Kentucky scored 106 points and made 16 of 32 3-pointers in its season-opener.
So what does coach Rick Pitino talk about Wednesday night after the fourth-ranked Wildcats beat West Virginia by 26 points in the Big Apple NIT?Defense.
"The guys really did a fantastic job defending their offense," he said. "We cannot play any better than this for an opening game. One of our goals for the 3-point shot is not only to make ours, but to stop theirs, if it is to have any validity at all.
"Everything we hoped to do defensively we did tonight. And that made us look good."
So did John Pelphrey, who had 26 points, including 19 in the first half when the Wildcats broke things open for the first time. He hit three straight 3-pointers in a 12-2 run which gave Kentucky command.
"That's as good as we can play right now," the senior forward said. "We hit some 3s in transition."
No. 23 Georgia Tech 93,
James Madison 69
The only starter the Yellow Jackets had to replace from last season was All-America point guard Kenny Anderson, who left for the NBA after his sophomore season. They're not saying "Kenny Who?" just yet, but freshman Travis Best looked a like lot the fellow left-hander he inherited the point from.
The 5-foot-11 Best had 18 points and nine assists to lead Georgia Tech to the home victory and fellow freshman James Forrest, a 6-8 forward, had 16 points, six on offensive rebounds in the run which opened the second half and put the game away.
Paul Carter led James Madison with 15 points, while Bryan Edwards and Kent Culuko each added 14.
In other preseason NIT action Princeton defeated Monmouth, 58-47; Texas defeated Washington, 104-83; Colorado St. defeated Boise St., 80-67; Pittsburgh defeated Manhattan, 72-61.