Kentucky police ready to keep order, win or lose
Large force on standby
Police say they are prepared to control crowds near the University of Kentucky campus today when the Wildcats play Kansas in the NCAA title game.
Tournament notes
Lexington police spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts told the Associated Press on Sunday that several hundred officers would be out in force to help keep order.
Police plan a few adjustments from Saturday, when thousands of fans spilled onto the streets after Kentucky defeated intrastate rival Louisville in New Orleans. Fans overturned cars and torched couches.
Roberts said police did a good job of getting rowdy fans under control. Officers arrested 27 people on minor charges such as disorderly conduct and alcohol intoxication.
Police had braced for the possibility of postgame violence Saturday and resorted to pepper spray, though large amounts weren’t needed before they ultimately began dispersing the throngs.
Kentucky players and coach John Calipari expressed shock and disappointment Sunday.
“Our fans are real crazy about us. If we win, it’ll be even more crazy,” guard Doron Lamb said.
Guard Darius Miller said it looked “pretty crazy” from the videos he got on his cellphone.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” he said. “Hopefully everyone makes it out OK.”
Calipari said he was disappointed to hear about the chaos and said he had team spokesman Dewayne Peevy use Twit- ter to encourage fans to calm down. He said it might be that some fans just had too much to drink.
“The state of Kentucky is so connected to this program. It’s the commonwealth’s team. They go overboard sometimes,” Calipari said.
The scene was similar in 1998 when Kentucky won the national championship. That year, 300 officers in full riot gear lined downtown streets as nearly 15,000 fans celebrated.
Police made 10 arrests, and 25 people were treated for minor injuries.
Two years before, though, chaos ensued after Kentucky’s championship victory. Officers were pelted with beer bottles, and a television news crew’s van was overturned.
Awarding experience:
Kansas is guaranteed to leave New Orleans with at least one trophy.
Bill Self was selected Naismith Coach of the Year on Sunday, beating out his opponent in tonight’s NCAA title game, Kentucky’s Calipari.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and Missouri’s Frank Haith also were finalists for the award, given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
“He’s a great teacher,” KU point guard Tyshawn Taylor said. “He helps us all understand the game, understand how he wants us to play for us to be successful. His system works.”
Said Self: “It’s a cool award. But there’s a lot of coaches out there deserving of winning awards. All that is is a reflection of your team playing well. I appreciate it, but I don’t put a lot of stock into thinking that I’ve done something that other coaches haven’t.”
Kansas is the first school with three Naismith winners, with Self joining Larry Brown (1988) and Roy Williams (1997). The award was first given in 1987.