Entries Tagged 'UK opponents' ↓

North Carolina Coach Roy Williams heaped praise on Kentucky freshman point guard John Wall during a news conference on Friday.
“I love him as a player,” Williams said. “He’s the best point guard prospect since Jason Kidd.”
UNC did not offer Wall a scholarship, which raised eyebrows since Wall lived in nearby Raleigh.
“Things just didn’t fit,” Williams said. “Some shoes just don’t fit.”
Williams noted that he spoke to Wall before North Carolina played in the 2009 Final Four. “A couple things happened immediately after that that made me make the decision (not to proceed in the recruiting effort),” the UNC coach said.
Williams declined to elaborate.
North Carolina provided Wall tickets to UNC football and basketball games, Williams said. Wall did not use the basketball tickets, he said.
“He can’t have any bigger fan than Roy Williams is for him,” Williams said.
During the “Woody’s Daily Show” on the UNC website, assistant coach Jerod Haase called Wall the key player for Kentucky.
“They basically go as John Wall goes,” Haase said. “Our ability to contain him will be crucial.”
Williams affirmed how he likes to throw different looks at an opposing ball handler. “So you don’t get used to what’s in front of you,” he said.
Marcus Ginyard, who is 6-5, got a turn in limiting Michigan State point guard Kalin Lucas to six-for-17 shooting on Tuesday.

During his post-game radio interview after Stanford beat Virginia Tuesday night, Cardinal Coach Johnny Dawkins saluted Kentucky’s elite status.

The radio host noted that Stanford had not played UK since the 1998 Final Four. So, the host said, the game Wednesday night “carries a special cache with Stanford fans.”

Dawkins agreed, saying, “When you look at Kentucky, it’s a great program with amazing tradition. You have to give them a lot of respect for what they’ve accomplished. And it’s a great opportunity for our program. We’ve worked hard to give ourselves an opportunity to face a team of that caliber.”

Kentucky will play Stanford Wednesday night (9:30 p.m. EST tipoff) in the championship game of the Cancun Challenge.

Of course, Dawkins is no stranger to big games against Kentucky. As a former assistant at Duke, he witnessed many classic games, most notably the 1992 East Region final (the so-called Christian Laettner game) and the 1998 region final (UK won with a stirring comeback). Both games sent the winner to the Final Four.

“A lot of times it was basically for championships,” Dawkins said. “. . . It’s been an amazing rivalry.”

When asked if he aspired to make Stanford the Duke of the West, Dawkins smiled and said, “I’ll tell you what, if we can raise Stanford’s level to the program we’re going to face tomorrow (Kentucky) and to the level of a program like Duke, I think we’d be pretty proud. They’re some of the most elite programs in the country.”

Miami (Ohio) tied a record for a Kentucky opponent by making 15 three-point shots in the game Monday night.

The Redhawks made 15 of 26 three-point shots.

Georgia made 15 of 30 three-point shots against Kentucky in the 1998-99 season.

Kentucky won both games. No Georgia player matched Nick Winbush’s eight-of-10 three-point shooting against UK on Monday night.

Two opponents last season made 14 three-point shots against Kentucky. V.M.I. made 14 of 31 and Mississippi State made 14 of 27. UK lost both of those games.

For Georgia, D.A. Layne made five of 11 and Jumaine Jones made four of nine on Jan. 26, 1999.

Kentucky’s next opponent, Miami (Ohio), lost 82-71 at Towson Friday night.

As Miami Coach Charlie Coles described what happened, his analysis would have to reassure any UK fans.

“They just beat us up inside real good,” Coles said in a telephone conversation Saturday morning. “Their guards penetrated. We didn’t do a good job containing their guards. And when guards get inside, big guys either get rebounds or direct passes for dunks or layups.”

If that’s not a description of the dribble-drive, what is?

Coles noted that Miami has struggled to contain the dribbler consistently in practices and pre-season play. And Kentucky will have its two star freshmen point guards — John Wall and Eric Bledsoe — for the first time in Monday’s game.

“That’s what’s got me real, real, real worried,” Coles said. “This thing could turn into a dunk fest immediately. Immediately! It could be a nightmare.”

One of Morehead State’s key players, 6-foot-4 senior Maze Stallworth, may or may not play against Kentucky in Friday night’s season-opening game.

Stallworth sustained a concussion in the Eagles exhibition game against Cedarville. He sat out the second exhibition game Monday against Asbury.

Morehead State Coach Donnie Tyndall said doctors wanted to see how Stallworth did in non-contact drills Wednesday and then a full practice on Thursday before clearing him to play against Kentucky.

“He may not play at Kentucky,” Tyndall said on Tuesday. “We won’t know (for sure) until tip-off.”

Stallworth,  who is team captain, averaged 12.1 points per game last season. He led the team with 87 three-point baskets.

“He’s huge,” Tyndall said. “Just because he’s got that experience. He’s played in all the big games. The biggest thing is he can make big shots.”

Morehead State has had several players nursings injuries this pre-season. Star big man Kenneth Faried has had a bruised knee and shoulder sprain. A shoulder injury sidelined starting forward Demonte Harper for a week.

Former Kentucky player John Pelphrey got a voice of support from the University of Arkansas chancellor on Friday. It came at a time Pelphrey probably needed a kind word.

Earlier in the week, the Arkansas program was rocked by news that a female student accused three players of rape at a fraternity party.

No charges were filed, but the accusation capped a turbulent early tenure for Pelphrey as Arkansas coach.

“We’re standing behind Coach Pelphrey,” Arkansas chancellor David Gearhart told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Friday. “I think we’re going through some pretty serious growing pains, growing the program and changing the program, and that would have happened regardless of who the coach would be.

“I think he’s got to be given time, and then the problems we’re seeing will be taken care of.”

Problems on and off the court have plagued Pelphrey, who will be entering his third season as Arkansas coach. He played for Eddie Sutton and Rick Pitino at Kentucky in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In that time, the Paintsville native became one of the program’s famed “Unforgettables,” a designation given four players who remained at UK after NCAA sanctions caused several higher profile players to transfers.

Pelphrey’s problems as fledgling Arkansas coach include the loss of would-be star Patrick Beverley after the 2007-08 season. He cheated on a class paper, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

As a result, the Razorbacks finished a league-worst 2-14 in Southeastern Conference play in 2008-09.

Pelphrey suspended or lost to transfer four newcomers during or after last season. Marcus Monk, a regular contributer, had to leave the team because of a NCAA rules violation.

Arkansas also had the lowest Academic Progress Report of any SEC basketball program last season: 888.

“There have been some unfortunate things happen,” Gearhart said. “But the wayI would look at it is that when these things have happened, (Pelphrey) has immediately tried to attack the problems. He’s immediately tried to correct them. He has exercised discipline and he has exercised leadership.

“Instead of trying to make allowances for them, he’s taken care of them in a very serious way.”

UK released a few quotations from Coach Billy Gillispie about Notre Dame. The Cats play at Notre Dame on Wednesday night in the quarter-finals of the NIT.

Here are the quotes:

On Notre Dame…
“They’re an outstanding team. I think somebody said they’ve played all four number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament, six games against the number one seeds. You look at their record and say, ‘Wow, they’ve lost 14 games.’ Then you start looking at the teams they’ve lost to and they’re all great teams. They’re a fantastic team, a very well coached team with one of the very best players in college basketball. They do a good job of surrounding (Luke) Harangody. They’re a sound defensive team and they’ve got home-court advantage.”

On Luke Harangody …
“He’s as good of a low post player as we’ve seen all year and as good of a low post player as I’ve seen in a long time. They surround him with four guys that can really shoot the basketball, so it makes it hard to help on him.”

On the quick turnaround between games …
“We’re looking forward to playing another game. We had a great win against Creighton on the road. It was a hard fought victory. It is a short turnaround, but our guys will be ready to play, it should be a lot of fun. When you talk about Notre Dame, whether you talk about football, basketball, baseball, tennis, golf, whatever, it’s one of the most traditionally renowned schools. It’s a school with a tremendous tradition and a great deal of exposure. They have a great basketball program and we look forward to coming in and playing them.”

Walking to the Qwest Center Omaha, I had two people volunteer their opinion that Kentucky will beat Creighton Monday night.

Why?

Creighton is young. Creighton struggles inside.

The fans did not include (but could have) that its best three-point shooter, Booker Woodfox, made only four of 17 shots from beyond the arc in the last two games. Plus Patrick Patterson should be dominant inside, assuming UK gets him the ball.

We shall see beginning with the 7 p.m. EDT tipoff.

The winner will play at Notre Dame on Wednesday night. That game also tips off at 7 p.m. EDT. It will be televised by ESPN2.

Creighton seems genuinely honored to have the chance to play Kentucky, the winningest program in college basketball.

So we’ll assume it was inadvertent that Creighton’s media notes for Monday’s NIT game includes two bits of potential bulletin board material.

In the section for schedule and results, Creighton included a home game against Notre Dame on March 25 (tipoff time to be announced). Of course, the winner of the Kentucky-Creighton game will play Notre Dame in the NIT quarter-finals. That game could be at Notre Dame if Kentucky beats Creighton.

And in the notes assigned to each probable starter, Creighton had plenty of choices of UK big man Patrick Patterson: All-SEC selection. All-American candidate. Four straight double-doubles. Fifteen double-doubles this season.

Creighton chose: “HS teammate of O.J. Mayo.”

Tennessee practiced at Berea College on Friday as the Vols headed for Saturday’s game against Kentucky.

With thanks to a member of the Tennessee press corps, here’s a brief question-and-answer session with UT Coach Bruce Pearl:
Q: What do you think of Saturday’s showdown in Rupp Arena:

Pearl: “When I first came to Tennessee, I wanted to have meaningful games at Rupp Arena, and this game is for first place.”

Q: How does Patrick Patterson’s presence impact the game?

Pearl: “With Patterson being out there, they are a different cover. Wayne (Chism) has played Patterson well.”

Q: How do you feel about your rebuilt backcourt?

Pearl: “In the backcourt, we’ve got three brand-new players in Bobby Maze, Scotty Hopson, and Cameron Tatum and Josh Tabb is playing point guard for the first time in his career.

“Can you win a championship with the guard play we’re getting? The answer is no. The guard play has got to improve.”