Vicky Graff Photo
After his players got to enjoy Christmas break, Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks was not exactly sure what to expect when his team hosted Hofstra on Sunday.
Brooks didn’t need to worry.
Clara Strack had 24 points, 11 rebounds, a season-high seven blocked shots, two assists and two steals as UK (13-1) rolled to an 80-42 win in its final non-conference game before opening Southeastern Conference play at LSU on Thursday.
Teammate Amelia Hassett went 5-for-8 from 3-point range and had 18 points while Asia Boone had 11 points and a career-high eight assists. Tonie Morgan just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 assists.
“Being down one person (Teonni Key), you would have to mix and match your rotations but I was very pleased for the most part. I thought we shot the ball particularly well during stretches, and I thought Clara was tremendous,” Brooks said after the win. “I don’t know the offensive end, but what she did on the defensive end and leadership quality. So very pleased with the effort.”
Kentucky had assists on 27 of its 31 field goals. Brooks said that told him the ball “doesn’t stick” in players’ hands and that the team has “initiators” in Morgan and Boone.
“It does show you that we’re an unselfish basketball team, and we played the game the right way. It’s not just trying to play one on one. That’s a fun style to watch. Fun style to coach, and these kids are excited,” Brooks said.
Boone, a Liberty transfer, came to UK as a 3-point shooter but is becoming a dependable backup point guard to Morgan. She says she has “gotten really close” to Morgan since Brooks told her she would be playing more point guard.
“Communicating, and getting each other in the spots for our teammates too, because not only are we facilitating, but we have to know everything and I have to know two positions. It’s been great working with Tonie, working with the girls,” Boone said.
“It’s been a relief and really a great experience to continue with it and get the chemistry going. Not only are we stacking days, but we’re working together to get these wins, preparing each other and the team for the SEC, and we’ve got a lot of passion and heart for the game.”
Brooks said sometimes he has to remind himself to keep the right perspective about his team.
“There are times where I remember, in particular the second quarter, somebody got beat, and I thought it was the end of the world, and I was a little disappointed with that possession, and then I got the box score, and they had scored six points in the whole quarter,” the Kentucky coach said.
“Sometimes you get a dose of reality, but you’re coaching in the moment. We’re not trying to just be better than Hofstra. We know that they’re going to be opportunities, that we’re going to be playing much better basketball teams that we’ve got to hone in and execute the right way. But we do a good job, we’re long. We do a good job of playing to our strengths.”
Brooks said Morgan and Boone have “gotten so much better” defensively since the season started.
“That’s part of the understanding of who you are as a basketball team. So I think we have a chance to be really good on the defensive end. I think the statistics show that, but we played to our strength,” the UK coach said. “You get Clara back there … seven blocks tonight, it just really helps in that situation.
“I like the direction we’re going in. You always want to be better, and we think we can be better. We’re going to have to be better to be in the upper echelon of the SEC.”
Kentucky-Hofstra Basketball
Photos by Vicky Graff
One Response
My favorite basketball player. Strack is the real deal. I absolutely love what coach Brooks has done with her game. If you watch her freshman year compared to last year wow. The most improved player I've ever seen. She's even better this year. Not just scoring all around. I still think Silva leaving hurt worse than what anyone realizes she's dominating for TCU. I think they have at worst a elite 8 run this year. At best a final 4.
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