From: suffridge@ncrcol.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (Rick.Suffridge)
Subject: Dream Game XII
Organization: NCR MCPD Columbia SC.
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 92 19:37:12 GMT

For the 8th time in 12 tries since the renewal of this rivalry, Kentucky 
defeated Louisville, this time by the score of 88-68.  It was the third 
straight one-sided win for the Wildcats.

Because of UK's recent dominance of the series UofL was fired up and 
emotionally high at the start of the game.  They hit 8 of their first
9 shots and were dominating the boards in the early going.  UK was
slow in getting their offense going and UofL blew out to a 30-20 lead
and was looking very good.  UofL was having a lot of success working
the ball inside and scoring.  About this time Clifford Rozier blocked
a shot by Roderick Rhodes when Rhodes tried to drive to the basket.
While Rhodes lay on the floor Rozier stood over him, pointing at him
and taunting him.  Due to the anti-taunting emphasis in the NCAA this
year, the officials called a T on Rozier.  This seemed to turn the 
momentum around.  Jamal Mashburn took over the game at this point
for UK, hitting 2 or 3 three-pointers and scoring several times off
the dribble.  UK quickly took the lead and UofL fell apart.  Once
they fell behind they abandoned their half-court offense and spent
the rest of the game going one-on-one.  UK led 48-40 at the half and
Mashburn had 19 points.  The second half was more of the same, as the
UK lead ballooned up to 27 or so with about 7 or 8 minutes to go.  UK
continued to frustrate UofL with good defense and hit 3-pointers 
(they were 11 for 21 on the game - 5 by Mashburn).  UofL could have
made things closer at the foul line but they made only 16 of 36 free
throws.  The last 8 minutes or so were pretty ragged as Pitino gave 
Tony Delk some minutes at the point and Crum played much of his bench.
Mashburn led UK with 27 points, while Rhodes had 20 (and some
spectacular dunks) and Gimel Martinez (back from a broken foot) came
off the bench for 14 points.  IMHO the keys to the game were:
 
  1. Jamal Mashburn - when he gets aggressive and looks for his shot
     there isn't a player in college basketball who can stop him. He
     took over the game for a stretch in the first half when UK made
     their run.

  2. Defense - UK played some excellent half-court defense after the
     first few minutes and forced a number of to's with the press.
     UofL did not defend the three well (a must against UK) and didn't
     even use the vaunted Crum press.

  3. UofL fell apart when they got behind.

  4. Dwayne Morton was a non-factor - he got in foul trouble early in 
     both halves by committing stupid fouls.

IMHO the talent-level on these teams was fairly even - with UK having
a bit more quality depth.  The biggest difference was coaching.  UofL
just doesn't play like a well-coached team (and didn't when I saw them 
last year either for that matter).  Last year they were inexperienced
but this year there is no excuse.  Crum had no solution when UK made
their run and his team abandoned their offense.  As he has the last
two years also, Crum after the game lamented the fact that UK shot so
well from 3-pt range, as if it were purely luck that they hit so many.
Has Crum watched any film of UK's offense???  It's not like they did
anything unusual.  If Denny does not teach his teams to defend the 3
he will NEVER beat Pitino again.  I used to have a high opinion of 
Crum as a coach but I really think he has slipped in recent years. 
UofL didn't even use their press - a questionable tactic considering
UK's lack of point guard depth.  They certainly have the athletic
ability to press - are these guys just not good defenders?

Thoughts on the teams:

  Rozier has loads of talent but he is a head case.  He is seriously
  lacking in attitude, focus, and intensity.

  Roderick Rhodes can do it all - I am more impressed with him every
  time I see him.  He plays great defense, passes and handles the
  ball well, shoots the 3, and has an awesome move to the basket. He
  is the best freshman I have seen at UK in the 18 years I have followed
  the Cats.  He plays with so much confidence for a freshman.

  Martinez gives UK another weapon on offense.  He was 6-8 from the field
  including 2 threes and is playing with much more confidence than last
  year.  He also avoided the silly fouls that limitted his PT last year.

  Tony Delk has a LONG way to go as a point guard.

  Dale Brown is quietly playing very well.  He is as good a defender as
  any guard in the nation.  He has also been rebounding well and getting
  more assists than last year.  He has even filled in respectably at
  the point when needed.  He has yet to have a big night offensively
  but that will come.  This is a marked improvement over last year when
  a bad shooting night would affect his whole game.

  Overall, UK still has a lot of work to do on learning the half-court
  offense.  Right now they are still scoring a lot of points on talent.
  Fortunately, unlike the last few years they have the talent to get
  away with that.  Hopefully the next few weeks of practice will help 
  the execution begin to catch up with the talent.

  UofL has the talent to be a top 10 team but has a long way to go in 
  learning how to play as a team rather than a collection of talented
  individuals.  If Crum is still the coach he was reputed to be this
  could be a tough team by tourney time.
-- 
Richard D. Suffridge   803-791-6491  <suffridge@ncrcol.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM>                                  
From an AP report:  Gore ... asked voters skeptical of their promise of
change to remember that every communist government in Eastern Europe had
fallen in 100 days. "Now it's our turn here in the United States," he said.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.college