Sunday, January 03, 1999
KENTUCKY 95, FLORIDA 58
Tall lineup keys romp
Louisville Courier-Journal
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky proved Saturday that height does matter.
Behind a new pro-sized starting lineup, the seventh-ranked Wildcats rolled to a 93-58 victory over Florida in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
Kentucky's starting front line included 6-foot-11 Jamaal Magloire, 6-10 Michael Bradley and 6-9 Scott Padgett, with 6-6 Heshimu Evans and 6-2 Wayne Turner in the backcourt.
That new crew helped Kentucky (12-3) avenge a home loss to the Gators (9-2) last season and win its 12th straight SEC opener. The Wildcats, who haven't lost an conference opener at home since the 1966-67 season against Vanderbilt, also hand ed Florida its worst loss since Kentucky won 102-48 on Jan. 21, 1981.
“I thought we came out focused and ready to play today,” Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. “The bigger lineup was very impressive. I thought we executed better today and took care of the ball.
“I felt like we needed to get our top five players out on the floor. We make adjustments like that when it is appropriate.”
Kentucky entered the game last in the SEC in three-point shooting percentage (.275) and sixth in scoring (77.5). The Wildcats earned season highs in field-goal shooting (56.1 percent) and three-pointers made (11) and tied their best three-point percentage by sinking half of their 22 attempts.
Smith said one reason for the improved shooting was the taller lineup, which helped the Wildcats get better looks at the basket from the perimeter and pass the ball around easi er. Padgett had team highs of 19 points and five rebounds, and Bradley contributed 18 points.
“If (the bigger lineup) is working, we should stick with it,” Padgett said. “If it comes to a point where it's not working, obviously we need to make changes. But for today, it worked pretty well. I don't see why we would change it.”
The Gators, who entered the game averaging an SEC-best 91.9 points, suffered their most one-sided defeat in former Kentucky assistant Billy Donovan's two seasons as coach.
Florida guard Mike Miller and forward Udonis Haslem, freshmen who were averaging nearly 30 points a game between them, combined for just 18. Forward Brent Wright had 20 points, but guard Kenyan Weaks (0-for-9 shooting) went scoreless for the first time in 22 games.
“We played against the best team in the country,” said Donovan, whose Gators also lost 116-86 at No.-2 Duke on Dec. 9. “I think they are better than Duke, even though they lost to them. Kentucky did a great job today, and they really hurt us.”
The towering Wildcats set the tone from the opening tip. Evans started the scoring with a three-pointer, and when he hit another one just 5:15 into the game, Kentucky led 19-9 and had made 7 of 8 shots, including all three three-point tries, and handed out seven assists.
“Any time you jump on a team, it gives you confidence the whole game,” Padgett said.
“We knew our height would be an advantage down low,” Bradley said. “We got inside early, and it helped us play a good game.”
While Donovan was substituting liberally in hopes of countering Kentucky's size, Smith didn't go to his bench until he sent in guard Ryan Hogan about six minutes into the game.
He eventually was joined by fellow sophomore Saul Smith and freshmen Tayshaun Prince, Jules Camara and Desmond Allison.
The reserves extended Kentucky's lead to 35-17 and earned a standing ovation when the starters returned with 8:37 left in the first half.
Kentucky's second-teamers accounted for 20 first-half points and 35 for the game.
“The second team really played well for us,” Smith said.
Kentucky's first-half offensive assault ended with a three-pointer by Padgett that swelled the lead to 55-27.
The Wildcats shot a blister ing 66.7 percent (20 of 30) in the half, including 8 of 13 on threes.
Bradley had 14 points and Padgett 11 by halftime.
Florida, meanwhile, shot just 34.5 percent (10 of 29) and had just four assists to Kentucky's 15.
The Gators never threatened in the second half. The Wildcats jumped ahead by 39 (86-47) at one point.
“I think we played unselfish, and things just happened for us,” Turner said. “We caused a lot of problems for them with our defense.
“I don't think there are many (small forwards) in the country that are bigger than Scott. Our size makes us harder to defend.”
FLORIDA (58)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Wright 25 7-7 4-5 0-5 0 1 20
Miller 23 3-9 3-4 3-3 1 2 10
Haslem 18 4-7 0-0 0-2 0 4 8
Shannon 23 1-3 0-0 0-1 0 3 3
Halton 17 0-2 0-0 0-0 2 0 0
Weaks 23 0-9 0-0 2-4 4 2 0
Parker 15 0-3 0-0 1-3 0 5 0
Stolt 18 1-7 0-0 1-1 1 2 3
Nnaji 18 3-4 0-0 2-4 0 4 6
Dupay 20 2-4 2-2 0-3 0 1 8
_______________________________________________
TOTALS 200 21-55 9-11 9-26 8 24 58
_______________________________________________
Percentages: FG-.382, FT-.818. 3-Point Goals:
7-22, .318 (Wright 2-2, Miller 1-2, Shannon 1-2,
Halton 0-2, Weaks 0-4, Parker 0-1, Stolt 1-6,
Dupay 2-3). Team rebounds: 2. Blocked shots: 2
(Wright, Nnaji). Turnovers: 22 (Weaks 4, Dupay 3,
Haslem 3, Shannon 3, Halton 2, Miller 2, Wright
2, Nnaji, Parker, Stolt). Steals: 3 (Miller 2,
Shannon).
KENTUCKY (93)
fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
Bradley 23 7-8 4-7 1-3 1 2 18
Padgett 28 5-8 5-6 1-5 5 3 19
Magloire 15 2-3 4-4 1-1 0 4 8
Turner 24 2-5 0-0 0-1 4 1 5
Evans 19 2-4 2-2 2-3 3 4 8
Hogan 12 4-5 1-1 1-2 2 1 11
Prince 23 3-6 0-0 0-4 1 0 7
Camara 18 4-8 2-4 1-3 1 0 10
Smith 15 1-3 0-0 0-1 1 1 3
Allison 11 2-5 0-0 0-1 1 0 4
Blevins 4 0-1 0-0 0-2 0 0 0
Masiello 4 0-0 0-2 0-0 1 0 0
Tackett 4 0-1 0-0 0-1 0 0 0
_______________________________________________
TOTALS 200 32-57 18-26 7-27 20 16 93
_______________________________________________
Percentages: FG-.561, FT-.692. 3-Point Goals:
11-22, .500 (Padgett 4-7, Turner 1-1, Evans 2-3,
Hogan 2-3, Prince 1-2, Camara 0-1, Smith 1-2,
Allison 0-1, Blevins 0-1, Tackett 0-1). Team
rebounds: 4. Blocked shots: 3 (Bradley, Magloire,
Evans). Turnovers: 11 (Camara 2, Magloire 2,
Prince 2, Turner 2, Bradley, Hogan, Smith).
Steals: 10 (Prince 4, Turner 2, Allison, Camara,
Padgett, Smith).
__________________________________
Florida 27 31 - 58
Kentucky 55 38 - 93
__________________________________
Technical fouls: None. A: 23,077. Officials:
John Clougherty, Tony Greene, Mike Stuart.
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