Questions abound as Wildcats look toward next year

Posted 1:39PM on Tuesday 26th March 2002 ( 23 years ago )

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - Although he'll never again step on the court in a Kentucky jersey, Tayshaun Prince expects big things from the Wildcats - starting next season. ``The talent will be there again,'' Prince said after Kentucky's 78-68 loss to Maryland in the NCAA tournament's East Regional semifinal. ``They can achieve bigger and better things.'' Whether or not they do will depend on many things, first and foremost which players will be part of the team next year. Kentucky coach Tubby Smith says he will review every aspect of the program from top himself and his staff to bottom support personnel - and make necessary changes to ensure that this year's roller-coaster 22-10 season will not repeat itself. ``We certainly felt like we had to overcome some things this year,'' Smith said on his final weekly radio show of the season on Monday night. ``They started back in the summer of last year and just kind of snowballed and cascaded into a lot of other issues that proved to be distractions. ``There are issues we have to address in the offseason as you would with any other team. Some attitudes and behaviors are going to have to change.'' Smith would not discuss any possible changes Monday. ``When there are changes, everybody will know - probably before I know,'' he said, only half-jokingly. ``That's the way it usually works.'' Despite some speculation that he was unhappy or that a new athletic director could bring a change in coaches, Smith said he will return for a sixth season. ``I hope so ... I planned on being back,'' he said. ``Hopefully the majority of people want me to be back. I don't know.'' The program took its first hit last June when sophomore center Jason Parker tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a pickup game. He re-injured the knee horsing around in the team's locker room minutes before Midnight Madness, requiring a second surgery and forcing him to miss the entire season. Smith expressed disappointment that Parker's rehabilitation hasn't gone as well as expected. ``He just hasn't been getting after it like I think he should,'' Smith said. ``He hasn't been committed to doing what he has to do to get that knee rehabbed. ``He can't have any time off. That concerned me from the beginning, his mental and psychological focus. You can't make up for time lost.'' As for the rest of the roster, it could see significant turnover before the team takes the practice floor in October. Junior guard Keith Bogans, who flirted with the NBA draft last summer but returned to Kentucky only to have a tepid junior season, was noncommittal when asked following the Maryland loss about his future. Bogans led the team in scoring with 17 points as a sophomore but his average and shooting percentage plummeted to 11.6 and 39.4, respectively, this season as he struggled with his jump shot - and his confidence. ``I don't know what I'll do right now,'' he said. ``I haven't thought about it. It's going to take some time to get over this loss.'' Smith said he didn't know whether Bogans would return to lead the team as a senior as Prince did. ``We talked about some things today ... who knows?'' Smith said. ``We'll do some research like we normally do. But I would think based on this year there would be some real concerns.'' A trio of young guards also could be absent by the time next year's team photo is taken. Freshman Adam Chiles was indefinitely suspended toward the end of the year. Smith said he would re-evaluate Chiles' status after the season. Seldom-used freshman Josh Carrier expressed displeasure with his playing time and hinted he may look to transfer. Freshman sharpshooter Rashaad Carruth, who missed several games for disciplinary reasons, also has said he also may leave because of a lack of playing time. Following the Maryland loss, Carruth told reporters he may transfer, adding that the decision would be his mother's to make. ``This year, we felt that all the things that could go wrong did go wrong,'' Smith said. ``It's been a season of ups and downs, one of the most stressful seasons I've had. ``I love to coach and I love the players. I love each and every one of them and tell them that all the time. But there are some things I don't like that need to change. That's where I am with some of them at this point.'' Topping the list of players expected to return are centers Jules Camara and Marquis Estill, who combined to give the team 15 points and eight rebounds per game. Guards Cliff Hawkins and Gerald Fitch and forwards Erik Daniels and Chuck Hayes also are expected back, as are walk-ons Matt Heissenbuttel and Cory Sears, giving the team a solid, experienced nucleus upon which to build for the future. The team will add junior-college transfer Antwain Barbour and incoming freshmen Brandon Stockton and Bernard Cote. Prince, a likely top pick in this summer's NBA draft, said the players will have to grow up if they hope to avoid the distractions that derailed this year's hopes of a Final Four run. ``It's important for these guys to lead the right way next year,'' he said. ``Obviously, they've got to learn from this year and improve. We made a good turnaround in the tournament, but it is imperative the team focuses that way all of next year. ``It doesn't matter how much talent you have if there's always some distraction going on. They should have seen that this year and learned from it. If they didn't, they won't have the season they want next year, either.''

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/196924