Vandy Has Been Handy on the Glass for UK

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(Vicky Graff Photo)

In four games, freshman Jarred Vanderbilt has played 49 minutes. He’s still getting into “game shape” after not playing this season until mid-January because of a foot injury.

He’s only 5-for-22 from the field in those four games, not exactly sparking offensive numbers. However, he’s been phenomenal on the boards.

He has 29 rebounds. That’s more than one per every two minutes played.

Think about that. P.J. Washington, a solid rebound, has 106 rebounds in 566 minutes. That’s about one every five minutes. Nick Richards has 116 in 363 minutes — about one every three minutes. Wenyen Gabriel has 124 in 480 minutes — or about one each four minutes. Kevin Knox has 120 rebounds in 682 minutes — or one about every 5.5 minutes.

Vanderbilt is rebounding at a pace few can match. He had 11 rebounds Saturday in the win at West Virginia.

“Unbelievable, right? I gotta figure out offensively. I’m losing my mind. I called Jarred in and I said, ‘Listen, I need you on the court. I need your rebounding. I need your toughness. I need your ability to pass and be that guy. What do you want me to run? Write up a play. Tell me how you want me to use you offensively so that you’re comfortable,'” UK coach John Calipari said.

“He’s just not comfortable right now. But he’s only been playing, what, 10 days?”

Calipari knows Vanderbilt gives UK just what it needs.

“He brings that toughness. He’ll go get balls. We just gotta figure him out offensively,” Calipari said.

Vanderbilt is not the explosive offensive player that Knox is. But he’s better than he’s shown. He’s not a pure outside shooter but he will start finishing more plays.

However, even if he doesn’t, his rebounding and court savvy make UK a much different team than it is without him.

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