Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham provide a potent 1-2 punch for Kentucky coming off the bench. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Have you heard or seen the chatter that Kentucky coach John Calipari should be starting Reed Sheppard? And made Rob Dillingham, too.
Both freshman guards have played brilliantly at times this year and probably would be just fine in the starting lineup. However, why mess with what is working.
The two are dynamic playmakers coming off the bench and both have embraced those roles. They don’t seem worried about not starting — kind of like a former Wildcat named Devin Booker did not when he was at Kentucky.
I like the offensive firepower they can provide when they come into a game and how they can impact games in so many ways.
Calipari is blessed with four guards — D.J. Wagner, Antonio Reeves, Sheppard and Dillingham — who all have multiple skills and mesh well together.
“Everybody seems to be comfortable in their role. There has been a lot of talk about who should be starting but when you get guys who play well regardless of where they play, that is luxury for a coach,” UK Radio Network analyst Jack Givens said after Friday’s 118-82 win over Marshall.
“You don’t have to start a guy to get max effort. I like when Rob and Reed come into the game together and mesh. You may not get that if they start and then roles get messed up. I like that all these guys get satisfaction out of making teammates look good.”
So do I and so does Calipari. Even better, so do the players.
“I feel like everybody can see that. We’re having a lot of fun out there playing with each other and playing together and winning,” Wagner, who had 28 points Friday, said.
He said the focus is not on individual play.
“I was just happy that we were able to win games. Everybody could see how good of a team that we’ve got. We still do. I’m confident in my teammates and they’re confident in me,” he said. “I feel like everybody is in the gym as much as we can. Sometimes the coaches tell us we can’t be in the gym sometimes because we’re in there so much. I feel like it’s showing. That hard work is paying off for us.”
Sheppard and Dillingham were more concerned with UK giving up 82 points than starting the game.
“We got a bunch of dudes that can score. We got to get more connected on the defensive end and keep their numbers lower and keep staying at that,” Sheppard said. “It was a super fun game. Marshall is a really good team and we were hitting shots, moving the ball so it was really, really good.
“Anything I can do to help the team win. If I have to go out and score zero points and do the little things then that’s perfectly fine as long as we come out with the win. Any time I can make an assist for Rob or DJ or any of them to make an easy bucket is really, really good.
“I just love going out and making the easy play and the basketball play and helping the team win.”
27 Responses
Careful Larry. There are those here who think Cal is a fraud and has no idea how to coach. You start posting positive stories like this(when it comes to what Cal is doing) and u may lose some readers! 😀
I was thinking the same thing UKFMLY. Makes for a good chuckle.
Most OVERRATED coach in the game. He’s no fraud, just not getting it done.
Get R dun
I totally agree with you. Nothing wrong with have great players coming off the bench.
If the players embrace it, why should anyone (other than those fans who seem to be unhappy about something all the time) care who starts? They are getting relatively even minutes, with adjustments for foul trouble here and there.
Great article Larry, maybe some people will understand after reading this post.
It is a team sport,But I’m sure cal has to smile when he looks down the bench at all the talent,These kids want to win,In last minutes in big games is really where the elite shine.Bring it home guys,you can do it.
This team is having fun. You can see it on their faces. Cal doesn’t listen to whiney fans anyway (thank goodness). Good times are ahead for true blue fans. The crybabies won’t be happy as long as Calipari is coach. I hope he makes them miserable with #9. Go Cats!!!
Oh he’s listening. Probably won’t wear a bow tie but I will. When he makes the final for again, call me so I can be there.
This team can be better if the best players get the most playing time and the ball hogs take more time on the bench.
It is really quite simple, but this coach has a different philosophy, move those kids to the NBA, not to make UK basketball the best it can be.
This program has degenerated, and now the annual debate "will UK make the tournament"? What a disgrace for the one time gold standard.
Nailed it. Be glad to provide a list of injured players (newly into the league) and a guy named Oscar who is half blind. Tell me how the heck that happens with the superlative assistants he hires.
You are the most negative UK fan ever. I now know what you are a profess of. NEGATIVITY
Calipari has stated this publicly multiple times, that he doesn’t care about UK being the best team it can be and winning championships. His priority is getting players drafted as highly as possible. That is what he promises them while recruiting, and THAT is why the ones who were projected as top draft prospects before they even got to UK are starting. Not because they are better and certainly not because “it works” and makes the team better.
It is amazing that some fans still think he is doing what he thinks is best for the team to win when he has very publicly stated, with much arrogance, that he is not.
Shep is spot on. Dilly gets lost on D multiple times allowing wide open looks. Re watch the Kansas game in the 2nd half. He’s only a freshman and the SEC will provide better opportunities.
Professor and Greg, it’s a new season and a whole lot different team that we have enjure the last previous seasons. If you don’t enjoy this team and apparently that’s the case because Cal is still the coach. Get off the bandwagon and move on to cheer another team that will give you the satisfaction.
Look,Cal has been in this business a long time,Last year was a decent team,not enough offense.These freshmen already know how to move without the ball,Cal has more ball handlers,This team will be a final four team when their Centers return.If we had a center in the Kansas game it would have been a blow out,Kansas center would not had 27 points n 21 rebounds over our seven footers.I do notice they all need to step up closer when guarding the guards.Wagner will be a mismatch for most guards,Mitchell in with a seven footer will be a real problem for most teams,our offense guard play dosent get much better,they are good as any in the country.I think come March this team will go really far.Lets be realistic,no team is top 4 every year,so cut Cal some slack.He is a great coach.The year Maxey n that team should have went to final four,if it weren’t for covid cancelation that year.Looks like next year will be good too.
I don’t know who hates who the most…Republicans & Democrats or Calipari lovers & Calipari haters. Calipari is a good man but a mediocre coach at best. At present Larry, I tend to agree with your article. When the bigs come back, it might be better to have a facilitator running the offense instead of a scorer. Getting off to slow starts can be troublesome against better teams. Our offense and defense seem to be better with Sheppard in the game. Seeing how competitive the league will be this season, can we afford not to have our best lineup on the floor as much as possible? By SEC play, our best starting lineup would be Sheppard at the 1, Reeves at the 2, Thiero at the 3, Mitchell at the 4, and Bradshaw at the 5. You mention how Dillingham and Sheppard are ok coming off the bench if that keeps everybody happy. Would Wagner and Edwards feel the same if they don’t start? IF Calipari was smart, and he really isn’t basketball smart, he would have them pressing and fast breaking all 40 minutes. After 4 or 5 minutes, the kids will want to come out for a breather. Everybody on this team can score. What will make the team better are the ones who play good defense, move the ball to the open man, rebound, make free throws, and take care of the ball. Those are the kids who should get the most playing time.
Let the squealing begin, lol.
Bring it home,Kentucky
If you can’t see greatness in this team your blind.they had number one team in the nation on the ropes,looked like Kansas was about to be blown out.but they have very experienced team,I think our young guys learned from this.You will see what kentucky is about for real when those rim protecters come in.Dont count this team out,they remind me of the 96 team.Maybe even better.
Go Cats
As long as they win why does anyone care who the coach is. My opinion if he wins that’s what matters to most of the fans wont. I am all for coach Cal
Roflmao.
People overlook one simple equation – YOU GET THREE POINTS BEYOND THE LINE. Cal loves the athletic runners and dunkers – BUT THAT COUNTS FOR TWO POINTS – only 66% of the 3 ball production.
After 12 years he seems to have figured that out.
If you’re scaring 45% – “LET EM’ FLY” !!
The rules are 5 players o the court at once per team. 1 basketball. You cannot start everyone. Its doesn’t matter who starts , as history with Cal has shown players can be shuffled in and out steadily.
I like a big spark on the bench
I can remember James Lee coming off the bench. A real spark. Did Jay Shidler come off as well?
They both came off the bench for coach Joe Hall