December 1, 1998
By RICK GANO
AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP)-The Great Eight field is comprised of six of last season’s final eight teamsfrom the NCAA tournament.
In tonight’s nightcap, two of the traditional powers of college basketball,No. 7 Kansas (4-1) and No. 8 Kentucky, (5-1) meet for the first time since1990.
It will be Kentucky’s fifth game in nine days and seventh in the last 15.
“It’ll be a real challenge for us,” Wildcats coach Tubby Smith said. “Iknow how tough it is as a coach.
“The atmosphere is a Final Four-type atmosphere, you’re in a neutral site,all the teams are there and so are the fans from the different schools.
Kansas coach Roy Williams said, “I believe it will be the kind of game weface in our conference. It will be a measuring stick. It tells you what you canand can’t do. It’s a great barometer.”
How good are the top-ranked Connecticut Huskies after a softschedule in the first two weeks, including a victory over Quinnipiac?
They’ll find out tonight in the Great Eight, facing No. 15 Washington in arematch.
“Washington will give us an indication if we’re a better team than lastyear,” Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said.
“It will be a great chance for us to win our first big test. It gives teamsa chance to see where they are in the first part of December.”
Connecticut (4-0) defeated Washington 75-74 in the NCAA East Regionalsemifinals last March when Richard Hamilton hit a shot just before the finalbuzzer.
Washington, with 7-foot center Todd MacCulloch and 6-4 guard Donald Watts,is 4-0 after winning the Big Island Invitational in Hawaii. That one-point losseight months ago was one they haven’t forgotten.
“It was a game neither deserved to lose. They are a terrific team,”Calhoun recalled. “MacCulloch is the best big kid we saw all last year, verydifficult to stop.”
Utah (3-2), ranked 21st, and unranked Rhode Island (3-3) play in Wednesday’sfirst game, followed by No. 4 Duke (5-1) against No. 9 Michigan State (4-1).
Duke, Michigan State and Kentucky have already lost games this season. Dukefell to Cincinnati in the finals of the Great Alaska Shootout, Michigan Statelost at Temple and Kentucky was surprised in Puerto Rico by Pitt.
The defending national champion Wildcats will be making their fourthstraight Great Eight appearance. No one could blame them if they are weary whenthey face the Jayhawks.
Michigan State-Duke features a marquee matchup of point guards William Averyof the Blue Devils and Mateen Cleaves of the ninth-ranked Spartans. And strongplay at guard should be in abundance with Connecticut’s Khalid El-Amin, Utah’sAndre Miller, Kentucky’s Wayne Turner and Kansas’ Ryan Robertson.
“Cleaves is exceptional. There is no question he is one of the top fiveplayers in the country,” said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who has one of hisown in center Elton Brand.
“We want to play against people like Cleaves because that’s how you becomea better team. To be playing in these tournaments and having a toughnon-conference schedule, that enhances your chances in postseason play. You canlose games and still learn.”
Not only did Utah lose Michael Doleac through graduation, but three freshmenon last season’s Final Four team, including Britton Johnsen, are taking atwo-year break from basketball to go on a church mission.
“If prayer counts, we should be winning games,” Utah coach Rick Majerussaid. “But I don’t know if they’re praying for us or not.
“Sometimes it can be frustrating for Miller. A point guard is only as goodas the guys you pass to.”
