clarinews@clarinet.com (KEITH DRUM, UPI College Basketball Writer) (01/17/90)
The Rick Pitino-Dale Brown spat played in the press better than anywhere, but Pitino figures to gain some longterm benefit from the incident. Already popular with Kentucky fans, Pitino galvanized his support by standing up to Brown during Saturday's game, then refusing to try and smooth over the confrontation later after Brown's version didn't jibe with what Pitino saw on videotape. ``Kentucky is not going to be intimidated by Dale Brown or anybody else,'' Pitino said. ``What happens with Dale Brown, I'm not concerned about unless he wants to fight me with his mouth. Then I would be concerned.'' Granted, this is a clash of two giant egos, and the rest of the SEC isn't sure who to pull for. Brown is considered a cameleon who shouldn't be trusted, while Pitino is the rich, cocky newcomer at haughty Kentucky. From Pitino's viewpoint, though, LSU is a chief obstacle toward Kentucky regaining its spot as SEC leader once the NCAA probation is over. He might as well use this incident to draw the battle lines. One thing is for sure. Kentucky fans, often accused of being slow to get into a game in past years, will be on their feet early on Feb. 14 when LSU goes to Rupp Arena. --- THE GOOD, BAD & UNEXPECTED: At the moment, the Big Ten can stake claim as the toughest conference with five teams in the Top 20 and a sixth, Minnesota, worthy of ranking. The surprise among the group is co-leader and No. 16 Purdue, which has rebounded from its first losing season since 1966 with an 11-2 start, including 3-0 in the league. The Boilermakers, picked to finish in the bottom half of the league after losing half of their top eight from last season, are tied for first with Michigan State. Purdue's play is a testament to two factors: Coach Gene Keady is one of the country's best and, despite the question marks, the Boilermakers have three seniors and others with experience. The best addition has been forward Charles White, who redshirted last year with a shoulder injury after coming from a junior college. Michigan State's chances of keeping pace with Purdue aren't good. Three of the Spartans' next four games are trips to Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. In the ACC, a difficult season may get much worse before it improves for Wake Forest, which has lost six of seven and fallen to 7-7 overall and 0-3 in the ACC. In a five-day period from Thursday through next Monday, the Deacons play in-state rivals N.C. State, Duke and North Carolina. That's after playing at Clemson last Saturday and at Richmond Monday. ``We're in the throes of a difficult schedule,'' understated first-year Coach Dave Odom. ``(Point guard) Derrick McQueen is worn to a frazzle.'' Some predicted Wake as the ACC's surprise team. Instead, a lack of overall height, inconsistent outside shooting and no backup for McQueen has hampered the Deacons. The schedule offers no recovery time. Yes, that team atop the Atlantic-10 standings is indeed Massachusetts, which has won six straight, all in the league. Julius Erving's alma mater may be headed to one of its best seasons since the good doctor made calls. The Minutemen's success can be traced to the recruiting work of second-year coach John Calipari. No seniors are among the regulars and sophomores Jim McCoy and Anton Brown are among the league's top players. Alas, the joy of first place may not last. After playing five of its first six league games at home, Massachusetts goes on the road for its next four ---- DRUM PICKS: The list of unbeatens is going to dwindle when Kansas goes to Missouri on Saturday. And, something has to give when Oklahoma, unbeaten going into Tuesday night's game at Kansas State, visits Arizona on Saturday. The Wildcats have the nation's longest home winning streak. In a Sunday showdown of great athletes, Alabama's home court is decisive against LSU's youth. --- QUICK SHOTS: Georgia freshman Kendall Rhine set a dubious standard Saturday night in the Bulldogs' victory over Vanderbilt. In a game with the experimental six-foul rule, Rhine reached the limit in only three minutes. Actually, he played almost four but his replacement got credit for the last minute when Rhine exited with 2 seconds left. For most of the 1980s, Notre Dame and DePaul were fixtures in the NCAA Tournament. The independents' chances are being jeopardized by their so-so starts this season. DePaul is 8-8, and Notre Dame took a 7-5 mark into Tuesday night's game at Rutgers. They are a combined 4-10 away from their home courts. Clemson's Dale Davis and Elden Campbell are bidding to become the first teammates in the ACC to average double figures in rebounding since Maryland's Tom McMillen and Len Elmore in 1974. Davis is above the mark, Campbell just below it.