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A seAson for the Ages kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012
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UK Hoops
UK cohesiveness
Cats head to the NCAA tournament Team’s third straight appearance 3
Team has components for unity, shows selflessness on offense 5
kentucky kernel
postseason preview
03.07.12
Here are the Kernel’s special poster front pages leading up to the 2012 national championship game. From the top, clockwise, they are: the postseason preview, the Sweet 16 preview, the Final Four preview and the title game preview.
Get revenge on neighbors to the north: check. Blow out hyped 3-seed: check. Beat archrival in red: check. The Cats are now a few lobs, dunks and blocks away from coveted title No. 8. monday 04.02.12
kentuckykernel
kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 2
READY FOR REVENGE
UK’s Sweet 16 opponent, Indiana, was the only team to beat the Cats in the regular season.
3
TURNING THE CITY BLUE
UK fans flooded the Yum! Center for the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
2
DAVIS A NAISMITH FINALIST Anthony Davis was named one of four finalists for the player of the year award.
online
Kyle Wiltjer UK’s seventh man could make big plays for the Cats in SEC tournament 2
JUST TOO GOOD
UK stormed away from Iowa State in the second half to advance to the Sweet 16 in Atlanta.
4
Introduction
PHOTO BY MIKE WEAVER | STAFF
Fans crowd University Plaza at the corner of Woodland and Euclid avenues, an intersection dubbed by local businesses as “Championship Corner.” We were there. So many have expressed that sentiment: We were there when UK won a national championship. To be a witness to the 2011-12 UK basketball season was to witness history. A 38-2 season. An eighth national championship and the first in 14 years. All accomplished by a memorable group of players, who captivated fans with their skill, heart, smiles — and wins. There was senior Darius Miller, sacrificing for the team by accepting a role off the bench. There were sophomores Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb, who returned for another shot at a title. There were freshmen Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague and Kyle Wiltjer, who bonded in a short time with the entire team. No matter how short the duration, this season will last much longer in the minds of fans. The Cats blazed a path through college basketball. From a win over Kansas (in November) to a win over Kansas (national championship game), we were there, too. In a season full of memories from start to finish, we hope this helps you remember them all.
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kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 4
NCAA tournament UK entered the NCAA Tournament on a one-game losing streak.
UK 81 • Western Kentucky 66
That was rare for this team, but a loss to Vanderbilt in the conference championship finals had put a dent in UK’s record — and also relieved pressure off the overall No. 1 seed. No more 24-game win streak to defend, head coach John Calipari said. Time to just go play. UK found itself six wins away from the championship with the pressure of being the heavy favorite. To get there, though, UK had to run through a bracket that proved both familiar and formidable: Western Kentucky, Iowa State, Indiana, Baylor and Louisville. UK did just that, setting up another rematch game for the national title: Kansas.
game highs points: 22 by Jones rebounds: 10 by Jones assists: 4 by Teague PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
Forward Anthony Davis jumps for the opening tip-off against Kansas in the national championship game.
Guard Darius Miller skies for a dunk in the NCAA Tournament opener against Western Kentucky in Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center.
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UK 87 • Iowa State 71 PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Terrence Jones and Melvin Ejim jump for the rebound in the second half of the UK-Iowa State Round of 32 game on March 17. Jones had 11 rebounds.
PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
Freshman Marquis Teague scored a season-high 24 points in this Round of 32 game against Iowa State. The game was one of two the Cats played in Louisville’s KFC Yum! Center.
game highs points: 24 by Teague rebounds: 12 by Davis assists: 7 by Teague kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 6
UK 102 • Indiana 90
PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
Terrence Jones drives the ball on March 23 in Atlanta. UK suffered its only regular-season loss at Indiana in December, but the Cats beat the Hoosiers 102-90 in this Sweet 16 rematch.
game highs points: 24 by Kidd-Gilchrist rebounds: 12 by Davis assists: 7 by Teague
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Marquis Teague drives for a layup in UK’s win over Indiana. Teague, an Indiana native, scored 14 points.
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UK 82 • Baylor 70
PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist celebrates after UK’s win over No. 3-seeded Baylor, which secured the Cats’ trip to their 15th Final Four.
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Guard Doron Lamb looks to pass the ball against Baylor in UK’s Elite Eight game. Lamb scored 14 points, one of nine straight games of 10 or more points to close the season.
game highs points: 19 by Kidd-Gilchrist rebounds: 11 by Davis assists: 6 by Jones
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Center Eloy Vargas and forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who was the South Region’s Most Outstanding Player, joke on the bench near the end of the UK-Baylor game.
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UK 69 • Louisville 61
PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
Guard Marquis Teague attempts a layup against Louisville in the Final Four. The Cats beat the Cardinals for the second time this year.
game highs PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb and Marquis Teague celebrate after defeating Louisville in the Final Four on March 31. kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 9
points: 18 by Davis rebounds: 14 by Davis assists: 5 by Teague
National Championship 8 The confetti popped, the players hugged, the coaches pumped their fists and the fans — whether a few blocks away from the Superdome or hundreds of miles away in Lexington — started their celebrations. A 67-59 win over Kansas was the crowning ceremony for a UK team that had played under all-or-nothing pressure throughout the year. When UK opened up its season, one thing was on the mind: national championship. It was the singular goal of an entire team. And in the 40th game of the season, the Cats achieved their dream: a national title, the school’s eighth, for everyone to remember.
PHOTO BY SCOTT HANNIGAN | STAFF
Fans on State Street celebrate after UK’s win over Kansas for an eighth national championship.
game highs points: 22 by Lamb rebounds: 16 by Davis assists: 5 by Davis
PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
Forward Terrence Jones shoots a jumper against Kansas in the title game. Jones returned for a sophomore season to win a trophy.
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PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Head coach John Calipari and forward Anthony Davis hug after UK won the national championship. It was Calipari’s first title of his career, and Davis was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player.
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player profiles
Doron Lamb
Kyle Wiltjer
Marquis Teague
Terrence Jones
Y e ar - sophomore
Y e a r- freshman
Y e ar - freshman
Y e a r- sophomore
H ome t own -Queens, N.Y.
H ome t own -Portland, Ore.
H ome to wn -Indianapolis
H o met own -Portland, Ore.
H e igh t : 6’4” We i gh t: 210
H e ig ht : 6’9” W ei gh t: 239
H e igh t : 6’2” We i gh t: 189
H e i gh t: 6’9” We igh t : 252
P os it io n- guard
P osi ti on - forward
P os it io n- guard
Pos it io n - forward
Lamb returned to the Cats for his sophomore season and led the team with 76 made 3-pointers, hitting 46.6 percent of his attempts. Lamb came up huge in the NCAA Tournament. He connected on five 3-pointers in a 16-point effort against Iowa State in the NCAA second round. In the championship game against Kansas, Lamb led all scorers with 22 points, connected on 7-of12 shots from the floor and 5-of-6 shots from the free throw line.
Wiltjer is the only player from the seven-player rotation who will be returning to play for the Cats next year. Wiltjer hit 35-of-81 3point attempts on the season for 43.2 percent. He scored 24 points on 3-for-6 shooting from 3point range in a December game against Loyola.
Many credit Teague’s improved shooting and ball-handling skills in the second half of the season as a key component in the Cats’ title run. Teague finished the season averaging 10 points per game, with an almost twoto-one assists-to-turnover ratio. He scored 24 points and dished seven assists in the Cats' second-round NCAA win over Iowa State.
Jones considered moving on to the NBA after his freshman season with the Cats, but returned with a national championship as a goal. Jones finished the year averaging 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. He led the Cats to an NCAA first-round victory over Western Kentucky, scoring 22 points and securing 10 rebounds. He scored 27 points in a January win over LSU.
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playerprofiles Contributors
Anthony Davis
Darius Miller
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Ye a r - freshman
Y ea r - senior
Y e ar - freshman
H ome t own -Chicago
Ho m e to wn -Maysville, Ky.
H o me to wn -Somerdale, N.J.
H e igh t : 6’10” We i gh t: 220
H e i gh t: 6’8” We igh t : 235
H e igh t : 6’7” We i gh t: 232
Pos it io n - forward
Po si ti on - guard
Po si ti on - forward
Davis won many individual awards in leading the Cats to a national title, nearly sweeping the national player of the year awards and capturing the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award. Davis set an SEC singleseason and NCAA freshman record for blocked shots, swatting 186 for the season. He scored 18 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked five shots in the Cats' Final Four victory over rival Louisville.
Miller brought consistent senior leadership to a championship team filled with underclassmen. Miller finished the season averaging 9.9 points per game, hitting 37.6 percent of his 3-point attempts. Miller led the Cats’ second-half comeback at Mississippi State to help stay undefeated in the SEC, hitting three key 3-pointers in a 12 point scoring effort.
Kidd-Gilchrist was defined by his energy and enthusiasm, coming up big in “rivalry” games for the Cats. He fueled UK’s rematch win over Indiana in the Sweet 16 with 24 points and 10 rebounds, and had 24 points with 19 rebounds in the Cats’ New Year’s Eve win over Louisville.
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Senior forward Eloy V arg as played in 33 games for the Cats. He was able to gain more experience prior to his final season by touring with Reach USA and the Dominican Republic National Team. Junior guard Twany B eckham was eligible to play for Cats mid-season after transferring from Mississippi State. Beckham saw action in 16 games during the season and will be available to play his entire senior season for the Cats. Freshman guard Brian Long was a walk-on who played in 12 games during the season for the Cats. J arrod Polson is a sophomore guard who has earned a scholarship each of his two years on the team. The Nicholasville native saw action in 11 games this season. S am Malone is a freshman walk-on guard who played in six games this season before suffering a season-ending knee injury.
Coach John Calipari John Calipari was hired at UK in 2009 after coaching at Massachusetts, Memphis and in a short stint in the NBA. In three years in Lexington, Calipari has been to the Elite Eight each year. After losing in the Final Four in 2011, his 2012 team won the NCAA Championship, Calipari’s first in 20 years as a college head coach. His 102 wins in the past three years are the most of any coach in that time. He has seen seven UK players get drafted in the first round of the NBA draft in two years, a number that is sure to increase in the 2012 draft in June. Calipari has an official career record of 505-151 (.770), accounting for 38 wins from the 2008 season that were vacated after an issue with Memphis guard Derrick Rose’s entrance exam. Calipari’s $3.8 million guaranteed salary makes him the highestpaid coach in college basketball.
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Head coach John Calipari cuts down the nets after winning his first national championship.
John Calipari paces the sideline during UK’s Final Four game against Louisville. The win improved Calipari to 4-0 at UK against Rick Pitino.
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PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Head coach John Calipari and guards Doron Lamb and Darius Miller watch “One Shining Moment” after winning the title. kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 15
102
wins at UK
Ref lection on 8 What a season. An eighth national championship, a 38-2 record and numerous broken records along the way. To recap it all, here’s a statistical retrospective on the 2011-12 title-winning season.
on UK’s singleseason assists list (191)
186
10.0 PPG
blocks (broke school, SEC and NCAA freshman records)
1.8 A/T
2.5
John Calipari UK basketball head coach
BPG
Marquis Teague 6-foot-2 189 pounds
7.2 RPG
1.8
11.9 PPG
7.4 RPG
1.9
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 6-foot-7 232 pounds
8
national player of the year awards
5th
on UK’s singleseason rebounds list (415)
13.7
20
double-doubles, tying UK freshman record (DeMarcus Cousins)
14.2
RPG
1.5 46.6
PPG
Terrence Jones 6-foot-9 252 pounds
5.0 PPG
1.8
RPG
3-pt. %
Anthony Davis 6-foot-11 244 pounds
62.3 FG %
(previous: 315, 2003-04 Connecticut)
School record for most wins in a season
38
(previous: 36, 1947-48)
NCAA record for most wins in a season
38
(previous: 38, 2008 Memphis)
+16.8 Scoring margin
(second: Ohio State, 14.9)
8.6 Blocks
career games played, setting a new UK record
(second: St. Joseph’s, 7.2 bpg)
37.4% Field-goal percentage defense (second: Michigan State, 37.9)
1,248 career points (34th in UK history)
9.9
RPG
PPG
3-pt. %
Kyle Wiltjer 6-foot-9 239 pounds
344
NCAA record for team blocks
Led the nation in
152
43.2 10.2
APG
Doron Lamb 6-foot-4 210 pounds
PPG
APG
career points (57th in UK history)
2.7
12.3
BPG
1,018 PPG
1,064 career points (tied for 52nd in UK history)
currently the school’s career leader in 3-point percentage (47.5 percent)
5th
rebounds
Broken records:
in salary and performancebased bonuses earned this year
608
Tied:
$4.55 million
As a team:
2.8
0.8
2.0
1.7
RPG
Darius Miller 6-foot-8 235 pounds
Eloy Vargas 6-foot-11 244 pounds
APG
kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012
kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012
16
17
PPG
RPG
PHOTO BY TESSA LIGHTY | STAFF
Forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist hoists the trophy after UK returned home from New Orleans.
Road to the championship It all started against Marist, a 108-
It showed why UK was, entering
Carolina, and Louisville, and all 11
58 victory that, in retrospect, was
the season, the co-favorite to win the
other SEC teams. The Cats didn’t
perhaps the most fitting way to start
national title. The Cats had the most
beat every team that stood in their
this season: a dominating, talent-on-
talent, an enthralling combination of
way, but they came close — closer
full-display 40 minutes that had peo-
new and old stars at all the right
than anyone would have realistically
ple in awe at the raw talent UK pos-
positions.
predicted. It was a memorable way
sessed.
And then came Kansas, and North
to set up what was to come next.
kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 18
UK 75 • Kansas 65
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Forward Terrence Jones drives during UK’s regular-season game against Kansas in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 15.
game highs points: 17 by Lamb rebounds: 9 by Kidd-Gilchrist assists: 4 by Kidd-Gilchrist, Miller
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Forward Anthony Davis throws up the “3-goggle” sign during UK’s regularseason game against Kansas. Davis scored 14 points with seven blocks.
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UK 73 • North Carolina 72
game highs points: 17 by Kidd-Gilchrist rebounds: 11 by Kidd-Gilchrist assists: 4 by Teague
PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Marquis Teague celebrates as time winds down in UK’s home win over North Carolina on Dec. 3.
Anthony Davis blocks North Carolina’s John Henson to seal UK’s onepoint win over the Tar Heels.
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PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Forward Kyle Wiltjer runs down the court after making a shot against North Carolina on Dec. 3. UK beat the Tar Heels in its first week with the nation’s No. 1 ranking. kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 21
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Forward Terrence Jones loses the ball in UK’s loss to Indiana at Assembly Hall on Dec. 10. It was the Cats’ only regular-season loss.
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UK 72 • Indiana 73
game highs points: 19 by Lamb rebounds: 9 by Kidd-Gilchrist, Davis assists: 5 by Teague
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Guard Darius Miller shoots a jumper against Indiana. After the game, Miller had to escape the Hoosier fans rushing the court.
Terrence Jones grabs the ball in UK’s game against Indiana. The game was Jones’ worst of the year: four points and one rebound.
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UK 69 • Louisville 62 game highs points: 24 by Kidd-Gilchrist rebounds: 19 by Kidd-Gilchrist assists: 5 by Teague
PHOTO BY MIKE WEAVER | STAFF
Forward Eloy Vargas and guard Darius Miller fight for a loose ball against Louisville. The Cats held the Cardinals to 32.3 percent field-goal shooting in the win.
PHOTO BY SCOTT HANNIGAN | STAFF
Guard Marquis Teague, who once thought he would be a Cardinal, drives the ball in UK’s New Year’s Eve win over Louisville at Rupp Arena.
PHOTO BY SCOTT HANNIGAN | STAFF
Forwards Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Anthony Davis, who both had double-doubles, celebrate a win over Louisville.
kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 24
PHOTO BY MIKE WEAVER | STAFF
Forward Anthony Davis dunks the ball against Louisville on Dec. 31. Davis had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the rivalry win.
kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 25
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Doron Lamb, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marquis Teague celebrate in their championship gear after beating Kansas to win the NCAA title. kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 26
PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
Former President Lee Todd, left, and President Eli Capilouto, right, cut the nets after UK beat Baylor to advance to the Final Four.
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
Doron Lamb, Terrence Jones and Marquis Teague celebrate UK’s regular-season win over Kansas in New York.
PHOTO BY BRANDON GOODWIN | STAFF
Terrence Jones grabs the ball between two Western Kentucky players during UK’s NCAA Tournament opener.
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SEC Tournament
kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 28
Scores from the SEC tournament UK 60 • LSU 51 UK 74 • Florida 71 UK 64 • Vanderbilt 71
Marquis Teague drives to the basket against LSU in the opening game of the SEC Tournament in New Orleans.
PHOTOS BY QUIANNA LIGE | STAFF
Top: Anthony Davis dunks the ball in the SEC Tournament final to Vanderbilt, the Cats’ second (and last) loss of the season. UK is presented the SEC regular-season championship trophy at the conference tournament. UK went 16-0 in SEC play during the year.
Left: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist drives the ball against LSU in the opening round of the SEC Tournament, a 60-51 UK win.
kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 29
Contributors Writers Aaron Smith Les Johns David Schuh Sam Rothbauer Photographers Latara Appleby Brandon Goodwin Mike Weaver Quianna Lige Scott Hannigan Tessa Lighty Designers Kelsey Joseph Alex Lovan Copy Editors Taylor Moak Becca Clemons
PHOTO BY LATARA APPLEBY | STAFF
UK players flood the floor as confetti streams down after the Cats won the national championship.
kentucky kernel | thursday, april 19, 2012 30
Here are the Kernel’s front pages from every year UK has won a national championship. Top row: 1948, 1949, 1951 and 1958. Middle row: 1978 and 1996. Bottom row: 1998 and 2012.
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