Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings recoiled from the suggestion that ESPN GameDay at game Saturday said something significant about Commodores’ program.
After noting that success gets defined game by game nowadays, Stallings said, “We’re trying to arrive. We want to be a program that people respect in that vein.
“But I don’t think this is a signal we’re at the end or a destination. This is just another part of the process.”
Then turning to David Climer, a columnist with The Tennessean, Stallings added, “Not that many years ago he was asking me whether I deserved to keep my job.”
Vandy Coach Kevin Stallings noted the familiarity his team has for Kentucky’s style. And vice versa.
“At this stage, there aren’t any surprises,” he said Thursday. “Knowing what to expect is not an issue. It’s being effective against them that’s the difficult part.”
Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings offered a sobering response to a question about facing No. 1 Kentucky.
“I don’t know if you ever look forward to playing a team as good as they are,” he said Thursday. “But we’re here. I know our guys will be excited. Our fans will be excited.
“And I’ll act like I’m excited if that will make everybody feel better. But we have a tall challenge.”
Thirteen was a lucky number for Kentucky Tuesday night. Freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Kentucky beat beat Florida.
That continued a trend in which Kidd-Gilchrist rises to the big-game occasion.
In UK’s four games against ranked opponents (Kansas, North Carolina, Louisville and Florida), Kidd-Gilchrist has averaged 16.8 points and 13 rebounds. He had double-doubles in three of the four games, missing one against Kansas by one rebound,
“He just has a fierceness to him,” UK Coach John Calipari said in explaining Kidd-Gilchrist’s big-game productivity.
Of course, Kidd-Gilchrist contributed defensively, too. Calipari assigned him to fellow freshman Bradley Beal, arguably Florida’s best all-around player. Beal scored 14 points, but made five of 15 shots. His six rebounds were tolerable.
When asked about Kidd-Gilchrist’s knack for gobbling up space en route to a fast-break score, Calipari noted how the freshman seemed to need only two strides to get from the three-point line to the basket.
Yet, the UK coach again mentioned how Kidd-Gilchrist can get better: by enjoying his work.
“He reminds me of Derrick Rose,” Calipari said in reference to his freshman star at Memphis in 2007-08, “in that he’s tougher on himself than I am on him.”
Freshman point guard Marquis Teague posted a career-high 10 assists.
Teague said he no longer is concerned with scoring.
“I always ask for my assists,” he said. “(And) see if I have at least three or four rebounds.”
Teague acknowledged a firmer grasp of point guard play on the college level. In the last five games, he’s had 28 assists and 10 turnovers.
“I feel I’m getting better every game,” he said. “I will try to build on this.”
With Florida having played Ohio State and Syracuse earlier in the season, comparisons with Kentucky were inevitable.
“Ohio State is very versatile,” Beal said. “Similar to this Kentucky team.”
Florida Coach Billy Donovan said Ohio State did not have as much length as Kentucky.
“Syracuse has every bit as much length, and they have more depth,” Donovan said.
While noting the one-and-done nature of the NCAA Tournament, Donovan said of the Cats, “If they went all the way, it would not be surprising.”
A reporter asked Doron Lamb if a 20-point blowout victory was the “new normal” for Kentucky. The Cats have won four straight games by 20 or more points.
“I hope so,” Lamb said with a slight smile. “We’re playing with a lot of energy.”
ESPN will celebrate its 16th annual “Rivalry Week” next week.
Kentucky will have two games on the Rivalry Week schedule: Florida Tuesday and at Vanderbilt on Feb. 11.
Each telecast will include a video featuring a compilation of ESPN employees sporting face paint symbolizing a school logo or mascot with game highlights to the tune of Tokyo Police Club’s “Favourite Colour.” The video will be used to open the telecasts and as the networks go to and from commercial breaks.
The video will include Baylor, Connecticut, Duke, Florida, Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Syracuse and Virginia Tech.
Here’s a link:
The Knoxville News Sentinel posted a story Thursday evening in which Tennessee freshman Jarnell Stokes vowed to win at Kentucky.
“I’m definitely not used to getting my shot blocked,” he said. “That’s something I will learn from. I have to stay with my mechanics, using my left hand and throwing my body into them, that’s how you defeat a shot blocker, and something I’ll do next time.
“It definitely made me more hungry. I definitely wanted to win,” he said. “If anything, I want to win at Rupp Arena. I plan on winning, before I leave, at Rupp Arena. I’m saying that on the record right now. It made me more hungry and made me dislike Kentucky more.”
Freshman point guard Marquis Teague did something he hadn’t done in almost two months: Commit no turnovers.
Teague had seven assists and no turnovers in 33 minutes at Georgia. The only time this season he’s not committed a turnover came against Portland on Nov. 26.
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
