xt72fq9q2p3t https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt72fq9q2p3t/data/mets.xml Wildcat News Company 1988 Volume 12 -- Number 26 athletic publications  English Wildcat News Company Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. The Cats' Pause UKAW University of Kentucky Men's Basketball (1987-1988) coaches Sutton, Eddie players Chapman, Rex Manuel, Eric Farmer, Richie University of Kentucky Football (1987) Smith, Dee Claiborne, Jerry University of Kentucky Baseball (1988) recruiting statistics schedules Cats' Pause Combs, Oscar The Cats' Pause,  "March 5, 1988" text The Cats' Pause,  "March 5, 1988" 1988 2012 true xt72fq9q2p3t section xt72fq9q2p3t Now Playing
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Senior Night: Kentucky vs. Georgia
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VOLUME 12 - NUMBER 26	SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1988	LEXINGTON, KENTUC
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UK's Dee Smith Held In Ohio On Drug Charges
The Cats' Pause has learned through various sources that University of Kentucky football player Dee Smith was arrested on two counts of trafficking cocaine last Thursday in Cincinnati, Ohio, along with two other Lexingtonians. Smith, a native of Paducah, was reportedly picked up for: 1) trafficking in cocaine for sale and; 2) preparation for distribution of cocaine.
Smith was arrested on "Pete Rose Way for trying to sell four ounces of cocaine to local drug enforcement agencies.
Both are state charges.
Smith awaits a preliminary hearing on Friday, March 4. Until then he is in the Hamilton
County Justice Center. Bond has been set at $150,000.
A release from the UK sports information departments said: "University of Kentucky coach Jerry Claiborne verified Monday that junior to be Dee Smith of Paducah has been arrested in Cincinnati, Ohio. Claiborne said his coaching staff would wait until the outcome of the judicial proceedings before deciding what, if any. disclipinary action would be taken against Smith.
"Smith, a 5-foot-ll, 182-pound flanker, had 23 pass receptions for 420 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats in '87. Smith also led UK in punt and kickoff returns."
Dee Smith
Chapman Expected To Play Against Georgia; Cats Move To No. 18
After having to miss one game because of a lower back injury in the LSU contest, last Sunday sophomore Rex Chapman said that he would be ready to play against Georgia on Wednesday evening.
When asked by one reporter if he was able to go against Syracuse, Chapman nodded yes. He felt that coach Eddie Sutton held him out of the nationally-televised contest because of safety reasons.
"I wanted to play," said Chapman after UK's 62-58 victory over the Orangemen, the first game he has missed in his two-year career, "but they played great. There wasn't any need to really play me at all."
Asked if he would play against Georgia, Chapman replied, "I hope so."
The 6-foot-5 sophomore fractured a bone in the lower part of his back when he fell while going up for a layup. The area which he injuredtransverse processis not serious. Pain probably will persist for another two weeks or so.
The day before the contest against Syracuse, Chapman tried to practice, but had to take himself out.
"The way he landed, he could have broken an elbow or his pelvis," team doctor Michael Ray said. "As fractures go, especially one to the lower back, this is one you'd want to have. It has nothing to do with the stability of the back or the nerves that exit the spinal cord."
Chapman said his main drawback, because of the pain, was playing defense and going after loose balls.
Rex Participated In Pregame Drills, But Didn't See Action Sunday 20.
With victories over LSU and No. 10 Syracuse last week, UK jumped four spots to No. 8 in the Feb. 29 AP Top Twenty. Eddie Sutton's club also opened the door for a possible No. 2 seed in one of the NCAA regionals.
The NCAA uses computer rankings and the wire service polls to assist the seeding process for the 64-team tourney. Looking at the poll, UK would figure to be the second-highest rated club in the Southeast.
If everything stays the same, No. 1 Temple, No. 2 Purdue, No. 3 Arizona and No. 4 Oklahoma would figure to receive the top seeds in each of the four regionalsTemple in the East, Arizona in the West, Purdue in the Southeast and Oklahoma in the Midwest.
No. 5 UNLV would seem to be second in the West, No. 6 North Carolina in the East, and if No. 7 Pitt was moved to the Midwest, No. 8 UK would be second in the Southeast.
AP Top Twenty Previous Week
1. Temple (44).............................................1
2. Purdue (12).............................................2
3. Arizona (3)..............................................3
4. Oklahoma (4)..........................................4
5. UNLV......................................................8
6. North Carolina........................................9
7 Pitt........................................:.................6
8. Kentucky...............................................12
9. Duke.......................................................5
10. Michigan.................................................7
11. Iowa......................................................13
12. Syracuse...............................................10
13. Georgia Tech.........................................20
14. Bradley..................................................14
15. Brigham Young......................................11
16. N.C. State..............................................18
17. Loyola, Calif...........................................19
18. Wyoming...............................................16
19. Vanderbilt..............................................17
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No. 8 'Cats In Line For 2nd Seed In NCAA Regionals
Less than u week ago, some fair-weather followers were ready to give up on this crop of nig Blue. Oh, ye of little faith,
All the 'Cats needed were a couple home court buttles at the friendly con-fines of Rupp Arena. Presto1 The 'Cuts hi milled LSI! 05-69 and then came up with 0 sterling exhibition in upsetting Syracuse 62-58 Sunday, without Rex Chupmun.
The victory over LSU wasn't all that surprising, the margin was. The win over the Orangemen was u different story. First, Kentucky knew the game would he ii buttle to the wire, but that was before Chupmun cunie crushing to the floor in the LSU game and suffered u cracked hone in his buck, forcing him out of the Syracuse contest.
In retrospect, Chapman's absence muy have been a blessing in disguise, for the Wildcats gave as strong an exhibition in determination, defense and chemistry as we've seen this season. In other words, the 'Cuts knew anything less thun 100 percent and they could be facing a total humilation at home and in front of a national-television audience on CBS-TV.
A few (myself included) said the game against Syracuse really meant nothing. And that's true in one sense. The game did not count in the conference standings and if Chapman had to miss one game, it could not come at a better time.
On the other hand, the victory over Syracuse certainly made a case for a high seeding in the NCAA tournament next month.
By beating the 10th ranked Orangemen, the 'Cats moved up four notches to No. 8 in the Associated Press poll. That means Kentucky has a good shot at a high BSedlng, perhaps even the second round of four and that's all important.
If Kentucky should beat both Georgia and Ole Miss this week, and that's a big "if," the 'Cats could do no worse than hold their ground at No. 8, and that will be the final week of rankings before the NCAA tournament bracket is announced.
Kentucky's victory also should be a shot in the arm for other SEC schools considered "on the bubble" as far as getting selected to the NCAA tournament.
Any time an SEC school can whip a Top Ten school from another conference, it makes the entire SEC appear stronger. The SEC got a double dose Saturday when Vanderbilt knocked off Notre Dame 75-66 in South Bend, and the game wasn't as close us the score indicated.
Even before this weekend there wen signs the SEC has been underrated Smv there have been some upset losses outside the conference. But what about the wins? Kentucky previously had beaten Indiana. Notre Dame and Louisville, Florida won the preseason Big Apple NIT, LSU upset then top-ranked Oklahoma, Vanderbilt beat then-No. 1 North Carolina and came within a bucket of Indiunu back in December
Suddenly, the SEC doesn't appear to be a pushover some thought a few weeks
?     P H
Kentucky is within one game of clinching a share of the SEC title as the regular season draws to a close this week. The 'Cuts host Georgia on Wednesday and then travel to Ole Miss for the finale on Saturday.
If Kentucky is to win the title outright before Sunday, the 'Cats will probably have to take care of the business theirself. Two of UK's three chief rivalsFlorida and LSUfinish their regular season a day later, on Sunday in Baton Rouge.
Entering this week's play, Kentucky owns a one-gume lead over Vanderbilt and a gume-und-half over Florida and LSU. Auburn, which had been in a tie for second place with six losses prior to last Saturday, fell to 9-7 after losing 82-77 at Alabama.
SEC Standings'			
Team	All	SEC	CB
Kentucky......................	.20-5	11-5	
Vanderbilt.....................	.-18-7	10-6	1
	19-9	9-6	V/2
LSUm.mm,,,,.,,.............	14-10	9-6	VA
	16-9	9-7	2
Tennessee...........,,	15-10	8-8	3
	15-13	7-9	4
Alabama...,.,,	14-14	6-10	5
Ole Miss.....,,,	12-13	6-10	5
	12-14	4-12	7
*thru games of Feb. 28			
The race is still pretty complex. Vanderbilt has two games remaining, both on the road at Florida und Mississippi State.
Florida has Vanderbilt at home on Wednesday, then hosts Alabama on Saturday and the following day the Gators go to Baton Rouge.
LSU, meanwhile, is at Mississippi State on Wednesday before welcoming Auburn on Saturday and then Florida on Sunday,
If Kentucky wins both, the 'Cats are a lock. If the 'Cats split, then LSU appears to be the in the best position to catch the 'Cats.
Ironically, LSU has the opportunity to close the pre-NCAA tournament schedule with five consecutive homes games should the Tigers go to the championship game of the SEC Tournament.
DPP"
This being the 10th anniversary of the renewal of the Southeastern Conference postseason tournament, it's very unusual that the tournament bracket is so unsettled with just two rounds of action remaining in the regular season.
In fact, there is not a single position locked Up Bt this time. Even 10th place Mississippi State still has a shot at the No. 8 spot.
If the current standings should hold, the first double-header round on Thursday would have Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State playing. Even that could change.
There will be several big, big regular-
obvious, like UK at Ole Miss, Vanderbilt at Mississippi State and Florida at LSU.
But the biggest game of allas far as rivalry goescould be in Athens where Georgia will be host to Tennessee. Not so, you say!
Well, think about it for just a moment: Who would have given Don DeVoe a prayer in keeping his job just three weeks ago. Now, don't all of you shout at the same time.
But in the past couple weeks, the Vols have upset Kentucky and then stunned Florida in Gainesville to move up to sixth place. More importantly, the Vols have evened their SEC mark at 8-8 and 15-10 overall,-
If Tennessee can beat Alabama at home on Wednesday, it would give the Vols a 9-8 mark and a real shot at a NCAA tournament bid at 17-10 and 10-8 in conference. A 10-8 mark would probably put the Vols in the league's top division.
But that's a big if.
Georgia is battling to get back some respectability. The Dogs are 7-9 in SEC and 15-13 overall. Anything less than a
sweep over Kentucky (at Rupp) and Tennessee, and the Dogs will have to depend on a miracle in Baton Rouge to earn them a postseason invitation.
Lest we forget, these two clubs haven't exactly been in the brotherly love mood over the years either,
? ? ?
percent or better, the 'Cats were a flashy 10-0. When shooting less than 50 percent, UK was a so-so 9-4. Kentucky shot only 43,5 percent against Syracuse. The best slat on Kentucky's games is the turnover department. When UK commits less turnovers than the opponent, Kentucky is 18-3. When the reverse is true, UK is 1-2. Sunday, UK had nine less turnovers than Syrcause (17-8). When you take care of the ball, you take care of the game.
*The crowd of 24,025 Sunday was the seventh-largest crowd in the history of Rupp Arena. It surpassed the 24,012 which attended the Kentucky-Louisville game on Nov. 26, 1983. The mark can be attributed to an overflow of regional and national media attending the game.
*Two additional rows of auxiliary press seating was required for the media. CBS-TV, which televised the game nationally, installed a studio-type setting for special breaks in the first half of its double-header which included an NBA game.
*The trio of officials which attracted the wrath of fans and coach Sutton more than once Sunday came courtesy of the Big East Conference. According to UK officials, when Kentucky returns its game to Syracuse next season, three SEC refs will be calling the game.
BPS
Some leftovers from the UK-Syracuse battle:
*Senior Ed Davender moved up to the 10th spot on the all-time Kentucky scoring list Sunday when he pumped home 14 points, giving him 1,519 for his career. He ranks No. 3 on the UK all-time free throw attempts list with 403 attempts, behind Kenny Walker's 550 and Dan Issel's 488. He ranks sixth in free throw attempts with 517 and fourth in career assists with 397.
*Sophomore Rex Chapman missed the first game of his collegiate career Sunday. He had played in all 53 games during his two-year career prior to the big game and had started in all but one, that being senior day last season when he was replaced by Paul Andrews. Chapman told reporters after the Syrcause game he went to coach Eddie Sutton prior to the game and told the UK coach he (Chapman) wanted to play.
?Senior Rob Lock continued his fine play against Syracuse when he scored 12 points with four steals and four rebounds. Lock has now scored in double figures In six of his last eight games. Although Syr-cause's Rony Seikaly scored 21 points and had nine rebounds, Lock was largely responsible for eight turnovers created by the Orangemen attempting to get the ball inside to Seikaly even more.
?If you're into statistics, here's one for you: Prior to Sunday's game, Kentucky had won 15 and lost only one game when leading at the half. When trailing at the half, Kentucky had only a 4-4 mark, g .
HITS AND MISSES . . . NCAA executive director Richard Schultz was a guest of UK president Dr. David Roselle Sunday. The NCAA's top official is making several get-acquainted visits to college campuses all across the country. And for those curious ones, no, it has nothing to do with the NCAA's look into allegations published by the Lexington Herald-Leader over two years ago . . . Among those 24,025 fans were scouts of at least nine NBA teams. They were taking a look at UK's seniors, but more particularly Syr-cause's Seikaly. Naw, just putting you on. There's nothing they could learn about Seikaly Sunday they didn't already know. They were like everyone else. They wanted a free ticket to watch a great game . . . Speaking of tickets, I knew it was a big game almost two hours before tipoff. There are about five regular big-time ticket scalpers who work all the Rupp Arena games. Everyone knows who they are. They usually hang around the lobby of the Hyatt Regency or just outside Rupp Arena. Not this time though, Two of the better known ones were three blocks away, trying to flag down motorists with extra tickets to sell. The topper? One scalper held a sign (pleading for two tickets) in one hand and five $100 bills in the other . . . Congratulations to UK sports information director Brad Davis who is leaving Kentucky in April to become the assistant commissioner in charge of public relations for the Southeastern Conference in Birmingham. Davis won't have a difficult time adjusting to the Steel City. Davis spent many years at Auburn University where he attended college as his, father, Bob,Davis, was( Different Story
This Time LSU Watches In Horror As 'Cats Cruise Past Tigers 95-69; Chapman Breaks Bone In His Back, Could Be Out For Two To Three Weeks
By TCP Staff Writer Jim Easterwood
Some people like their horror stories in surprising packages.
Like Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo." Or Kentucky's "Manuel."
Led by Eric Manuel, a multifarious freshman, the 'Cats cruised past the horrified Tigers of Louisiana State 95-69 Wednesday night at Rupp Arena.
Beating Dale Brown's basketeers was not unexpected. But the margin had to surprise everyone. . .possibly even Brown, the vociferous LSU coach.
But even Brown is a realist.
"Hustle and diving on the floor will only carry you so far," said Brown. "There comes a time when superior talent plays and plays well, they are going to knock your head in."
UK-LSU Was A Horror Story. . .For Both Sides
But there was another horror flick that didn't play well with 'Cat fans Wednesday night.
It was like something out of a Friday the 13th movie.
One could almost hear the collective gasps of shocked fans when sophomore Rex Chapman took the Fall Heard Round the (Basketball) World.
When Chapman hit the floor with 4:33 left in the first half, visions of NCAA championships were no longer dancing in anybody's head.
Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who coincidently calls Baton Rouge home, never generated as many groans from his "fans" when he announced his philanderings last week.
As Kentucky coach Eddie Sutton rushed to the floor, a hush stilled what had been loud voices from the audience of 23,164.
After what seemed like hours, Chapman was helped off the court. He started the second half but played only a few minutes before being taken to UK's Medical Center for observation and tests. The diagnosis was a broken transverse process, a small butterly-shaped bone in the lower back. Chapman will likely be out for two to three weeks, but his progress is being checked on a day-to-day basis.
But Manuel's Performance Helps Ease Pain
Losing Chapman for one, possibly two or even three games could be a horror story of great magnitude. But the performance of Manuel makes it less so. He was almost flawless.
The 6-foot-6 swingman scored 14 points, had a team-high seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Manuel also does things that don't show up in the scorebook. Like play defense, free Winston Bennett to play insidewhere he is devastatingand create a smooth offensive flow.
"When Eric is in the game our offense looks a lot better," said Sutton. "I wasn't sure how LeRon (Ellis) would play coming off the bench. Would we get the same amount out of both by starting Eric?"
Sutton's other concern was also unfounded. He had wondered if Manuel could cover Ricky Blanton. That question was answered, emphatically so, in the first half.
Blanton, averaging 16.5 points a game, was held scoreless. He missed all three of his field goal attempts and wound up with only six points.
"He went out early and snuffed him," said Sutton.
The aging of Eric Manuel and the confidence of Ellis should blend nicely together until Chapman makes his return.
The 'Cats will lose a bit on both ends of the court with Chapman out. But the chemistry that Manuel gives them should carry them until the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Manuel's play was contagious. It seemed to create new enthusiasm on the part of the other 'Cats. Like Rob Lock, the oft-maligned 6-11 pivot.
All Five 'Cats Starters Finish In Double Figures
Lock (10 points) was just one of five 'Cats in double figures. Bennett led with 24, followed by Ed Davender (21), Manuel and Chapman (11).
But it wasn't the points Lock scored. It was the way he played with zest and zeal.
Lock was so relaxed he reached out to take a swig of TCP publisher Oscar Combs' Coke with Chapman at the foul line and UK leading 33-23 with 7:57 to go in the first half.
Combs said, laughing, "It (the Coke) has white lightnin' in it. . .watch him go wild."
And Lock did. . .well, sort of.
Sutton liked the fire displayed by the 'Cats.
"That was impressive," said Sutton. "In the games last week we looked like zombies at times. We looked like we were tired. . .and sometimes that's a matter of mind."
Zofnbies one week. . .monsters of Rupp Arena the next.
The 'Cats, for sure, came to play.
Brown had wanted a game in the 50s. For the whole game, however. Not a half.
But the 'Cats turned up the heat of the press in the first few minutes and the Tigers never got into their game plan.
Brown had all sorts of defensive tricks in the Tiger bag. He was going to start off with a diamond-and-one, go to the triangle-and-two. . .then the man and a zoneall part of his much-publicized "Freak" defensive scheme.
UK Press 'Freaked' Out Brown's Bayou Bengals
But the 1-2-M zone press of the 'Cats spoiled the best-laid plans of Brown and men.
The press created 12 turnovers in the first half, including four straight gifts early that sparked Kentucky to a 13-2 romp through the Tiger defense.
Manuel had six straight points during this span as Kentucky led 13-4, with only 3:46 having elapsed. Kentucky never looked back.
The 'Cats hit six of their first nine shots from the field and had a superlative shooting half. They connected on 20 of 29 shots, a 69-percent effort. Sutton just shook his curly locks as if to say, "Where had all that firepower been?"
LSU did have one impressive spurt. The Tigers closed the margin to six (27-21) on a three-point play by Jose Vargas, the Tigers' on-again, off-again center. There was 10:12 left in the half. It was the last gasp of a wounded team.
Kentucky went on a 19-7 tear as Davender and Chapman bagged back-to-back three-point goals to get the 'Cats off and winging. With the 'Cats leading 46-28, the crowd was really into it until Chapman came down the court to attempt a driving layup with 4:33 left in the half.
The 6-foot4 Owensboro star hit the floor with a thud after colliding with LSU's Lyle Mouton. He twisted over and landed on his back. It took hisand the crowd'sbreath away.
But the 'Cats weren't about to let it get them down. They outscored LSU 9-4 the rest of the half to take a commanding 55-32 lead.
The second half?
Sorry you asked. It was anticlimatic as both teams played hard, but ragged basketball.
Sutton was kind to his pal, Dale, as he subbed freely. The biggest 'Cat lead was 62-35 with 17:54 to play.
"They played well. . .we didn't," Brown summed up. "Eddie was kind. If he had wanted to beat us by 35 he could have done it."
Brown's comment referred to a horror story for Sutton last year when LSU wasn't so kind.
The Tigers thrashed the 'Cats by 35 on their home court, the worst UK loss in Rupp Arena and the worst beating a Wildcat team had suffered since 1950. But that was last year. Wednesday night, it was a different (horror) story.
UK-LSU Play-By-Play
Time Kentutkv
Score
4-4
19: U | I 0-2
18:55 Davendei layup 2-2 18:201 Bennett t'ollow layup 4-2 18:01
17:4 1 Manuel layup 17:24 Manuel dunk 16:471 Manuel 16 II. in M ( hapman 21 ft 16:00
15:41 Itx k FT, FT 15:22 Bennett 8 ft.
13:52 Lotk FT, H
}oe follow layup
17-6
1740 19-10
Woodside layup
13:24 Bennett layup
gas 6 tt. tutnarounc
Vargas 4 tt., F
20 tt. 10-:
man 21 It. nrier FT, FT
Griffith 20 it
1:50 Lock layup 1:12 Manuel 15 ft. 0:061 Bennett 8 tt.
HALF
19:17 | Lrxk tip-in
!: W Manuel 15 ft. 17:54 | Bennett 4 ft., FT 17:44 |
,    j 1
16:49 ;!6:02 r. 17 Bennett layup 15:05 Fllis 10 ft. 14:44
14:25 Davender 14 ft. 11:02 Bennett 6 ft. 12:41
12:19 I lavender FT, 11 II: 11
9:21 ] Bennett 15 ft. 8:46 Bennett layup
joe 21 ft.
J62-37 Vargas 6 ft. hook
:62-40l loe 20 ft.
362-42 Sims 15 ft.
J62-44! Blanton follow layup 64-441
Blanton 19 II.
McKenzie 20 ft.
8:32		76-53	Vargas FT, FTA
7:31	Jenkins FT, FTA	77-53	
7:26		77-56	|oe layup, FT
6:57	Bennett FTA, FT	78-56	
6:48		78-58	Joe 18 It.
5:46	Bennett layup	lit) 18	
5:31		[(() 61	loe 20 ft.
5:15	Madison 4 It.	82 61	
4:44	Jenkins 6 ft hook	84 61	
4:24		84-6!	Blanton 18 (t.
I 4:02	Davendef FT, FT	86-63	
3:21	Davendei layup	88 . i	
| 2:29		88-65	Mouton 12 ft.
j 1:54	Davender FT, FT	90-65	
0:41	Madison ttnger toll	92 >65	
0:211		92-6;	Irvin FT, FT
0 17	Hanson FT, FT		
0:09		44-n'	Irvm 17 ft.
0:04	Sutton FT, FTA	95-69	
FINAL		95-69	
Cms' r'ju.st't hurt  Blue In Knoxville
Dear Sir:
I am writing this letter for myself. I guess you could say I am writing it as a form of self-therapy, so to speakas a way of preserving my sanity. Exactly 24 hours after the dreaded UK-UT game, I find myself still in a state of shock and licking my wounds after a day spent in the world of Volunteer mania. "How 'bout them Vols?" and "What happened to the 'Cats?" is still ringing in my ears. However, I find it amazing that before the game almost everyone had given up on the basketball Vols and were ready for (what else?) football season to begin. "DeVoe must go" had become a favorite slogan. Now, suddenly after a narrow two-point win over the 'Cats, the basketball fans come crawling out of the walls, an maybe DeVoe isn't so bad after all. And tonight on a local radio talk show, there was even talk of winning the SEC tournament because they proved they could beat the Big Blue.
Well, I hate to burst their bubble, but boy would I hate to be the Volunteer that a Wildcat got ahold of on a neutral hardwood floor!
Yes, last night hurt. Not only did it hurt, but it hurt a lot. As the buzzer sounded, I sat down on the bleacher, put my head in my hands and let the tears fall. But as I walked out of Thompson-Boling Arena, I held my head high and had the final satisfaction of knowing my 'Cats are still No. 1 in the SEC. And even though because of money factors I may attend the University of Tennessee, my heart will always be in Bluegrass country where the 'Cats are king. 'Cats, I love you. And I just wanted to say that win or lose there is one Tennessee girl that with a Kentucky heart that will always be found at Thompson-Boling Arena shaking her Blue and White shaker and yelling, Go Big Blue!
Thanks for letting me air my feelings. I can breathe a little easier now.
'Cat Fan Forever,
Kristy Hoover Clinton, Tennessee
P.S.I LOVE REX! (and my mom does, too!)
Thanks, Eddie D.
Dear Sir:
The word today in Knoxville is "Thanks, Eddie Davender'thanks for showing us a way to win! All week long the inside word on the Hill was that Davender could and would penetrate, but was selfish and would not pass off. So, the Vols prepared with that in mind. In so doing, coach DeVoe was able (obviously) to convince his players that they too would have to move the ball around better than before in order to win. Today the coach, Dyron Nix and the rest of the team, and the spectators all feel that Tennessee has learned a big lesson that could make the rest of the season somewhat better. Thanks Eddie D.
Yes, I fully agree that Eddie D. is a fine player but he MUST realize that coach Sut-lon is right when he insists on passing the ball
to get the best-positioned shot possiblefrom anyone open. This is a super group of talented players, Eddie D.use them as a TEAM your points will come. Bennett did not contribute as he must, but part of that was due to the above. I note the continued improvement of (Eric) Manuel in ballhandling (forget THE turnover, could have happened to anyone) shooting AND passing. As he works more, defense will certainly improve, probably to a point of being very dramatic with the talent he has. He is the Kenny Walker-Winston Bennett of the futureand more! (Rob) Lock is very valuable in so many waysa good player (not a great one) who can be had, even as the great ones can at times. (LeRon) Ellis is a super plus for the future but must learn to pick himself up when on the roadthe fans can't do it for him every time, although we did try hard last night. (Rex) Chapman was just off target, even when he had a better position. That hurt us, but thankfully, is not going to happen often.
Tennessee did play well, the way they had to. To win (in the future), we must put it back together the way Tennessee did, the way coach Sutton wants, the way Kentucky and other great teams have done time and time again-PASS OFF, MOVE THE BALL AROUND!!! When playing the way we should, the 'Cats are a very fine team with the POTENTIAL to get to Kansas City. The response of Eddie Davender will definitely be a major factor, if not THE KEY.
Enclosed is a check for renewal of TCP. We get a lot of harrassment here in Big Orange Country, but we Blue Bloods are tough. TCP helps in letting us what is happening in the 'Cats' corner.
Thanks from a clawed 'Cat in Tennessee,
Claude R. Gambrel Spring City, Tennessee
Get Real, Wildcats!
Dear Sir:
I have been a Kentucky fan for a couple of years. I am only 13.
I live in a scummy state, Georgia. I hate it. They hate basketball, it's all football. I hardly see any Kentucky games or hear about the games. So I listen to WLW, that's the only way I can get to hear the games. There are those down here who like basketball (few). I get put down a lot because I am a true Kentucky fan.
When we played the Georgia BulP'dawgs" I went to the game and I was hoping for a blowout, but we only won by seven! What's going on up there in Kentucky?
Everytime I see a UK game they seem to have no emotion. Kentucky has a great tradition in basketball! I haven't seen it since when Kenny Walker, Sam Bowie and Melvin Tur-pin were playing for Kentucky. Sutton's first yeargreat! Sutton's second yearnot that good. Sutton's third yeartwo losses at home; get real!
Too many people want to be the star of the 'Cats' team. Chapman needs to stop taking practicly every shot. I feel Ed Davender and Winston Bennett are the best the team has got. I like (Rex) Chapman arrd I think he's
good but he's a little overrated. What about LeRon Ellis? Nothing. He hasn't been able to play much. I think he should start instead of (Rob) Lock.
I love UK and always will. They're the best, but let's start playing like a truf Kentucky team.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Van Hook Duluth, Georgia
Behind Enemy Lines
Dear Sir:
I just noticed a letter in Tlxe Cats' Pause signed by Jim T. Demoss, who had been a resident of Clinton, Tenn. I live seven miles from Clinton, the county seat of Anderson County. I am a Kentuckian, originally from Bedford. One of Kentucky's players was from Bedford; Mr. (Jack) Tingle, who later worked for the Louisville Courier-Journal and I believe passed away with cancer. I went to Kentucky when Frenchy Demoisey played, I believe the original hook shot shooter.
There are a lot of Kentuckians here and we take ribbings from Tennessee and give it in return. I do not agree with a lot of the writers of letters who give the coaches a hard time