Kentucky assistant coach Chuck Martin says freshmen Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham have tremendous chemistry. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Two players not worried at all about not being in John Calipari’s starting lineup are Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham. Sheppard has the best overall statistics of anyone on the team while Dillingham leads the team in assists and is second in 3-point percentage.
However, while some UK fans are clamoring for one or both to be in the starting lineup, the two freshmen are fine with their roles even though Sheppard did start against UNC-Wilmington last week when UK lost because D.J. Wagner was injured and could not play.
“I think it’s solid,” Dillingham said about coming off the bench. “I like playing with Reed. I like playing with all the guys. I feel like it helps our team, because their starters are still in, and we got me and Reed coming in, so we push the tempo.
“And then we get D.J. (Wagner) right back in the rotation or leave him in with three guards. So I feel like either way it works out because we got so many good players.”
Dillingham and Sheppard usually enter the game after four or five minutes and Dillingham said time on the bench allows them to focus on what opponents are doing.
“We go in and we both have the mindset of, ‘We’re gonna do whatever we need to do to win,’” Sheppard said. “We’re gonna go in and make the right passes, the right plays, and just try and bring energy off the bench.”
UK assistant coach Chuck Martin likes the way the two freshmen feed off each other.
“They’ve got a tremendous chemistry,” Martin said. “Those two really are fun to watch. They’ve got something going on. I think it started in Toronto (in July), and it’s grown over the last few months.
“It puts pressure on the opposing team, for sure. They’re two kids who are unselfish. They’re looking for one another. They’re capable 3-point shooters. They can beat you off the bounce and get to the rim. It does put pressure on opposing teams, knowing that — within four minutes — D.J. and Justin (Edwards) are coming back.”
7 Responses
"Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke".
Any kid who claims they are happy not being a starter for any kind of team in any sport is very unusual, especially if that kid has aspirations of playing professionally. Being an unselfish team player only goes so far, then human nature takes over and naturally you want to be the best you can be. Competition not only exists with rival teams, but within the team itself. Competition is healthy even if it results in some kids moving up to starting roles and others moving down to a substitute role. Whoever plays the best should play the most. Sometimes an injury changes the starting order and that order doesn’t always revert after a recovery has been made. This is ultimately going to be an issue for this team and not just for the guards…the forwards and centers are going to be involved in this too as the season continues. You can’t blame a kid for wanting to be all they can be.
If the head coach would just stay in the locker room.
If you don’t think Shepherd needs to be a starter at the 1 or 2 guard, you’re drinking Cal’s kool aid. Not only is he the best shooter, he gets rebounds and steals and plays defense! Either way, if he’s coming off the bench, would he rather do that in the pro’s or under Cal? He’s projected as a first round pick, I know where I’d be.
I’m with Jimmy…if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Both players are happy coming off the bench and the chemistry is clearly right. Interestingly, Devin Booker came off the bench and has fared fairly well. I’m really not sure what the couch coaches are trying to accomplish…perhaps discord within the team. Hopefully our guys aren’t reading the press clippings or listening to the couch coaches. Just keep working to get better, look out for one another and have fun playing the game you love. We’ll keep cheering you on!
Just win.
War coaches are rare. It’s like many head horse trainers, walk the walk talk the talk but the assistant trainers trains the horses and instructions the rider.