What a senior season, he was not only on the cover of Sports Illustrated, but he tied for the team lead in assists, won the leadership award, was second on the team in scoring and was an academic All-American. Jimmy Dan Connors was a slick Kentucky boy who lived out a dream, he wore a Kentucky uniform.

Today, Jimmy Dan owns a commericial insurance agency in Louisville. At the end of the regular season, Taking a Cut got together with one of the stars from the 1975 team that lost the NCAA Championship to UCLA in John Wooden's last game as a coach, to get his feelings on everything from Tubby to Rupp.

Taking a Cut: I have to have your favorite Rupp story !
Jimmy Dan: "He came over to one of my high school games. It probably was one of the last games he went to---to watch a high school player. The gym seated about 2500. Typical Kentucky story, we must have had 4000 people. Coach Rupp walks in, there is no seat. So, when Adolph Rupp walks in, they stop the game. The principal comes down and the superintendent comes down and they rope off a section. Everyone knew who he came to see. The next five minutes not a basket was scored nor did I touch the ball. He got a big kick out of it."

Taking a Cut: Did you feel a lot of extra pressure because Rupp came to see you ?
Jimmy Dan: "No question. I had a lot of coaches come and watch, but when Adolph comes, it ups the pressure."

Taking a Cut: Your favorite win of all time ?
Jimmy Dan: "The 92-90 win to go to the Final Four in Dayton in 1975. That's the one I will always remember. Early in that year, a lot of people don't remember, Indiana beat us by 25 or 26. We weren't close to them. To come back, when it all mattered......they were undefeated and we got revenge."

Taking a Cut: Do you think about the good old days at UK ?
Jimmy Dan: "Oh, I think about it a lot. It's kind of fun to reminisce. It's amazing how quickly time goes by. It's been 24-25 years since I played. It doesn't seem that far."

Taking a Cut: Do you wish there was a three point shot when you played ?
Jimmy Dan: "We would have loved to have had a three point shot. I think even Coach Rupp and all the plays they used to run, a lot of them were designed for shots to be taken outside the three point line. I think it needs to be moved back, but I also think it's one of the best rule changes. It's really added a lot of excitement to the game."

Taking a Cut: You are part of a special club at UK, scoring at least 1000 points.
Jimmy Dan: "It's very nice. Thank God for Bobby Watson because he only had 1001 points and I had 1009. The list is getting longer and I'm getting close to the bottom all the time."

Taking a Cut: Do you think you could compete today ?
Jimmy Dan: "Compete today ? I don't know. They seem to be getting a little faster and stronger. I'd like to think that I could, yeah."

Taking a Cut: Do you think there is a lot of pressure on Tubby ?
Jimmy Dan: "Last year, the job Tubby did with the team was phenomenal. I have to tell you this time of year, I was not happy with the team, but what he did, and made that run in the NCAA tournament, was as good a coaching job as I've seen. This year it's similar, he's lost some players. He's having a little trouble jelling this team. But what I like is that he continues to tinker. He tries a lot of combinations. It's near that time where I can see him shining again."

Taking a Cut: Ever think about coaching ?
Jimmy Dan: "NO ! I remember how I was when I was 18. I'm not sure I want to deal with those ah......individuals if they are nearly as bad as I was."

Taking a Cut: The great tradition at UK, does it mean more to you every year ?
Jimmy Dan: "There's no question about it. You understand that while you are here, that tradition means you are not supposed to lose....no matter what.....no matter what the conditions are. But, I think as I get older and learn to appreciate it more, it's important for me to see UK continue to do well, as it has been of late. It's hard to factor in what that tradition means. That tradition goes a long ways."

Taking a Cut: I hear you are a fine speaker.
Jimmy Dan: "I belong to a big church. On Easter Sunday, I gave testimony to 12,000 people. Luckily for me it was in Freedom Hall, so I felt somewhat at home. I love to talk to different churches and generally never say no when a church comes calling. It's usually around the basketball season so there is a nice tie in. I come in and either give a testimony or a talk. I really enjoy that."

Alan Cutler is an award winning TV sportscaster, motivational speaker and sports talk show host in Lexington and Cincinnati. Comments can be e-mailed to sportscut@mis.net . Choose to have a great day ! choose to have a great day ! alan s. cutler sportscut@mis.net www.alancutler.com