The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 11

SPQK1S THE COURIER-JOURNAL SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1994 EDITOR: HARRY BRYAN PHONE: 582-4361 FAX: 582-7186 1M tamdl audi deliver. off A if For UK basketball, it's all life and depth LEXINGTON, Ky. The truth about the University of Kentucky football team is that Rick Pitino told the truth: There's a talent shortage across the depth chart. And the truth about the University of Kentucky basketball team is something even Bill Curry can tell you: There is enough talent to supply two Southeastern Conference contenders here. By RUSS BROWN Staff Writer After the way things had progressed or not progressed, offensively speaking all day, it figured that yesterday's college football game between the University of Louisville and Memphis would come down to a big defensive play.

So there was Memphis on the of 18-yard line, trailing by just four points with less than two minutes remaining and needing 2 yards on a fourth-down play to keep a possible game-winning drive alive. The Tigers didn't get it. Quarterback Joe Borich pitched the ball to reserve tailback Derrick Jones, who tried to sprint around left end, where he was met by free safety Rico Clark and linebacker Alan Campos and dropped for a 1-yard loss. Make it 10-6 of boost the Cardinals' record to 5-3, mark their Cardinal Stadium winning streak up to a record 10 and award the game ball to the defense. "It wasn't an offensive festival," UofL coach Howard Schnellen-berger said.

"Our offense was the worst I've seen by any team I've coached. Thank God we didn't give the ball up much or it would have been a lopsided loss." of L's only points came on a touchdown with a 65-yard drive on its opening series and a field goal early in the second quarter. The rest of the time, quarterback Marty Lowe was running for his life against a quick, swarming Memphis defense that showed why it entered the game No. 2 in the nation. See CARDS Page 6, col.

1, this section sir LIT Be prepared for moments when the 1 opposing team is the third-best -i 1 squad on the court. There's not a guy on Pitino's roster who could not jump to several SEC schools and start. The only guy on the bench who cannot consistently shoot RICK BOZICH SPORTS COLUMNIST Stadium Magic bent but streak unbroken 1 1 if 1 Those snakes in the pit along Interstate 65? Half of them were rubber. Even the thousands of plastic rattles a radio station banded out couldn't clack up much in the way of intimidation. Tho fnrHinal record for Cardinal Stadium.

Hang another scalp on that ol' sapling of tradition even if this scalp was removed with a butter knife. There must be something to this dive of a stadium. In the wake of the Cardinals' 10-6 defeat of Memphis, here were yesterday's reasons to beware of snakes and believe in magic: Rtnrlinm Maine vou've PAT been reading about? FORCE fit SPORTS COLUMNIST i i it ft -v W' 1 Yesterday's spells apparently were weaved bv Esmerelda, r- On a third-and-goal from the Memphis 5-yard line, of quarterback Marty Lowe whipped a pass into the flat for Anthony Shelman that had all the makings of a 99-yard Elizabeth Montgomery's ditzy aunt on "Bewitched." She always botched as many as she got right. Heck, the joint wasn't even sold out. But, hey, the University of Louisville's home winning streak is now 10 games, breaking the STAFF PHOTO BY MARY ANN LYONS Memphis' defense entered the game ranked No.

2 nationally, but of L's defense shone brightly. The Cards' Sam Madison (13) wrapped up Billy Rutledge here, with help. See STADIUM Page 6, col. 1, this section icfaigan State st Ming IU em umbles past A 'v the three is Bill Keightley, the equipment manager. You'd have to go to the Harlem Globetrotters to find more guys who can handle the basketball.

Every starter has a capable backup, and every capable backup has yet to be convinced he absolutely, positively will not start. "It's like I told Rodrick (Rhodes)," freshman forward Antoine Walker said. "I know he'll probably be the starter, but I'm gonna fight him for it. Don't think I'm gonna lay down and give it to him, because I'm not." Rhodes laughed. "Lay down?" Rhodes said.

"I wouldn't want him to lay down. I told him not to lay down. We've had talent every year I've been here. But with this team you'd better come to practice on your toes and looking behind you, or you'll get left behind. In other words, Jeff Sheppard does not intend to surrender any minutes to Tony Delk at shooting guard.

And Walter McCarty is there to push Jared Prickett at power forward. Allen Edwards might be a freshman, but he shows no fear of Anthony Epps at point guard. And in the middle, do not think of minutes. Mark Pope will not concede a second to Andre Riddick. Not that anybody will be counting seconds, or even minutes.

That is always a danger when you have as many capable players as Pitino has. Are there enough minutes to keep everybody smiling in February? "That kind of speculation is for outside the team," Pope said. "That's for fans and the media to worry about. That's not our business. Our business is simple: Play hard every day.

Playing time will take care of itself." We saw evidence of this again yesterday when Pitino's team roared through its second public scrimmage in Memorial Coliseum. This display was not as spectacular as the one a week ago. But this is basketball, not rhymthic gymnastics. They're not giving bonus points for style. There are large bodies who understand how to use their size and muscle.

There are mid-size bodies who can take the ball past the small bodies and between the large bodies. And there small bodies who can run and run and run. And there is always the subject of the three-point shot. It was only the other day that Pitino speculated this team might not be as fascinated by the three as his first five teams have been. Well, replay yesterday's Blue-White game.

The Blue team, a group that included projected starters like Rhodes, Delk, Riddick, Prickett and Epps, dispatched the White team 109-86. And for the winners more than a third of their 78 field-goal attempts were threes. All 14 players launched a three. Everybody but Riddick, Prickett, McCarty and Ohio State transfer Derek Anderson made one. That includes Pope, who is merely 6 feet 10 and 240 pounds, and Walker, who is merely 18 and behaving as if he is serious about earning serious minutes.

A week after Walker delivered a 33-point performance, he slumped terribly. Only 26 points. And five assists. Two steals. The only question you can project about Waiker is: How long can he kept out of the lineup? "I know one thing," Rhodes said, laughing again.

"Antoine doesn't care about me. He wants his time. And that's how I want him to be. "It's like that at every position. By STAN SUTTON Staff Writer EAST LANSING, Mich.

Indiana University starting quarterback John Paci struggled throughout IU's 27-21 Big Ten football loss to Michigan State yesterday. What about the Hoosiers' No. 2 quarter- Mississippi State mashes UK, 47-7. Page 8. No.

1 Penn State blasts Ohio State, 63-14. Page 9. back? Dittoe for him. As a tandem, Paci and backup Chris Dittoe completed only 10 of 30 passes with two interceptions. Paci, who endured five drops last week in a 20-7 loss to Northwestern, was 7 of 20.

Dittoe, who saw his first action in three games, was 3 of 10. Still, they were among Indiana's brighter lights as the Hoosiers (5-3, 2-3 Big Ten) lost their second consecutive game to a second-division team. The quarterbacks didn't have a patent on IU's problems, which included: At least four dropped passes and five others that were tipped by defensive linemen. A dropped kickoff by Eric Matthews, who then picked up the football at the goal line and slipped untouched at the 7-yard line. A 93-yard touchdown pass from Michigan State's Tim Banks to a wide-open Nigea Carter.

An interception in the end zone by the Spartans' Demetrice Martin that halted a 77-yard opening drive by the Hoosiers. Kickoff coverage that yielded two returns longer than 40 yards. "We have nobody to blame but ourselves. We can't expect to win football games if we're going to lack that kind of soundness," ik ,4. Stfl xi "''cA ASSOCIATED PRESS With Michigan State's Stan Callender and Marvin Wright (18) pursuing, IU's Sean Glover (33) got loose for 23 yards yesterday.

He insisted that Indiana's effort was good and said the Hoosiers had a good week of practice. And he thought the defense played See MICHIGAN STATE Page 9, col. 5, this section Indiana had only three violations, but one of them was Tom McKinnon's hold late in an apparent 15-yard touchdown run by 250-pound fullback Steve Lee. "It doesn't take any brain surgeon to figure out what the problem is," Mallory said. IU coach Bill Mallory said.

Indiana had only a slight edge over the Spartans in bumbling. Michigan State (3-5, 2-3) threw three interceptions, one of which was returned 47 yards for a score by Eric Smedley, and was called for eight penalties. Pain on the Plains: Nebraska nails Buffs Floyd Central boys, girls, Jeff boys advance to state cross country; Silver Creek's Leo Higley wins boys' race. Page 11. Seymour tops Providence for volleyball regional title.

Page 11. Pro football 2 NBA preview 3 Scorecard 4 Outdoors 12 Sports Etc 13 Thoroughbred racing 14-15 on the most important day of his career. And they showed they could win the big game. The Cornhuskers had lost 12 straight to teams ranked in the top five, going back to 1987. But they are paper tigers no more, this team that wears undershirts that say "Unfinished Business" on the front, reminding them of past See NEBRASKA Page 5, col.

1, this section choose between them. Not anymore. The Cornhuskers (9-0) owned the trenches, controlling the ball 382 of the 60 minutes. They held the nation's No. 2 offense to a single touchdown.

They shattered any doubts that they soar even without absent quarterback Tommie Frazien Backup Brook Berringer, wearing a flak jacket to protect his lungs, which have twice collapsed, was 12 for 17 pionship. "This is a big step," Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said. "We've got a chance now to get some things done." "We deserve to be No. 1," added linebacker Donta Jones. "It's been a long road.

We're finally here." Nebraska was No. 3 in the Associated Press media poll, No. 2 with the USA Today-CNN coaches. Colorado was the other way around. There had been little to By MIKE LOPRESTI Gannett News Service LINCOLN, Neb.

Loudly and clearly, with purpose and power, Nebraska made its case yesterday. Penn State may stay No. 1 in today's polls. But its most resolute challenger is no mystery. Not after the Cornhuskers overwhelmed Colorado 24-7, moving to the verge of the Big Eight championship, and a final charge at the national cham Shep and Tony go at it every day.

So do Jared and Walter. And then you look over there in the middle and Pope and Andre are almost fighting. It's wild out there." And projected to get wilder..