02-28-2006, 08:02 PM
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02/28/2006
LEXINGTON, Ky. â Kentuckyâs Mickie DeMoss, who in just three years as head coach has piloted the womenâs basketball program to a season of remarkable firsts, earned the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year award voted on by the leagueâs 12 coaches.
DeMoss has brought the Wildcats (20-7, 9-5 SEC) from winning a combined 20 games in the two years prior to her arrival in 2003, to a record-breaking regular season that includes the most wins (20) in seven years, the most Southeastern Conference wins in school history (nine), and the highest conference finish (fourth) in 23 years. Whatâs more impressive is that DeMoss has done with it with a team comprised of nine freshmen and sophomores and just one senior.
âItâs an honor to be recognized by your peers for your hard work and accomplishments, but it all boils down to the players buying into what you want them to do,â DeMoss said. âYou can know all the basketball in the world, but if your team canât commit to play hard and play together, then all that basketball doesnât mean much. It always boils down to the people who are working under you and for you. I have to give my players and support staff and everybody a lot of credit.â
This is the first Coach of the Year honor in UK Hoops history.
DeMoss brings her Wildcats to North Little Rock, Ark., looking for another first - the Wildcatsâ first SEC Tournament title since 1982. With a convincing 80-60 win over Alabama on Sunday, Kentucky secured a No. 4 seed in the SEC Tournament and a first round bye in the SEC Tournament.
Kentucky will meet the winner of Florida (No. 5 seed) and Mississippi State (No. 12 seed) on Friday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
02/28/2006
LEXINGTON, Ky. â Kentuckyâs Mickie DeMoss, who in just three years as head coach has piloted the womenâs basketball program to a season of remarkable firsts, earned the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year award voted on by the leagueâs 12 coaches.
DeMoss has brought the Wildcats (20-7, 9-5 SEC) from winning a combined 20 games in the two years prior to her arrival in 2003, to a record-breaking regular season that includes the most wins (20) in seven years, the most Southeastern Conference wins in school history (nine), and the highest conference finish (fourth) in 23 years. Whatâs more impressive is that DeMoss has done with it with a team comprised of nine freshmen and sophomores and just one senior.
âItâs an honor to be recognized by your peers for your hard work and accomplishments, but it all boils down to the players buying into what you want them to do,â DeMoss said. âYou can know all the basketball in the world, but if your team canât commit to play hard and play together, then all that basketball doesnât mean much. It always boils down to the people who are working under you and for you. I have to give my players and support staff and everybody a lot of credit.â
This is the first Coach of the Year honor in UK Hoops history.
DeMoss brings her Wildcats to North Little Rock, Ark., looking for another first - the Wildcatsâ first SEC Tournament title since 1982. With a convincing 80-60 win over Alabama on Sunday, Kentucky secured a No. 4 seed in the SEC Tournament and a first round bye in the SEC Tournament.
Kentucky will meet the winner of Florida (No. 5 seed) and Mississippi State (No. 12 seed) on Friday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
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