Saturday, November 24, 2001
New lineup likely for UK
Morehead State may see shakeup
The Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Early-season struggles for a second straight year have Kentucky coach Tubby Smith looking to shake up some things a bit.
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MOREHEAD at UK
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• When: 8 p.m today.
• Where: Rupp Arena (23,000).
• Records: UK 1-1, Morehead State 2-0.
• TV: Fox Sports Net.
• Radio: WSAI-AM (1530).
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Smith said fans — and his players — can expect to see a few lineup changes when the 10th-ranked Wildcats (1-1) take the floor today to face unbeaten Morehead State (2-0).
“We know we still have some issues,” Smith said Friday. “We think we've got them pretty much resolved, but we'll see (today) against a good Morehead State team.
“It's going to be a good challenge for us, because they are putting a lot of points on the board and shooting the ball very well.”
Smith was upset by his squad's passive play in its season-opening 64-52 home loss to Western Kentucky. So he has challenged players in practice, running charge-taking and box-out drills to get them used to a tougher, more physical style of play.
“It's been intense out here,” senior guard J.P. Blevins said. “In the past week, we've had two or three of the most intense practices we've had in the four years I've been here.
“I think he got his message across. We know what we're capable of and what he expects of us. We also know our shortcomings in the Western Kentucky game, and we're trying to do what we need to do to fix them.”
Smith said Blevins, who missed the Wildcats' first two games with a painful ankle sprain, probably will start at the point. Junior forward Marquis Estill, who has been slowed by lower back pain for much of the preseason, also might be in the starting lineup.
Estill scored 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, grabbed five rebounds and blocked three shots in Kentucky's 90-73 victory over Marshall in the NABC Classic consolation game.
“I've seen him improving and working a lot harder on the court,” Smith said of Estill. “And he's healthy, which is a big factor.
“Plus, I think I need to send a message to the other players on the team, because we're probably going to have a lot more changes in our lineup than we've had in the past.”
Although he did not mention anyone by name, Smith seemed to be addressing the team's other big men — junior forwards Marvin Stone and Jules Camara.
Although Stone had 12 points and six rebounds in the loss to the Hilltoppers, he was ineffective against Marshall, scoring four points on 2-of-9 shooting and grabbing four rebounds. Camara totaled four points and two rebounds over the two-game stretch.
“We know we haven't played the way we're capable of playing,” said junior forward Keith Bogans, who scored 22 points against Marshall to become the 49th UK player to score 1,000 points. “Every guy on this team needs to pick up his level of intensity, and that's what Coach has been stressing in practice.
“We didn't come to play against Western. We need to be tough and play hard every minute. We can't afford any more letdowns.”
Smith also said freshman guard Rashaad Carruth, who has not practiced in almost 2 1/2 weeks with a bone bruise in his ankle, is still fighting to become healthy enough to practice and play.
“He's a tough guy to lose, because he's probably the best shooter on this team,” Smith said.
Morehead State coach Kyle Macy, a two-time Kentucky All-American and four-year member of the school's broadcast team, has to like the way his squad has opened the season.
The Eagles have averaged 92.5 points in victories over IUPUI-Fort Wayne and Shawnee State with five players, led by last year's Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year, Ricky Minard, averaging in double figures.
• The weekly Coach Tubby Smith radio show will be held at Turfway Park at 7p.m. Tuesday. The show is free and open to the public. The show goes to Northern Kentucky and Louisville once each season.
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