+ DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH: HAWKINS
+ FEBRUARY 2015 VOLUME 5
+ BIG BLUE GAMEDAY NACHOS RECIPE
+ PLAYER PROFILE: TREY LYLES
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TREY LYLES FORWARD
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6 ON THE COVER 8 2014-2015 SCHEDULE 10 IN ACTION: A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST PHOTOS 20 DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH: HAWKINS 26 WILDCAT PROFILE: MARCUS LEE 30 WILDCAT PROFILE: TREY LYLES 34 CONTRIBUTIONS
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IBE R C S SUB MAG.COM
EEM 35 R H T B 7.65 5 . 2 859
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Y TI@K 7.2872 S I U AG 59.25 8
Volume 5 | 5
SPOTLIGHT
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KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS IS STARTING TO FIND HIS GROOVE. THE FRESHMAN SHOWED TRUE POISE HITTING THE GO-AHEAD SHOT AT LSU TO SEAL THE VICTORY. PHOTO | MICHAEL REAVES | STAFF
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Photo | Michael Reaves
11/02
PIKEVILLE
LEXINGTON, KY
7:00
11/09
GEORGETOWN (KY.)
LEXINGTON, KY
7:00
11/14
GRAND CANYON
LEXINGTON, KY
8:00
11/16
BUFFALO
LEXINGTON, KY
12:00
11/18
KANSAS
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
9:00
11/21
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
LEXINGTON, KY
7:00
11/23
MONTANA STATE
LEXINGTON, KY
6:00
11/25
UT ARLINGTON
LEXINGTON, KY
7:00
11/30
PROVIDENCE
LEXINGTON, KY
2:00
12/05
TEXAS
LEXINGTON, KY
7:00
12/07
EASTERN KENTUCKY
LEXINGTON, KY
6:00
12/10
COLUMBIA
LEXINGTON, KY
7:00
12/13
NORTH CAROLINA
LEXINGTON, KY
12:00
12/20
UCLA
CHICAGO, IL
3:30
12/27
LOUISVILLE
LOUISVILLE, KY
2:00
01/06
OLE MISS
LEXINGTON, KY
7:00
01/10
TEXAS A&M
COLLEGE STATION, TX
1:00
01/13
MISSOURI
LEXINGTON, KY
9:00
01/17
ALABAMA
TUSCALOOSA, AL
4:00
01/20
VANDERBILT
LEXINGTON, KY
9:00
01/24
SOUTH CAROLINA
COLUMBIA, SC
12:00
01/29
MISSOURI
COLUMBIA, MO
9:00
01/31
ALABAMA
LEXINGTON, KY
7:00
02/03
GEORGIA
LEXINGTON, KY
7:00
02/07
FLORIDA
GAINSVILLE, FL
9:00
02/10
LSU
BATON ROUGE, LA
7:00
02/14
SOUTH CAROLINA
LEXINGTON, KY
2:00
02/17
TENNESSEE
KNOXVILLE, TN
7:00
02/21
AUBURN
LEXINGTON, KY
6:00
02/25
MISSISSIPPI STATE
STARKVILLE, MS
7:00
02/28
ARKANSAS
LEXINGTON, KY
4:00
03/03
GEORGIA
ATHENS, GA
9:00
03/07
FLORIDA
LEXINGTON, KY
2:00
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IN ACTION
Reload FRESHMAN GUARD DEVIN BOOKER HAS POPULARIZED THE 3-POINTER RELOAD. CONSIDERING HE MAKES A TON, HE DOES IT A LOT. PHOTO | MICHAEL REAVES | STAFF
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IN ACTION
It’s good FORWARD TREY LYLES HAS SHOWN THE MOST CONSISTENCY WITH THE MID-RANGE JUMPER THIS SEASON. AUTOMATIC. PHOTO | JONATHAN KRUEGER | STAFF
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IN ACTION
1 st degree assault WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN BROKE TWITTER WITH HIS MONSTER DUNK OVER A FLORIDA DEFENDER. WHAT DID YOU THINK, ROCK?... PHOTO | JONATHAN KRUEGER | STAFF
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IN ACTION
Ohhhh My SO STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH ROCK OLIVER THOUGHT THAT DUNK WAS AWESOME. PHOTO | JONATHAN KRUEGER | STAFF
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WORDS | KYLE ARENSDORF
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Photos | Emily Wuetcher
The Cats’ 69-58 victory against Georgia was decided in the first four minutes of the game that February night. And it’s a testament to the stellar starting five that head coach John Calipari stumbled upon in early December. When sophomore forward Alex Poythress was lost for the season after the team’s 10th game, the Cats’ makeup, and their season hopes, teetered. But now in early February the loss has looked more like a blessing in disguise.
When Poythress went down, a void was left in UK’s starting platoon — one that was filled by sophomore guard Dominique Hawkins. It was an interesting move. Poythress was a defensive asset and limited the Cats slightly on the offensive side of the ball. Some thought Calipari should enlist a more offense-centric player to step up, like freshman forward Trey Lyles. But Hawkins, not known for his offensive abilities, got the call and has looked to be a hidden gem in Calipari’s already deep arsenal. His stats won’t blow you away — he had just three points and a steal in nine minutes of play — but what he does for his team is unquantifiable.
In those opening four minutes Tuesday, Hawkins helped the Cats jump out to 11 quick points while holding the Bulldogs to only one. When the score was 8-1, Hawkins turned Georgia over by drawing an offensive foul. On the very next play, Hawkins was sent to the free throw line to complete a four-point play. Soon after, a rebound was saved from going out of bounds and thrown toward backcourt. It would have been a turnover if not for a diving attempt from Hawkins. That’s what he does for this team.
He brings an energy that’s contagious, and everyone in the starting lineup raises their level of play as a result; if you don’t match Hawkins’ intensity, he’ll expose you. He doesn’t need a sparkling stat sheet because that’s not his role, and more importantly, he’s OK with that. The Cats put the game in their rearview mirror after the 42-27 first half, and as a result the Bulldogs won the second-half battle 31-27. But Calipari only went with his starting lineup, and Hawkins, for one minute in the second half. And it showed in the team’s play. Hawkins is a much more important cog than he gets credit for. He’s the key in the Cats’ ignition. His intensity was in part the reason the Cats built that 15-point halftime lead.
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WILDCAT PROFILE
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Photo | Michael Reaves
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MARCUS LEE ANTIOCH, CA #00 WORDS NICK GRAY
T
o understand the strength of UK basketball’s depth this season and last, one must glance at the arc of sophomore forward Marcus Lee. Lee, a heralded recruit like many of his teammates, played more than 10 minutes in four of UK’s first five games last season. He then played just 16 total minutes in the next five games. In fact, Lee posted a did-not-play (DNP) for six of the Cats’ 11 games in December and January, and he did not play more than 10 minutes in a game until the NCAA Tournament.
September. “And the reason is, you basically aren’t being guarded, and that means you gotta get closer to the goal,” Calipari said. “I can’t have three (players who cannot shoot) out there.” Lee, who said that he has gained about five pounds since last year and appears to have gained upper-body muscle, has worked his perimeter game, though he knows what the
The nation then learned his name – and his preposterous leaping ability – when he scored 10 points against Michigan and became a key reason UK clawed its way into the Final Four. Lee wasn’t a key cog last season like Julius Randle or James Young, but what Lee did do was give UK a reliable man outside of the Cats’ usual eight-man rotation. “It was a crazy season for sure,” Lee said. “It was definitely a (roller coaster year) for me personally. I was happy to help at the end of the season.” So what will force UK head coach John Calipari to play Lee? Offensive production, like last season, will be Lee’s key to more playing time, especially from outside the paint. Incoming freshman forwards Trey Lyles and Karl Towns Jr. were lauded in high school for their ability to shoot from the perimeter. Lee has not been keen to stray away from the rim at the offensive end, as Calipari explained in 28 | B Three
basis of his game will be. “I know I can go out there and bounce around,” Lee said. “That’s not going to change.” And that may force Calipari to take a hit offensively if players like Lyles and sophomore center Dakari Johnson fail to defend well – unless UK features an offense with a bevy of alley-oop lobs that fits Lee’s style. “You could have Willie out there, Karl, who can shoot it better, and Marcus Lee,” Calipari said. “How about that team? Now all (of a) the sudden it’s nutty. Until we start playing … what kind of zone team would it be with Willie, Marcus Lee and Dakari in the middle?”
Photo | Jonathan Krueger
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WILDCAT PROFILE
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Photo | Eleanor Hasken
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TREY LYLES INDIANAPOLIS, IN #41 WORDS JODY BEAMER
A
s the Cats struggled to rebound against the Florida Gators down in the O-Dome, fans began to wonder if freshman forward Trey lyles was going to return anytime soon. The mid-range maker and rebounder extraordinaire missed the two previous games, and the lack of depth (at least by this team’s standards) was starting to show.
Lyles made his much anticipated return to the lineup for a game in which he was desperately needed. LSU’s front court is big, and with Alex Poythress out for the season, Lyles presence was all that more important. Lyles didn’t make a grand, Will Reed-
Dominique Hawkins did his best to fill the role, and others increased their minutes, but it’s hard to replace a 6-foot-10 forward who can guard three positions and can hit the hardest shot in college basketball, a shot that opens up others when effective.
esque entrance though. He just went out and gave the team some good minutes, despite what appeared to be some rust from his time missed.
Fans wanted Trey back.
The rust didn’t matter.
They wanted his consistent boards. They wanted his consistent offense. They wanted his consistent minutes.
When LSU’s Hornsby clanked a miss off the backboard at the end of regulation, the cats remained undefeated, and Lyles earned a few days to get even healthier.
When the Cats took the floor in Baton Rouge to take on the LSU Tigers, that’s what they got. 32 | B Three
And that’s good news for fans.
Photo | Emily Wuetcher
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CONTRIBUTIONS
EDITORIAL KYLE ARENSDORF TAYLOR CLEMENTS JODY BEAMER KATIE SALTZ
PHOTORAPHY MICHAEL REAVES EMILY WUETCHER TESSA LIGHTY ADAM PENNAVARIA JONATHAN KRUEGER TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
DESIGN JODY BEAMER BLAKE BEAMER MAY MAY BARTON UNDERGROUND DESIGN
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