Brandon Garrison, left, simply has not been productive in big games for UK this season. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Many Kentucky fans have a far different opinion about junior center than UK coach Mark Pope has.
Garrison was a non-factor in Tuesday’s 83-66 loss to Michigan State. He had two points, four rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes. He seemed to lack energy/intensity most of the game. He took only two shots and once gave up consecutive offense rebounds to the Spartans without a lot of effort to stop them. He didn’t play the final six minutes of the game.
However, Pope did not seem that upset and doubled down on that feeling at his weekly press conference Thursday.
“BG has made some massive progress from last year. He didn’t have a great energy night against Michigan State, but his conditioning has been great, his intensity on the floor has been great. He’s a 1.5 points per possession plus assists. His offensive numbers, he’s the second-most efficient offensive player on the team,” Pope said.
“So he’s doing a lot of things really well. He had a tough night against Michigan State, like our whole team did. Since we started camp, he’s been our far-and-away assist leader. He brings so much to the table for us.”
Well, maybe he has brought a lot against Nicholls, Valparaiso and Eastern Illinois. He’s averaged 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game against those three teams and shot 84 percent from the field. Against Louisville and Michigan State, he’s scoring 6.2 points per game and pulling off five rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field.
The massive progress Pope sees in Garrison is hard for fans to see and believe. He’s not been a rim protector or shot blocker. He’s not gone aggressively to the basket and has attempted only six free throws in five games going into tonight’s matchup with Loyola (Md.).
Jack Givens, UK Radio Network analyst and former UK All-American, noted that Garrison had the “worst plus-minus” in the first half against Michigan State when UK needed his physicality.
“I bring that up just simply because when [Jayden Quaintance] gets back, and you know he’s going to have to get some minutes. “You know that’s going to happen. He deserves it. He’s the man,” Givens said on the network postgame show.
“For Mark and his staff, you look at those numbers, and you think, ‘Well, my goodness, I want Brandon Garrison out there and backing up or playing the five, but how do I not have (freshman Malachi) Moreno out there when he’s been as good as he’s been? So something’s going to have to happen in that little mix right there because somebody’s going to lose some minutes unless you play two bigs together. We really do need more out of Garrison, man. I mean, Kentucky expects that.”
3 Responses
Larry you are right, but in all fairness to Garrison, I don't see any designed offense that gets him the ball where he can score. They should do five or six pick and rolls with him rolling to the basket. The same for Moreno too. This team does not screen for each other, they stand around begging for the ball so they can try to be the hero. They don't guard the pick and roll well and teams pick and roll them to death. If Pope will fix those issues, this team will look like a top 10 team again.
That is a problem if Pope thinks Garrison is the second most efficient player on the team. He better throw all the analytics out the window and watch what's really going on.
Garrison should be this team's leader. No question.
This is his second year with Pope and he is an upper classman. He should be demanding the ball when he gets where he wants it. He should be giving 100% all the time and demanding the same from all the other players.
As I said before, this team needs to be pounding the ball down low. Inside out will beat most defenses. With either Moreno or Garrison, get the ball to them. If they can score, do it. If they don't have the advantage, kick it out.
Quit this crap of saying we need to take 30 3-pointers per game. Take what the give you and push the ball to the middle.
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