NOTES

Having watched Utah take apart other high-profile teams in the past--and having played Utah in the previous two NCAA tournaments--the Kentucky players were less than shocked by the Ute’s upset of North Carolina on Saturday.

“I watched that Arizona game, and that blew me away,” Kentucky swingman Allen Edwards said of Utah’s West Regional victory over the No. 1-seeded Arizona Wildcats.

“I think they’ve got a bunch of players now who were overlooked because of Keith Van Horn. Because everybody always used to just concentrate on Van Horn.”

Last season, the Wildcat defense held Van Horn to 15 points. But the Kentucky players said the Utes--much like Kentucky after losing Ron Mercer--are probably more dangerous as a balanced offense than as a team that depended on one huge scorer.

“They really relied on Van Horn last season,” Wildcat Scott Padgett said. “Now they don’t rely on anybody, they’re like us. They’re a team team.”

*

Former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino was a sideline stomper, someone who could make his black shoes connect with a violent--and quite attention-getting--thump when he was particularly motivated.

What’s first-year Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith’s signature sideline gesture during tight game moments?

“Coach Smith just sort of goes into a frenzy,” Padgett said. “If he sees something he doesn’t like, he’ll jump up, spin around, look at the bench like he wants to find someone to put in. He’ll give you those eyes.

“Then he’ll go from total wacko, and sit back down.”