Published in Basketball News 1979 Yearbook, 1979, pp. 74-75.

Wildcat Coach Joe Hall makes a point with a referee during a 3-minute hassle over a controversial call. Kentucky won, 85-71.

by BERNIE BEGLANE

Adolph Rupp, The Baron at the University of Kentucky, never lived long enough to receive the present of the NCAA championship that Joe Hall, one of his prize-pupils, wanted to give him last season.

Rupp, unlike John Wooden of UCLA or AI McGuire of Marquette, never lived to appreciate the 'appropriate gift.'

The Bruins bid farewell to Wooden at the end of the 1974-75 season by winning the NCAA crown. Two campaigns ago, McGuire departed the Warriors in tears with a similar gift.

Adolph Rupp, the all-time winningest coach in college cage history, recorded a 874-190 record in 41 years as Kentucky's tutor before retiring in 1972. He died of cancer last December, just as the campaign was getting into full swing.

JOE B. HALL is Kentucky's coach now, but Rupp, the Baron of the Bluegrass, will always be "The Coach."

For six years, Kentucky zealots have been harassing Hall because he is not named Adolph Rupp. To them, it seemed just yesterday that Rupp's teams won four NCAA crowns. Despite Hall, the memory of Rupp couldn't be squelched.

Though Hall will not have to tolerate the cries of four years ago, "Joe Must Go" and "Hall Will Fall," you have to wonder how long his 'enemies' will be silent.'"

ALL YEAR LONG, Kentucky's squad was in a pressure cooker. Prohibitive favorites from the start, the Wildcats could pacify their followers only with an NCAA title. Nothing less would satisfy the fans.

"This has been a season without celebration for us," said Hall before the finals. "There is so much expected of us. We have had fans coming up to us all season and saying, 'We know you are going to the NCAA.' We have been under constant pressure, since we started practice. The only way we can succeed is to win the championship."

Hall didn't change his attitude that much after capturing the title.

"This is what it's all about," exclaimed Hall. "We take our basketball seriously at Kentucky."

TOO FERVENTLY to suit most basketball fans. The enormous pressure put on Hall and his players somewhat tarnished the final achievement.

Wildcats' Jack Givens takes aim before shooting as he is guarded by Duke's Bob Bender in the second half of their NCAA Championship Game.

It was supposed to be a showdown between Kentucky's muscle and Duke's hustle. Most observers anticipated seeing Kentucky's frontline giants - Rick Robey, James Lee and Mike Phillips - manhandle Duke's trio of Mike Gminski, Gene Banks and Jim Spanarkel.

Actually, the contest focused on a magnificent performance by Kentucky's 6-4 senior forward Jack Givens.

In almost six minutes at one stage, Givens was something else. He scored Kentucky's last 16 points of the first half, thus producing a 45-38 lead at halftime.

"I thought I was coming close to blocking his shots," said Gminski, "maybe an inch away. But the way Givens was shooting, 'he could have thrown a beach ball into a little pea pod.

"THE CREDIT should go to my teammates," offered Givens. "They saw I was hitting and got me the ball when I was hot. When I shot the ball, I just felt it would go in. "I thought Gminski might block my shots," continued Jack, who is nicknamed the Goose. "But I think he was concerned that I'd drive around him. I was prepared to do either that or kick it off to our big guys underneath."

Hall commented that Givens was given more room to score because of Duke's strategy.

"Duke was coming out and attacking our guards," Hall explained. "They left a big hole in the middle and we brought Jack to the post."

"We were really prepared for the game," said Givens, the MVP of the playoffs. "Everything I was shooting was falling in. It was my night."

Givens wasn't the only player to excel for Kentucky. Robey, the only other Wildcat to reach double figures, had 20 points and connected on a three-point play with 7:51 left in the first half to give Kentucky the lead for good, 25-22.

Kentucky Wildcats Coach Joe Hall goes after a piece of the victory net, as Jay Shidler indicates they're number one.

After the clash, Robey agreed with Hall about the pressure that envelops Kentucky's program.

"We worked very hard for this," related Robey. "We made this title our goal last October and a week ago we were still practicing almost three hours a day. During my freshman year, when we finished second (to UCLA) in the NCAA, we practiced 45 minutes a day.

"The pressure I don't mind. I think it makes a tougher person out of you. If you're not a competitor, stay away from Kentucky. You won't be able to play there."

Robey sympathized with Hall's plight: "I feel sorry for the man. In my four years there, he has been criticized so many times."

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