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For four straight games from Jan. 17-27 Jordan Burks did not play a single minute and he’s had six games where he’s not played, not exactly what the leading scorer in Overtime Elite probably expected when he came to Kentucky this season.
However, the last three games injuries to teammates have given him a chance to play more and he cashed in big time at Vanderbilt Tuesday when he got to play 15 minutes and scored a career-high 13 points on 6-for-6 shooting that included four dunks. He also added five rebounds, matching a season-high.
Burks said Friday he was not surprised he got that opportunity.
“He (coach John Calipari) tells me to stay ready every game, so I’m gonna stay ready and it just happened. I was just ready,” Burkes said. “You gotta keep the phone on the hook, you can’t ever have the phone off the hook. Gotta keep it on the hook in case you get called. I’m ready.”
Will he get the “call” again today when UK plays Gonzaga?
Burks doesn’t know even though fifth-year senior Tre Mitchell continues to have back pains that kept him out of Tuesday’s game.
“It felt good just to be back there with my teammates,” Burks said. “Just to play with them and contribute to help winning is always a good feeling.”
Burks’ scoring was a boost but his toughness and defense might be needed more. Kentucky ranks 102nd nationally in defensive efficiency according to KenPom and 318th in scoring defense at 78.3 points per game.
“Defensively, coach Chin (Coleman) really put in my head that that’s my identity. Defense and having a high motor, high energy and just trying to get everybody involved,” Burks said. “That’s what I think I’m taking passion in for real now.”
He admits he came to UK believing scoring was his identity.
“I like getting buckets, but now it’s like, if I can stop you, then we can go do whatever we want to you on the offensive end,” Burks said. “We’re the number one scoring offensive team in the country. All 16 players can score. So if we can lock up and all 16 can play defense, who can beat us?”
The 6-8 Burks played center often early in the season with UK’s three 7-footers out even though that obviously is not his natural position, especially on offense.
“When I first came here, I sacrificed and played a different position, so I knew that I’m kind of behind in my regular position. Everything happens for a reason, being patient. Somebody else can believe in you, but you have to have confidence in yourself,” Burks said. “It’s good that I got to learn the five, four and three. I’ve even been playing the two in practice now.”
Calipari has been praising Burks often during the season even when he was not playing and did again Wednesday on his weekly radio show.
“I’ve been on this radio show for five straight weeks talking about Jordan Burks,” Calipari said Wednesday. “I said wait to see him when he gets his chance. So here’s what I would say. If I’m one of those other guys and I’m a winger and one of those bigs, you gotta throw Jordan back in, don’t you?
“So when he gets minutes, that means you get less minutes.”
16 Responses
I like Burks. I like his energy and effort. He may turn out to be the best all around player on the team behind Mitchell because of his ability to score, rebound, pass the ball, and willingness to play defense. Mitchell, Thero, and Burks are 3 hard-nosed ball players and know how to push back.
Thiero, Burks, Shepard, and Perry will give Mark Pope a solid nucleus to build around for next year. If Onyenso will stay one more year, and he should to develop his offense, it would be a competitive team…that’s assuming that Pope would leave BYU to come here.
Jimmy says no
That’s a good choice, but I don’t think it’s going to happen and another thing is if Cal decides to step down that some players that you mentioned and the recruits may decide to go elsewhere.Its a free market anymore.
Mark Pope he needs a couple more years to prove he can consistently win at the power 5 level. Nobody wants to win more than a alumni member but that doesn’t always work out. Look at Kenny Payne at Louisville or Joker Phillips at Kentucky. But I think Pope is doing a tremendous job at BYU.
Great article but let me ask you this why would he not have at least played him 5-10 minutes even when we lose. He’s been another spark plug off the bench like Dillingham and Big Z (If he gets the proper minutes to actually play like last game). Burks is actually one of the only front court players with a high motor and good defense. If the defense struggles like it has all year why not play the players who are defensive specialists.. sometimes I never understand what calapari is thinking. Let’s Go Cats Beat Gonzaga. BBN
Can anyone do as bad as Calipari has done the past 8 years? Calipari is just a gold plated Billy Clyde!
Because Califraudi is the master of mismanaging talent. He has down it almost every year of late. Once again, who does less with more than the Cal?
Just read that UK may be targeting a QB/OC from Boise State? Not sure of the credentials but the original target lists had some good guys listed. Stoops may have to do a little selling on this one. Maybe the job not as attractive as some of us thought. Also wondering if any of the target guys talked to Coen.
I think Burks has played at an elevated level all season when given the opportunity. He has earned more playing time, at the expense of Edwards and Wagner.
I agree with you. I think Burks players harder on both ends of the floor than Edward’s. Why wouldn’t you give him the nod when we play better with him in the game. Calapari plays Burks at the 4 and he can play that position but he’s naturally a 3. He starts Thiero or Edward’s at the 3 and Burks clearly is better than both of them. I like Thiero because he gives 100% of what he has but I think Burks is more of a gifted basketball player than Thiero and he gives night and day more effort than Edwards.
Wow, Gonzaga in an unranked team who barely gets more than 3 votes. They were 0-5 against quad 1 teams and come into Rupp and thump us! Now we have 3 consecutive losses at Rupp for the first time in history under Calipari and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ole Miss doesn’t hang another one on us. Well, there’s 1 of at least 5 losses before the season ends. When you can’t win at home, you need to go home…I think that would be Pennsylvania for the fraud.
Why are we considered a quad 1 team?
Where’s Jimmy?
Jimmy is hiding with all of the other Calipari lovers, lol! Even the Calipari lovers are turning on the fraud, but Jimmy is the head of the Calipari Rah Rah Club, so he is stuck! Jimmy is just as responsible for all of the damage that the fraud has done to our program because it’s people like Jimmy that keep begging Barnhart to keep him.
Jimmy is stuck. His head is stuck so far up Cals butt that he can see what he had for dinner. Maybe by in the morning he can pull out and tell us that we’re bad fans.
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