Sunday, October 17, 1999
Conditioning top priority for winded Wildcats
Scrimmage's 2nd half had to be shortened
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LEXINGTON, Ky. — With 9,000 fewer fans and considerably less fanfare, the Kentucky Wildcats returned Saturday to Memorial Coliseum for their second practice of the morning.
Not that Midnight Madness counts as much of one. Eight hours after those festivities concluded, the Wildcats truly began basketball season.
“Tonight is just entertainment,” coach Tubby Smith said Friday night. “(Saturday) at 9, we get serious.”
The first order of business: conditioning. First impressions from the Midnight Madness scrimmage suggest UK's abbreviated roster — just 11 players — is far from fit.
The Wildcats clanged 3-point tries in warmups and blundered through their dunk contest, and things didn't get better in the scrimmage. With only one player able to rest at a time, every Wildcat was winded quickly.
It became so obvious, the announced playing time of two 15-minute halves — with no clock stoppages — was curtailed to a 10-minute second half.
Addressing their sloppy play over the PA microphone, Smith said, “Get it out of your system today, folks.”
Freshman Marvin Stone, a 6-foot-10, 256-pound McDonald's All-American, was hunched over, gasping for air, just five minutes into the scrimmage.
There was good news, though. All 11 players scored at least two baskets, with three different players — J.P. Blevins, Desmond Allison and Steve Masiello — making two 3-pointers apiece.
UK will need outside shooting wherever it can get it. Allison is the returning starter at shooting guard, but he made only 21 threes in 36 games last year. Masiello, previously a little-used walk-on, looks like he may work himself into the rotation.
Freshman guard Keith Bogans, Basketball Times' National Prep Player of the Year, appeared athletic in scoring six points in the scrimmage.
All the returnees showed promise, including center Jamaal Magloire scoring a scrimmage-high 12 points — including some outside jumpers — and 6-11 forward Jules Camara also showing a strong perimeter shot.
“When I look at them individually and how they've improved, they've all made unbelievable strides since they got here,” Smith said.
“In the coming weeks, we'll be trying to define roles and find leadership, see who comes to the forefront. It's a long process. It takes time to build a cohesive unit.”
REMEMBERING STEWART: One of the cruelest ironies about Friday night's festivities is that it would have been John Stewart's 19th birthday. The UK signee from Indianapolis died in March of heart failure after collapsing in a high school basketball game.
“We're saying a prayer for John,” Smith said. “We've got a real special place in our heart for him.”
Smith has invited Stewart's parents to come down for some home games this season, and he said the Wildcats have dedicated this season to Stewart.
'FRAIDY CATS: The Wildcats were noticeably jittery during the time Miss America, Heather Renee French of Maysville, Ky., was on court Friday night. She and Smith kept a running commentary as the warmups and dunk contest.
As player after player missed dunks, French acknowledged their possible distraction: “It's the crown, isn't it?”
RANKINGS: Preseason magazines suggest UK should be happy making the Sweet 16. The Sporting News ranks UK 12th, while Street & Smith's, Dick Vitale's College Basketball and Athlon's pick it 13th. Basketball News forecasts No.26 and Lindy's says 30th.
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