THE MVP

L.A. Times Archives

March 31, 1998 12 AM PT

GAME BY GAME

* Vs. South Carolina State--In his worst game of the tournament, Sheppard scored only four points in 15 minutes during the Wildcats’ 82-67 victory.

* Vs. Saint Louis--Sheppard made seven of 11 shots, including three from three-point range, and scored 18 points during the Wildcats’ 88-61 rout.

* Vs. UCLA--Sheppard made seven of 14 shots, scored 16 points and grabbed four rebounds in another Wildcat rout, this one by a final of 94-68.

* Vs. Duke--Sheppard led the Wildcats with 18 points and 11 rebounds and helped spark a second-half rally in 86-84 victory over the Blue Devils.

* Vs. Stanford--Sheppard scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Wildcats, but perhaps Kentucky center Nazr Mohammed described Sheppard’s value to the team the best: “Jeff Sheppard is the man. No question, Jeff carried us tonight.”

* Vs. Utah--The Wildcats took the lead for the first time since early in the first half at 60-58 with 7:16 to play on a breakaway dunk by Sheppard after he stole the ball from Hanno Mottola. Sheppard clinched the Final Four’s most outstanding player award by scoring 16 points, including a pair of clutch plays down the stretch in 78-69 victory over Utes.

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PAST MVPS

1939: None selected

1940: Marvin Huffman, Indiana

1941: John Kotz, Wisconsin

1942: Howie Dallmar, Stanford

1943: Ken Sailors, Wyoming

1944: Arnold Ferrin, Utah

1945: Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M;

1946: Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M;

1947: George Kaftan, Holy Cross

1948: Alex Groza, Kentucky