University of Kentucky - Kentuckian Yearbook (Lexington, KY)

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Uarsitq Basketball By Daniel Goodman Facing the prospects of a somewhst dubious season as a result of a large loss of basketball material by graduation in 1930, and as a result of the introduction of the new fast break system to the boys of Kentucky, the netmen of the varsity bas- ketball squad fought their way through one of the most success- ful seasons in many years, to climb to the finals of the southern conference tournament only to lose one of the most heart-break- Rupp ing games ever played on the hardwood to the University of J Maryland by ?, score of 29 to 27. Fighting their way throught a total of fourteen games, ten of which were with southern conference teams, the Wildcats emerged from the season with only two losses, one being against a team which at another time was defeated by the ’Cats, while the team which downed the Kentucky men for the other loss failed to go as far in the tournament as did the Wildcats. The Kentucky quintet adapted itself in creditable fashion to the new fast break system used by Coach Adolph Rupp, and, winning favor from sports writers throughout the South during the season, with Captain Carey Spicer leading southern scorers, succeeded in plac- ing three of its men on the Associated Press’ first all-Southern team, after the tournament tilts. With George Yates, stalwart center, making himself almost the unanimous choice for the all-Southern center position, Louis ‘Lil’ McGinnis led his team mates and all others in the tournament for scoring honors, and Carey Spicer followed closely to capture third place. Jake Bronston, sturdy guard for the ’Cats, won much praise from critics of the game in the South, while Ellis Johnson, sophomore guard, who was prevented by injury from playing in the last games of the season, and Charles Worthington, another sophomore who became a regular guard in the last games of the season, displayed ability which marked them as worthy of the team which brought so much fame to the Blue Grass. Bill Trott, another guard on the Kentucky five, proved a valuable man on the squad, while Darrell Darby and Aggie Sale, sophomore forwards, won much favorable comment, whenever called upon to aid the ’Cats in their fight for a conference victory. Rupp's First Team 1930-31 10