Rowdy environment awaits Cats in Florida

Rowdy environment awaits Cats in Florida
Posted by Metz Camfield on January 11, 2010

http://kykernel.com/2010/01/11/rowdy-environment-awaits-cats-in-florida/

On Tuesday night, the young, undefeated Cats (16-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conferece) will face another new test; their first conference road game.

Despite being halfway through the season, UK has only had one true road game so far on the season, and trailed early at the hostile environment in Bloomington, Ind., against the Hoosiers. The Cats are expecting a similar environment in Gainsville, Fla.

“We’ll find out where we are, that’s why you do this,” Calipari said. “We went to Indiana and got down real fast, down 12 and ready to get blown out, and chipped away to get back in the game and ended up beating them. Now this will be a team that’s even better, probably a tougher environment than at Indiana and we’ll see if we’re ready for it.”

Florida (11-4, 0-1 SEC) enters the game coming off an eight-point loss on the road against Vanderbilt. Freshman guard Kenny Boynton scored a game-high 28 points in that game though, and has the Cats’ full attention.

Boynton and backcourt teammate Erving Walker combined for 50 of the Gators’ 87 points against Vanderbilt on Saturday and knocked down 11 3-pointers.

“(Boynton’s) a good point guard,” said freshman forward Daniel Orton who played with Boynton in an NBA development camp. “He has great attributes.”

The young Cats got a tough test on Saturday against a Georgia team that was at the bottom of the SEC East standings. The Gators find themselves tied with Georgia at 0-1, but post impressive wins over No. 7 Michigan State on a neutral court and against No. 25 Florida State. Florida also has the experience of playing No. 5 Syracuse and at Vanderbilt, one of the more difficult, and unique environments in the SEC.

“Their guard play, their athleticism, their length, their press, they play a great zone, they’re very active, they’re long. They’ve played a great schedule with the teams they’ve played. I mean they’ve gone on the road, they’ve played them at home.”

Senior guard Ramon Harris is one of the players who has been down to Florida and played in front of the rowdy student section at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, and said he enjoys it.

“I’ve always liked playing at Florida,” Harris said. “It’s a great environment. It’s something that you dream of when you play D-I basketball, you want to play in a hostile crowd on the road, and that’s what Florida is.”



Liggins, Orton first off the bench

After a strong, 14-minute performance from sophomore guard DeAndre Liggins on Saturday that saw the Chicago native net six points, Calipari hinted that he may begin to start him. On Monday afternoon Calipari said Liggins would continue to come off the bench but would be one of the first.

Calipari said he is watching tape with Orton on a one-on-one approach now and is going to start taking a more personal approach with the big man. Calipari has said Orton brings energy and a defensive presence with him in games.

“I think we need (Liggins) coming off the bench,” Calipari said. “But he and Daniel (Orton) will be the first off the bench. So when you talk about seven now, he’s worked his way into that seven. Then I’ll go from there.”