Denzel Aberdeen (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky senior guard Denzel Aberdeen thought it was “cool and fun” to have a chance to see family and friends Saturday when Kentucky played at Florida.
Not only did he play three years at Florida, including last season when the Gators won the national title, but he is a Florida native and won a state high school championship.
“A lot of my family members were there. I got to see a lot of old people that I used to be around all the time. It was a great experience. Sadly, we couldn’t get the win, but overall, it was a good experience,” Aberdeen said Monday.
Aberdeen, who scored 19 points despite not shooting well, said he was “locked” in on the game and didn’t hear taunts and boos from Florida fans heckling him. “I was expecting it regardless, so I wasn’t really worried about it too much,” he said.
The good news for Kentucky going into tonight’s home game with Georgia is that Aberdeen is getting more comfortable at point guard — a role he had to assume when Jaland Lowe was injured.
“I’m very confident in myself. I pray before every game and stuff like that. I know God’s got me. Just confident in myself knowing what I do each and every time I work out and just trying to implement it in the game so that I can do whatever I can to get this team a win,” Aberdeen said Monday.
He knows beating Georgia is not a given. The Bulldogs have three SEC road wins and play at a fast pace.
“We’re doing it one game at a time,” Aberdeen said.
The Bulldogs (17-8, 5-7) beat UK in Athens last season, but they lost four of their past six games, including an 86-66 decision to Florida. However, Georgia is coming off a 94-78 win over Oklahoma.
“They’re a very good team, especially in transition. We’ve got to learn how to stop the ball in transition, and everybody (needs to) block out the paint, so they don’t get any paint touches,” Aberdeen said, “They’re a very good, fast-paced team.”
5 Responses
This game will certainly not be one to be taken for granted. Every team that comes into Rupp knows they have a good chance to walk out with a W. Cyril will be a big force to be reckoned with and will be highly motivated to show us what we are missing. Not sure our Bigs will have much of a chance but Kelenic has to show up and play more physical and look for more shots. I have lost all faith in Garrison so don't expect much from him. This should be great opportunity for Moreno to show he belongs.
About all Garrison could be good for is starting a fight with Cyril and maybe both will get thrown out. It would be a great swap.
Garrison has shown very little "fight" since he came.
Pope has surrendered and is letting this team play hero ball and hoping for the best. That only keeps Oweh and Aberdeen engaged…the rest of the team just tries to stay out of the way except for Moreno…he tries to set screens and get back for rebounds but he never gets the ball rolling to the basket. Oweh and Aberdeen go 110% looking for their shot but come back and only go 75 to 85% on defense to catch their breath. They NEVER run any offense for Chandler or Jelavic and very little for Moreno. Then Garrison and Dioubate come in the game and they are looking for their shot. This will get us beat against the better teams and may get us beat tonight.
Told ya! We lose to a team that has lost 5 of their last 6 games on our home court. That is what hero ball will get you! The last time Georgia won in Rupp was when Billy Clyde was here. Pope has to go!