Jacob Toppin is thinking more about defense and rebounding than scoring. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Jacob Toppin knows that coach John Calipari prefers to have a player driven team not only this season but every years. Always has, always will.
“He wants the players to take control. So he’s kind of given that opportunity to us as a group as we’re starting to play better to take over that role. So it’s good for us. It’s obviously helping us win games,” Toppin said after Tuesday’s 74-71 win over LSU.
Toppin hit a huge corner 3-pointer — “I had the balls to take it,” Toppin said after the game — along with two late free throws to finish with 21 points, including 17 in the second half along with three assists and three rebounds. He was 9-for-13 from the field and his only 3-point try was the one late in the shot clock late in the game when he had no choice but to put up the shot.
“One of our staff members shared an article with me about how he went through that four-game stretch where he was averaging three (points) a game and was really in a bad mindset. So, credit to him for bouncing back with a great performance on Saturday,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said.
“He’s a very good mid-range shooter, but that’s something that we have to live with. We have to force teams to take some non-paint twos and he was able to knock them down. I think he’s a really good cutter without the basketball and he does a nice job, whether you’re in man or zone, in finding the cracks in the defense.
“I thought he beat us on a couple shots. It’s basketball, so he’s 3-of-22 from 3 on the year, but he blasts that 3 to ice the game at the end.”
Toppin admitted he had been in a “dark place” before Calipari put him back into the starting lineup and he erupted for 24 points against Louisville.
“It was all like a mentality not even just being in the right mindset, but also having the right mindset in every aspect, so like just thinking about the right things,” Toppin said. “And right now all I’m thinking about is playing defense and getting rebounds realistically, like that’s taking the pressure off my offense. So yeah, just having that right mindset definitely helps a lot.”
Toppin also likes that the UK offense is becoming more versatile with the way it functions.
“Honestly, when we can play fast, we play fast, but when we slow it down, we score the ball more so we kind of grind it out and a half core run plays execute better, and we’re making shots when we’re executing,” Toppin said.
“So that’s really the main thing for us right now.”
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Kentucky returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. EST at Alabama.
One Response
Toppin’s recent success comes at the expense of Wheeler and Reeves. Jacob will draw Miller as his assignment with Collins in backup. Can Jacob defend and score? Clowney is not strong enough to stop Oscar unless he gets a lot of help from the refs. Wallace will be steady and Livingston could have another breakout game. The wildcard in this game will be Wheeler. Can he beat the bigger guards off the dribble and score/pass under control? Wheelers man will drop down to double on Oscar, can he continue the shooting he did against LSU? This is a must win game for us if we are going to contend for the SEC title, but it is a winable game. The guaranteed asswhooping comes the following Saturday. The league office gave TN the easiest schedule just like they did for Auburn last year. The league office has surmised that the SEC is better off without KY being the dominant team and the scheduling reflects that. We can’t be as good as and hope for a break, we have to be better against a stacked deck. Beating Bama on their floor is a must or every team will think they can get a W when we come to their place. Man up Cats, Bama is one of those teams who think that way.