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Kentucky centering hopes around Magloire, young but talented teamBOB HOLTARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE This is the fourth in a series previewing SEC basketball teams BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Kentucky has just one scholarship senior this season, but Wildcats Coach Tubby Smith isn't complaining about his team's lack of experience. "As John Wooden said, I'd much rather have a team with a lot of talent and little experience than a lot of experience and little talent," said Smith, quoting the coach who led UCLA to 10 national championships. "And I think we have good talent." Good enough to win Kentucky's third NCAA title in five years? "Definitely," senior center Jamaal Magloire said. "That's one of the main reasons I came back." Magloire, 6-10, 260, declared for last year's NBA Draft and took part in the pre-Draft camp, but then decided to return to Kentucky for his final season of eligibility. "Jamaal came back from the tryouts realizing what he has to do to fulfill his dream of being an NBA player, and I think he's focused on being one of the best players in the SEC," Smith said. "He's starting to look to be more offensive-minded, and his offensive skills have now caught up with his defensive ability." Magloire, who ranks fourth on Kentucky's career list with 211 blocked shots, will be looking to improve on averages of 7.0 points per game and 4.4 rebounds last season when he split time with Michael Bradley at center. The starting center spot is all Magloire's now, because Bradley decided after last season to transfer to Villanova. Kentucky also suffered the tragic loss of signee John Stewart, a 7-0 center from Indianapolis who died of a congenital heart condition during a game last March, and 6-9 freshman Marquis Estill is academically ineligible this season. "I don't know what we'd be doing right now if Jamaal hadn't come back," Smith said. "We'd be very thin on the front line, that's for sure." Magloire, who was voted to the all-conference first team at SEC Media Days, may be the Wildcats' only experienced center, but he is surrounded by impressive young players waiting for a chance to show what they can do. The Wildcats have four McDonald's All-Americans in sophomore forwards Tayshaun Prince and Jules Camara, freshman forward Marvin Stone and freshman guard Keith Bogans. "I think we are as talented as any team I've had since I've been here," said Smith, who coached the Wildcats to the 1998 NCAA title in his first season. "That's not to say we haven't lost some great players the last two years, but the guys we have this year are much more talented." Kentucky has had two players picked in the NBA Draft the last two years, with center Nazr Mohammed going 29th in the first round in 1998 and Scott Padgett 28th last year. Magloire said he hopes to play himself into being a lottery pick after this season, and the way Smith talks about Camara, Prince and Stone makes you wonder if they'll stick around to complete their eligibility. Camara, 6-11, and Prince, 6-9, both have added weight and strength and should have more confidence taking the ball to the basket, Smith said, but they're also skilled enough to play on the perimeter. Smith is especially high on Prince, who he said is the Wildcats' most versatile player. "The sky is the limit for Tayshaun," Smith said. "He was a pretty good player last year, but I expect to see a big improvement this year. "His confidence is just soaring now because he is stronger. He's actually taking his shirt off in the weight room now." Stone, 6-10, 260, figures to play a lot this season and could earn a starting spot, Smith said. "Marvin's got a chance to be as good a big man who's ever been at Kentucky," Smith said. "That's saying a lot. "I wouldn't hesitate to bring in Marvin for Jamaal, and you'll also see them in the game at the same time a lot." In the Wildcats' 73-66 victory over the California All-Stars in their exhibition opener Tuesday night, Magloire, Camara and Prince started on the front line with junior Saul Smith -- the coach's son -- starting at point guard and sophomore Desmond Allison at shooting guard. Prince led Kentucky with 19 points against the All-Stars, Magloire had 17 points and 13 rebounds and Smith had 10 points and 4 assists. Allison started the final 17 games last season and had career-highs of 12 points and six assists in the Wildcats' 74-70 loss at Arkansas. Smith, whose role last season was to provide a lift off the bench, is taking over as a starter in place of the departed Wayne Turner. Being Kentucky's starting point guard is tough enough and being the coach's son adds to the burden, but Tubby Smith said he's not concerned about Saul being under too much pressure "He's been around college sports his whole life, and he knows the pressure that I've been through, because he's lived it, too," Tubby Smith said. "I think he has a much keener appreciation for what he's facing than most people. "The least of my concerns is our point guard spot, because Saul understands the game and what we need done. I think the players respect his knowledge and his work ethic. "His decisions have always been pretty good -- who needs the ball, when to pull it out, when to push it -- but now he's got to sustain that for a longer period of time." Smith and Magloire are the only remaining scholarship players from the Wildcats' 1997 national championship team. "We want to win another one," Magloire said. "And I think we're very capable of contending for that." Winning SEC and NCAA titles are always Kentucky's goals, but Tubby Smith said the Wildcats should focus on short-term gains, at least early in the season. "Our goal right now is to get better every day," Smith said. "If we do that, all the other things, those long-term goals will take care of themselves. "I think when you're young, you have to really put those blinders on and take it one day at a time. "That's the challenge with this group, to make sure they don't get caught up in looking past what they have to do to get better." Tomorrow: Tennessee
This article was published on Sunday, November 7, 1999RETURN to Razorback ReportCopyright © 1999, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. All rights reserved. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. |
