Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings yesterday expressed little sympathy for Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl’s complaint the day before about Kentucky’s many television appearances.
At the Southeastern Conference Media Days on Wednesday, Pearl voiced irritation with Kentucky being on CBS seven times this coming season. Tennessee, which finished higher than UK in the league and advanced further in the NCAA Tournament last year, will only be on CBS three times.
“He just hasn’t been in the league long enough,” Stallings said when asked about Pearl’s complaint. “He’ll get used to it.
“The last time I checked, Kentucky had won more (SEC) championships than the rest of us put together. What do you do?”
Stallings acknowledged that parity has come to the SEC. Other programs, most notably two-time defending national champion Florida, have gained equal footing with Kentucky.
But Kentucky still rates supremacy as television sees the landscape, Stallings said.
“If Kentucky hit the skids for 10 or 15 yearaes, I’m sure it would look a lot different,” the Vandy coach said. “That hasn’t happened nor is it likely to happen.”
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
I’m glad to know Coach Stallings is one very intelligent guy. And equally glad to know the jealousy of the Tenn. coach. What’s his name??