Friday, March 17, 2000
Will Wildcats feel fatigue vs. Syracuse?
KENTUCKY NOTEBOOK
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CLEVELAND — The question concerned Saturday. Kentucky's seven-man rotation had toughed out a double-overtime triumph, but at what price?
“I don't think we'll work too hard (today),” UK coach Tubby Smith said. “We'll have to get those guys who played so many minutes some rest.”
UK's bench is down to four players, two of whom Smith didn't play Thursday: little-used guards Todd Tackett and Steve Masiello. That meant four Wildcats logged career highs in minutes: Tayshaun Prince (48), Keith Bogans (45), Jamaal Magloire (43) and Jules Camara (37).
Camara and Saul Smith both fouled out before the second OT, leaving the same five Wildcats to win the game thereafter on their last legs.
Why not try Tackett or Masiello?
“At the time (late in the game), I didn't feel comfortable putting those guys in,” Smith said. “The other guys had to suck it up.”
The Wildcats didn't express worries about bouncing back to play Syracuse within 48 hours.
“There's a lot left in the tank,” Prince said. “We're tired now, but we'll have enough time to rest.”
Tackett had said Wednesday he was considering transfering at the end of the season and would base his decision on his amount of playing time in the NCAA Tournament. If Thursday's game was any indication, the sophomore might be asking out soon.
Allison support
Desmond Allison remains in the Wildcats' souls, if not on their soles. There was only one visible sign of support for the suspended sophomore: strips of tape across the backs of Saul Smith's shoes with Allison's initials and uniform number (32) on them.
But the players backed Allison afterward, speaking of him in postgame interviews. Magloire said he has called Allison a few times this week and would again after Thursday's game.
“We're playing to win for him, but this one was special for everybody,” Magloire said. “It showed a lot of character and a lot of heart.”
No jitters
UK's two freshmen, Bogans and Marvin Stone, played well in their first NCAA Tournament game. Bogans totaled 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal; Stone scored four points with six rebounds and a block.
“I didn't get nervous,” Bogans said. “I was just trying to contribute like I always do.”
Said Stone: “It was the most exciting game I've ever played in.”
The duo teamed up on UK's clinching basket. With 12 seconds left in the second OT, Prince lost the handle, but Stone tipped the loose ball to Bogans, who laid it in.
“I just saw Bogans and swung at it, trying to get it to him,” Stone said.
Padgett returns
Scott Padgett, one of UK's captains last year, enjoyed a quirk in his schedule that allowed him to attend Thursday's game. His Utah Jazz were playing Thursday night at Cleveland, so he had time to watch UK and visit the locker room afterward.
“I'm still a college basketball nut, so I watch a lot of (UK's) games on TV,” he said. “They're still one of the best defensive teams around.”
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