If Jacob Toppin rebounds, then it is easier for John Calipari to use his best three-guard lineup

Kentucky needs Jacob Toppin to be a stat-stuffer and rebounder. (Vicky Graff Photo)

If John Calipari does decide to go with a lineup of point guard Cason Wallace, shooting guards Antonio Reeves and CJ Fredrick, forward Jacob Toppin and center Oscar Tshiebwe that was so effective against both Tennessee and Georgia, it requires a few things.

— Wallace has to be able to make smart decisions with the basketball, keep the opposing point guard out of the paint and hit at least some outside shots.

— Reeves and Fredrick have to make 3-point shots and create ball movement.

— Toppin has to rebound.

The most important factor for Calipari might be Toppin’s rebounding. Tshiebwe is going to get his but he can’t be counted on to get 24 every game like he did against Georgia Tuesday. He has to have help from Toppin for UK to use the three-guard lineup.

“Jacob is playing better and better, being more aggressive and more confident,” Calipari said after Tuesday’s win over Georgia.  “Think about where he was before we played Missouri. Think about that.”

Toppin was only 3-for-10 from the field against Georgia but still had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds because he got to the foul line six times and made five of them. He also had a team-high four assists along with two blocked shots.

If he does all those things, Kentucky can survive a 3-for-10 shooting performance from a player Calipari had huge expectations for this season but has been wildly inconsistent.

He had four points against Yale, five against UCLA, four against Florida A&M and did not score at Missouri. Toppin came back with 24 points against Louisville and 21 against LSU but then only three against Alabama. He did not play against South Carolina because of a shoulder injury and scored only five points at Tennessee but had eight rebounds and five assists.

Toppin is averaging 10.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and shooting 41 percent from the field. He has 34 assists, nine blocked shots and eight steals.

Kentucky needs him to be a stat-stuffer and rebounder — not a 3-point shooter. He seemed determined to show NBA scouts he could make that shot this year but has missed 19 of his 24 3-point attempts. In recent games he’s been limiting any 3-point try and finding space in the 15-foot range where he’s a much better shooter.

“Jacob Toppin has incredible athleticism. He can erase mistakes on defense with his length and athleticism,” ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes said. “But when he rebounds and plays defense, that makes Kentucky a much better team.”