Garrison Finally Shows The Kind of Player He Can Be

It was a historic game for Kentucky junior center Brandon Garrison.

Brandon Garrison made five of six shots and became the first UK reserve ever to have 10 points, seven rebounds and six blocks in a NCAA Tournament game like he did in Friday’s 89-84 overtime over Santa Clara in St. Louis that sets up a second-round matchup with Iowa State Sunday.

It was the kind of kind that Kentucky coach Mark Pope had to envision he was going to see often from the 6-foot-10 center when he returned to UK for his junior year. Instead, Garrison has been inconsistent both offensively and defensively. His effort level has also frustrated Pope and UK fans at times — but not Friday.

“If you think about bellwethers on our team, when he plays good we win,” Pope said. “BG, he just keeps showing up every single day and fighting and fighting and fighting. He was brilliant today. He was brilliant offensively today. He came off the short roll. I thought Mo (Dioubate) and BG were unbelievable, out of timeouts, actually running draw-ups. They executed some new things really, really brilliantly.”

Garrison actually suggested that Kentucky quit switching on the pick-and-roll because he could guard a point guard — and he did by twice blocking 3-point shots late in the game.

“It was crazy. I think we had a game plan from the beginning of the game. We were all just locked in on that game plan and BG said, ‘Let’s just switch one through five.’ He could do it.  BG just stepped up and made a call and we all backed him for it,” Otega Oweh said. “And that was a good call and that just shows how BG is super locked in. He’s a game changer, and we need that every single game.”

Pope said he “always felt like BG was probably the best switching five man in the country” after the game.

“I mean, really, how many times have we talked about that? And tonight he got a chance to prove it,” Pope said. “What he did switching one through five down the stretch was unbelievable. His discipline, his stance, his mobility, his ability to contest shots legally was brilliant. So it was an unbelievable performance by BG.”

Mo Dioubate, who had 17 points and three blocks, agreed.

“Coach Pope said it when he’s playing good when he’s locked in and has a high motor, he takes our team to a different level. And I tell BG every game just go out there and have the highest motor.” Dioubate said. “Go block shots. He has six blocks. That’s crazy. His game changes when he’s locked in that mode and he really takes our team to a different level.

“I knew all along how good of a defender he is because in practice he’ll be guarding with point guards.  And he can stand his own ground. I play against him every day in practice. So once he said that, that he could switch one through five, we all felt confident about it. And he executed on that.”

Oweh had 35 points but was thrilled to see Garrison play the way he did.

“All year long BG has been going through adversity from the beginning of the season, and it was times where he felt down on himself, he wasn’t as confident in himself because of the media and the fans,” Oweh said. “But we knew all along the kind of player he was, and we always believed in him, and the way he played tonight, we’re not really surprised because we know what he’s capable of doing. And he showed up when we needed him and that’s the most important thing.”