Time: 02-27-2012 22:12 User: rtaylor2 PubDate: 02-28-2012 Zone: KY Edition: 1 Page Name: C4 Color: CyanMagentaYellowBlack

C4 | TUESDAY,FEBRUARY28, 2012 | THE COURIER-JOURNAL SPORTS | courier-journal.com/sports KY COLLEGE Zeller can pay Hoyas’ seniors secure backSpartans big victoryoverIrish IU tries to prevent No. 5Michigan State at No. 23 Indiana Mich. State clinch Game time: 7p.m. Site: Assembly Kentucky still the 1 Hall. Favorite: Michigan State by 2. By Terry Hutchens Series: Indiana leads 65-49. Last meet- in AP Top25poll The Indianapolis Star ing: Michigan State won 80-65, Dec. 28, 2011,East Lansing, Mich. Television: Staff, wireservice reports BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Two ESPN. Radio: WNDA 1570, WSLM-97.9. months ago today,Michigan State Playing at home for the last provided Cody Zeller with his Michigan State (24-5, 13-3) Pos.-Player Ht. Yr.Rb. Pts. time, Jason Clark and Henry first taste of Big Tenbasketball. F-Draymond Green 6-7 Sr.10.3 15.6 Sims combined for 25 points, 12 The Spartans roughed him up, C-Adreian Payne 6-10 So. 4.0 6.8 rebounds and six assists on Sen- pushed him around, and limited G-Austin Thornton 6-5 Sr.3.4 5.1 ior Day,helping No. 11 George- Indiana’s6-foot-11 freshman cen- G-Keith Appling 6-1 So. 3.0 11.7 town beat No. 20 Notre Dame 59- ter to four points in his Big Tende- G-Branden Dawson 6-6 Fr.4.7 8.7 41 on Monday night in akey but. Zeller managed just five shot Reserves — Brandon Wood, G, 6-2, game for Big East tournament attempts, three rebounds and had Sr., 8.2 pts.; Derrick Nix, F, 6-9, Jr., 7.8; seeding. four fouls. Russell Byrd, F, 6-7, Fr., 1.6; Brandan Clark finished with 13 points But Indiana coach TomCrean Kearney, G, 6-5, Fr., 1.2. and six rebounds, while Sims is quick to point out that Zeller had 12 points and five assists. showed three days later that he No. 18 Indiana (22-7, 9-7) While they have led the way all was aquick study,too. In the New Pos.-Player Ht. Yr.Rb. Pts. season for Georgetown (22-6, Year’sEve game with Ohio State, F-Christian Watford 6-9 Jr.5.3 11.6 C-Cody Zeller 6-11 Fr.6.5 15.4 12-5) on aroster with 10 fresh- Zeller had 14 points and handled G- 6-5 So. 5.4 11.2 men and sophomores, there was the physical play at ahigher level. G-Jordan Hulls 6-0 Jr.2.6 11.2 plenty of help from the young- “Ithink the big thing we saw F-Will Sheehey 6-6 So. 3.1 8.5 sters, as usual. from Cody from game one to Reserves — Derek Elston, F, 6-9, So., 5.0 Greg Whittington contribut- game two was how and quick and pts.; Verdell Jones III, G, 6-5, Sr., 7.6; Tom ed 15 points on 5-for-6 shooting, willing he was to adapt and figure Pritchard, F, 6-9, Sr., 1.4; Matt Roth, G, including 3of3on3-pointers, things out and then he carried 6-3, Sr., 4.6; Daniel Moore, G, 5-10,Sr., and another freshman, Otto Por- those things right into the Ohio 0.1; Remy Abell, G, 6-4, Fr., 3.0; Austin ter,had 10 rebounds. State game,” Crean said. “Ithink Etherington, F, 6-6, Fr., 1.4; JeffHoward, Notre Dame (20-10,12-5) lost what has happened over aperiod F, 6-8, So., 0.0; Raphael Smith, G, 6-2, Fr., its second straight following a of time is that Cody has shown 0.0; Taylor Wayer,G,5-11, So., 0.0; Kori school-record, nine-game Big that the more physical you are Barnett, F, 6-5, Sr., 0.5. East winning streak. It made 3of with him the better he is going to game but you watch the film and 17 3-point attempts, after going 4 be. Idon’tthink that affects him. I you see how he affects the game for 31 in aloss at St. John’son think he relishes it.” with his help defense, with his de- Saturday. Georgetown senior Jason Clark drives on NotreDame’sEric Atkins on Obviously,all eyes will be on flections, with his activity and his Both the Hoyas and Fighting Monday night. EVAN HABEEB/US PRESSWIRE Zeller tonight when No. 18 Indi- running and his passing.” Irish are in the running for atop- ana (22-7, 9-7 Big Ten) plays host Michigan State coach TomIzzo four seeding and adouble-bye followed by Marquette, Baylor UConn, which has gone 3-4 to No. 5Michigan State (24-5, said his team is facing its toughest into the quarterfinals of the con- and Ohio State. during Calhoun’smedical leave 13-3). Avictory tonight would en- week of the season. After facing ference tournament. George- Creighton is the week’slone for spinal stenosis, plays at able the Spartans to clinch the Indiana today,the Spartans play town finishes its pre-tourna- newcomer,returning to the Providence on Tu esday. outright Big Tenchampionship. host to Ohio State on Sunday. ment schedule by playing at No. rankings at No. 25 after two Michigan State was assured a As for facing IU, he said he 8Marquette on Saturday,while weeks out of the poll. The Blue- Women share of the title on Sunday when thought Indiana was playing Notre Dame closes at home jays, winners of four straight, »Virginia-Wise 83, Pikeville Ohio State lost to Wisconsin. some of its best basketball of the against Providence on Friday. replace New Mexico, which 47: The host Cavaliers (9-20) As for IU, the Hoosiers are season as the Hoosiers have won »IUSoutheast 98, Cincin- moved in last week for the first scored the first 13 points and looking to post their third victory five of their last six. He said the nati Christian 63: The No. 14- time this season at No. 18,then never looked back in beating the this season over atop five ranked two players who have stood out ranked Grenadiers (24-7, 12-1) fell out after losing two games. Bears (4-27) in the opening team. In December,Indiana have been Victor Oladipo and got off to aslow start but opened Florida State, the third round of the Mid-South Confer- knocked off No. 1Kentucky and Zeller. a52-39 first-half lead on the way ranked team to lose two games ence Tournament. then-No. 2Ohio State in athree- “Ithink Zeller has really im- to the KIAC championship last week, dropped from 15th to »IUSoutheast 81, Alice week span. proved his game,” Izzo said. “The game. 22nd. Lloyd 57: The Grenadiers (25-7, In the 16 games since that Big way he runs the court now,and 9-2) used swarming defense to Tenopening 80-65 loss at Michi- he’ssomuch better with the ball UK, Syracuse followed Calhoun surgery force 10 second-half turnovers gan State, Zeller has only been in the post. And he’sbecome a by Kansas successful and pull away from the Lady Ea- held to single digits in scoring much better passer and he gets Kentucky and Syracuse are University of Connecticut gles (11-21, 6-5) and advance to twice. Once was aroad game at the ball out. And Oladipo has the top two teams in The Associ- coach Jim Calhoun has under- the KIAC finals. Wisconsin and the other was Sun- stepped his game up enormous- ated Press’ Top25for afifth gone what the school says was »No. 18 St. John’s54, No. 12 day on the road at Minnesota. He ly.” straight week, while Kansas successful surgery to address Georgetown 45: Amber had seven points in IU’s69-50 vic- Twoplayers that could impact moves up to aseason-high No. 3. the spinal condition that has Thompson grabbed 15 rebounds tory over the Gophers. the game tonight in different Kentucky received 63 first- forced him to miss the Huskies’ and the Red Storm used their ad- Crean said ameasure of how ways are Michigan State’s6-9 ju- place votes from the 65-member past seven games. vantage on the boards to beat the far Zeller has come, however,isto nior Derrick Nix and IU sopho- national media panel Monday The school says the two-hour host Hoyas in the regular-season look at how he influenced Sun- more guard Will Sheehey.Nix, with Syracuse getting the other surgery was performed Monday finale for both teams. day’sgame at Minnesota without who had 14 points off the bench in two. at Beth Israel Medical in Da’Shena Stevens, Shenneika having abig scoring game. the first meeting, is questionable Kansas, Duke, Michigan New York and involved remov- Smith and Brown scored 12 “Cody is unique,” Crean said. with an arch injury.Hedidn’t State and North Carolina all ing adisc fragment that had points each for the Red Storm “I’ve never been around afresh- practice Sunday and Izzo isn’t moved up one place to be third been pressing on aspinal nerve. (21-8, 13-3 Big East), who won man who is so good at impacting sure if he’ll play today.And Shee- through sixth. Missouri, which The surgeons then decom- their eighth in arow.Sugar the game from so many different hey didn’tplay the first time IU lost twice last week, dropped pressed the area around the Rodgers led Georgetown (22-7, ways. (Sunday) he didn’thave a faced Michigan State because of four spots to seventh and was nerve. 11-5) with 13 points. great scoring or rebounding an ankle injury.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL UK: Kidd-Gilchrist could breakfromnorm Cards close season Continued from Page C1 Kidd-Gilchrist as atop pick in the draft.” That’swhy it was so strange Assuming that’sthe consen- with 63-53 victory for Kidd-Gilchrist to tell report- sus after the season, Calipari ers after Saturday’sgame: “I’m might shove Kidd-Gilchrist out graduating here. I’m not going the door. Special to The Courier-Journal 12 minutes to play.However,Se- anywhere. I’m staying at Ken- “If Michael is the one pick in ton Hall clawed back and in the tucky.” the draft, yes, Iwould wrestle SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. — Red- final two minutes the Pirates When those around him him to the floor and say,‘What shirtfreshmanforward Shawn- were within striking range, laughed, he added, “I’m dead se- are you thinking?’ ”Calipari ta’Dyercameoff thebench to closing the gap to 59-53 with 52 rious. Idon’tknow why y’all said. “He’sgot to come up with scoreacareer-high 22 points seconds to go. The Pirates tried laughing.” some reasons he’scoming back andseniorBecky Burkeadded fouling, but Burke made apair So what does coach John Cali- and convince me. Here’swhy: 17 as the 20th-ranked University of free throws at 0:28 and Smith pari think about that? What if he got hurt and I’m out of Louisville women’sbasket- connected on two more with 14 Considering what’slikely to there convincing him to come ball team closed out the regular seconds left to seal the victory. be amass exodus of talent after back? What if that happened? Or season with a63-53 victory over this season —two seniors gradu- something happened to him that Seton Hall on Monday night. ating and as many as five fresh- all of the sudden really hurt him Dyer,who twice this season LOUISVILLE 63 men and sophomores declaring and his draft-ability and his fu- had scored 16 points, connected Player min fg fga ft fta rb to apftp for the NBA draft —he’d hardly ture? Taylor 34 080012 3426 on 9of10field-goal attempts Vails 80 30001010 be disappointed. “It’shard to live with your- and hit all four of her free Burke 40 3889330117 “I’ll be with him whatever he self, unless you’re just trying to throws for the Cardinals (21-8, Smith 20 027824237 wants to do. Obviously,ifhe win five more games or ‘How 9-6 Big East). Dyer,the team’s S.Schimmel 35 192553727 wants to stay,I’m going to be many games can Iwin before I leading rebounder averaging Harper 10 00000000 very happy,” Calipari said. “But retire?’ This is about these 5.0 per game, pulled down eight Slaughter 20 030020012 in the same sense, it’stoo early young people.” against the Pirates (8-22, 1-15). Hammond 80 10422102 to tell what anyone is going to do Some rating services say Michael Calipari did say that former Dyer 30 01040830222 Asia Taylor tied acareer re- J.Schimmel 40 00000010 right now.Hesays, ‘I want to get Kidd-Gilchrist could go as high as UK one-and-done players such bounding high with 12,and Sho- Team 5 my degree from Kentucky,’ and No. 2inthe NBA draft this year. as John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins ni Schimmel scored seven Totals 200 44421283919141363 Iagree. Iwant him to also. Bas- ANDY LYONS/GETTY IMAGES and Eric Bledsoe, who still points and dished out seven as- ketball-wise, he’sgot to wait un- spend agreat deal of their down sists as the Cards won for the SETON HALL 53 til the year is out and figure out eter game. time hanging out in Lexington, Player min fg fga ft fta rb to apftp fourth time in their past five Maseko 27 010062130 where everything is. He is a Ford believes “all the little often say to him, “Man, Iwish I games. Seton Hall has never Ashmeade 30 350113 2046 young freshman. He’svery things” Kidd-Gilchrist brings to could have stayed three or four beaten UofL in seven match- Morris 15 170010103 young.” ateam, not the least of which is years,” and his current crop of ups. Brown 16 120013132 Kidd-Gilchrist didn’tturn 18 his infectious energy,make him star freshmen have said they’d Louisville has earned afirst- Crew 40 72667423120 until after he enrolled at UK, so acontender to go as high as No. 2 like to stick around. round by in the Big East Tourna- Ekedigwe 30 00000000 perhaps another year of matur- overall, right behind shoe-in No. “But there’sopportunities Johnson 25 3101321127 ment. Green 28 51323400515 ing might help. Also alittle work 1Anthony Davis, his fellow that arise. Just like Bill Gates, The Cardinals started with Jones 10 010020000 on his jump shot —his form freshman and UK teammate. when he said, ‘You know what? an 8-0 run while holding the Pi- Henry 60 20001100 lookd awkward and he’sshoot- Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist I’m done with school; I’m going rates scoreless for almost six Team 42 ing just 26.8 percent from three- swept the Southeastern Confer- to chase my dreams’ and in his minutes. Schimmel scored five Totals 200 20 67 9143713818 53 point range —wouldn’thurt. ence’sFreshman and Player of case, change the world,” Calipa- straight points late in the first Halftime — Louisville 30-21 But his NBA stock seems to the Week honors this week, the ri said. “Steve Jobs did the same half to give Louisville a29-17 3-point goals — Louisville 4-15 (Burke3-8, S. Schim- be steadily climbing. Ford’s second time they’ve done that thing; left school and went out lead with 3:04 to go. The Pirates mel 1-5, Slaughter 0-2) Seton Hall 4-20 (Morris 1-5, analysis of Kidd-Gilchrist at this season. and changed the world. Crew 0-4, Johnson 0-1, Green 3-9, Henry 0-1) converted a3-point play in the Shooting percentage — Louisville 43.2, Seton Hall ESPN.com lists these positives: In Ford’slatest draft stock “Youhave opportunities. final seconds to cut the lead to 29.9 Elite athlete. Amazing motor. update for ESPN, he wrote: You’ve got to look at them and Steals — Louisville 3(Taylor 1, S. Schimmel 2), Seton 30-21atthe break. Hall 6(Brown 2, Crew 1, Johnson 1, Green 1, Jones 1) Tough, physical defender.Ex- “We’ve been singing his praises figure out what’sright.” The Cardinals built that ad- Blocked shots — Louisville 7(Taylor 2, Vails 2, Burke cellent rebounder.Attacks the all year,and it looks like anum- 1, Harper 1, Slaughter 1) Seton Hall 3(Maseko1,Ash- vantage up to as much as 18, meade 1, Crew 1) rim on offense. The lone nega- ber of general managers are get- Kyle Tucker can be reached at (502) when Taylor hit for alayup with Attendance — 533 tive? Lacks aconsistent perim- ting on board with the idea of 582-4361.