UK Hoops takes perfect season start on the road to Central Michigan
November 21, 2014
By Kevin Erpenbeck
After passing the test of three games in a stretch of six days to begin the season, UK Hoops will play its first road game when it takes on Central Michigan on Saturday.
The No. 13 Cats are 3-0 to open up the year, including a comeback 74-64 victory over No. 8 Baylor on Monday. UK also beat Appalachian State 111-74 in the home opener and Morehead State 91-62 on Wednesday.
Head coach Matthew Mitchell said it was important for the team to get three games under its belt to see how well it prepared for the early-season test.
“Very tough stretch we came out of,” Mitchell said. “We found out a few things about our team, so now it is going to be great to have a couple days of practice. We need to practice badly, so I am looking forward to getting in the gym and getting better.”
Central Michigan won its home opener against Massachusetts in the only game it has played on the season. The Chippewas returned four starters from a 2013-14 team that went 20-12 and won the Mid-American Conference West Division. Senior guard Crystal Bradford won the MAC Player of the Year award last season after leading the conference in rebounds per game with 12.2. She also became the first player in the history of the MAC to record multiple triple-doubles in one season.
Senior guard Jennifer O’Neill has excelled in the early portion of the season, leading the Cats in points in all three games. The 5-foot-6 guard is averaging 18.7 points per game while also dishing out three assists in each game.
Despite the high output of points in the Cats’ first three games, Mitchell said it’s important to “get back to the fundamentals,” especially on defense, where Mitchell says the team is out of position because of the lack of reps and the inexperience of the front court.
“We just haven’t had those kind of practices here lately. We have been in game prep mode (during the six-day stretch),” Mitchell said. “We are counting on three freshman post players and our defense. We aren’t great leapers, but we are strong and can box you out. It is just a need to get back to some fundamentals.”
