CJ Fredrick has scored three or fewer points in four of UK's last five games. (Vicky Graff Photo)
CJ Fredrick was a scorer/shooter in high school at Covington Catholic. He was a shooter/scorer at Iowa before transferring to UK.
So what has happened to the once deadly 3-point shooter and is it time to worry about his shot?
After nine games, he’s shooting 40.7 percent from the field but only 35.7 percent (15 of 42) from 3-point range. That’s over 10 points below his career 3-point percentage at Iowa.
He didn’t play at UK last year after suffering a leg injury and is struggling to get that knockdown rhythm back. He was 0-for-2 from the field in Saturday’s win over Yale and did not take a 3-pointer in the nine minutes he played.
In three of UK’s first four games this season, Fredrick had 14 points or more. Four of the last five games he’s had three points or fewer, including none against Yale.
“One of the things I said at halftime is I want to put him and Antonio (Reeves) together because I kind of like those two playing together. Then Antonio broke down three straight times on defense, put CJ in for him. Game played out different than I wanted it to,” Calipari said.
But what about Fredrick’s shot-making ability?
“I haven’t lost any confidence in him. But, again, if someone’s playing better, then they’re going to play more,” Calipari said.
Bottom line, if he doesn’t make shots, he’s not going to play as much as when he makes shots.
“When I put him in the second time, I said, ‘Look, kid, just shoot the ball. If you’re free, let it go,’” Calipari said.
He didn’t. The only 3-point shot he took — and hit — came in the first half just after the shot clock expired.
“Again, this was one of those games with just the movement, dribble handoff, that kind of stuff, which again they’re a really good offensive team and they scored 59,” Calipari said.
“One of the things we were trying to do is, all right, how w e going to do this defensively. If guys are breaking down, we just said, ‘All right, go with the guys that are guarding.’”
24 Responses
Calipari has a way of destroying pure shooters.
Fredrick is done here.
Teams are aware of him, and are defending him better at the perimeter, and he knows it. But that opens up the floor for other KY players, so just having him on the floor puts extra pressure on defenses. And then sometimes he hits those shots, too.
Calipari does have a way of messing with a kid’s head. Frederick seems to be pressing too much too. He needs to calm down and let the game come to him as it will.
A bigger concern could be Toppin becoming the invisible man and Wheeler taking too many shots. Of course, Calipari’s stagnant dribble drive offense encourages Wheeler to look for his shot and pretty much makes Topping the forgotten man.
A good friend said after August games that by the start of the season, Fredrick would be relegated to a spot at the end of the bench because he does not fit the Calipari criteria for playing time.
Sure looks like that is exactly how it has played out.
The litany of pure shooters who can’t seem to find time is a growing list. Calipari has his pre-selected picks, those with NBA tickets written on their foreheads, and those primadonnas get the playing time regardless of their mistakes, poor defense, or whatever other lame excuses he dishes out every year to explain why other players can’t have playing time.
At another site, there is a thread about Calipari’s illusory and somewhat humorous goal of having a team average 80+ points per game. With his offense, such as it is, averaging barely 67 possessions per game, there is no way a Calipari team will ever average 80 ppg. BTW, the 80 ppg thing is Calipari’s making, not mine.
This guy is a fraud when it comes to coaching championship basketball.
Amen. He pales in comparison to coaches like Z and Bill Self.
Calipari is the only problem with most shooters who come to UK. If you are not NBA green room bound, it is hard for Calipari to let you be important to the team.
You guys need to let up a little bit on coach Cal.can he change some things and make them better sure he can and will but bottom line is you got to produce when given the opportunity.I don’t know what other coach would do any better and Calipari has been a class act since he has been at U.K.sure there has been some games he could’ve and should’ve won but that happens to everyone ! And I think when conference games roll around C.J. and Antonio will be playing together. So let’s lighten up a little.
Mike I agree but you are wasting your time asking for people to lighten up! A lot of people on this site(and others) have already dug Cal’s grave and are only waiting to fill it in! At this point even a National Championship will not change their minds. They would say it was in spite of not because of!
I hate losing as much as the next fan. Since I am a players 1st guy(not a popular opinion here) I hope that CJ lives up to expectations(Cal is not shooting below his career average in 3 pointers). If not it’s next man up. To me it’s just like free throws at clutch time. Guy that shoot over 70% are missing at crunch time. That’s not on Cal(ok kind of. maybe they should be on the bench but that could actually create different issues). The guys in at crunch time have to want it and make them. It’s just that simple. No team with starters that shoot over 70% from the FT line can survive close games when those starter make 50% or less.
As the coach it’s all on Cal. But he is not bricking FT’s, taking bad shots and turning the ball over at crunch time(but he is in charge of who is on the floor)!
Win Lose or draw I am supporting UK!
C J can’t score if on the bench. he took only 2 shots in 9 minutes total. C J is A great passer better than SW. sw is so out of control . lets face it a PG only had 1 assist. No winning this way. 3 points in a game for entire team, Pathetic with the shooters that Cats have
Cats have 10 super players and Cal only plays 7. go back to the platoon system with O alteranting in both. and get Collins involved as well aas Double O .7 footer is a block machine and can make baskets and yup Free Throws. something the Cats struggle with.’
Thought the mission was to have weaves and CJ on court at same time
0 is a good number for Toppin
I noticed in the Yale game that they did not guard Toppin at all when he had the ball on the top of the key or wing. They wanted him to shoot. So now other coaches are getting the formula, you don’t have to guard Toppin or Wheeler on the perimeter. Just collapse the defense. The lane will never be open, note: no dunks the whole game, and they can double team Oscar. And as we all know, 60% of the shots are going to be by Oscar. Season is only going to go as far as our defense will allow it, because our offense is going to be very predictable.
I think it’s everyone’s negative comments that fuel UK’s problems.
It’s early in the season nobody has found there rhythm with Oscar on the floor yet. Wheeler is to short for the dribble drive. You have got to be threat to score for the dribble drive to work.
Thiero needs to be playing instead. Hopefully he doesn’t transfer in this whole mess.
Calipari has "dug his own grave" by the way he has mishandled the once great UK basketball program.
UK will not sniff another final four so long as he remains here.
Yes so right there all run and shoot no DEFENSE, I see every game teams driving to basket and laying ball in at ease no defense. Some time soon I hope they can learn to cover there opponents
Naysayers better quit all the negativity and support and applaud – you , nor the athletic department/school can afford his buy out. Make the best of it people – don’t hurt the thing he does best – bring in the highest rated players in the country. And rather than write a response just reread the above !
Cal can take his number one recruiting class next season with him and leave. He will never make another final four. It’s past time for him to go.
And I know we can’t afford to buy him out but something needs to be figured out.
You could give him the Golden State Warriors and he would screw it up.
I think some of you are jumping the gun to early on this team. I weather play poor early and learn from it and get better as the season goes along. Hell were not only the one struggling on some issues. look at N.Carolina for example
The offense is really stale.seems to be repetitive every year…
It has not been very innovative for sure
Start Oscar and 4 guards. Need shooters on the floor as much as possible. Livingston 6th man, he has a good outside shot. Toppin, Ugonna to spell Oscar and i’d like to see how Oscar and Ugonna would look together some too. Collins is just too thin to play inside and not skilled enough to play outside. Get Ware and Thiero In when you can.
Cal will never play that many players David
If some of the players worked as hard on the court as they do off the court fixing their hair they might be able to play.
UK has two studs, Oscar and Wallace. Maybe Livingston can speed-up development and a couple more can take big steps in their defensive game. It is unclear who can contribute in an 8 man rotation.
Who was open and not getting a shot when Oscar had 3 Yalies draped over him?