xt7n8p5v7m2d https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7n8p5v7m2d/data/mets.xml Wildcat News Company 1987 Volume 11 -- Number 27 athletic publications  English Wildcat News Company Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Cats' Pause UKAW University of Kentucky Men's Basketball (1986-1987) coaches Sutton, Eddie players Rupp Arena SEC Men's Basketball Tournament (1987) NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament (1987) University of Kentucky Football (1987) Ransdell, Bill statistics schedules Cats' Pause Combs, Oscar The Cats' Pause,  "March 14, 1987" text The Cats' Pause,  "March 14, 1987" 1987 2012 true xt7n8p5v7m2d section xt7n8p5v7m2d  oj
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The Cats' Pause
SPOTLIGHTING UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE'
VOLUME 11 - NUMBER 27
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1987
LEXINGTON, KENTUC
University Ar-
. Return To The Omni To Play Ohio State In NCAAs PUBLICATION NO. USPS 707340 Published By WILDCAT NEWS COMPANY P.O.Box 7297 Lexington. Kentucky 40522 Second Class Postage Paid at Lexington. Kentucky 40511 and additional Mailing offices
Editor and Publisher
oscar l. combs
Staff Writer nick nicholas Staff Writer MIKE estep Staff Writer todd hallum Composition Coordinator winfred jennings National Recruiting Columnist bob gibbons Columnist larry vaught
State Columnist
bob watkins National Basketball Columnist larry donald
Columnist mel holbrook SEC Columnist stan torgerson Columnist dicky beal Kentucky Basketball Recruiting rick bolus Contributing Columnist
jamie vaught Sport Hobby Columnist -   jack maiden Business Manager
donna combs Staff Photographer gary cromwell Staff Photographer clarence miller jr. Circulation Coordinator
wanda hooker Crossword Puzzle Editor dan krueckeberg
Published Weekly: Sepl. I3-April 11 Monthly: May, June, July, August
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MADISON, RICHARD
28       23     909   32.5     105    190 55.3
&7ie (oat&' (au&&
March14'', /9&7
Date: 03-08-1987 28-GAME STATISTICS
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WILDCATS G      CS     Mtn     Avg       FC   FGA     Pet     3PT3PTA   ret     FT   FTA     Pet Reb
(1
1-10 Overall; 10-8 SEC [tied for (13-2 Home; 5-6 Away; 0-2 Neutr
3rd]) al)
CHAPMAN, REX
27     929   33.2     169   374   45.2       66    167   39.5   47     65 72.3
DAVENDER, ED
20       28     952   34.0     153   344   44.5       13     55   23.6 100   137 73.0
45      76 59.2
BLACKMON, JAMES
28       27     807   28.8       88    191   46.1       31     82   37.8   32     58 55.2
LOCK, ROBERT
28       25     608   21.7       85    153 55.6
33     68 48.5
Avg     PF   I)   Ast     TO   Blk   St I
MILLER, DERRICK
378    13.5       53    138   33.4       33     78   42.3     6     14 42.9
-   22     47 46.8
THOMAS, IRVING
28        8     457    16.3       37     75 49.3
1
ANDREWS, PAUL
23        2     307    13.3       16     34   47.1 1       1 100.0     6       8 75.0
IENKINS, CEDRIC
22        -     232    10.5       10     29 34.5
15     18 83.3
SHIGG, TERRY
4
v    SCOTT, MIKE
HRUCE, STEVE 4
28
WILDCATS
1       4 25.0
5 40.0
28 - 5625 200. 719 1539 46.7 144 386 37.3 306 492 62.2 OPPONENTS
28
-   5625   200.      704 1500   46.9       81    225   36.0 364   515 70.7
62
212
150
56
86
2.2
3.1
3.1
5.4
2.0
3.1
1.6
2.1
.5
49
880 31.4
931 33.3
50 1 101 67 15 35
61 1   96 75 1 44
67 3   37 49 6 16
63 1   64 42 6 47
91 3   12 53 30 16
31 -   18 22 3 8
80 5   20 47 6 16
17 17 - 7
21
34    1     6 11
5
1111
507 15 372 384 76 195 516 23 363   441     72 176
451
Avg 16.1
419 15.0
255
239
203
145
96
39
35
9.1
7.3
5.2
3.4-
1.7
1.6
1888
67 .4
1853 66.2
Kentucky Hoop Statistics
						UNIVERSITY	OF KENTUCKY SCHEDULE					
Date		Record		UK	Opp	Opponent Mar	gin	Top Scorer	Top	Rebounder	Attendance	
Nov.	29	1-	0	71	69	Austin Peay	2	20 Davender, Ed	6	Madison,Richard	22,630	(H)
Dec.	02	2-	0	66	60	Texas Tech	6	23 Davender, Ed	7	Thomas, Irving	21,805	(H)
Dec.	06	2-	1	66	71	Indiana	-5	26 CHAPMAN, REX	10	THOMAS, IRVING	17,232	(A)
Dec.	13	3-	1	71	56	Lamar	15	16 DAVENDER, ED	7	MADISON,RICHARD	23,123	(H)
Dec.	19	4-	i	75	59	Iona	16	19 LOCK, ROB	11	LOCK, ROB	22,723	(H)
Dec.	20	5-	i	81	69	Bos ton	12	26 CHAPMAN, REX	15	MADISON,RICHARD	23,240	(H)
Dec .	27	6-	i	85	51	Louisville	34	26 CHAPMAN, Rex	17	MADISON, Rich	19,513	(A)
Dec .	30	6-	2	65	69	Georgia	-4	16 DAVENDER, ED	9	MADISON,RICHARD	20,053	(H-L'ville)
Jan.	03	7-	2	63	60	Auburn	3	24 CHAPMAN, REX	11	LOCK, ROB	12,347	(A)
Jan.	07	7-	3	55	69	Alabama	-14	15 MADISON,RICHARD	7	MADISON,RICHARD	23,220	(H)
Jan.	10	7-	4	68	75	Tennessee	-7	29 DAVENDER, ED	8	MADISON,RICHARD	12,700	(A)
Jan.	12	8-	4	57	49	Mississippi State	8	16 CHAPMAN, REX	8	LOCK, ROB	4,714	(A)
Jan.	14	9-	4	67	62	Florida	5	16 CHAPMAN, REX	13	LOCK, ROB	23,215	(H)
Jan.	18	9-	5	41	76	LSU	-35	14 BLACKMON, JAMES	6	BLACKMON, JAMES	23,285	(H)
Jan.	21	10-	5	71	65	Vanderbilt	6	16 DAVENDER, ED	6	MADISON,RICHARD	15,626	(A)
Jan.	25	11-	5	80	69	Navy	a	22 CHAPMAN, REX	6	MADISON,RICHARD	23,275	(H)
Jan.	29	11-	6	65	76	Ole Miss	-li	23 CHAPMAN, REX	13	MADISON,RICHARD	5,915	(A)
Jan.	31	12-	6	50	36	Mississippi State	14	18 BLACKMON, JAMES	7	MADISON,RICHARD	22,831	(10
Feb.	04	13-	6	75	71	Auburn	4	27 BLACKMON, JAMES	7	LOCK, ROB	23, 100	(H)
Feb.	07	14-	6	70	69	Alabama	1	29 DAVENDER, ED	8	MADISON,RICHARD	15,043	(A)
Feb.	11	15-	6	91	84	Tennessee	7	26 CHAPMAN, REX	10	MADISON,RICHARD	23,002	(H)
Feb.	14	15-	7	56	74	Florida	-18	22 DAVENDER, ED	6	LOCK, ROB	12,018	(A)
Feb.	19	16-	7	65	54	Vanderbilt	11	19 CHAPMAN, REX	11	MADISON,RICHARD	23,013	(H)
Feb.	21	16-	8	52	65	Louisiana State	-13	24 CHAPMAN, REX	7	LOCK, ROB	10,782	(A)
Feb.	25	16-	9	71	79	Georgia	-8	15 DAVENDER, ED	7	MADISON,RICH\RD	11,200	(A)
Feb.	28	17-	9	64	63	Ole Miss	1	19 DAVENDER, ED	9	MADISON,RICHARD	23,265	(H)
Mar.	01	18-	9	75	74	Oklahoma	1	21 DAVENDER, ED	12	MADISON,RICHARD	23,991	(H)
Car.	06	18-	10	72	79	Auburn	-7	17 CHAPMAN, REX	6	MADISON,RICHARD	13,279	(SEC)
 March t4, /?c?/		
		
If 'Cats Slip Past Buckeyes, Hot Hoyas May Be Next
This week, the Kentucky Wildcats must feel very fortunate to indeed have a second opportunity to finish their current season on a high note.
Thanks to a surprising No. 8 seed, coach Eddie Sutton's club has been placed in a position where it can prove the Wildcats not only belong in the NCAA hoedown, but could make a strong impact on the eventual winner.
Certainly no one was surprised with the decision to select the 18-10 Wildcats as one of 64 teams. But making the 'Cats a No. 8 seed in the Southeast Region raised a few eyebrows.
First, most observers expected to watch the Wildcats head for the setting sun in the far West like Kentucky did two years ago when the Big Blue received an invitation with a 16-12 record. Some thought the NCAA committee would leave Alabama (which it did) along with either Florida, Georgia or Auburn (which it didn't) in the Southeast Regional.
Eddie Sutton, obviously, isn't arguing the decisions which sent Florida to the East, Georgia to the West and Auburn to the Midwest.
However, the fact that Alabama was the No. 2 seed (and rightfully so) in the Southeast probably caused Kentucky a potential showdown with the redhot, top-seeded Georgetown Hoyas if the Wildcats should upset Ohio State in the first round.
Had Kentucky been seeded No. 7, the Wildcats would have played BYU in the first round and a win would have put UK against the winner of the Alabama-N.C. A&T game. Had UK been placed No. 10, the Big Blue would have played New Orleans then more than likely faced Alabama.
But because of that ridicilous deal in Atlanta last year where three SEC teams faced off in the semifinals, the NCAA committee changed its rules this time so no two SEC teams could meet before the final game of a regional.
Therefore, Kentucky very well might have been ranked somewhere lower or higher than No. 8 in the original rankings Sunday, but moved to avoid the possibility of facing a league rival before the final game of the regional.
So the Wildcats will repack their gear and head back to Atlanta for what they hope will be more than a mere overnight stay.
The one last week surely wasn't pleasant.
Joining Kentucky at The Omni on Friday will be the likes of Ohio State, Georgetown, Bucknell, Kansas, Houston, Clemson and Southwest Missouri State.
The two survivors from Atlanta will move on the following week to Louisville's Freedom Hall where they will be met by two challengers from the Birmingham sub-regional.
Among those fighting for those two spots are UAB, Alabama, Providence, Illinois, Austin Peay, New Orleans, BYU, and N.C. A&T.
Some interesting observations from the NCAA bracket.
It's obvious the NCAA committee is concerned with lagging attendance for first- and
second-round games.
Almost without exception, first-round host schools and nearby teams were the top priorities.
Examples are plentifullike UAB and Alabama in Birmingham; UNLV and Wyoming in Salt Lake City; Arizona and UTEP in Tucson; DePaul in Chicago; Xavier and Indiana in Indianapolis: North Carolina in Charlotte, Syracuse in Syracuse and Clemson in Atlanta.
There were a few exceptions.
Notre Dame would have been more at home in Indianapolis, but was shipped off to Charlotte. N.C. State, which beat North Carolina in the ACC finals, could have been at Charlotte, but was shipped off to Syracuse. State had to be shipped out to avoid the two from facing each other prior to the regional final.
Georgia Southern certainly would have been more attractive in Atlanta than Syracuse, just as Illinois perhaps should have been in Chicago. No luck.
What about BYU having to travel all the way to Birmingham (that's where they were three years ago, losing to UK) instead of be-
tional east name at either Salt Lake City or Tucson.
Plus it would allow the NCAA to keep either Georgia or Auburn or Florida in Atlanta to generate some fan attendance at The Omni.
Wrong again.
Perhaps that's what the NCAA had in mind, but the most disappointing sight at The Omni last week was the lacklustre support of the home-standing Bulldogs. Their fans were nowhere to be found.
If the NCAA is trying to help attendance at The Omni this week, it apparently feels that a Kentucky-Ohio State showdown plus teams like Georgetown, Clemson and Kansas can do more to ignite the fans than the Georgias, Auburns and Floridas. The latter three were promptly dispatched to other locations.
To matters closer at hand.
Georgetown is the surprise No. 1 seed in the Southeast Regional, but it will be the Kentucky-Ohio State battle which attracts top
Heading Back To The Omni Again
ing near home in Salt Lake City? But to avoid an early conference showdown, BYU had to hit the road.
Even stranger was the shipping of some SEC teams to far away places. Some figured Kentucky would head to the west.
Theory number one had it that the selection committee might get some heat for an 18-10 team getting an invitation (remember two years ago?). So, the NCAA would ship UK west and let it earn its way back to civilization.
As the scheme went, UK would be happy to go anywhere. It would allow the committee to help beef up local interest with a na-
billing of the opening round in Atlanta.
The 'Cats and Buckeyes will tip-off at 9:37 p.m. Friday as the second game of the night session. The first evening game at 7:07 p.m. will be Georgetown toying with Bucknell.
In the afternoon session, Clemson will take on SW Missouri State followed by Kansas and Houston at 2:37 p.m. Times for the Sunday session won't be set until after the first round games are completed.
It took the Southeast Regional a year ago to wake up the NCAA selection committee.
but you have to give the boys credit when credit is due. They have now acknowledged the fact that Southeastern Conference basketball has arrived.
While some of the football-minded officials were mumbling about the league being down this season with so many teams having double-digit losses, the selection corrirnittee went out and awarded six teams bids to the big show.
During the five-day SEC tournament stay in Adanta, I don't remember hearing a single soul even mentioning the remote chance of six SEC teams getting invitations. Most figured on four, with five an outside possibility.
So the NCAA did put stock in its computer ratings and the various schools' scheduling and the strength of conference play. When all the dust had settled, there were six schools from each of the SEC, ACC and Big 10 conferences.
Meanwhile, some traditional powers stayed home.
You start the shocking list with defending national champion Louisville and then go to
Villanova which won the title two years ago.
Louisville didn't get an invitation for a couple reasons. No. 1, it had an opportunity to sew up the automatic Metro Conference bid by winning the league tourney at home in Freedom Hall Sunday, but the Cards were bombed 75-52, losing for a third time to Memphis State.
State, which is on NCAA probation, is barred from the NCAA and since Memphis State was permitted to play in the tourney, then win it, the NCAA was not bound to invite a Metro Conference team.
Secondly, the Cards played an impressive schedule which goes a long way toward getting an invitation, but there were too many losses (14) and not enough wins (18) to justify an invitation when teams like Cleveland State (23-7) left at home.
Villanova finished 15-15 and although it played well at the end, wasn't invited because the NCAA is intent on the big show not becoming a glorified version of the NCAA.
New Mexico, which finished with a whopping 25 victories and nine defeats, wasn't invited to the big party either.
The message is now apparent. You either play in a very tough league and compile a winning record or you compile a very glittering record against decent competition or you take your chances with a so-so record against great competition or a great record against so-so competition.
The top half of the Southeastern Conference was tougher a year ago than this season, but from top tojbottom, the league has never been tougher than it is today.
Six teams have been invited to the big show while Vanderbilt and Ole Miss are headed off to the National Invitational Tournament. Tennessee was expected to be in the NIT, but at last report, was not included among the 32-team field.
Vanderbilt (16-15) will play host to Jackson-
[Continued On Page 22] &qy&4
MzrcA/4, 9$7
Bat Cats 'Slam' Cards; Are Off To 7-0 Start
Freshman Billy White hit a grand slam last Sunday to give the University of Kentucky baseball Wildcats an 8-5 victory over the University of Louisville at Shively Field. White, a shortstop from St. Xavier High School in Louisville, cleared the bases with an opposite field home run in the sixth inning to give UK a 5-2 lead that it never relinquished.
The win ups Kentucky's record to 7-0, the best start in head coach Keith Madison's nine years at UK.
"1 think our start will give us momentum going into SEC play next weekend," Madison said. "We are a young club and this will give us confidence for the games coming up this week."
U of L got on board first when designated hitter John Brooks and catcher Richard Cooper hit back-to-back doubles in the second. UK got that run back in the fourth when catcher David Ray crushed a homer to left-center field.
The Cardinals scored in the fifth when Kevin Curry walked, advanced to second on a single by Tim Fries, moved to third on a double-play grounder by Scott Karkos and scored on a wild pitch.
UK scored three times in the eighth, including a two-run pinch-hit homer by Bobby Olinick. a sophomore from Louisville St. Xavier High School.
Starter Doug Sutton went the distance to pick up his first win. Sutton survived the ninth inning, in which he threw two wild pitches, as U of L scored three runs. The loss for Louisville evened their record at 3-3. UK's next game is scheduled for Wednesday (March .11) against Cumberland (Tenn.) University at Shively Field.
Freshman Darin Rieman banged out three hits, including a grand slam, as the University of Kentucky Wildcats defeated the University of Louisville, 8-2. Wildcat batters pounded out 15 hits last Saturday at Shively Field
Rieman led the UK attack with six RBIs. The third baseman from Fairfield, Ohio, broke the game open with a towering grand slam that easily cleared the fence in right-center in the eighth frame. The home run was Rieman's second of the young season.
Vince Tyra and Roy Bailey combined to limit the Cardinals to two runs. Tyra overcame a shaky start to earn his first win of the year. The first three Cardinal batters got hits off Tyra as U of L pushed across one run in the first. Tyra settled down and held the Cardinals to two hits while striking out nine in six innings of work. Bailey came on in the seventh and pitched three shutout innings to earn the save.
Envelope Please: And The Winner Is. . .
Timeout For SEC Awards Ceremony
As another exciting year of SEC basketball has been completed, it's time to look back on the 1986-87 season. Now let's give tribute to the players and coaches that made this season one to remember.
Coach of the Year: Georgia's Hugh Durham gets this distinction hands down. Despite having two starters and a top reserve out for most of the season, Durham orchestrated the Bulldogs to a remarkable third-place finish. And in the preseason, Georgia wasn't even picked to finish in the upper division of the league with those players. Although Wimp Sanderson also did an outstanding job in leading Alabama to a first-place finish in the league by a full four
	
	Todd Hallum Cats' Pause Columnist
	
games, Durham got better production out of what he had to work with than any other coach in the conference.
Player of the Year: Derrick McKey, Alabama. One of the most difficult players in the conference to defend because of his fantastic versatility. McKey can hit the post-up jumper inside, or connect from the three-point range outside. With another year of eligibility remaining, McKey is becoming one of the best players ever to wear a Crimson Tide uniform.
Freshman of the Year: Rex Chapman, Kentucky. It's not too hard to figure this one out, is it?
Most improved player: Will Perdue, Vanderbilt. Perdue's presence in the paint makes Vanderbilt a good team instead of an ordinary one.
Best defensive player: LSU's Bernard Woodside gets the nod over Kentucky guard Ed Davender. Because of his height at 6-5, Woodside usually draws his team's toughest defensive assignment, shading the opponent's best shooter. Davender at times can apply
Vandy's Perdue Most Improved
smothering pressure in the backcourt. but has trouble handling bigger guards who can post him up in the lane like Georgia's Dennis Williams.
Most consistent team: Alabama. Except for the late comeback win by Kentucky, and an overtime loss to Florida, Bama would have been undefeated in the conference. Bama's consistency comes from having a wealth of experience with three seniors, a junior and a sophomore in the starting lineup.
Most puzzling team: Auburn. If Sonny Smith's team could have eliminated silly turnovers and shot well from the field, then the War Eagles would have been one of the toughest teams to beat in the country. However, like Kentucky, Auburn's consistency was its inconsistency.
Best homecourt advantage: Alabama. In a year when the league was as balanced as it has ever been and home teams were dropping like flies. Bama was the club to have just one home-floor loss.
Best offensive performance: Tony White. Tennessee. On
Feb. 14 in Knoxville, White exploded against Auburn for a 51-point performance in the Vols' 103-84 rout of the Tigers. And the man they call "The Wizard" also had high-scoring games of 49, 39 and 35. White is the best one-on-one guard in the league, especially when Don DeVoe uses a clear-out offense to let him work.
Mr. Clutch Award: Rex Chapman. Kentucky. His buzzer-beating performances against Tennessee and Ole Miss in Rupp
Rex ChapmanSEC's Mr Clutch
Arena remind many basketball historians of what Jerry West used to do at West Virginia. For a freshman, Chapman has displayed more cool and poise than any other player who has entered the SEC for quite some time.
Most vicious dunk artist: Jose Vargas, LSU. One of these days Vargas is going to bring a backboard down with one of his patented slam dunks.
Best coaching hex over Kentucky: Dale Brown, LSU. In the teams' last three meetings. Brown has a 3-0 advantage over the Wildcats.
Crybaby Award: Wimp Sanderson, Alabama. Good of Wimp won this award unopposed. Sanderson is the best there is in this category, and no other coach in the country even comes close at ranting and raving along the sidelines and still NOT being whistled for a technical foul. I guess SEC basketball officials believe Wimp doesn't mean any harm.
Surprise teams: Georgia, with runner-up honors going to Ole Miss. Besides Durham and Sanderson, Rebel coach Ed Murphy turned in the best coaching performance of the year, doing a masterful job in making Ole Miss a competitive team.
Floorburn award: Rob Lock, Kentucky. It seems UK trainer Walt McCombs had to make at least one trip to the floor each game to check and see if Lock was healthy enough to continue following one of the big guy's diving acts in chase of a loose ball.
Best officiating crew: Don Rutledge and Paul Galvan. It's hard to select a third official because these two gentlemen are among the best in the college game. Both Rutledge and Galvan have of ficiating experience in the NCAA Final Four.
All-Underrated Team: It seems like every year there are a handful of players in the league that go out and perform day-in and day-out but still don't get the recognition they deserve. You mention their names and people will shake their heads and say, "Who, never heard of 'em?" Here are five guys that fit the bill this season:
1. Willie Anderson Georgia
2. Dennis Williams Georgia
3. Eric Smith Ole Miss
4. Jim Farmer Alabama
5. Chris Capers Florida
All-Conference Team: With as much talent as the SEC had
this year, especially at the guard position, it's pretty difficult to pick five players to single out as the best in the league. But, listing players by position, here goes:
G G C F F
Veron Maxwell Tony White Derrick McKey Nikita Wilson Chris Morris
Florida Tennessee Alabama LSU Auburn Rupp Arena Celebrates 10th Anniversary
May Host SEC Tourney Every Other Year
Last October 6, when the 10th anniversary of cavernous Rupp Arena rolled around, it went without any public celebration.
That's not unusual for a public facility, but you can bet director Tom Minter and his staff quitely rejoiced.
'When we first started this project, we had no idea we've have the kind of success we've attained," said Minter recently.
Not only has the 23,000-plus seat facility been the home arena of University of Kentucky basketball games the past 11 seasons, but it has also been the showcase for Lexington's first indoor circus, ice show, indoor tractor pull, rodeo and the return of the
Mel Holbrook
Cats' Pause Columnist
state high school basketball tournament after an absence of more than 10 years.
It's also been the host to the NCAA Final Four men's and women's basketball tournaments, and numerous NCAA regional tournaments as well, plus concerts by various musical groups and other activities.
Success Of Arena Has Been Incredible
"It's really been incredible," says Minter, who came to Lexington in March of 1975 to help serve as a consultant for the then-proposed project, part of the Lexington Civic Center Corporation.
"We've went from a staff of 61 full-time employees to about 80 in 10 years, plus 250-300 part-time employees," Minter continued. "We average around 500-600,000 patrons annually who attend arena events, and when you add Heritage Hall and the Opera House, that amounts up to a million people a year who use our facilities."
Minter says the numbers of people who attend games, this season's attendance totaled close to 400,000, on a continual basis isn't so much a surprise because of the popularity of UK basketball.
"But when I was acting as a consultant, I recommended that the seating capacity be kept to around 18,500," said Minter. "I didn't feel like we could comfortably seat more than that inside the box. But we've found there have been very few complaints. Second, and I'm finding this to be true, the actual number of people in attendance at the games has dropped off in recent years.
The Legendary Der Baron, Adolph Rupp
That can be attributed to the live telecasts and sometimes the weather. But still, the number of people that turn out is amazing."
Kentucky Isn't Supposed To Lose In Rupp
Rupp Arena, of course, is a study in passion. UK basketball
has a patent on fan-aticism. It prides itself on heart-stopping teams, powerful enough to dominate, human enough to lose. Although Alabama basketball coach Wimp Sanderson would disagree.
"It's against the rules for Kentucky to lose there," says Sanderson.
The Wildcats have compiled an outstanding record of 153-16 at Rupp Arena, including this season's 11-2 slate. That's a winning percentage of 90 percent.
"Oh, it's a great place to play," said Ole Miss coach Ed Mur-
Rupp ArenaA Champion's Palace
phy. "It's a great program. Rupp Arena is what college basketball is all about."
Arena Has Helped Revitalize Downtown Area
When local promoters were working on the idea of a downtown civic center years ago, the previous success of UK's basketball program was a main contributing factor in the decision to build the arena. The arena, and the civic center itself, are now the base for what has developed into a bustling downtown area.
"When I first came to Lexington and drove through the downtown area on a Sunday afternoon, one of my daughters said that it was a pretty dead area," said Minter. "Now, 20 years later, look at it. The skyline is beautiful. And the whole area has been revitalized."
That skyline, of course, includes various hotels that were very instrumental in the Final Four tournaments being held at Rupp Arena. But, even with the new accomodations, the tournaments may not be back in the Bluegrass for awhile.
And the city was dealt another blow recently with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association's decision to alternate the State Tournament between Lexington and Louisville.
"I understand both decisions," said Minter. "The Final Four has become one of the premier sporting events in the world and
NCAAs Could Be Headed Soon To Lexington
they have a lugher demand for tickets. That's why they're choosing larger, domed stadiums. As for the state basketball tournament, Louisville made some very serious offers and guarantees to the KHSAA Board of Control. They'll get the tournament in '88 and we'll get it the next year. We know we can meet our guarantees. We've proven it. It remains to be seen whether or not Louisville can do the same.
"The KHSAA took a big risk in taking a tried and proven endeavor and putting it into an unknown situation," Minter added. "That gamble may not pay off."
There hasn't been an NCAA Regional tournament since the Mideast in 1984, but Minter says that situation will be resolved soon.
"We got so involved in getting ready for the Final Four, we forgot what happens after that," Minter explained. "We will make a bid for the 1988-89 regional soon. And we'll be back in business."
There has also been talk of the Southeastern Conference tournament returning after trips to Atlanta, Baton Rouge and Knox-ville, and Minter is all for that as well.
"I've heard talk that the SEC wants to rotate the tournament between here and Knoxville every year," he said. "That would be just fine with us. We're not afraid of a challenge. We've proven that in the past."
DeBoer Goes North To Canada To Get Volleyball Signee
Late last month University of Kentucky volleyball coach Kathy DeBoer announced the signing of Karen Creates to a national letter of intent.
Creates, a 6-foot-2 middle-hitter from Toronto, currently plays for John Abbot College in Quebec. Her college team is one of the five teams in Quebec given elite volleball status.
According to DeBoer, "Karen's height will make her an immediate asset at the net. With continued experience and training she can develop into a dominant player."
Creates raises the total number of signees for DeBoer at three. Laura Linder of Mun-cie, Ind., and Chris Maradits of Parma, Ohio signed earlier with the Wildcats. Said DeBoer about her overall recruiting crop, "This is one of the best recruiting classes we've ever had. We look for all three players to be significant factors during the next four years."
Kentucky Hands Out 51 'Ks' To Gridders
Fifty-one University of Kentucky football players have been awarded K-Letters for their performance during the 1987 season, Wildcat head coach Jerry Claiborne announced.
Included are eight players who have earned three previous football letters: tight ends Matt Lucas and Mark Wheeler, defensive back Tony Mayes, wide receiver Eric Pitts, linebackers Larry Smith and Don Yarano, offensive tackle Joe Prince and quarterback Bill Ransdell.
Other graduating seniors awarded letters
were WR Cornell Burbage, DE Guy Neal, FB Marc Logan, DT Mike Velotta and DG Tom Wilkins, their third; OT Sam Rotell, his second, and one each to FB John Groves, WR
Marc Logan
Billy Dean, centers Conrad Carney and Ken Lange and DE Tim Reese.
Underclassmen Dermontti Dawson, C: Mark Higgs, RB; Tim Jones, SE; Jeff Kremer, LB; Brad Myers, OT: Jerry Reese and John Shannon. DTs; Butch Wilburn. OG. and Joe Worley, PK, also joined the three-letter ranks.
Two-year lettermen are LBs Chris Chenault, TEs Joe Curry and Martin Pennington, DE Carwell Gardner, DBs David Johnson and Ron Mack, S Ray Gover, OG Scott Endris and OL Sam Rotella.
Presented their first letters were DGs Vic Adams and Doug Houser, DTs Oliver Bamett and Donnie Gardner; DEs Jay Dortch, Tony Massey and Craig Benzinger, RB Ivy Joe Hunter, OTs Greg Kunkel and Mike Pfeifer. punter Jeff Nelson, DBs Anthony Gardner and Robionson and WR Dee Smith. &7ie (jat&' (aas&
March 14, {$$7
Tide Rolls In
Regular-Season Champion Alabama Beats Tennessee, And Auburn, Then Turns Back LSU 69-62 To Capture SEC Tournament Crown
LSU 68, Mississippi State 54
Louisiana State had too much.
And it was obvious Mississippi State didn't have enough.
Dale Brown's Tigers jumped out to a 20-9 lead and coasted to a 68-54 victory to tipof'f last Wednesday's SEC Tournament held at Atlanta's Omni.
LSU's inside-outside punch of forward Oliver Brown, 16 points, and hot-shooting guard Anthony Wilson, 16 points, paced the Tigers' attack.
The win put the seventh-seeded squad from Baton Rouge. 19-13, in the quarterfinals against No. 2 seed Florida.
Mississippi State ended its campaign under first-year coach Richard Williams with a 7-21 mark.
The game was all LSU's, as the Tigers led from the word "Go." Anthony Wilson connected on a driving layup with only 45 seconds elapsed (2-0) and LSU was on its way. The Tigers' maximum lead came with 9:11 remaining in the contest when Darryl Joe canned a three-pointer, giving LSU a 17-point advantage (53-36).
Trailing 53-39, MSU made a slight run with the help of a three-pointer by Reginald Boy kin. State then forced a jump ball, regaining possession. Anthony Blakely proceeded to take advantage of a nicely set screen and scored on a jumper from the left corner. MSU now trailed 55^4 with 6:00 minutes left. But after a LSU timeout, Bernard Woodside hit three of four free throws to cancel the Bulldogs comeback (58-44, 4:38).
MSU's offensive attack was spearheaded by Boykins (17 points) and Blakley (15).
The Decisive Point: Following an Anthony Wilson two-pointer, making the score 9-5, Richard Williams became so outraged with the officiating of Charles Vacca that he was whistled for a "T." Anthony Wilson made the technical rewards, followed by a jumper inside by Nikita Wilson, and a steal and layup by Joe. As far as MSU fans were concerned the game was out of controlLSU led 15-5 with 13:55 remaining.
Telling The Story: "It was a very difficult game for us," said MSU's Williams. "LSU's defense was good, and ou