to Rupp Arena. Credentials are not available at the public Will Call window on the High Street Concourse Level. A limited number of parking passes are available and should be requested at the time of requesting credentials.
PHOTOGRAPHERS  The photo zones are appropriately marked on the Rupp Arena floor. Because of space demands, shooting on the press row sideline is permitted at Rupp Arena with the game officials determining the boundaries (because various officials have different "do's and don'ts" regarding photographers on the side).
MEDIA ROOM  The media room is located in the Rupp Arena dressing room area, behind the visitors' bench. Working facilities, with necessary outlets and a limited number of telephones, are available. A pre-game snack will be served. Drinks will be available at halftime and after the game.
MEDIA SERVICES  The University of Kentucky uses the sophisticated "Final III" computer statistics system, which was used during the last three NCAA Final Fours. Working media will be provided with the following:
Game program and notes Shot Charts Complete play-by-play Halftime Stats Final Stats
Coaches' and Players' Quotes
Electronic media (radio and TV) will be provided with a statistics monitor at their location for instant access to the stats during the game.
RADIO BROADCASTS  Broadcasting rights to UK games are assigned exclusively to the UK Network. One reciprocal rights fee waiver is guaranteed opponent schools visiting Lexington.
UK SPORTS INFORMATION STAFF
From left: Brad Davis (Director); Rena Vicini (Assistant Director); Stephanie Wallner (Graduate Assistant); Joyce Baxter (Staff Assistant); Joey Howard (Assistant Director).
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555555555555555555555555R5555555555555555555 MEDIA INFORMATION
TELEPHONES  A limited number of telephones are available in the Rupp Arena media room. Newspapers and radio stations desiring their own private lines, to be installed either on press row or in the media room, should contact General Telephone (606-223-9422).
POST-GAME INTERVIEWS  An interview room is located adjacent to the media room. After the 10-minute cooling-off period, Coach Eddie Sutton and two Wildcat players will be brought to the interview room. The visiting coach will follow, if he is agreeable.
KENTUCKY LOCKER ROOM POLICY  After the 10-minute cooling-off period, the UK locker room will be open to all members of the media for a 15-minute period. After this time, the locker room will be closed to the media so the players can shower.
WEEKLY MEDIA LUNCHEON  Coach Eddie Sutton will host a weekly news conference/ luncheon at the Wildcat Lodge. The exact schedule will be available at the Sports Information Office. Media representatives wishing to join the conference by telephone may do so. For teleconference information, call the Sports Information office.
PRACTICES  Media representatives are welcome at Wildcat practice sessions. Since practices are held at both Rupp Arena and Memorial Coliseum, it is advisable to call the Sports Information office to determine the practice site for a particular day.
CATS ON THE "BIRD"  Television highlights of Kentucky basketball are available on a weekly basis. For more information, contact the Sports Information office.
PLAYER INTERVIEWS  We encourage you to interview our players. The best time to interview players is from 2:40-2:55 p.m. weekdays. Please arrange lengthy, feature-type interviews through the Sports Information office. All telephone interviews must also be arranged through the Sports Information office, in compliance with NCAA regulations.
Tilt 3
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Sports Information: (606) 257-3838
(Nights/weekends: 257-6474) Basketball Office: (606) 257-1916
(Best Time to Reach
Coach Sutton: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.) Rupp Arena Press Row:
(606) 252-3602 Brad Davis at Home: (606) 277-4005 UK Ticket Office:(606) 257-CATS Rupp Arena: (Management Offices)
(606) 233-4567
 1987-88 KENTUCKY OUTLOOK
In stark contrast to a year ago, Coach Eddie Sutton will have plenty of players to call on as preparation for the 1987-88 basketball season begins at the University of Kentucky.
At one point last season, the Wildcats were reduced to just seven scholarship players, forcing Sutton to call on two walkons and assistant coach Dwane Casey in order to scrimmage. Despite the shortage of manpower, and facing a schedule rated as the most difficult in the nation, Sutton guided the Wildcats to a respectable 18-11 record, a third-place finish in the Southeastern Conference and an appearance in the NCAA tournament.
This season, Sutton will greet four starters from last year's squad, a healthy Winston Bennett and six recruits tabbed by many publications as the best recruiting crop in the country.
The only starter missing when the first whistle blows will be James Blackmon, a 6-3 guard who averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 rebounds a game last season. Returning starters include guards Rex Chapman and Ed Davender, forward Richard Madison and center Rob Lock.
Last season, Chapman became the first freshman ever to lead Kentucky in scoring, averaging 16.0 points a game. The Owensboro, Ky., native was named to virtually every "All-Freshman" team in
the country. He was named the SEC's "Freshman of the Year" and earned second-team All-SEC honors from Associated Press and United Press International.
The 6-4 Chapman scored a career-high 26 points on four different occasions and, in fact, scored in double figures in 24 of UK's 29 games. He also led the team in assists with 103.
Joining Chapman as a returning starting guard is senior Ed Davender, who was the second-leading scorer for the Wildcats with a 15.2 average. The 6-2 Brooklyn, N.Y., native earned second-team All-SEC honors from UPI as he became the 33rd player in UK's illustrious basketball history to reach the 1,000-point mark. He is currently 27th on UK's all-time scoring list with 1,120 career points. Although Davender is an outstanding scorer, his forte is defense, as evidenced by his being named the SEC's "best defensive player" in several newspaper polls.
Madison, a 6-7 senior forward, was the team's leading rebounder a year ago, pulling down 7.4 boards a game. The Memphis, Tenn., product averaged 9.1 points a contest, making 86-87 the best season of his UK career. Considered by Sutton, "the best pure athlete on the squad," Madison has the ability to earn all-star credentials if he plays consistently in 87-88.
Lock, a 6-11 senior center, was the second-leading rebounder on the squad last season with a 5.3 average. The Reedley, Calif., product averaged 7.5 points a game and was the leading shot-blocker on the squad with 31 rejects. Lock also was the best field-goal shooter on the squad, connecting on 56.5 percent of his shots from the floor.
Also returning to the squad is Winston Bennett, a 6-7 senior forward who sat out last season after undergoing pre-season knee surgery. As a junior in 1985-86, Bennett earned All-SEC honors as the Wildcats' second-leading scorer (12.7) and rebounder (7.0).
The Louisville, Ky., native is an excellent defensive player, usually drawing the assignment of guarding the opponent's best front-line player.
Other returnees include 6-6 sophomore guard Derrick Miller, who averaged 5.2 points and 1.9 rebounds last season; senior center Cedric Jenkins, who was plagued by a leg injury for much of the season and averaged 1.5 points and 2.1 rebounds; and junior center Mike Scott,
4 who transferred to Kentucky from Wake Forest last season and became eligible in late danuary. Scott played in nine games and averaged 0.4 points and 0.6 rebounds a game.
Sutton welcomes seven freshmen to the squad, including 6-8 forward Reggie Hanson, who had to sit out last season as a redshirt. As a prep senior in 85-86, Hanson averaged 23.1 points and 10.0 rebounds a game in leading Pulaski County (Ky.) High School to the state championship.
This season's signees include two prep All-Americans among the six who have inked grants-in-aid with Kentucky.
LeRon Ellis, a 6-11 forward/center from Tustin, Calif., averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots a game in leading Mater Dei High School to a 31-1 record and the California State Championship. Ellis was named California's "Player of the Year," and was named to virtually every prep All-America team.
Eric Manuel, a 6-6 forward/guard from Macon, Ga., averaged 24 points and 7.9 rebounds a game in earning the title of Georgia's "Player of the Year," as well as first-team All-America honors.
Johnathon Davis, a 6-8 forward from Pensacola, Fla., averaged 15.1 points and 10.0 rebounds a game last season. Deron Feldhaus, a 6-7 forward from Mason County High School in Maysville, Ky., averaged 23.6 points and 10.3 rebounds in leading his team to a 31-3 record last season. Feldhaus earned first-team "All-State" honors as a junior and as a senior. His father, Allen, played at UK from 1959-62 and was his high school coach.
John Pelphrey, a 6-7 forward from Paintsville, Ky., averaged 20.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists a game in earning "Mr. Basketball" honors in Kentucky last season. Sean Sutton, the 6-1 son of UK coach Eddie Sutton, averaged 19.2 points and 5.3 assists a game in leading Lexington Henry Clay to a 22-4 record.
Kentucky enters the 1987-88 season as the winningest team in college basketball. Through the years, the Wildcats have won 1,426 games, while losing only 451. That's a winning percentage of 76.0. Kentucky has not suffered a losing season in 59 years, the longest such streak in the country.
During its illustrious history, Kentucky has captured five NCAA titles, two NIT titles and 36 Southeastern Conference crowns.
UNIVERSITY OF
General Information
1958)
1976)
Head Coach: Eddie Sutton (Oklahoma State,
Record at Kentucky: 50-15 (2 seasons)
Career Record: 392-140 (18 seasons)
Assistant Coaches: James Dickey (Central Arkansas, Dwane Casey (Kentucky, 1979) Jimmy Dykes (Arkansas, 1984)
1986-87 Record: 18-11
Conference Record and Finish: 10-8 (tied for third) 1986-87 Post-Season Play: 0-1 (NCAA Tournament) Starters Lost:
James Blackmon (6-3 Guard, 8.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
Starters Returning: Ed Davender (6-2 Sr., Guard, 15.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg) Rex Chapman (6-4 Soph., Guard, 16.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg) Richard Madison (6-7 Sr., Forward, 9.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg) Rob Lock (6-11 Sr., Center, 7.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Other Top Returnees: Winston Bennett (6-7 Sr., Forward, 12.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg)" Derrick Miller (6-6 Soph., Guard, 5.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg) Cedric Jenkins (6-9 Sr., Center, 1.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg) Mike Scott (6-11 Jr., Center, 0.4 ppg, 0.6 rpg)
Top Newcomers: Johnathon Davis (6-8, 195, Fr., Forward, 15.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg) LeRon Ellis (6-11, 225, Fr., Ctr./For., 23.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg) Deron Feldhaus (6-7, 200, Fr., Forward, 23.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg) Reggie Hanson (6-8, 195, Fr., Forward, 23.1 ppg, 10.0 rpg)** Eric Manuel (6-6, 205, Fr., Forward/Guard, 24.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg) John Pelphrey (6-7, 180, Fr., Forward, 20.1 ppg, 10.5 rpg) Sean Sutton (6-1, 175, Fr., Guard, 19.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg)
* Was a medical redshirt last season *' Was a redshirt last season
 QUOTING COACH EDDIE SUTTON
Question: Would you comment on the upcoming Kentucky Wildcat season?
Eddie Sutton: I think that anyone who follows Kentucky basketball has to be optimistic about the upcoming year. We have a good blend in that we have five seniors who should give us excellent leadership.
One of the keys in how good this team can become is Winston Bennett, if he's back in full speed. He certainly has displayed outstanding play in the three years he has participated at the University of Kentucky.
The five seniors have worked extremely hard in the past spring and over the summer and fall. They should give us not only good leadership but a lot of good play. They're seasoned veterans and too often coaches overlook the value of experience.
We're a little thin perhaps in the middle classes, with only Mike Scott. But Mike has trimmed down considerably. We probably put him under some undue pressure last year, having never been in a practice session with us and not even watching us practice very much and hoping that he could come in and give us a lot of help. During that period of time he gained a considerable amount of weight and that slowed down his foot speed. He did not have a good second half of the season, which for him was the entire season. But he has worked hard; he's lost about 20 to 25 pounds. I feel like Mike can contribute to this basketball team.
Now, lo our two underclasses. In our sophomore class we have two outstanding guards in Rex Chapman, one of the great guards in college basketball, and in (Derrick) Miller you have one of the best shooting guards in college basketball.
Then we have a freshman group that many people feel is the best coming into college basketball. Those guys, I'm sure, are going to be eager as all freshman are. But they will have to learn some things before they can contribute as much as they would like to. There's no doubt there's a lot of talent in that freshman class.
When you put the entire group together, one thing I know for sure is that we'll have better practice sessions. This will allow us to become a better basketball team. Last season was the most difficult situation I ever had as a coach, in not being able to field even 10 players on some days to practice. That won't be a problem this year.
I look at our schedule, in how many games we might win, and we might not win as many as a lot of our fans would like to see us win. With the difficulty of the schedule, we'll certainly mature. And by the end of the year we could be one of the top teams in college basketball.
Question: What about the SEC race this season?
Eddie Sutton: Many people feel like that the conference race could be the closest one we've seen in years. I'm not sure who I would pick as a favorite I'm sure the University of Kentucky will be picked by many people. I've looked at some of the early publications and a lot of peo-
ple like Florida. They certainly came on strong last year. LSU is a proven basketball team.
Even though Alabama lost a lot of people, I still think they will be good. Auburn's got three NBA players on the front line. . .if they get any backcourt help then they could be pretty tough. Vanderbilt last year finished eighth in our league but they probably had the most impressive non-conference wins of anyone. This year Vanderbilt returns everyone, so they'll certainly be moving up.
Tennessee, I thought, was the hard-luck ball-club last year. We felt like that talent-wise they were much better than what their record would indicate. Georgia has a chance to win the league. They've got a lot of returning players and a lot of players coming back who were ineligible last year. (Toney) Mack is one of the outstanding players in our league. Hugh (Durham) is going to have an outstanding ballclub.
I believe that the team which can go through the league and minimize (its losses) or go undefeated at home, and possibly even split on the road, has got a chance to win the league.
No one is going to go through the league undefeated. When you go on the road you'll see that there are so many places that are difficult to win at. Serious injuries are also sometimes overlooked. And the schedule sometimes comes into play.
Last year it would seem that everytime a team would upset us, then the next game they would get beat. I don't think fans look at that, but that (schedule) is very important.
Question: Again, this season Kentucky's schedule is one of the toughest, if not the most difficult, in the country. Is that the type of schedule you want?
Eddie Sutton: Our schedule last year was ranked in the Top 10, as far as ranking the difficulty of schedule. Some people ranked ours as the toughest.
I would think this year is probably the most challenging schedule we have faced in the three years that I've been here. It's a very, very tough schedule, because the league is so difficult. That's the thing a lot of times people forget. If
you had two or three "dogs" in the league then you could say "Hey, we've got two automatic wins when we play those teams." You can't say that anymore. Some of the schools that have been doormats in the past are now no longer that way, because different schools have put a great emphasis on basketball.
The SEC, from top to bottom, and I think all the coaches across the country agree, this past year the SEC was the toughest conference. Perhaps other leagues might have had one or two teams that were better, but when you went down to the sixth-, seventh-, eighth-, ninth- and 10th-place teams, those teams in our conference were very tough ballclubs.
I always use Vanderbilt as an example. They finished eighth in our league, yet they beat the national champions (Indiana), Notre Dame, Kansas State, Missouri and New Mexicoteams that were playing in the NCAA tournament.
So, our schedule this year will be very tough. We're playing Syracuse, Indiana, Notre Dame and Louisville. . .those are all outstanding basketball teams. Plus, we'll be playing our conference schedule.
Question: This past summer during the SEC meetings there was talk about reducing the league schedule. Have you had any feedback from the other coaches, administrators or from UK President Dr. David Ro-selle?
Eddie Sutton: No, I haven't really talked to anyone about that. The coaches voted 10 to zero to reduce the schedule from 18 to 14 (games). There are a lot of reasons for doing that. I think it would be beneficial to all institutions. The coaches certainly agree that it would be.
I made the presentation to the athletic directors at the spring meeting and it was more or less tabled. But there are some who agree that they like the 18-game schedule. We haven't given up on it because the coaches feel very strongly about going to a 14-game schedule. It certainly would help the University of Kentucky from the standpoint we could play a lot more intersectional games. They probably would be national gamesteams like UCLA and St. John's, which are traditionally in the Top Twenty every year.
But believe me, they wouldn't be any tougher than playing an SEC team. Every time we line up it seems like the intensity level rises everytime we play an SEC team. The fact that Mr. (Adolph) Rupp and Mr. (Joe) Hall beat them so soundly through the years, I think that one victory over the 'Cats is worth just as much as three over the other schools. We're always meeting a team that's sky high.
I don't think you see that as much when you play intersectional games. Playing in a league is great, and it is the only sport in our conference that plays for a "true" champion (18-game round-robin). But at the same time I really like the idea of playing some teams outside our conference. I think our fans would, too.
Interview conducted by Oscar Combs, The Cats' Pause.
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KENTUCKY COACH EDDIE SUTTON
When Eddie Sutton accepted "the best coaching position in America," he knew that pressures and demands were part of the job description.
Known for his uncanny ability to build teams from scratch, Sutton faced a different task at Kentucky. In Lexington, Sutton would not have to construct a team into a powerhouse; instead, he needed to maintain the winningest program in college basketball history.
If his first two seasons are any indication, the Eddie Sutton Era is off and running with flying colors.
In his first season at the helm, the Bucklin, Kansas, native inherited a team that had compiled an 18-13 worksheet the previous season and was, at best, predicted to finish third in the Southeastern Conference. But Sutton's style and creativity transformed the Cats into one of the most exciting teams in the country.
Promising to start the five best athletes on the squad, the first-year coach utilized three guards for their speed, quickness and smothering man-to-man defense. The 1985-86 Wildcat team captured the imagination of Kentucky fans like no other team since the famous "Rupp's Runts" of 1965-66.
By season's end, the Cats posted a 32-4 record and were ranked third in the country in the final polls. UK stormed through the Southeastern Conference with a 17-1 record and proceeded to capture the league tournament. In the NCAA Tournament, Kentucky won three games, advancing to the Final Eight, before falling one game short of the Final Four.
For his efforts, Sutton was named SEC Coach of the Year by the Associated Press and United Press International. In addition, the first-year coach earned National Coach of the Year honors from the AP and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Last season, fans wondered what Sutton could possibly do for an encore. The odds were stacked against the 1986-87 Wildcat squad when star forward Winston Bennett was sidelined for the season with a knee injury. Several other injuries depleted the UK squad until there were just seven scholarship players available for practice at one point. Kentucky was picked to finish an uncustomary fifth in the SEC.
Instead, the Wildcats earned an NCAA tournament berth after finishing third in the SEC with a 10-8 league mark and an 18-11 overall record. Included in last year's accomplishments were: a 34-point win over rival Louisville on national television, a hard-fought loss to 3rd-ranked Indiana in Bloomington, a stunning upset of Alabama on national television, a victory over David Robinson's Navy team before the national TV cameras, as well as a thrilling one-point win over 12th-ranked Oklahoma.
Sutton's two-year UK record now stands at 50-15 for a winning percentage of 76.9. He has now completed 18 seasons as a head coach and has an overall record of 392-140 (73.7).
Last year marked the 11th straight year Sutton has guided a team to the NCAA Tournament. The only other coach who can match that record is North Carolina's Dean Smith, whose Tar Heels made their 13th straight appearance in college basket-
Eddie and Patsy Sutton with sons (I. to r.) Sean, Scott and Steve.
EDDIE SUTTON'S COACHING RECORD			
Year	School	Record	Percentage
1970	Creighton	15-10	.600
1971	Creighton	14-11	.560
1972	Creighton	15-11	.577
1973	Creighton	15-12	.556
1974	Creighton	23-6	.793
1975	Arkansas	17-9	.654
1976	Arkansas	19-9	.679
1977	Arkansas	26-2	.929
1978	Arkansas	32-4	.889
1979	Arkansas	25-5	.833
1980	Arkansas	21-8	.724
1981	Arkansas	24-8	.750
1982	Arkansas	23-6	.793
1983	Arkansas	26-4	.867
1984	Arkansas	25-7	.781
1985	Arkansas	22-13	.629
1986	Kentucky	32-4	.889
1987	Kentucky	18-11	.621
	TOTALS		
1970-74	Creighton (5 years)	82-50	.621
1975-85	Arkansas (11 years)	260-75	.776
1986-87	Kentucky (2 years)	50-15	.769
1970-87	18 Years	392-140	.737
 Sutton learned his trade as a player, then graduate assistant coach for the legendary Henry Iba at Oklahoma State. He graduated from OSU (then Oklahoma A&M) in 1958 and received his master's degree from the school in 1959.
His first full-time coaching job came at Tulsa (Okla.) Central High School, where he built a 119-51 record in six years from 1961-62 through 1966-67. In 1967, he took over at Southern Idaho Junior College, a school that had never fielded a basketball team before. In three short years, Sutton compiled a remarkable 83-14 record.
His first major college test came in 1970, when he accepted the head coaching job at Creighton University. By 1974, Sutton had built a powerhouse  a team with a 23-6 record and ranked 14th in the polls. He spent five years at Creighton, compiling an 82-50 record and establishing himself as one of the finest young coaches in the game, before moving on to Arkansas for the 1974-75 season.
In 26 years of coaching high school, junior college and college teams, Sutton has a record of 594-205. His major college record now stands at 392-140.
Another tribute to Sutton's success is the number of head coaches he has turned out. Gene Keady (Purdue), Pat Foster
ball's showcase last season. Sutton's overall record in NCAA Tournament competition is now 15-12.
Sutton's reputation as a "miracle-worker" didn't begin in Lexington. Prior to becoming Kentucky's head man, Sutton spent 11 years at Arkansas, where he took the Razorbacks from the basement of the Southwest Conference to a perennial national power.
After taking the Arkansas job in 1974, Sutton immediately worked wonders, guiding his first two teams to 17-9 and 19-9 records. Sutton got the Razorbacks in the NCAA tournament in 1977 and they stayed there the rest of his tenure in Fayetteville.
Sutton also holds a distinction of being one of only 25 active college coaches who have both played and coached in the NCAA Tournament. As a senior at Oklahoma State in 1958, Sutton scored 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in three games in helping OSU reach the finals of the Midwest Regional. He scored eight points in Oklahoma State's 65-40 NCAA Tournament win over the team he would eventually coach, Arkansas.
While winning nearly 78 percent of the time, Sutton's Razor-back teams averaged nearly 24 victories