Vicky Graff Photo
Travis Perry hit his first 3-pointer since Nov. 22 and just his second at UK in Tuesday’s 88-54 win over Brown and earned praise from Kentucky coach Mark Pope after the game for his overall play and continual improvement.
However, his four-point performance didn’t suit everyone.
“I get back to the locker room and our managers and our guys are telling me I should shoot a few more,” Perry said after the game. “I’m just trying to make the right play, trying to get more aggressive and more comfortable out there.”
The former Lyon County star also recently made a glaring mistake on New Year’s Eve when he was trimming the mustache he grew after he came to Kentucky. Teammate Andrew Carr revealed after the game what Perry had done that left Kentucky’s 2024 Mr. Basketball with no choice but to shave the mustache.
Perry confirmed Carr’s story, knowing the truth was going to come out eventually either way. He didn’t want to cut it — although his dad was pushing for the new look — but was left with no choice.
“I decided to shave it, kind of — I don’t know, my dad was wanting me to shave it. I wasn’t really going to, and then I kind of messed up using my electric razor,” he said. “Got a little too low and just decided to go with it.”
Perry’s teammate, Trent Noah, hit two 3-pointers Tuesday and has continued to show he can make shots just like he did during his Harlan County career.
“I love watching him shoot the ball. I get to watch him every single day go out there, have 300 shots to make in exercise every day, so just kind of see that work come to fruition,” Perry said. “For him it is really fun, and then for me as well, just get to go out there and make plays and just have some fun on the court.”
Perry explained how he had benefited by learning from veterans like guard Lamont Butler, a fifth-year player with Final Four experience.
“Just try to play the game the right way, do the things we’re focused on in practice,” Perry said about his daily routine. “It’s easy. We have a great group of veteran guys and they can really help with that
“They’ve been in the situation I’m in and the other rookies are in. Just doing what I can to contribute to the team and try to get a win for us. I feel like I’ve made a lot of strides going against Lamont every single day in practice — that’s huge.
“The defensive side of the ball is slowing down for me a little bit, but the offense is also really slowing down on me.”
Everything likely will speed up starting Saturday when Kentucky opens Southeastern Conference play against Florida in Rupp Arena. Perry grew up a UK fan and has always watched SEC basketball.
“To be able to be a part of it (playing in the SEC) is something that I’m excited for, and I’m excited for our team to get to go face that challenge. It’s a completely different game whenever you’re playing against SEC teams,” Perry said.
“Every single night, there’s no rest, no off day, so it will be a good challenge, I think we’re ready for it. What is different about SEC play well this year, especially just the competition every night, like you might have a night during non-conference that some more guys get some more minutes, but every single play matters in SEC play, and just kind of the competitiveness of it.
“The slogan is, it just means more, and it really does every game is somebody that you really don’t like. So you want to go out there and take advantage of all the opportunities and win every game possible.”
5 Responses
I wonder what kind of season Travis had when he started as a seventh grader against seniors in high school?
I dare say it was like this year.
I’m going to ask his Dad.
It was probably a lot better than this year. Ronnie Lyons was in the 8th grade when he played at Mason County High and was a phenomenal shot as well as ball handler. As a sophomore in HS he scored 9 points in less than a minute to lead a comeback win by stealing the ball repeatedly. The video was seen by Bradley University and he got a scholarship offer immediately. He averaged 30 points/game as a Senior and was very heavily recruited by Dean Smith, but fortunately he was a Kentuckian at heart and played for the legendary Coach Rupp at UK in the early 70’s. I remember seeing him in the JY HS Regional Finals, scoring 35 or so points while guarded by a 6’-5” player who was a 3 year starter at UL but Lyons would literally fade away and fall Into the 1st row of fans in the bleachers as he sank shots from the corner. He was 3rd team all SEC AND THE MVP of the historically great UKIT (held in December) as a Sophomore, the same year he and Jim Andrews led UK to the Regional Fianls by beating a highly touted Notre Dame to get there. The Columbus, Ohio newspaper sports headline wqs “Lyons plays like he’s 6’-9” in win over ND. He was about 5’-10” and in HS screens (even double screens) were set 25’ from the beaker and he wiouod drain his shots at over 50% !
Perry will be an incredible asset when he starts getting 15-20 minutes every game, as will Noah. I would sure love to see Perry getting big screens on the perimeter set by Williams & Garrison the way Rodney Dent set screens for Travis Ford to give him a quick opening to successfully shoot and hit many of his 3’s.
I’m a big time fan of native Kentuckians with talent. UK has NEVER on the National Title without at least one key player getting major minutes. I don’t think Davis & MKG & the other fine players would have won it all without Darius Miller on the team. He was the Regional MVP that year, thanks to MKG telling the fraud to start Miller in his place.
Perry & Noah are the ultimate key to #9. Carr, Willliams, Garrison, Butler, Perry & Noah getting the most minutes are a FF TEAM made up of players 100% TEAM 1st every possession.
Alomar should probably be added to that list of 100%!all-in-for-Pope ball.
I’d be interested to know. My guess is the he was an amazing shot who could play with the beat of the High Schoolers.
AI says he averaged around 20 points a game as a seventh grader.
Impressive! That’s an excellent average for a SR.
Thanks for sharing an amazing stat.
I most sincerely believe he has what it takes to play very well, score with an excellent FG% and benefit UK in a major way if/when he starts getting at least 15 minutes a game. Just getting into the flow, adjusting to various tendencies by teammates, etc are all a part of “fitting in” and contributing.
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