EDITORIAL
MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 2018
More than 160 women accused USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse.
These voices would have been silenced if not for the IndyStar’s reporting.
HOW MANY MORE Stories do we have to read? Documents will we have to fight for? Lives will be forever changed?
Because these stories were brought to light, Nassar will spend up to 175 years in prison for
his crimes.
Jerry Sandusky’s crimes at Penn State would not have been revealed without the work of a
24-year-old journalist at a small Pennsylvania paper, The Patriot-News.
Student newspaper UWM-Post recently reported that 37 professors and staff members at the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee were accused of sexual assault and harassment in the past five years, but little else is known because the university will not hand over documentation.
And then there is the Kentucky Kernel, which prevented former UK professor James
Harwood from moving on to other universities without anyone knowing of his predatory behavior on our campus. The Kernel exposed this not by obtaining official records provided by
UK, but through its own reporting. In fact, more than a year later, UK is still fighting to keep those records private.
The #MeToo movement has emphasized that complicity in this kind of secrecy leads to
tragedy.
Universities that protect incriminating documents protect perpetrators. People who ignore accusations enable the accused.
Shaming victims who speak out frighten others into continued silence.
When politicians are more concerned with gaining power than listening to those made
powerless, when Hollywood continues to make blockbusters instead of facing the reality of
Professors, classmates, priests, politicians, coaches, trainers, teammates, bosses, coworkers, journalists, photographers, producers, directors, actors, people will not be held accountable?
sexual harassment in the industry, and when universities protect their reputations under the false
VICTIMS?
care. It is not only journalists who should tell victims’ stories.
flag of protecting students’ privacy, declarations of “me too” will continue.
In her testimony against Nassar, Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman said, “My dream is that one
day, everyone will know what the words ‘me too’ signify, but they will be educated and able to
protect themselves from predators like Larry, so that they will never, ever, ever have to say the words, ‘me too.’”
It is not only sexual abusers who contribute to this problem. It is not only victims who should To the university official who hears a student’s complaint, to the boss who knows what
happens in the breakroom, to the movie director who sees the abuse behind the scenes, to anyone who could amplify the voices of victims, do not be complicit any longer. How many more stories have yet to be told? How many more times will we look away?
Until universities quit spending money to keep their secrets, until the names of abusers are
left off movie credits and election ballots, until we all realize the harm we have done and the healing we can do, there will be more.
kentuckykernel
Monday, January 29, 2018
kernow
UK professor wins big on popular game show
She auditioned for fun, ended up getting lucky By Sierra McLean news@kykernel.com
When a UK professor started watching Wheel of Fortune 35 years ago, she never imagined she would be a contestant. Now, all Joan Mazur, a professor in the College of Education, can think about is how lucky she is. Last May, when the Wheelmobile came to the Middletown Kroger parking lot in Louisville, Mazur never thought about going to audition. “This was all my husband’s doing. My husband said, ‘I can’t believe you’re not going to drive up there and try out,’” she said. “So I got dressed and went up.” Mazur said the Wheelmobile, which is a Wheel of Fortune van that is used for auditions for the show, is very low-tech. She said the
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOAN MAZUR
College of Education professor Joan Mazur competed on the popular game show Wheel of Fortune, winning $35,650 and a trip to London.
operators interviewed her in front of the crowd. “I said, ‘Go Cats!’ and hundreds of people started cheering,” Mazur said. Mazur said getting chosen
as a contestant is complete luck; hopeful people put their names in a bin. “It’s still sinking in for me,” she said. While vacationing in New
York in mid-July, Mazur got an email from Wheel of Fortune inviting her to do a second audition in Louisville. Mazur flew back to Louisville to make her audition. Mazur said her second audition was “pretty challenging.” When she didn’t get asked to stay after her audition, she assumed that she wouldn’t be selected to be a contestant on the show. In late August, Mazur received an email saying she had been selected to be on Wheel of Fortune. When Mazur couldn’t make it to the taping on Sept. 14, they told her to come three months later. “They’re very flexible about time,” she said. Mazur spent the entire day of Dec. 14 on the set of Wheel of Fortune. One of the things she learned was how to spin the wheel. “The wheel weighs 2,400 pounds,” she said. “It was very difficult to spin the wheel.” While on the show, Mazur didn’t think about winning. She was only thinking about having fun.
“It was really fun. They are very professional… They really make it fun.” Her mindset going into the game made it even more shocking for her when she won. “I actually didn’t know
I actually didn’t know I had won… I didn’t realize I had won until he said, ‘Joan’s the big winner!’ I wasn’t prepared to win.
JOAN MAZUR I had won… I didn’t realize I had won until he said, ‘Joan’s the big winner!’” she said. “I wasn’t prepared to win.” Mazur made it all the way to the bonus round, but unfortunately didn’t complete the puzzle. Even though she didn’t win the bonus round, she won various prizes, including $35,650 and a trip to
London. Mazur hasn’t received her prizes yet. She will have to wait about 120 days after the airing of her episode, which was this past Tuesday. But Mazur seemed less worried about the prizes than about how much fun she had. “I got to spend a couple of days with my twin sister. We went over to the Pacific,” she said. “It was fun… I was really lucky.” Mazur said again that she has her husband, Frank, to thank for “that little push.” “He was pretty incredulous,” she said. “He really deserves the credit for making the suggestion.”
View Mazur’s episode at: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=nX5gU7gYSBs
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Monday, January 29, 2018
opinions
Keep in mind that it is just a game HAYDEN HOOPER Assistant Opinions Editor
In the recent year, UK has seen bad officiating in all of its sports. The most memorable are the calls from John Higgins in basketball and the PAC-12 referees assigned to the Music City Bowl last month. Earlier this week, ESPN reporter Kyle Bonagura said in his post on ESPN.com, “In
the days following the game, Coyte received a barrage of threatening calls to his cell and office phones, sources said, as did the commercial real estate association he belongs to.” Bonagura was reporting on the antics of the Big Blue Nation. Seem familiar? In March, we saw the same thing happen against John Higgins. Where should the game end and life begin during these scenarios? Now before I go into this, my reactions to these calls were the same as the BBN. I
starred at a wall for 30 minutes after the UNC game, but I didn’t go as far as calling the referees businesses and giving them bad reviews. It has gotten so bad that Kentucky Sports Radio is in a ridiculous lawsuit with Higgins. There is nothing illegal about what KSR did during all the scrutiny they have had. It has gotten so bad that on their podcast and website, it’s a running joke that they have no comment on referees. Talking about referees is a double-edged sword. Fans from other teams attack and
Set small goals to reach a big one BELLE KENDRICK Kernel columnist
What’s the easiest thing to plan, but the hardest to go through with? Of course it’s New Year’s Resolutions. These dreaded goals that everyone sets after the holidays
always sound like an amazing idea, until the actual time comes. As much as everyone dislikes seeing the Johnson Ce nter completely full and racing to find an open machine, many people begin fulfilling their resolutions as they enter the school year. As far as the Johnson Center and other gyms go,
staying packed for the entire year after New Year’s season doesn’t exactly happen. Many times people begin to give up on their exercise resolutions as little as a month after the start of the new year. The easiest way to stick to your resolutions for the year is to make them reasonable. If you haven’t gone to the gym the entire year and tell
the media attacks. You aren’t able to change games with the comments you make, and you won’t ever be able to. Calls can never be reversed, but how about we see it in a different light. Playing the game and playing into the referee’s favor can go hand in hand, but what if you don’t get the calls and win the game? Remember, if it wasn’t for the last second shot from Luke Maye, we were on our way to overtime against the soon-tobe national champions and on the road ourselves to the championship. But since the
yourself you will go every day, then you will just end up getting burnt out on going and most likely give up on your resolution all together. Instead of making a drastic change, take steps to set the ultimate goal you are trying to achieve. Laura Rosselit, a nursing major at UK, gave some good input on different ways you can ease your body into fulfilling your resolutions. Rosselit explained that when
ball went in, and we saw the post-game videos, the calls were highlighted the most. Referees should never be in the spotlight; it makes no sense since it’s all about the team and not the referees. Now, the football scene is where it gets worse. You can say whatever you want about what would’ve happened if Snell didn’t get ejected, but not having him there probably gave the other team a boost. What about next year? That call was rejected by late talk show hosts like Seth Meyers, and now everyone is on our
side. And remember, we were about a ruler off from winning that game without our star running back and our quarterback was nearly done. After losses, going onto Twitter is a battle sometimes. Seeing tweets of nugatory comments about the team is one thing, but the referees is another. The next time you think about tweeting or calling their place of business to ruin their reputation over a game, don’t do it. It’s one game, there will be other chances to see us raise a banner.
you set small goals for yourself throughout the year, it will eventually lead to a big accomplishment and a sense
of fulfillment within yourself. Although making New Year’s Resolutions are a great way to get yourself on track to eating healthy and exercising daily, the last thing anyone wants is to get too overwhelmed by the task they are taking on. Instead of pushing yourself as hard as you possibly can to go to the gym every day, try to set smaller goals for yourself to ultimately meet one big goal.
HEALTHY MALE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH STUDY
spring 2018 | 3
Monday, January 29, 2018
Monday, January 29, 2018
'POWERHOUSE PROGRAM': A look back at UK Cheer's 23 national championships STORY BY BAILEY VANDIVER | DESIGN BY ARDEN BARNES NEWS@KYKERNEL.COM
UK Cheer won the national championship eight years in a row. “It was an amazing experience,” said T. Lynn Williamson, cheer adviser since 1977.
“The UK cheerleaders have cheered their way to the top of the national college cheerleading championship.” Kentucky Kernel, Jan. 14, 1985
1985
1995-2002
MICHAEL REAVES I STAFF FILE PHOTO Kentucky cheerleaders warmup prior to the game against the Auburn Tigers at Kroger Field on Oct. 15, 2015, in Lexington, Kentucky.
2014 UK CHEERLEADERS WIN 20TH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP In Orlando, the Cats take their 15th title in last 20 years.
1987 STAFF FILE PHOTO The UK cheerleading squad performs its award-winning routine in the Ford College Cheerleading Championship in San Diego, California, on Jan. 10, 1987.
“It was the second time the Wildcats had won the national crown, UK being the first school to accomplish that mark.” Kentucky Kernel, Jan. 14, 1987 4 | kentucky kernel
JILLIAN JONES I STAFF
CARTER GOSSETT I STAFF The Kentucky Cheerleading team is recognized for their 23rd National Championship during the game against Florida on January 20, 2018, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
UK Cheer is “dominant,” says the only person who has been a part of the program for all 23 of its championships. UK legal counsel T. Lynn Williamson has been the cheer adviser since 1977, so he bore witness to UK’s first championship, in 1985, and every one since. The Wildcats were crowned national champions for the 23rd time, at the Universal Cheerleaders Association championship on Jan. 14 in Orlando, Florida. UK’s 23 championships in 33 years makes UK the winningest cheer program in UCA history. In 1984, at the national competition, Williamson said he remembers thinking, “Wow, you know what, we can win this thing.” Then they did, one year later. Then, in 1987 and 1988, UK became the first program to win back-to-back championships. When the Cats won in 1995, they began what would become an eight-year winning streak, which was “an amazing experience,” Williamson said. “We’ve just become rather dominant,” he said. The nature of the competition itself has also changed, he said. While the routines have become shorter and more packed with stunts, the experience has grown from a couple hundred people watching in a park in 1985 to thousands of people attending in person in 2018, not to mention millions watching on TV. People gather just to watch the UK cheerleaders practice, Williamson said. “Everybody, everywhere recognizes us,” he said.
After UK was crowned as champion, UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart tweeted congratulations to the “powerhouse program.” “It’s special when (the cheerleaders) have the spotlight to themselves, where they prove over and over that UK has the best cheerleading program in the country,” Barnhart said. Williamson said this season’s seniors are amazing people, on the mat, in the classroom and in general. “I mean, they’ve gone through this for four years, they’ve won three, so that tells you what kind of competitive athlete and performance people they are,” he said. “But they’re great people, too.” Whitney Agee, a fifth-year senior on the squad, has won four championships in her five years. “The cheer program at Kentucky is a dynasty that’s been built up by so many generations of incredible people,” she said. “It’s just unlike any other.” She said the cheer alumni are still so close to the program; they return and stay involved in any way they can. “Like everything else at Kentucky, (UK Cheer) gets into your blood and then it never leaves,” she said. In a Kernel article from Jan. 14, 1987, Williamson told a reporter that “some cheerleading experts have ventured to call UK ‘the most talented athletic cheerleading squad that has ever been assembled in the United States.’” That was 21 championships ago.
2018
spring 2018 | 5
Monday, January 29, 2018
kernelpop
Hey MTV, welcome to my Airbnb
KRISTINA ROSEN Kernel blog writer
You heard it here first. Gone are the days of the tiny homes and fixer upper obsessions, 2018 is the year of Airbnb. If you’re unfamiliar with Airbnb, it’s basically the millennial version of renting a hotel room. Through this online site, hosts can lease their homes to guests for a few days or as long as several weeks. It’s free to set up an account
and once a profile is created, it’s easy to search for listings around the world, make reservations and pay online. I did the honor of writing MTV’s first script for their next hit reality show, Airbnb: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. In the series premiere, students from the University of Kentucky share their most memorable Airbnb experiences. The good: “I recently rented a room in Chicago and it was awesome. He was a young guy, it was a smart house, and he was renting his spare room to help with his new Tesla payments. I learned
that I will only stay at places with a lot of reviews.” The bad: “I had an Airbnb that I now refer to as the formaldehyde cabin. I didn’t notice the address was on ‘Cemetery Road’ until I put it in my GPS. It had an overwhelming smell of formaldehyde everywhere and there was also a gravestone just a few feet from the hot tub.” The ugly: “When I did an Airbnb in Paris, it took me and my friend a half hour to find our bed. The room was the size of a closet. We finally found these strange poles and discovered our bed came down from the ceiling and was
the size of the whole room.” The weird: “One time in Paris my bed was in the guy’s kitchen (which was quite an interesting surprise) and he was up cooking breakfast at 5 a.m. everyday.” The weird (continued): “I stayed in a hostel-like situation in Savannah, where a Polish lady hitchhiked with my friend and me because we couldn’t sneak out. My advice: just embrace the experience for what it is, laugh about it, and always take a friends wit h you.” Airbnb is not like a typical stay at a hotel. With Airbnb, travelers stay in comfortable,
home-like spaces that offer a different, more personal experience than hotels normally do, which appeals to millennials. But at the same time, many of them appreciate the safety, amenities and familiarity that come with hotels. If you’re still inclined to give Airbnb a try after hearing the good, the bad and the ugly, here’s what to know before you go: • The company doesn’t do background checks on users, so choose carefully and keep that in mind when making reservations. Reviews are the best bet since the only people who can post a review for
a site are the ones who have stayed there. • The “A” watermark at the top right hand corner indicates that professional Airbnb photographers took the photos. It’s the seal of approval from the company that what you see is what you get. • Choosing Airbnb means sacrificing certain hotel amenities. Don’t expect a formal check-in, room service at any time, or a remade bed each morning. • Ratings work both ways. While you have access to rate your stay, a host can rate you. Keep that in mind if you plan to use Airbnb in the future.
How to make a personal website today MCKENNA HORSLEY Kernel blog writer
So, you have a LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and some other new social media platform that just popped up to connect with other professionals. Is there something else you still need? Yes, you must have a personal website. It sounds much harder than it actually is. Several website builders exist for those of us who do not use code, such as Wix or WordPress, both of which have free basic features. Creating your own website for a portfolio or resume allows you to have control over what content you wish to publish, how it is presented and who can access it. Here are the first couple of steps you can take to join the World Wide Web. Research website builders Dozens of platforms exist to build a sleek website within a day. I have previously mentioned Wix, which I use for my own portfolio website. Most of the main features are
6 | kentucky kernel
free and the website editor portion allows users to drag and drop elements they want. I have added buttons for my own LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as a button to download my resume on the home page. Other pages include previous articles I have written, my photos and designs. Other builders that are very popular include WordPress, which is great if you are going to mainly publish text posts or blog, Weebly and GoDaddy. Another route to try is to use programs such as Adobe Dreamweaver, which all UK students can get for free, but it will require some coding knowledge. Buy your domain A domain, or your website address, is next on your list to establish. Most of the programs mentioned above have ways to set up personal domains or even buy them directly. Other websites, such as Google Domains or Bluehost, can help you claim your domain. Choosing your domain will allow you to make the link shorter and personalize your
site event more. You should buy your own domain for your own safety, even if you do not make a website. By owning your name online, no one else can take it in the future and post things without your permission. Get an editor If you are a novice when it comes to website building, make sure to have another pair of eyes look at your final product. This person should be a mentor or professor. They might recommend features you did not think of or catch a few typos. The feedback they provide will also help you understand what others see when they visit your website. Post and update continuously Why do you get on Facebook every day? The answer is because it is constantly changing. Therefore, keep the content coming on your website. Every time a new work of yours is published, update your website and then post it on social media to drive traffic. Being relevant also shows future employers that you are constantly at work.
www.kykernel.com
lexstyle
Local business captures the spirit of Kentucky By Lauryn Haas features@kykernel.com
“Kentucky kicks ass.” You’ll find this unmistakable slogan across the t-shirts, the flags and behind the registers in neon at the second location of Kentucky for Kentucky, a Lexington-based company with apparel and gear that is anything but your ordinary spirit wear. Partner and co-founder of Kentucky for Kentucky Whit Hiler was approached by The Summit at Fritz Farm, a Lexington destination that combines restaurants, shopping and Kentucky culture, to open a location of his retailer in the Food Barn. Combining the casual feel of a food hall with the community support of local businesses, the Food Barn was the perfect location to expand the message of Kentucky for Kentucky. The location opened in September 2017. “We started this brand as a side project back in 2011 when we tried to crowd fund a Super Bowl commercial for the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Hiler said. “In the end, we only raised $100,000 of the $3.5 million needed, but we got a lot of folks talking about how awesome Kentucky is.” The spirit of Kentucky shouts from the sweatshirts, mugs, socks and posters sold at the 450-square-foot retail space. Message boards, Lexington Avenue road signs, hand-woven wooden designs and the ABC’s of Kentucky line the walls of the white-paneled shop. A painting of Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey on a Camp-
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Mechanic’s Lien on Vehicle Model Year: 2004 Vehicle Make Kawasaki EX250F VIN: JKAEXMF124DA04233 Name of Owner: Ernest Robert Hall Lien Holders: Spring Leaf Financial & Dave’s Cycle Werks Price: $2000 Dave’s Cycle Werks, LLC 107 Trafton St., Suite 2140 Lexington, KY 40504 (859) 221‑4562
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Research Opportunities Alcohol Research Opportunities. Re searchers with the University of Kentucky are conducting research to examine the behavioral effects of medications and alcohol. Eligible volunteers will be paid for their participation. For more information and a confidential interview, please call: 859‑257‑5388.
LAURYN HASS I STAFF
Kentucky for Kentucky, a Lexington-based company specializing in Kentucky themed apparel and gear, opened their second Lexington location in the Food Barn at the Summit at Fritz Farm.
bell’s soup can hangs above a “Jabbatucky” t-shirt on a metal pipe, proudly adorning an image of Jabba the Hutt. A mannequin models a Gucci fanny pack over a bourbon tee. The flagship location of Kentucky for Kentucky, on 720 Bryan Ave., is called the Kentucky Fun Mall and contains 12,000-square-feet of retail, office and warehouse space. The fun-sized version of the store in the Food Barn “offers a much more curated selection of our goods,” Hiler said. Abby Matracia, a Writing, Rhetoric and Digital Studies senior and employee at Kentucky for Kentucky’s second location since mid-September, said that this location reflects the same message as the original location, but she noted the absence of the famed cocaine bear, a trademark of Kentucky for Kentucky. The smaller size of the store, however, allows her to interact with every customer and hear their beloved Kentucky stories.
“My favorite part about working here is the people that come in… Everyone has been so nice,” Matracia said. “A lot of people have really fun stories about how their families knew Colonel Sanders for example, fun cities they’re from, or just stuff about Kentucky.” Kentucky for Kentucky expands its voice beyond retail. In addition to the Super Bowl commercial funding, it started a petition to have Kentucky’s state drink changed from milk to bourbon. It even translated the beloved Southern smell of fried chicken into a candle to bring the flavor of Kentucky into homes everywhere. “I think Kentucky for Kentucky is very different from typical retailers for a lot of reasons. We didn’t start this company to become a retailer, we started it to promote the awesomeness of Kentucky,” Hiler said. “Our mission statement is to promote Kentucky’s people, places and things. And to kick ass for the Commonwealth.”
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Monday, January 29, 2018
the sc
p
CARTER GOSSETT I STAFF Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen Runs out of the tunnel before the game against the Florida Gators on Sept. 23, 2017, in Lexington, Kentucky.
UK football’s defense has potential next season By Chris Leach
sports@kykernel.com
It may be early, but the possibilities of what UK football’s defense can accomplish next year are intriguing. After Josh Allen, Mike Edwards, Jordan Jones and Denzil Ware all decided to return to Kentucky for their senior seasons, the defense is not shy about what they could accomplish next season. “Since I’ve been up here, we haven’t been to an SEC Championship and that’s one thing I want to go to,” Edwards said of what the goal is for next season. “Just win more games than we can win, especially all us returners except for one starter.” The only defensive starter UK will lose is Courtney Love, who finished as UK’s second leading tackler with 92 total tackles. Love was valued for his talent on the field, but where UK will really miss him is his leadership. However, Allen is not wor-
8 | kentucky kernel
ried about the new leadership roles since the starting lineup for the defense will be mostly comprised of seniors. “I feel like we have that now, with me, Mike (Edwards,) Denzil (Ware), (Derrick) Baity, Lonnie (Johnson),” Allen said. “We’re preparing to be ready, I feel like we are taking the right steps to do that.” Most of the time a unit is led by one particular individual, like what Love was for the Cats last season. In Allen’s opinion, UK needs more than one leader on the field in order to be successful. “We can’t just have two or three leaders on the defense, we got to have multiple – every position have a leader, not just somebody who does good in games,” Allen said. Another way the Cats can take a big step is to improve the secondary that struggled to contain offenses near the end of the season. While UK won’t lose any prominent member of its secondary, they still hope to involve the younger players
to provide depth for Edwards, Baity and Johnson. “Having four senior starters right now in the secondary plays a big part in the young guys that look up to us,” Edwards said. Edwards cited Jordan Griffin, Tyrell Ajian and Yusef Corker as players who could step up for the secondary. The Cats also return Davonte Robinson and Cedrick Dort who saw small amounts of playing time throughout the 2017 season. Despite the potential the defense has, they still know they have to work to prove that they can be a respectable unit. However, Allen didn’t return to UK just to be around Lexington, he came back to be a part of a special defense, and Allen believes there is a chance of that happening. “Everybody wants to get it done now cause it’s our last time,” Allen said. “All around the board, we are going to be solid, and I just wanted to be apart of that.”
HUNTER MITCHELL I STAFF Freshman forward Jarred Vanderbilt drives the lane during the game against Florida on Jan. 20, 2018, in Lexington, Kentucky.
Vanderbilt feels ready for college basketball
By Chase Campbell sports@kykernel.com
When an athlete is injured, their physical ability is limited to where they cannot play or practice. What does that say, then, about the preparation of Big Blue Nation’s newest beacon of hope? Jarred Vanderbilt, the 6-9 forward for UK basketball, excelled in his first game with the team in a loss at South Carolina. He sat out for over three months with an injury to his left foot, suffered during training camp. Against the Gamecocks, Vanderbilt notched six points, five rebounds and three assists in 14 minutes during the 68-76 loss. ESPN’s Seth Greenberg said that Vanderbilt “changes the DNA of this team,” but how much was he able to stay in shape during his extended period away from basketball? “I went through rehab, I listened to everything the doctors and the physical therapists had me doing, and
I tried to trust the process,” Vanderbilt said. “Just worked every day. There were different types of ways (to do cardio). We have a pool, work out in the pool, zero-gravity (treadmill).” Vanderbilt also hadn’t practiced much with the team, which left his offensive capabilities limited. In one of their most recent games against Mississippi State, Vanderbilt shot 1-7 from the floor, missing the rim entirely on several of his shots. Only two teammates shot more than Vanderbilt that game, but only one teammate scored less than him. After the team’s home loss to Florida, head coach John Calipari said that Vanderbilt could only run three or four plays on offense, and that he would look to the bench for direction on offense because of his limited experience. About his offensive shortcomings, Calipari said after the Mississippi State win: “I’m going to meet with him
and just say ‘What do you want me to do to get you involved offensively? What are you comfortable doing?’ Because he had seven rebounds in 11 minutes. Guys, he’s got to play.” Before his first appearance against the Gamecocks, Vanderbilt had reportedly participated in only one scrimmage to that point, a number which has since significantly increased. Vanderbilt also mentioned that he learned about the pace and style of college basketball simply by sitting and observing, but Calipari called it “almost hysterical” how Vanderbilt struggled to run the floor the first time he entered against South Carolina. “[Vanderbilt] lasted about 30 seconds, but that’s as much anxiety as it is conditioning. And it’s normal stuff,” Calipari said. The talented passer will look to mesh with the team as they head toward the postseason.