+ SEASON-ENDING SPECIAL EDITION: A LOOK BACK AT A HISTORIC RUN
+ MARCH 2015 VOLUME 6
+ PLAYER PROFILE: KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS
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6 ON THE COVER 8 2014-2015 SCHEDULE 10 A LOOK BACK: THE CATS HAD AN UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON AND HERE’S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE 26 CALIPARI DESERVES MORE CREDIT 30 WILDCAT PROFILE: KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS 34 CONTRIBUTIONS
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SPOTLIGHT
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DEVIN BOOKER IS COOL LIKE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PILLOW. HE’S GOT A MILLION-DOLLAR SMILE, HE FINISHES AT THE RIM, AND HE’S MADE RELOADING A VERY POPULAR THING. PHOTO | MICHAEL REAVES | STAFF
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A LOOK BACK
Scorer FRESHMAN GUARD DEVIN BOOKER HAS A KNACK FOR FINISHING AT THE RIM. PHOTO | MICHAEL REAVES | STAFF
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A LOOK BACK
Reload AN UNDEFEATED REGULAR SEASON LEADS TO PLENTY OF BIG WINS AND CELEBRATIONS. PHOTO | MICHAEL REAVES | STAFF
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A LOOK BACK
Drew Rock DESPITE A SLEW OF UNFAIR CRITICISM, ANDREW HARRISON HAS BEEN THE LEADER OF A HISTORIC UK TEAM. BEAT THAT. PHOTO | JONATHAN KRUEGER | STAFF
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A LOOK BACK
dunking on people WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN DOESN’T LIKE BEING CALLED SOFT. DUNK FACE. PHOTO | JONATHAN KRUEGER | STAFF
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A LOOK BACK
Karlito, You ‘da real MVP STEPPING UP LATE IN THE SEASON, KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS HAS BECOME AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE IN THE PAINT. WHO CAN WE THANK? PHOTO | JONATHAN KRUEGER | STAFF
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A LOOK BACK
Big shot aaron LET’S NOT FORGET WHO STILL HAS THE MOST POISE AT THE END OF CLOSE GAMES. AARON HARRISON DOES. PHOTO | MICHAEL REAVES | STAFF
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A LOOK BACK
E’rbody eats YOU KNOW WHAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE 12 GREAT PLAYERS? THIS. BUT UK DOES IT. PHOTO | JONATHAN KRUEGER | STAFF
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A LOOK BACK
Perfect season THE CATS DID WHAT NO OTHER UK TEAMS HAS DONE. THEY COMPLETED THE REGULAR SEASON UMBLEMISHED. 31-0. PHOTO | MICHAEL REAVES | STAFF
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CALIPARI DESERVES MORE CREDIT THAN HE GETS WORDS | KEVIN ERPENBECK UK Basketball head coach John Calipari isn’t a stranger to strict criticism from the public and the media. He hears it every day he goes to work, travels to games, visits potential recruits and before he goes to bed. “Cal is a great recruiter, a masterful motivator. He’s not a classic x’s and o’s guy.” These were the words from outspoken sports talk show radio host Mike Francesa in August, moments after he hosted Calipari on his show. While Francesa tried to backtrack and explain that he didn’t mean Calipari can’t coach (only after Calipari called the show himself under a disguised voice to dispute the issue), the message came off the same. Calipari isn’t a good coach. But why is that exactly? Is it because the way he leads the Cats? Calipari is known for his “players-first” mentality, caring more for the well being of his players than championships. But generally, when Cal builds the players to a NBA-ready level, exemplary results follow. Are we supposed to bash the leader of young men for looking out for their best interests? Or is it because of Cal’s ability to shed an entire team
PHOTO | ADAM PENNAVARIA every year for newly talented freshmen? “He’s ruining the game of college basketball!” As if there’s a set standard on how to be a head coach of a basketball team. It’s true that Calipari has a unique way of achieving success. But his way works, as proven by the banners he’s hung and the championship ring on his finger. The particular criticism does raise the question about how many trophies UK would own if even one of their topranked classes remained for more than one year. Does a repeating champion fix the game of basketball? Then there’s this season to analyze as part of Calipari’s tenure. The undefeated Cats are the best team that’s ever been assembled at the school, and in nine games, it may be discussed as the greatest ever. So where does this leave the man at the head of it? He’s responsible for bringing in talented freshmen KarlAnthony Towns, Trey Lyles and Devin Booker, and still has a plethora of talented veterans. So who’s responsible for conducting the x’s and o’s that have led them to an unblemished record? Maybe Calipari should call Francesa back to discuss it in the offseason.
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WILDCAT PROFILE
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Photo | Michael Reaves
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KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS PISCATAWAY, NJ #12 WORDS KEVIN ERPENBECK
U
K basketball has had its share of unique and talented freshmen on its roster in recent years, from John Wall and his selfnamed dance move, Anthony Davis and his recognizable brow, and Nerlens Noel and his flat top.
Calipari started to notice the first couple of times Towns appeared to be talking to himself last month and finally asked him, “Who are you talking to?” Calipari was then filled in to the identity of Towns’ soundboard by an assistant coach.
Add Karl-Anthony Towns and his imaginary friend “Karlito” to that list.
Coach Barry “Slice” Rohrssen later took credit for coming up with the name Karlito, adding that Towns’ imaginary friend perfectly sums up the bigman.
The 6-foot-11 forward has been stellar for Cats this season, especially of late, averaging 12.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in his last 11 games. Towns also leads the team in blocks with 74, including the six he had against Florida in the Cats regular season finale. Towns was named the SEC Freshman of the Year on Tuesday, making him UK’s sixth-straight freshman to earn the honor, joining Wall, Terrence Jones, Davis, Noel and Julius Randle. But when Towns was receiving the brunt of head coach John Calipari’s criticism for not being focused and feeling down on himself, the post player turned to the little fictitious guy sitting on his shoulder, cleverly named Karlito (a reference to Towns’ Dominican Republic heritage), for advice. “I don’t know if it’s selftalk, inner dialogue. I don’t know,” Towns admitted. “But I know one thing... I’ll be having some good conversations with myself.” 32 | B Three
“He has a wonderful personality, very outgoing and always wants to learn,” Rohrssen said. “If they were all like Karl Towns, more people would want to get into coaching.” Calipari has often described Towns as a “young kid that doesn’t know any better,” and even compared him to his high school-aged son, Brad Calipari, for having the same maturity level. But the 19 year old Towns has played “grown-man” basketball in his first collegiate year, earning season accolades in the process. It’s an accomplishment for which Towns is very proud. “For me it has been a process of getting used to a different level of the game. I’m happy that I have been able to come accustomed to it so far,” Towns said. “These awards are very prestigious, and I’m blessed to have a chance.”
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Photo | Adam Pennavaria
CONTRIBUTIONS
EDITORIAL KYLE ARENSDORF TAYLOR CLEMENTS JODY BEAMER KATIE SALTZ
PHOTOGRAPHY 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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