Saturday, December 30, 2000
UK says its best games are ahead
Young team finding its stride after slow start
By
The Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky guard Keith Bogans hears what people are saying about the Wildcats, the winningest program in college basketball history.
They're soft in the middle. They can't shoot from the outside. They can't make big plays in the final minutes to win. They don't have the talent or the intensity of Kentucky teams of old.
Despite the doom-and-gloom criticism, Bogans believes it's too early to write off the Wildcats (5-5).
“We haven't played as well as most people think we should, but we've got a lot of young guys trying to get used to playing at this level,” said Bogans, a sophomore who leads the team in scoring, averaging 18 points a game. “We're getting there; it's just going to take time. And when we do get there, I don't think there's too many teams that will want to play us.”
This hasn't been a typical season for the Wildcats, who have won seven NCAA titles.
Many UK fans have been frustrated as the Wildcats lost several games they were in position to win and fell out of the Top 25 for the second straight season.
Already this season, Ken tucky has lost to St. John's, UCLA, Penn State, Georgia Tech and Michigan State. But those losses have come by a total of 14 points.
“We've been grinding out this early-season schedule against a lot of really good teams, and I think we've learned a lot from that,” said point guard Saul Smith.
Despite their struggles, the Wildcats at times have looked unstoppable. The same group that lost 73-68 to Penn State at Rupp Arena rebounded to dominate then-No.6 North Carolina 93-76 on the road and later beat Indiana 88-74.
“We know we've let some games get away from us that we shouldn't have,” said Tayshaun Prince, who is UK's only other double-figure scorer at 13.9 points a game. “But I think as the season goes on, and a lot of our young guys get some more playing time and know their roles a little better, we're going to be in good shape.”
Smith is the team's only senior, and Prince is the only junior who plays significant minutes. The team has nine players who are freshmen or sophomores.
“More than anything, we've just had breakdowns in key situations at the end of games,” coach Tubby Smith said. “And you're going to have that sometimes when you're as young and inexperienced as we are.”
The lack of experience stems from a series of events that began March 12, 1999, when 7-foot recruit John Stewart of Indianapolis died after collapsing at a high school playoff game.
The following month, starting center Michael Bradley and reserve guard Ryan Hogan abruptly decided to transfer. Bradley went to Villanova and Hogan to Iowa.
Starting guard Desmond Allison was arrested on drunken-driving charges last season and transferred to Martin Methodist.
Michael Southall, a 6-10 recruit from Wisconsin, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor marijuana-possession charges and plans to play at Georgia Tech next season. Jules Camara, a 6-11 swingman, was suspended for the season after a conviction for driving under the influence.
“You plan your schedule and a lot of other things around people you believe are going to be a part of your program,” Tubby Smith said.
Heading into its Dec.22 showdown with Indiana, Kentucky was 3-5 and in danger of starting the season with its worst record since opening the 1926-27 season 1-8. Now, after beating the Hoosiers and blowing out High Point, the Wildcats believe they're back on track.
“As the season goes on and we keep playing in big games against a lot of talented SEC teams, we're going to mature and be the team that everyone expects us to be,” Bogans said.
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