UK -29, 2*
UK first half -15, 3*
Tennessee State is in big trouble here, Hopefully UK won;t leave the backdoor open like Ohio State did Saturday. If they do, you won;t hear any complaining from me -- that would fall under the "foolme once, shame on you ..." category.
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Posted on Mon, Dec. 30, 2002
Fluffy foes should cushion Cats' loss
TENNESSEE STATE STARTS UK'S HEALING PROCESS
By Jerry Tipton
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER
Kentucky wants more than a victory against Tennessee State tonight. After the dispiriting loss to archrival Louisville Saturday, the Cats want to remind themselves of their regal status.
"Any time you lose a big game, it takes something out of you," UK Coach Tubby Smith said after the Louisville game. "We have to regroup. We have to get that confidence back -- that swagger back for conference play."
UK (6-3) will get three opportunities in the next six days to find its groove. After the Tennessee State game, the Cats play Alcorn State Thursday and then Ohio Saturday in Cincinnati before beginning the Southeastern Conference schedule at Tennessee on Jan. 8.
Until the second half against Louisville, UK seemed on a steady uptick. Kentucky had won six straight and then zoomed to a 20-9 lead against the Cardinals.
The joyride ended when U of L dominated the second half. The Cards made 53.6 percent of their shots (six of nine from three-point range), held UK to 34.5-percent shooting (a season-low 37.1 percent for the game) and even outrebounded the much taller Cats 21-12.
Smith questioned UK's effort and attitude.
"We couldn't find our rhythm," senior guard Keith Bogans said of the second half. "We took quick shots and rushed ourselves. That's what they wanted us to do I guess."
If anything, Tennessee State is in an even more confused state. The Tigers are without Coach Nolan Richardson III, the son of former Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson. The school suspended the younger Richardson indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of university policy.
Richardson was suspended Friday and did not travel with the team to Ohio State, where Tennessee State lost 94-73 Saturday. That loss dropped the Tigers' record to 2-6.
Assistant Hosea Lewis is filling in as coach for Tennessee State.
The NCAA is investigating the program for rules violations under Richardson. The inquiry involves allegations of impermissible practice out of season, providing extra benefits to recruits and unethical conduct by a coach.
Richardson has a 23-41 record in three seasons at Tennessee State.
Tennessee State is a family affair. The coach's nephew, Garrett Richardson, averages 10.0 points and is the team leader.
Garrett Richardson made only one of 14 shots in a homecoming of sorts, a 91-72 loss at UTEP. Tennessee State also lost 84-51 at Iowa.
More embarrassing were losses to two low-profile colleges near Tennessee State: 69-65 to Fisk and 97-85 to Lipscomb.
Tennessee State appears to be the tonic to revive UK's rebounding. Ohio State outrebounded the Tigers 48-22. That left Tennessee State with an average rebound margin of minus 5.6.
State also has a generous defense. Opponents have made 49 percent of their shots (254 of 518) against the Tigers.
After the Louisville game, Smith said that the loss did not end the season.
"We have a lot of games left," the UK coach said. "We're not a third of the way through the season."
Cliff Hawkins spoke of a turnaround beginning tonight.
"I'm pretty sure guys will be fired up for next week and be ready to play," he said before adding, "But this hurts."
After the loss to Louisville, teammate Chuck Hayes saw this week as a good indicator of Kentucky's inner being.
"It'll be interesting to see how we're able to bounce back from this," he said. "Even though it's a tough loss, we have a game on Monday. We have to take it like any other loss and move on."
