Tuesday, March 14, 2000
UK trying to overcome suspension of forward
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
What Kentucky now lacks in athleticism, it must make up in attitude. The loss of versatile sophomore Desmond Allison won't be in vain, Tubby Smith said, if the Wildcats can will him some wins.
“It's like losing part of your family,” the UK coach said Monday of Allison's suspension. “You're disappointed. But hopefully this will pull us together, maybe to show Desmond, "We're doing this for you. We know you made a mistake, but we're still in your corner.'”
The 19th-ranked Wildcats spent Monday in an emotional nadir. Allison was arrested Sunday in Lexington on drunken-driving and marijuana possession charges and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
UK must regroup quickly for its NCAA Tournament opener (12:20 p.m. Thursday in Cleveland) against St. Bonaventure.
“The kids are kind of down, and it's going to be a real challenge to go in and keep our focus,” Smith said. “We'll use this as a motivating factor to rekindle that enthusiasm and hopefully as a catapult to help us play better.”
Allison, 20, alone in a black Ford Explorer, registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.113 on a breath test, a police report said. The state limit for drivers 21 and older is 0.10. For drivers under 21, it is 0.02.
The officer who searched the car found alcohol and less than an ounce of marijuana, police said.
The vehicle was registered in the name of Marvin Stone's father, UK officials said. Marvin Stone is a UK freshman center.
According to university policy, if Allison is convicted, he will be suspended indefinitely and forfeit his scholarship.
How will UK be affected? Besides the emotional blow, Allison's absence leaves the team with just nine players.
Allison, a two-year starter, averaged 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists. He led the team in free-throw shooting at 77.9 percent. His 1.66-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and 25 steals were both second-best on the team.
Allison made the third-most 3-pointers (31) on the team, and his .333 shooting from long range is best among those who have attempted more than 75 such shots.
Omit his stats, and UK's team 3-point percentage drops from poor (.290) to dreadful (.282).
“He's one of our best passers and best defenders,” Smith said. “What you lose is that quickness on the perimeter, that firepower on the outside. When you take away that type of athlete ... we really don't have anyone on the perimeter that's of that stature.”
Defense is Allison's most unsung strength. He was often assigned to shadow the opponent's top scorer. After falling to UK in the Preseason NIT, Utah coach Rick Majerus raved about him.
“Allison could be an unbelievable defender,” he said. “He's a hell of an athlete. We played (Vince) Carter (in the 1998 NCAA Tournament), and he's not Carter yet, but Carter came along gradually, too. You look at (Tom) Gugliotta's stats from college, and his averages went up and up and up every year. (Allison) could be that good.”
Smith said the new starter will be Jules Camara at power forward, with Tayshaun Prince moving to Allison's small forward spot.
“The depth of their ballclub has to be affected,” Auburn coach Cliff Ellis said.
Allison was inconsistent — scoring four or fewer points 11 times this year — so UK has won without him. Playing a half-court style, the Wildcats can made do with a smaller bench than can outrun opponents.
UK's strengths remain rebounding, defense and brute strength. Muscle means a lot in March.
“They're a very strong, physical team,” ESPN analyst Larry Conley said. “I think they let you play a little more (before calling fouls) in the tournament. That gives them an advantage.”
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