When he gets to the foul line, Chris Livingston is a 92 percent foul shooter. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky coach John Calipari keeps insisting he needs to play freshman Chris Livingston more and determine what is the best position or positions for him going into today’s game with UCLA in New York.
Former UK All-American Jack Givens, who is now part of the UK Radio Network, believes Livingston has a “great upside” from what he’s seen.
“Sometimes it takes a little time for a freshman to figure it out and where are my points going to come from,” Givens said on “BBN GameDay” on WLEX-TV. “He is doing some good stuff on defense.
“Obviously he works hard. He runs up and down the floor. He rebounds the basketball. He does deserve to be out there. But finding his shots is where he is struggling. Sometimes you just have to go get that second shot opportunity, chase down a rebound.
“But the thing for Livingston that I think will really help him is using his body to get to the free throw line because this guy makes free throws. I don’t care if I get my points on the free throw line or layup or what. I just want points.”
Livingston is averaging 5.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 13.9 minutes per game. He’s shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from 3. At the foul line, he’s 12-for-13 — a 92.3 percent mark (best on the team).
In last Saturday’s win over Yale, Livingston got 13 minutes and scored seven points on 3-for-5 shooting from the field. He had two assists but did not have a rebound.
Calipari wants to see Livingston continue on the path he’s on now and not get impatient for quick results.
“The only reason I took him out (against Yale), he left the best shooter on the court, he left him, and they made a 3. I said, ‘I don’t care about you missing shots, but this game is too close to have you not realize you’re not leaving that guy,’” Calipari said.
The coach said he explained to Livingston he had to coach to win the game and not worry about how any one player felt.
“I did an interview about Shai (Gilgeous) Alexander. He didn’t start the first 10 games. Shai Alexander took 12 shots a game here. He’s in the top three in the NBA or top four in scoring. Took 12 shots a game here,” Calipari said.
“Anthony Davis and Devin Booker are also in the top 10. None of them were shooting 25 balls a game here. There’s an efficiency to how they play, what they know, what they’re doing.
“Like I said to these guys, you’re going to get minutes and you’re going to get offensive opportunities. What are you going to do with them? How do you keep building your confidence?”
Livingston not only continues to accept Calipari’s coaching but appreciates his sometimes blunt honesty.
“That’s how they treat you at the next level, too. There’s no sugarcoating or coddling or babying or anything like that,” Livingston said after the Yale win. “You’ve just got to get done what you’ve got to get done. You’ve got to take advantage of the opportunity.”
3 Responses
I’m a big Toppin fan, and strong supporter of Cal, and don’t want to sound critical. With that said, IMO, Chris Livingston should be getting minutes at the 4, and I’ve heard Cal speak to this point. We need to make it a priority, give him enough time to fully understand how effective he is, and how well the team plays.
The game is more than getting to the line, but Givens makes a good point about LIvingston proven ability to make his free throws, 12-13 on the year.
This team has 4 players who have been making free throws. Livingston, Tshiebwe, Fredrick, and Reeves. Between them, they have made 53-64, 83% of their attempts. The rest of the team, no so impressive, 60-102, 59%. Only 3 of these other players are shooting over 60%, and none of them are over 67%, yet they have shot substantially more for the team’s free throws.
Part of the issue is the players who do make them are getting fewer minutes than those who don’t. Wallace has 291 minutes and is 16-31 from the line. His offensive efficiency is 1.23 ppp which means his floor game is making up for his free throw issues. However, Toppin has played 254 minutes and made 20-31 from the line. HIs offensive efficiency has been 1.01 ppp which is well below the team average, yet he continues to get more minutes that free throw shooters like Fredrick (1.119 ppp), Reeves (1.126 ppp), and Livingston (1.108 ppp).
Yet, once again, Calipari shows his ignorance by citing efficiency as the reason these others play and Livingston sits. Calipari uses the language of efficiency without any comprehension of its meaning or basis.
This guy is a total basketball fraud, and he is ruining the greatest basketball program in history before our eyes.
Wake Up BBN.
Off Eff Name Min/Game
1.943 Ugonna Onyenso 10.1
1.603 Oscar Tshiebwe 28.4
1.231 Cason Wallace 32.3
1.126 Antonio Reeves 25.3
1.119 CJ Fredrick 22.6
1.108 Chris Livingston 13.8
1.106 Lance Ware 12.6
1.053 Adou Thiero 11.0
1.014 Jacob Toppin 28.2
1.000 Brennan Canada 2.0
0.783 Sahvir Wheeler 29.9
0.481 Daimion Collins 12.1
0.000 Walker Horn 2.0
0.000 Kareem Watkins 2.0
Here are the data. Wheeler is a drag on this team, yet 2nd most in minutes per game. Livingston, Ware, and Thiero should be getting more minutes and Toppin less, and Wheeler only clearnup role if and when Calipari decides to use the far end of the bench.
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