Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Kentucky Wildcats Win First Round NCAA Tournament Game
Aired March 15, 2002 - 06:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Round one of March Madness got underway yesterday, a couple of surprises I guess. One team that had a slightly disappointing regular season looking to rebound.
CNNSI's Josie Karp has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSIE KARP, CNNSI CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When the NCAA Tournament began, Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith ordered his team to look at its game against Valparaiso as a whole new season. By beating the Crusaders convincingly, the team that is trying to forget also sends a reminder.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it just shows that you know guys are ready to try to get a little redemption you know on the year, and we're going to approach it like from a positive standpoint. We're going to approach it like we're supposed to win and go out and play like Kentucky is supposed to play.
KEITH BOGANS, KENTUCKY WILDCATS: It goes to show what type of team we can be when we come to play for the whole 40 minutes like we did today.
GERALD FITCH, KENTUCKY WILDCATS: That's what you know we wanted the tournament to be, we want to just forget the whole past and you know start a new slate. Everybody was back to zero, and now every team in the country, and you know I think we're starting off pretty well. It might surprise you guys because we kind of struggled all year, but you know when everybody's playing up to their potential, it's going to be games like this all the time.
CLIFF HAWKINS, KENTUCKY WILDCATS: We stuck together and you know we hear the other, you know we put it -- put forth a decent effort tonight. And no, we're not giving up no matter who else gives up on us.
KARP: Kentucky is trying to forget that five different players missed 11 games due to suspensions for violations ranging from fights to using fake IDs. The Wildcats are trying to forget losses in three of their last six games, including a defeat against South Carolina in the SEC Tournament. So much went wrong for Kentucky leading up to the Valparaiso game, it was easy to forget one thing, when the season began, the Wildcats were supposed to compete for a national title. TUBBY SMITH, KENTUCKY HEAD COACH: With the things that have happened, you know it's been pretty -- you know pretty stressful and it's been hard to -- for me to stay composed and stay focused.
TAYSHAUN PRICE, KENTUCKY WILDCATS: And we did have up and downs and we made mistakes on and off the basketball court, it was up to me to help those guys out. And I think by me coming back and me being here, you know the next couple years when I'm not here, some of those guys will understand the role they'll have to take and you know hopefully follow my lead and you know show the type of leadership that I've showed on and off the basketball court.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the same time that he was being supportive, you know he's telling -- he was, you know, letting me know that, you know, that was bad choices and I needed to, you know, not make those choices again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But right now people remember us by, you know, team and all these distraction, mediocre. If we win a national championship, they're going to remember Kentucky, yes, those guys pulled it together and you know they did what it take and to get the job done.
KARP (on camera): The idea of a fresh start really seemed to hit home with guard Keith Bogans. He averaged only 10.9 points per game leading up to the tournament, but he was Kentucky's leading scorer against Valparaiso with 21, and that included four three pointers. His performance underscored his coach's post-game sentiment. Although Smith has called this his toughest season, he also said there is still time for this team to change that feeling.
In Saint Louis, I'm Josie Karp.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MYERS: Thank you, Josie.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And Kentucky won, so good for them.
MYERS: And Gonzaga lost.
COSTELLO: Well bad for them.
MYERS: America's favorite Cinderella out, but Miami also lost. Wyoming, the Cowboys are in, so there could be a couple of steps up there to Cinderella.
COSTELLO: Well that makes it more interesting, though, doesn't it?
MYERS: Sure does, makes it fun.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Chad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
