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The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky., John Clay Column: Cats Far From Whole With Halves Like These

Posted on: Monday, 30 January 2006, 09:00 CST

By John Clay, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

Jan. 30--The University of Kentucky should have a step up on the Southeastern Conference, on all of college basketball, for that matter.

After all, where every other institution of higher learning has one men's basketball team, UK has two.

There is the Kentucky that takes the art of the slow start to unexplored depths, as it did yesterday, falling behind by 18 points to the visiting Arkansas Razorbacks.

Then there is the Kentucky that roars out of the locker room rootin-tootin in the second half to climb back in and even win, as it did yesterday, roaring back to beat back the 'Backs 78-76.

There is the Kentucky that does more standing than a door man, that is painful to watch as it struggles to score, as it did yesterday, putting up just 23 first-half points.

Then there is the Kentucky that plays with energy and efficiency, that gets it and goes as the points start to flow, as it did yesterday in putting up a whopping 55 second-half points.

"It's crazy," said Ravi Moss.

It's also the conundrum that could define these Cats.

First half or second half?

Divining the real Kentucky will determine where the Cats go from here.

After all, where Tubby Smith's squad goes next month is a minefield. After Wednesday's trip to Starkville, the Cats have road games at Florida, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, LSU and Tennessee remaining. Not to mention home matchups with the Vols and Gators.

And yet for all of last week's talking points about the need to hold serve at home, the Cats responded with their worst first 10 minutes of '05-06, which, considering what previously has happened in some first 10 minutes of '05-06, is saying something.

Consider: Kentucky has now trailed by double digits in three of their four conference home games.

"I don't know what we have to do to get them to focus earlier," said Smith, who after two questions used a brief lull in his post-game news conference to head for the door.

Yet, through it all, positive signs persist. Patrick Sparks is one. He missed four of his five three-pointers yesterday, yet was nearly flawless at the point, turning it over once while tallying eight sparkling assists.

"I'm just trying to get the ball where it needs to be," said the senior. "That's part of my job now."

Randolph Morris is another. After fighting foolish foul trouble the last two games, the sophomore stuck around for 19 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes.

Rajon Rondo is a third. Yesterday, two personalities had he. Upset with a Herald-Leader article last week about his automobile, the star guard purposely uttered one-word and one-sentence answers in his post-game meeting with the media. On the floor, however, Rondo could not have been more expressive, making four baskets in the final 2:57.

"Intensity," he said when asked about the difference in the second half. He then declined to expand.

Guess we'll have to do it for him. Intensity needs consistency. From consistency, in hoops, all good things flow.

"It's hard coming back from a deficit all the time," said Sparks.

Praise the team that overcame the 18-point deficit. Worry about the team that keeps digging its own hole.

Come February, two teams just won't do. Kentucky needs one. The right one. One or be done.

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More Wildcats coverage online

Visit www.heraldleaderphoto.com [http://www.heraldleaderphoto.com] to check out a slide show from yesterday's game.

Reach John Clay at (859) 231-3226 or (800) 950-6397, Ext. 3226, or jclay@herald-leader.com [mailto:jclay@herald-leader.com]. Read his blog at johnclay.typepad.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

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Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (Lexington, Ky.)

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