ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 16, 1996 TAG: 9603180038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DALLAS
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
KENTUCKY FANS EXPECT a national championship, and so does the coach.
Rick Pitino claims there's no hurry.
Hey, it's Kentucky basketball, he says. It's bound to happen. It's inevitable.
But when it comes down to Kentucky winning a national championship, there's no doubt a sense of urgency has penetrated the Wildcats' title-hungry following.
If this season's dominating 29-2 unit doesn't finish what it's supposed to get done, the backlash in the Bluegrass State is bound to grow even louder.
While Wildcats fans and most experts around the country have stamped this as Kentucky's year, Pitino says he wonders why.
``"Why is this our year?'' said Pitino, whose Wildcats face Virginia Tech (23-5) today in the second round of the Midwest Regional at Reunion Arena.
``Kentucky is supposed to be good every year. We're going to be exceptional next year, and if some recruits say yes, hopefully after that as well.
``We've had five NCAA appearances since I've been here, and we're going to have a lot more, so there's no rush. We certainly want to win it. We wanted to win it last year, the year prior. We have a better chance at winning it this year because we have more answers offensively than in the past.
``But it just doesn't work that way. We found that out against Mississippi State [an 84-73 loss in the Southeastern Conference title game that broke UK's 27-game winning streak]. You run into a hot player, they execute, you're not home, you go home and plan the strategy for next year.''
Pitino, in his seventh year at Kentucky, understands the hunger pangs of Wildcats fans.
``They want to win a championship because only one [1978] has been won in 40-some years [38 actually],'' Pitino said.
``They're very loyal fans and they love the game of basketball. But I don't think they put any bad pressure on us. We want to win, but we don't want to win any more than Kansas, Massachusetts or anybody else.''
Pitino said the Big Blue faithful has been painted the wrong color by folks outside Kentucky.
``Kentucky fans, for some reason, are seen as Count Dracula, with their fangs out, bloodthirsty for a championship, and it's win at all costs,'' Pitino said.
``I've never experienced that since I've been at Kentucky. It's no different for me than being at Providence, or with the [New York] Knicks.
``Without question there's less on the minds of Kentucky fans other than basketball. Their interest solely is basketball and every person wants to win basketball games.
``But it's no more ferocious than at any other place, it's just no other sports there to put their eggs into. There's no pro teams around and they love Kentucky basketball. It's just a college town.''
A town that desperately wants another title.
``We're going to try our best and bring it home this year,'' Pitino said. ``But there's no guarantee it's going to happen. Just because people want something - the desire, the thirst for it is there - doesn't mean it's going to happen.''
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP Rick Pitino says an NCAA Tournament title always isby CNBthe goal at Kentucky, but it's not a life-and-death situation for
the Wildcats' seventh-year coach or his players.