Oct. 25, 1999

LEXINGTON, Kty. – Oh, the difference a year makes.

Flash back to October 1998: The Wildcats were entering the new season as defending national champions, Two starters and a key sixth man were returning, Over half of UK’s scoring and rebounding from its title team was due back.

But this year, the numbers aren’t so promising. This third Wildcat squad of the Tubby Smith era does not have such experience. In fact, only three players remain from the 1998 NCAA Championship team ?Jamaal Magloire, Steve Masiello and Saul Smith. Among them, only Magloire started more than one game during that famed title chase, making 12 starts early while the calendar still read “1997.”

But what the Cats’ lack in experience, they hope to make up for in talent.

Young talent. Impressive talent. Promising talent.

Among the “Kittens” are three McDonald’s All-Americans, while three others won All-State honors. And that’s just the freshmen and sophomores.

“We had the same thing during my second year at Georgia,” said Smith, who owns a 63-13 record at UK. “We lost eight seniors and then had to start four sophomores. We won 24 games, tying a school record for wins. We went to the NCAA. “I think the lack of experience shows up in preseason play. This group has been in postseason play. They have been under fire. I think they will be alright.”

True. UK finished eight points shy of the Final Four last season after winning the Southeastern Conference Tournament. But eight of the 11 Wildcats have one year or less of UK experience.

“Going to the final eight and winning the SEC Tournament helps them understand that they can win tournaments and big games,” Smith said, referring to sophomores Desmond Allison, Tayshaun Prince and Jules Camara. “And they all played in a lot of games because we knew they would need that experience.”

Experience to replace experience.

Gone from last year’s team are three veterans. Wayne Turner set an NCAA record for games played (151) and was a member of two national championship teams. Scott Padgett was a fifth-year senior and made the ’99 John Wooden All-America team. Heshimu Evans also was a fifth-year senior who scored 1,500 points and grabbed 706 rebounds in his college career. Two of the three are now playing in the NBA.

“I don’t know how you could fill the shoes of Scott, Wayne or Heshimu,” Smith said. “One person doesn’t fill those shoes. I think it takes the whole team to step up. I think eventually there will be players that emerge to do the things that last year’s seniors did.”Wayne didn’t just all of a sudden have 151 games.”

Outside of the three seniors, Smith also lost three transfers, but he has three quality newcomers as replacements. Guard Keith Bogans and power forward Marvin Stone were two of the most sought-after recruits in the nation. Another boost came when power forward Nate Knight, the brother of L.A. Laker Travis Knight, decided to transfer to UK after a season at Utah Valley State Junior College.Combine the talented newcomers with the athletic skills of sophomores Allison, Camara and Prince, and a roster with a lot of new faces begins to take shape.

“We are looking for a team that is versatile,” Smith said. “We look for a team that can do a lot of different things. You have to be able to adapt and adjust with matchups. You have to be able to play multiple positions and I think that’s what we have in our recruits.

“I think to be a championship team, you can’t always force people to play your style, so you have to be able to adjust.”

One adjustment Smith didn’t have to make during the offseason was replacing his intimidator, Jamaal Magloire. The 6-10 center announced last May he would explore his options of playing in the NBA. But after workouts and deliberations, the Canadian import chose to remain at UK for his final season, giving the Wildcats a 260-pound foundation around which to build.

“I think he learned a lot from his experience in the pre-NBA Draft workouts,” a reliev-ed Coach Smith replied. “Afterwards, he told me, ?I am going to improve, I am going to make myself a better player. I will be a lottery pick or one of the top choices in the draft.’ And he can make that happen.”

Magloire can provide post offense, shot blocking and rebounding, but Smith will also summon the senior’s leadership skills, an immeasurable quality that ranks first on Smith’s priority list.

“It will be important. We have had three seniors each year that shared the leadership role,” Smith said. “It has to come from within and we’ll have people emerge. But for Jamaal, his leadership will be critical.”

Once the leadership is in place, Kentucky stands to be an explosive, exciting top-10 team. Smith will have diversity among his team ? players who can play multiple positions with multiple talents. And with the strength and experience Magloire brings, it’s obvious that he’s most pleased with his bigger Wildcats.

“I think people will notice our quickness and athleticism in our front court, and because of that quickness, we’ll be able to press more,” Smith said. “We will be a better defensive team. I know that’s hard to believe because we’ve had the best field goal defense at UK in the last 30 years.”

Last season, UK held opponents to 38.1 percent shooting. The year before, Smith’s same ball-line defense limited the opposition to 38.4 percent. Both marks are the best at UK since 1962.

So while the defense is stable, the offense appears to need shooters. Padgett was UK’s most consistent long-range threat last season. Evans and Ryan Hogan also were effective at times. All are gone.

“I think we will be a better shooting team, not to take anything away from Scott, Wayne or Heshimu,” Smith said. “But Desmond hit 39 percent last season from three-point range, Tayshaun and Keith (Bogans) can knock it down, and Saul (Smith) hit 50 percent from outside during the NCAA Tournament. With the confidence they have, we’ll make this a good outside shooting team.”

Defense, shooting, leadership? questions that seem to have answers. If answered, can these young Cats claw themselves into position to make a title chase?”We will have to mature to be great,” Smith said. “That will come after getting in the fire, getting in the battles, fighting those little skirmishes. Then we can win the game.”

The Wildcats have but one starter back from last season’s 28-9 squad ? Desmond Allison. The sophomore guard moved into the lineup in the last 17 games, assuming a role of defensive stopper. While he didn’t look for his shot often, he did knock down 50.0 percent of his field goal attempts and 38.9 percent of his three-pointers. At 6-5, 214 pounds, the team’s top athlete is likely to become a force at two-guard.

But who will be his running mate? With Turner gone to test his wares for the Boston Celtics, backcourt success will depend on who’s manning the point guard position. An obvious choice exists.

“Wayne Turner is irreplaceable,” Smith stated. “You don’t just replace that type of experience or player. I don’t think there is a freshman in the country that I would put that pressure on.”

So the pressure will instead fall on the shoulders of junior Saul Smith and sophomore J.P. Blevins. Saul Smith has played in every game during his first two years, sharing time at both guard spots. Last season, he started the first three games at two-guard. The jet-quick guard finished ’99 with 61 assists while shooting 35.6 percent from three-point range.

Blevins, however, saw limited action, earning mop-up duty in 13 games. Both, however, should benefit from practicing against their mentor, Turner, every day.

“I think we are solid out front,” Tubby Smith said. “Even Steve Masiello will get quality minutes.

“JP endured a lot of pressure being a local kid who announced his decision to play for Kentucky as a junior in high school. I think he has gotten past that freshman nervousness. Saul’s trip to Japan in August was the biggest thing for him. He has always been very confident about his ability. He has worked extremely hard and learned a lot backing up Wayne Turner for the last two years.”

Masiello played in the ’97 Final Four and the NCAA Tournament in ’98 and ’99. A walk-on his first two years, the crowd favorite is a playmaker in the open court with a deft touch from outside. And this year, Smith awarded him a scholarship.While Allison will have a secure sidekick, he will find himself rotating between shooting guard and small forward.

“I think the wings are interchangeable,” Smith said. “I think Tayshaun (Prince) is the most versatile player on the team, but a guy like Desmond can play either spot. We could have Todd Tackett play the two and Tayshaun at the three. We can have a lot of different looks.”

There’s also Keith Bogans, a lightning bolt from DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Md., one of the most successful high school programs in the nation. At 6-5, he’s known as a scorer who can shoot the three or get to the rack.

“Keith is a raw talent,” Smith said. “He will contribute, I think, as quickly as anyone ever has. He could play the one, two or three.”

While Bogans is learning the college ropes, Prince should be taking the next step to stardom. The sophomore has grown an inch to 6-9, and he played in all 37 games as a freshman, earning 11 starts early at two-guard while showing signs of becoming a great player as the season progressed. He capped his freshman campaign with a near perfect effort against Michigan State in the Midwest Region title game, hitting all three of his field

goals, including two three-pointers, and all four of his free throws. He has a tough-to-defend baby hook and has shown range well past the three-point line.

“Tayshaun had a great summer in his physical development,” Smith said, adding that Prince could play all five positions. “With that comes the confidence that he can take the ball inside. He has always been a very skilled player. Combine that with his strength and weight gain, and that makes him one of the best players around.”

Tackett, a three-point threat, earned Smith’s confidence last season when he inserted him into the lineup late in the first half against Ole Miss. He survived despite having to guard All-conference pick Keith Carter while several of his teammates were benched with foul trouble.

At power forward, the Wildcats return Jules Camara, but also will call upon newcomers Marvin Stone, a freshman from Huntsville, Ala., and Nate Knight, a transfer from Utah Valley State Junior College.

Camara began his career with a bang, recording a double-double in his first outing then pouring in 15 points in game two. Last summer, he added 10 pounds of muscle and participated in a “big man” camp in Hawaii. At 6-11, the high-flying shot blocker also can shoot from outside, and when teamed along-side Jamaal Magloire, opponents may have trouble getting a clear look at the basket from inside.

“Jules needs to harness his energy,” Smith said. “Last year, his mistakes were from trying to do too much and that should improve this season.”Stone is impressive in his sheer size. At 6-10, he’s trimmed down to 256 pounds. A finalist for the Naismith High School Player of the Year Award, Stone will have to play both the four and five spots.

“Marvin is one of those players who is physically ready to step in and help our program,” Smith said of his prized recruit. “He is very talented and owns great hands as well.”

Knight is the surprise of the bunch. Listed at 6-8 last season, the junior arrived at UK closer to 6-10. The former Oregon State Beaver is three years removed from high school, so his immediate leadership and experience could be a tremendous asset.

“Nate will be a keystone, a critical part of our team,” Smith said. “He brings maturity and experience as a junior college player. He’ll rebound, take charges, block shots? he’ll know his role on this team. I like his ability to run the floor and I like his basketball IQ.”

That leaves Magloire in the middle. A part-time starter throughout his career, he has never averaged 20 minutes a game in any of his three previous seasons. But this year, Magloire will have the opportunity to see his minutes increase, along with his production.

“I’ll be looking for his leadership and rebounding,” Smith said. “These are areas I think he needs improvement in. He already is one of the best big men in the country and the best center in the conference.”

But his best attribute may be his intimidating play. With his size and ability to dominate the paint defensively, even lay-ups are no longer an easy two-point shot for opponents.

“He gives us that physical presence inside that you have to have to establish a great defense, to establish rebounding position and to stop people from scoring inside,” Smith said. ” He is one of the best in the country at doing that and that’s what he is going to have to do this year.”

If his leadership and offense falls into place, the “Big Canadian” could become an All-American by March.

And that would be just in time for America’s team to begin defense of its crown ? Team of the Century.

Did You Know?

In the last four years, Kentucky is 20-2 in NCAA Tournament play? The Wildcats were 6-0 in 1996, 5-1 in ’97, 6-0 again in ’98 and 3-1 last year.

Annual Championship Chances

Since 1992, Kentucky has won 54 of its 61 postseason games, advancing to four Final Fours, winning two NCAA titles and finishing as national runner-up once. UK also has won seven of the last eight SEC Tournaments. In the NCAA Tournament, UK is 31-6 in the last eight seasons, 23-1 in the SEC Tournament.

Three-Point Parade

The Cats have hit three pointers in 374 consecutive games. The last time UK was held without a made three-pointer was Nov. 26, 1988, a three-point loss to Seton Hall in the Great Alaska Shootout. Only UNLV, Vanderbilt and Princeton can claim longer streaks, and those three teams have converted a three-pointer in every game since the rule was implemented in 1986-87.

Rupp Roarin’ Success

After a 12-1 home record in ’99, the Wildcats are 303-35 all-time in Rupp Arena. UK has won 89.6 percent of its games during the 23 seasons in the building.

Attendance Champions, Again

Kentucky continues to dominate the national attendance records. On average, 23,367 fans watched the Wildcats play in Rupp Arena last season. It is UK’s fourth straight national attendance title, its 11th crown since moving into Rupp in the 1977 season.

Dome Sweet Domes

Kentucky was 6-1 in games played in domes last season. The loss to Michigan State in the Trans World Dome snapped a string of 16 consecutive wins in domes. Overall, the Cats have won 19 of their last 21 in the converted football/baseball facilities.

Cheerleaders Domination

The Kentucky Wildcats cheerleaders captured their fifth straight national championship at the National College Cheerleading Championships last season. UK has now won nine titles in the last 15 years and was named runner-up four times.

National Polls

When Kentucky finished eighth in the final Associated Press poll last March, it was the Wildcats’ 34th top-10 finish, a national record. UK spent one week outside the AP top 10 last season, ending a streak of 91 consecutive weeks. Still, the Cats have appeared in the top 10 in 126 of the last 129 weeks, dating back to the 1992 season. The Wildcats’ No. 5 ranking in the USA Today/ESPN poll is the 30th finish in the top 10 of the coaches poll.

Quoting Coach Smith

How comfortable are you now, entering your third season at Kentucky?
“I feel like I belong, but I have felt that way from day one. So far, nothing has shown me that it hasn’t been a big hit.”

Eight of the 11 players are your recruits. Do you feel like your system is really starting to take hold?

“I felt like we tried to play a system similar to Kentucky’s when I was at Georgia. I never felt like the system here at Kentucky was that different from that of Georgia and Tulsa, but having said that, it’s been easy for me to sell my style of play here because it is very similar. I hope the guys are comfortable because these are the guys we did recruit from high school, we did watch play and we were able to fit into our system.”

It seems the players you are recruiting can play various positions. Is that your goal in recruiting?

“I like a guy like Marvin Stone who can play the five or the four. We have guys that play the three, four or five spots. Tayshaun (Prince) can play any position. It gives us a lot of variations that we could play.”

Your team appears to have weathered the storm caused by two transfers after the season. What does that say for your program?

“We were disappointed that Mike (Bradley) and Ryan (Hogan) decided to leave, but as I tell all the players, we know that Kentucky is going to prosper and thrive with or without them. If one person leaves, it’s just another opportunity for us. That’s what leaving does, it creates opportunities for other people.”

With only two upperclassmen returning with a wealth of experience, how important will finding a leader be for this team?

“In the last two years, we have been fortunate enough to have Wayne (Turner) in the backcourt as a leader, along with Scott Padgett and Heshimu Evans. The year before, we had Jeff Sheppard and Allen Edwards, all working together to help one another out. We’ve had people on and off the court like Cameron Mills. I think guys have to find their roles, understand their roles and accept their roles. If somebody is going to lead us in assists, then someone else will need to lead us in steals. Others are going to lead us in the locker room and in prayer, some are going to lead us in social activities and we’ll have guys who will lead us academically. Jamaal (Magloire), Steve (Masiello) and Saul (Smith) are our links from the 1998 championship. I expect them to step up and be the leaders.”

The NIT, Indiana, Maryland, Louisville and Michigan State highlight the non-conference slate this year. There doesn’t appear to be any softening of what’s annually been one of the nation’s toughest schedules.

“I think the schedule is very tough this year, especially for a young team. We’re hoping to ease into conference play, but there is no such thing. We haven’t been able to do that.”

Many think the Southeastern Conference will be the nation’s toughest league. Do you agree?

“Yes. We had nine teams in postseason play in this conference, five to the NCAA and four to the NIT. We are talking about the toughest league in the country. That’s a daunting task when you throw on top of that our non-conference games. It puts a lot of pressure on your team when every game is a big game. Then, as the season goes on, they get bigger. When you play the great teams, they exploit your weaknesses and everyone else can capitalize on them. This year, I think the national champion could come out of this league.”

Last summer, you participated as an assistant coach for the U.S. Senior National Team that qualified for the Olympics. What was that like for you?

“It was rewarding, very enlightening and very educational. I was impressed with their professionalism, their work ethic, especially the players and coaches Larry Brown and Gene Keady. These are guys I look up to and have a lot of respect for, and to be working beside them and learning from them was a real experience.”

What will it be like at the 2000 Olympics, knowing that you’re representing the United States?

“It is more pressure than you think. When you are representing your country, you put a lot more pressure on yourself because you know that you are representing more than just your school, you are representing your country. Not that Kentucky basketball isn’t big, but this is bigger. That’s pretty awesome. You don’t take that responsibility lightly.”