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<I><A HREF='http://www.clari.net/'>ClariNet</A> <CLARI-ITEM TYPE>story</CLARI-ITEM> <B><CLARI-ITEM SLUGWORD>BKC-LGNS-KAFCAPS-R</CLARI-ITEM></B> from <CLARI-ITEM FROM>Sports Ticker</CLARI-ITEM></I><BR>
<H1><CLARI-ITEM HEADLINE>Kentucky Team Capsule</CLARI-ITEM></H1>
<I><B><CLARI-ITEM COPYRIGHT>Copyright 1997 by SportsTicker Enterprises L.P.</CLARI-ITEM></B></I> / <I><CLARI-ITEM DATE>Tue, 25 Mar 1997 6:51:29 PST</CLARI-ITEM></I><P>
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<H2>SPORTSTICKER COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOTE</H2>
<P>
<P>Nickname: Wildcats
Overall record and conference finish: 34-4, (thru Regional Final)</P>
<P>                                       2nd place in SEC East Division</P>
<P>Seed, Region and Bid: 1, Automatic, West
Total NCAA Tournament Appearances: 39, sixth consecutive
NCAA Tournament Record: 76-34 (thru Regional Final)</P>
<P>
<P>How they reached the Final Four:</P>
<PRE>First Round:          Defeated 16th-seeded Montana, 92-54
Second Round:         Defeated  8th-seeded Iowa, 75-69
</PRE><P>Regional Semifinals:  Defeated  4th-seeded St. Joseph's, 83-68</P>
<PRE>Regional Finals:      Defeated  2nd-seeded Utah, 72-59
<P>
</PRE><P>Coach: Rick Pitino (15th year overall, 351-123)
Record at Kentucky: 228-49, 8 years</P>
<P>
<PRE>Final Associated Press Ranking:      5th
Final CNN/USA Today Ranking:         4th
Final RPI Ranking:                   2nd
Final Sagarin Computer Ranking:      2nd
<P>
</PRE><P>Record over last 10 games: 9-1, Won 7 straight</P>
<P>Record vs. NCAA Tournament teams: 11-4</P>
<PRE>Lost to No. 20 Clemson on November 15th, 79-71           (Neutral)
</PRE><P>Defeated College of Charleston on November 30th, 92-65   (Neutral)</P>
<PRE>Defeated Purdue on December 3rd, 101-87                  (Neutral)
Defeated No. 8 Indiana on December 7th, 99-65            (Neutral)
Defeated No. 14 Louisville on December 31st, 74-54       (Road)
Lost to Mississippi on January 11th, 73-69               (Road)
Defeated No. 21 Georgia on January 14th, 86-65           (Road)
Defeated Vanderbilt on January 22nd, 58-46               (Home)
Defeated Georgia on February 1st, 82-57                  (Home)
</PRE><P>Lost to No. 19 South Carolina on February 4th, 84-79 (OT)(Road)</P>
<PRE>Defeated No. 14 Villanova on February 9th, 93-56         (Home)
Defeated Vanderbilt on February 22nd, 82-79              (Road)
Lost to No. 6 South Carolina on March 2nd, 72-66         (Home)
Defeated Mississippi on March 8th, 88-70                 (Neutral)
Defeated No. 24 Georgia on March 9th, 95-68              (Neutral)
<P>
</PRE><P>(Opponent rankings reflect ranking at time of game)</P>
<P>Last NCAA Tournament Appearance: 1996, First seed in Midwest Region
Defeated San Jose State, 110-72, in first round
Defeated Virginia Tech, 84-60, in second round
Defeated Utah, 101-70, in Midwest regional semifinal
Defeated Wake Forest, 83-63, in Midwest regional final
Defeated Massachusetts, 81-74, in national semifinal
Defeated Syracuse, 76-67, in national championship game</P>
<P>
<P>Last Five NCAA Tournament Appearances:
1996-Won National Championship</P>
<PRE>1995-Lost in regional finals         (North Carolina)
1994-Lost in second round            (Marquette)
1993-Lost in National Semifinals     (Michigan)
1992-Lost in regional finals         (Duke)
<P>
</PRE><P>Best NCAA Tournament Finish: 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978 and 1996,</P>
<P>                             National Champions</P>
<P>Starters: (Updated stats thru Regional Final)</P>
<PRE>F-Jared Prickett     (6-9, Sr., 8.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
F-Ron Mercer         (6-7, So., 18.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
C-Nazr Mohammed      (6-10, So., 7.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
G-Anthony Epps       (6-2, Sr., 8.7 ppg, 4.8 apg, 39.3 3pt%)
G-Wayne Turner       (6-2, So., 6.5 ppg, 2.9 apg)
<P>
</PRE><P>Top Reserves: (Updated stats thru Regional Final)
G/F-Allen Edwards    (6-4, Jr., 9.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
C-Jamaal Magloire    (6-10, Fr., 5.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg)</P>
<PRE>F-Scott Padgett      (6-9, So., 9.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
G-Cameron Mills      (6-3, Jr., 5.6 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 54.3 3pt%)
<P>
F-Derek Anderson     (6-4, Sr., 18.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 40.4 3pt%) <STRONG>Injured</STRONG>
<P>
</PRE><P>Outlook: Kentucky is back in the Final Four and no one has figured out a way
to stop it yet.  The Wildcats seem more focused and are playing with emotion
this time around, something they lacked in their business-like run in 1995.
Mercer outplayed Keith Van Horn in the regional finals and triggered the run
that broke the game open.  With Edwards hurt, the Wildcats are down to eight
scholarship players, but they are eight of the greatest players, scholarship
or not.  Mohammed has quietly put together solid games in the regionals and
Turner has been solid throughout the Tournament.  Mills had his first off-game
of the Tournament against Utah, but should be able to bounce back.  This is
the first time in a long while Kentucky is facing a team with superior depth
like Minnesota has.  The key matchup will be Mercer against Sam Jacobson at the
small forward slot.  Turner has the ability to bottle up good point guards, and
will have a challenge in Bobby Jackson.  Prickett and Mohammed will have to
battle Courtney James and John Thomas in the low block and must establish
position to win the rebounding battle.  If Kentucky is going to press, it must
do so in spurts and pick its spots wisely.  Mercer likely will also be matched
up with Gophers super-sub Quincy Lewis, so the rest of the team may have to
step up offensively.  Padgett and Prickett will have to hit a few shots from
the perimeter to stretch the defense and the backcourt will have to push
Minnesota and dictate the tempo themselves.</P>
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