Josie Gilvin Has Found Ways to Help Kentucky

Former Sacred Heart standout Josie Gilvin had a successful collegiate career at Western Kentucky but wanted to challenge herself at a higher level so she transferred to Kentucky for her senior season. She didn’t expect to be a starter but was hoping to play a major role off the bench.

Instead, she has averaged only about seven minutes per game in the 19 games she has been in compared to over 30 minutes per game at Western Kentucky her junior season.

She did get to play 11 minutes in UK’s SEC Tournament win over Arkansas and had four points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal.The second game she got seven minutes, including five in the first half, in a much closer win over Georgia before playing 13 minutes in the loss to South Carolina. She had played only 11 minutes in the previous six games.

Now she’ll be ready to fill any role required of her when NCAA Tournament play begins this week.

Gilvin, an all-conference player at Western, has not pouted or complained about her lack of playing time. Instead, she’s made the best of fulfilling a dream to play at Kentucky.

“I heard something good and it was clap for others until it’s your turn to be clapped for,” Gilvin said before  UK’s Senior Day. “I think just supporting the people around you, whether it’s friends, your teammates, your coaches, just having that good support system off the court makes the whole difference.

“I wanted something that was more competitive, higher level, and that’s exactly what I got. Basketball is hard and it gets even harder when you go up. I learned a lot from that. I knew it was going to be a great place to get better and become that best player I can be.”

Gilvin has seen UK pull off some major wins over ranked teams this year going into NCAA Tournament play but her best memories have been celebrating what other players have done with teammate Gabby Brooks, the coach’s daughter.

“I just think of me and Gabby and  a lot of celebrations for everyone. When either Millie (Amelia Hassett) hits a 3 or Clara (Strack) takes you down in the post, we have a lot of celebrations for that. It’s been a lot of fun,” Gilvin said.

Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks knows things have not gone “as we hoped or predicted” for Gilvin this season but that has never altered her attitude.

“There’s been a couple of games where I was a little hesitant, and maybe it was only a minute left, and I called her name, and she sprints up to the top with a great attitude. She comes into practice with a great attitude,” the Kentucky coach said. “It’s been a little bit of an adjustment for her to try to figure out our schemes and what we’re trying to do, but she never stopped. Her attitude has been tremendous.”

Brooks said she became a “team favorite” because of her attitude.

“Kids love her. They cheer for her. They root for her. I anticipate, especially when you are trying to broaden your rotations, I think she’s going to be a part of it. I think she’s going to be a part of it throughout the  NCAA Tournament, and I think she’s going to add some value to us.”