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Kentucky has shown it can score in transition as fast or faster than any team in the country.
The UK running game has been something Kentucky fans have wanted to see take off again and it has this season.
New UK assistant coach John Welch, a long-time NBA assistant coach, noted last week that UK’s team two years ago with TyTy Washington, Kellan Grady, Sahvir Wheeler and Davion Mintz was one of the best “running” teams in the country and ranked fifth nationally in offensive efficiency.
“I think we’re back there this year,” Welch said. “And I think your point guard is very important there. Pick and rolls have become a central point of most teams’ offense. I think we’re running more and more now.
“A lot of times, your point guard is your decision-maker. You need someone that can make plays for others, and I think we’re fortunate in that we have multiple guys that can make plays. We have multiple guys that can run pick and rolls. We have multiple 3-point shooters on the court at one time.
“It speaks to our depth. If you only have one guy that can create a play, there’s so much pressure on him. And the less shooting you have on the court, the harder it is to make plays, the less space on the floor. The key is to have multiple playmakers and multiple shooters, and that’s, I think, one of our strengths.”
Welch knows great guard play. He worked with Allen Iverson, Chris Paul, Ramon Rondo and others in the NBA. D.J. Wagner, Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham are all averaging at least 12 points and 3.5 assists per game this year. They have helped UK rank third nationally in scoring, fourth in 3-point accuracy, seventh in fast break points and third in assist to turnover ratio.
Kentucky has five players averaging 12 or more points per game. Welch called it “unbelievable” to watch what the Cats can do offensively.
“Just being in the gym with them, just how skilled they are and how well they shoot the basketball, has been very surprising to me. The difference between this and the NBA? Very, very little,” he said. “I wasn’t sure going into the season how good of a shooting team we’d be. I don’t think anyone was. And, so far, so good.”
It has been so good that early in SEC play the Cats are on pace to set a new school record for 3-point shooting percentage in a season.
5 Responses
Better work on the inside game. Teams like Utah will be physical. They smashed UCLA last nite 90-44.
So who is Kentucky best point guard when it comes down to crunch time?
UCLA is enduring there worst season in years. The are we need to work on is defense.
It’s hard for someone to be physical when you don’t have to go inside to score points. Teams cannot clog up the middle against this team, but it would be fun to watch someone try that. The main thing I see this team lacking is good solid defense and a lock down defender. Reeves is probably the best defensive guard we have and doesn’t give too many blow bys; he’s okay, but no where near where he needs to be. We need an Allen Edwards or Willie Cauley-Stein that can really dictate what the other team can do in crunch time.
MKG and Liggins were two of the best LD defenders I remember in the Cal era (Willie also he could guard anyone). We have a guy who could do that. He has the size and athletic ability to be our best defender. If he ever decides that is where his bread is buttered, he will be a high draft pick and we will win #9.
Opps. There is a guy on the bench, TL who was the SEC Defensive Player of the year and a coach on the floor. They just need to listen.