# | Name | Pos | Class | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (School) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#00 | John DeMoisey (L) | C-F | Sr. | 6-4 | 170 | Walton, KY (High) | All-American [Helms]; All-SEC [First Team]; All-SEC Tournament; |
#2 | Bill Davis (L) | G | Jr. | 5-11 | - | Hazard, KY (High) | All-American [Converse (3rd)]; All-SEC [First Team]; All-SEC Tournament; |
#26 | Dave Lawrence (L) | F | Jr. | 6-1 | - | Corinth, KY (High) | - |
#22 | Garland Lewis (L) | C | So. | 6-3 | 170 | Jeffersonville, IN (High) | - |
- | Jack Tucker (L) | F | Jr. | 6-0 | - | Cynthiana, KY (High) | - |
- | Herbert Jerome (L) | F | So. | 6-0 | - | Tulsa, OK (Central) | - |
#9 | Crittenden Blair (L) | F | Sr. | 6-2 | - | Ewing, KY (High) | - |
#10 | Sam Potter (L) | G | So. | 6-1 | - | Kona, KY (Whitesburg) | - |
#16 | Bob Taylor | F | So. | 6-2 | - | Covington, KY (High) | - |
#8 | Evan Settle (L) | G | Sr. | 5-10 | - | Crab Orchard, KY (Owenton High) | - |
#11 | Milerd Anderson (L) | G | So. | 5-11 | - | Covington, KY (Holmes) | - |
#13 | Berkley Davis (L) | F | Jr. | 6-1 | - | Lewisport, KY (High) | - |
#5 | Edward Tierney | G | Jr. | 6-0 | - | Ashland, KY (Holy Family) | - |
| Schedule | Player Statistics | Game Statistics |
1933-34 Squad |
Front Row (l to r): Herbert Jerome, Unidentified #16, Crittenden Blair, Evan Settle, Bob Taylor, Unidentified #17 |
Season Review - Varsity Basketball (Kentuckian)
With only two regulars back to form the nucleus of this team Coach Adolph Rupp's Wildcat basketeers looked forward to a somewhat mediocre 1933-34 basketball season, but developing fast, they piled up a brilliant record of 24 consecutive wins to tie the record set by Duquesne University.
The Wildcats went to the Southeastern Conference tournament as the top-heavy favorites but were upset in their first game by the University of Florida. The loss was a surprise to everyone. To followers of basketball it illustrated again what may occur when an over-confident team off form meets the desperate underdog whose "flash in the pan" brilliancy is in top form for the game.
The two outstanding games of the year were with Alabama and Cincinnati. The Tide was conceded to have the best team in the South. They were as fast as the 'Cats and were far larger in height and weight. Luck seemed to be with Kentucky the first time they defeated Alabama at Birmingham, 33 to 28, but when they defeated the Red Elephants again in a return game in Lexington, 26 to 21, there was no doubt that Kentucky had the best basketball squad in the Southeastern Conference.
Cincinnati brought down a team that fought Kentucky to a standstill and only by their extreme good work in the second half were the Kentuckians able to win.
Davis, the pint-sized guard, played a great game of ball all season to make all-conference and all-American mention. Tucker and Lawrence worked together in a smooth passing attack that was hard to stop. Their teammates showed appreciation for their excellent work by electing them co-captains for the following year.
Anderson, guard, and the fifth of the first team combination, was a colorful and dependable player at all times. Fast on his feet he was an unequaled ball hawk whose ability at the backboard was nothing short of uncanny. Time and again his breaking up of the opponent's passing attack saved the game for Kentucky.
Besides DeMoisey, Evan Settle and C.D. Blair were the graduating seniors of the group.
This season's team was the fourth coached by Adolph Rupp and in spite of material and experience, came up to, if not surpassed, his great teams of the past. With the splendid group of unbeaten freshmen coming up next year it seems that Rupp can be depended on to turn out another championship team.
Kentucky, 53; Alumni 20
Kentucky, 41; Georgetown, 12
The first intercollegiate game of the year was against the Georgetown Tigers. They put up a stiff fight against Kentucky in the first half but the Big Blue soon found the weaknesses and warming to their task easily routed the Bengals. Coach Carey Spicer, former Big Blue star athlete, could not compete against Coach Rupp's Big Blue.
Kentucky, 48; Marshall, 26
Maintaining their better than a-point-a-minute record for the current season, Coach Rupp's boys registered their third victory at the expense of Coach Tom Dandelete's Thundering Herd from Marshall College. Marshall College had an excellent team that developed an enviable record in their own conference and in the first minutes of their tilt with Kentucky the game took on a dangerous aspect. However, the Big Blue soon located the weak spots and easily pulled away to a substantial lead.
With the start of the second half, Rupp freely substituted his men to show the crowd that he also had some substitutes that could play ball.
Kentucky, 31; Cincinnati, 25
Cincinnati gave Kentucky their first real test of the year. Coached by the all-American football player, Tay Brown, the Bearcats had a fast aggregation, superior both individually and as a team. Austing, the center, proved to be one of the high point men of their conference.
The game had no sooner started when it was obvious that the 'Cats were in for the battle of their lives. Austing employed a short pivot shot that was deadly and netted the first eight points for his team. DeMoisey couldn't seem to guard this man, trying as hard as he could. With only nine minutes of the first half remaining the Bearcats were out in front by a 13 to 9 score. The Wildcats spurted desperately and at half-time Cincinnati was trailing by two points. The Bearcats employed a passing attack that went from sideline to sideline, the object being to draw the opponents out to the sides, leaving the center unprotected. This would then give them the opportunity to break in fast with a block play and a crip. The wily Rupp was cognizant of this fact, however, and instructed his men to stay inside and guard for that type of play. His method proved effective to the point that not once were the Bearcats able to score on this type of basketball tactics.
After a rest period that Big Blue team came out on the floor with a burst of speed that gave them a 31 to 25 victory. DeMoisey was shown a different way to guard against Austing's pivot shot and that threat was practically eliminated. Davis was high point man with 11 points.
The game, although played hard, was clean fought and close. In the estimation of many of the fans it was as good a game as has been seen in the Alumni gymnasium.
Kentucky, 32; Tulane, 22 -- Kentucky, 42; Tulane, 29
The first night the Big Blue, somewhat tired from their long trip, were shooting rarely but these few shots were accurate as they outplayed the hard scrapping Green Wave. DeMoisey gave the fans a treat when it came to scoring as he scored the first ten points of the first game. DeMoisey did not limit himself to any type of bucket shooting but made them by free-wheeling, follow-up, crip, and from the field.
In the second half, Tulane tightened their defense around him and then Davis cut loose to score 11 and take high point honors.
The first night's game took the stamina and heart out of Tulane and they played a listless and sluggish game. Kentucky substituted freely in this game or the score would have been much more than it was. The game was cleanly played and few penalties were given out. In a way these two wins were gladly accepted by the Wildcats after the way the football team has been losing to the Green Wave.
Kentucky, 44; Tennessee, 23
The Cats were successful in their last invasion of the Southland and with Captain DeMoisey and "Primer" Davis in top form, the Cats had an easy time in defeating the Tennessee Vols in the Memorial Field House at Knoxville. Tennessee, with the best team they had had in five years, was expecting to do things to the Wildcats.
Never threatened, the Kentuckians led by wide margins. The score was 24 to 5 at the half. DeMoisey and Davis were allowed to start and show their wares which they did by amassing 20 and 10 points respectively. Davis was in fine form and except for being weak on free throws did considerable damage to the Tennessee offense. DeMoisey made 17 of his points in the first half, but his recent attack of influenza was apparent in the second half.
The second half of the game was more even, Kentucky only scoring two points more than Tennessee. Anderson did an outstanding brand of guarding for Kentucky, constantly breaking up Tennessee's passes and holding his man scoreless. His excellent work kept Tennessee from gaining possession of the ball and became a threat in the second half.
Lawrence did a good job at his forward position and Lewis held up the center position in great shape when he was substituted for DeMoisey in the second half. A capacity crowd was out for the game.
Kentucky, 55; Sewanee, 16
Substitutes started for Kentucky and they operated slowly and somewhat raggedly but soon warmed up into an irresistible, smooth-working, high-scoring combination. Tucker took high point honors with 14 to his credit, while Lewis was second with eight points.
Sewanee's desperate attempts to work the ball into scoring territory failed because of the close work of the Kentucky guards.
Kentucky, 33, Alabama, 28
At the start of the game both teams were undefeated. Alabama was rated to have the best team in the south. With such players as Connaster, Kimbrough and Walker - all players with a national recognition - it is easy to understand why they were supposed to have the best ball club.
The accuracy of the shooting and passing was a thing to note in this game. After DeMoisey was out of the game on fouls Lewis did a good job at center and controlled the tip-off a good share of the time he was in action.
Kentucky, 26; Alabama, 21
Over 4,500 people jammed the Alumni gym to see the Wildcats trim the Crimson Tide in a return engagement.
The Blue team displayed a skill that surpassed all other demonstrations of the season to win this twenty-first consecutive victory. The Tide tried every trick of the game they knew in an effort to pierce the air tight defense of the Kentuckians.
The Tidesmen had every advantage over Kentucky - reach, weight, size, and speed. They practically controlled the ball three-fourths of the time. Their gaining the tip-off was never stopped. The main cause of the victory was that the Cats sank eight out of eight free throws and Lawrence, with uncanny marksmanship, made ten points while Davis was right behind with nine.
Kentucky, 49; Georgia Tech, 29
Georgia Tech used a queen system of offense. They weaved the ball back and forth across the front of the field and to the sidelines. This would tend to make the players move out from under the basket, whereupon a Tech man would cut in fast for a crip at the end of a long pass from the outside. This system failed as the long passes were not completed.
At the start of the second half, Coach Rupp sent in an entire new team. This quickened the game a little but the handling of the ball did not improve.
Kentucky, 60; Sewanee, 15
Flashing a crushing, unstoppable offense, Kentucky's point-a-minute conference champions used every man on the squad to drop Sewanee 60 to 15 for their twenty-third victory. Coach Rupp's new combination of Lewis at center and DeMoisey at forward started the route in the middle of the first half after a somewhat sluggish start. The score stood 21 to 7 at the half. During the rest period the new combination got some good advice from Coach Rupp and starting with the second half they burst into full swing and led by Lewis, who was high man with 16 points, the regulars ran up 22 points in 15 minutes.
The remainder of Sewanee's three points were made via the foul route. The game was fast and cleanly played, much unlike the game with Georgia Tech. DeMoisey was second highest point man, scoring 12 points during the short time he was in the fray. Lawrence, Jerome, Settle, Tucker, and the backboard genius, Anderson, all came in for a good measure of praise.
Potter's and Blair's long shot accuracy received considerable applause from the enthusiastic fans. Taylor, Tierney, and Davis finished in the lineup for Kentucky in a brilliant ball-hawking manner that showed their coaching and five-man teamwork.
Kentucky, 47; Vanderbilt, 27
Vanderbilt played a fast, excellent game, especially in passing. At the start of the second half, Coach Rupp kept the same lineup, but after it had gotten under way, he substituted his entire second team "Primer" Davis, who had been out of the game because of an injured shoulder, went in the last two minutes of play, and as he came onto the floor he received considerable applause.
SOUTHEASTERN TOURNAMENT
Kentucky went to the tournament as the favorite. They drew a bye for the first round and Florida for the second. Florida possessed a fair team which had played less games inside the conference than outside. In the past few years Florida had entered as the underdog and had in two cases knocked the favorites out of the running. Although this was mentioned no one conceded Florida a chance of upsetting Kentucky as to all indications it seemed that Kentucky and Alabama were ceded to play in the finals.
The Cats were so engrossed on playing Alabama for the finals that they did not give any thought to Florida. The court was new with a particularly poor lighting arrangement. This lighting arrangement was the cause of poor shooting as the percentage of shooting that the Blue team did at Atlanta is the poorest record for them. The 'Gators played in desperation. There was no question they were "on." Kentucky played sloppy and sluggish ball, continually losing control of the ball. In spite of Kentucky's lack-lustre playing they were always about even in the scoring and the Cats had several chances to win the game which they failed to take advantage of. Foul shooting which has always been such a strong point with Kentucky was extremely bad since they made about 10 per cent of their usual quota. Lawrence could not seem to get going and did not score a point.
At half time the score stood 22 to 21 with Florida on the long end. A few minutes after the second frame opened the Wildcats started connecting with the basket and took the lead once by a 27 to 24 score. It seemed as though the great "power house" was at last beginning to click but the rally was short-lived as the 'Gators made three baskets in succession to take the lead which was never overcome.
In the last few minutes the Cats gave everything they had to get some markers, leaving their defense wide open, but their energy was of no avail and they went down in defeat after playing a game that did not in any way show the brand of ball that the Big Blue could really play.
LETTERS ARE AWARDED
The annual Lexington Alumni banquet was held at the Phoenix hotel for the squad upon their return from the tournament. More than 200 guests were present to see the awards of letters to 11 varsity players and numerals to 10 freshmen. S. A. "Daddy" Boles made the presentation of the varsity letters and Len Miller, freshman coach, made the presentation of the numerals. Miss Marguerite McLaughlin presided as toastmistress for the affair. Speeches were made by Pres. Frank L. McVey, Coach Adolph Rupp, and the retiring captain, John "Frenchy" DeMoisey.
Lawrence and Tucker were named co-captains for the following season. Those receiving letters were: Capt. John DeMoisey. Garland Lewis, Dave Lawrence, Sam Potter, Evan Settle, Herbert Jerome, Jack Tucker, Berkley Davis, Milerd Anderson, C. D. Blair, and Bill Davis. A letter was also given to Carey Burchett, manager. George Campbell was named manager for next year.
FRESHMAN BASKETBALL
With the greatest collection of freshman basketball players ever assembled at the University, Coach Len Miller developed a team that went through a season of 16 games without defeat and scored victories over the best high school and college freshman teams and many independent athletic clubs in the state.
Led by the charging LeRoy Edwards, and Ralph Carlisle, center and forward respectively, the Kittens ran up huge scores over over all opponents and in only two cases were held to less than 40 points.
Players who were awarded numerals at the end of the season were: James Atchison, Courtland Bliss, Ralph Carlisle, Howard Dale, John Donahue, LeRoy Edwards, James Goforth, Russell Ellington, Charles Heinrich, and Cyril Young.
Freshman Scores, 1934-1935 Kentucky, 51; Dunn Drug, 12 |