Vicky Graff Photo
By LILIA SAXENA SMITHSON
Brandon Garrison knew plenty about Kentucky’s basketball tradition when he transferred from Oklahoma State to UK.
The 6-19 sophomore, a former McDonad’s All-American and four-star recruit, also knew that Kentucky coach Mark Pope was a former starting center on UK’s 1996 national championship team.
“What brought me to Kentucky is having a head coach that actually has been in my shoes before and can lead me to where he has been or played and all the success he had. All the moves and stuff he has been through was a big plus for me,” Garrison, who started 29 games as a true freshman and averaged 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, said.
Garrison also liked the veteran team that Pope put together that will play its second exhibition game against defending Division II national champion Minnesota State Tuesday night.
“We all are here to fight for the blue and white and I am just them teaching me different stuff. I don’t know what they’ve been through or knew before me, so I am learning every day,” Garrison said.
He wants his teammates to know they can depend on him to rebound and block shots.
“I want them to know I can be a player they can count on in the games to just lift them up when stuff is not going good,” Garrison said.
“I’m pretty confident about what this team can do. The dudes we have are not a bunch of big names or five-stars but the group that we have got is really good and is going to open some eyes. We have something to prove to outside people that doubt us or don’t have faith in us.”
Garrison actually played against Pope’s BYU team last season and had 21 points on a 7-for-8 shooting in an upset win.
“The scouting report was just like run them off the 3-point line because they got up a lot of shots,” Garrison said. “We were practicing for long rebounds and just how fast they go all the time.
“I know I can fit into his offense. I am a great passer. Really, I am a pass-first guy but I can get a bucket if you need it. I am a coachable player and that’s what he really loves.”
2 Responses
Garrison is going to look like he is 6’-19” ((7’-7”) to opponents when he grabs rebounds and blocks shots.
Make no mistake about it – this is a vision of the UK defense! Awesome!!!
Robinson had a great game. Oweh, Butler, and Garrison had good games. The rest of the bunch is thinking too much about whether or not to fire up a 3 WHEN OPEN. If you think you shouldn’t put up a shot, you will usually miss it when you force it up 5 seconds later. Pope is telling them to put up 3s but the thinkers want to drive to the basket instead. You have to believe you are going to make a shot before you even get the ball. Perry only played 6 minutes and did nothing. I am not sure what is going on with Mr. Basketball. Williams got hurt early and never returned. I hope he gets back by the Bucknell game at the latest, even if he comes off the bench. The 4 musketeers first mentioned will keep us in games. Hopefully the rest will find their confidence to be the shooters they are. Mankato was a better team than Wesleyan, but we played down to their level in the first 10 minutes. Wright St. and Bucknell should help us get over the jitters. Carr, Brea, and Kriisa are not living up to their reputations, but that’s why you play the cupcakes to give them a chance to find their grooves. Almonor, Chandler, and Noah had off games too after having great games against Wesleyan. This team just needs to shoot sooner and think less, then rebound and play D. If this team will put up 40 threes, they will make 40% of them, even if they miss the first 8…if they BELIEVE they are going to make them.