Gilgeous-Alexander Carries UK to Another Tough Road Win
Shorthanded and facing one of the toughest road atmospheres in the Southeastern Conference, Saturday was always going to be tough for Kentucky.
It’s a good thing the Wildcats have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“I’m playing with a lot of confidence, but it’s the work I’m putting in,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “And once you work hard, it’ll pay off and it’s showing.”
The freshman point guard – pressed again into nearly round-the-clock duty by the absence of Quade Green – was the best player on the floor in Memorial Coliseum. With Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, No. 21/20 UK (14-3, 4-1 SEC) downed Vanderbilt (6-11, 1-4 SEC) in Nashville, 74-67.
Gilgeous-Alexander continued his recent ascendance on Saturday by scoring 22 points to go with six assists and four rebounds. When the Cats needed an answer on the many occasions the Commodores tested them, Gilgeous-Alexander was most likely to provide, and usually by attacking the basket.
Gilgeous-Alexander had a hand in 13 of the Cats’ 23 baskets combining his assists and seven made field goals in 11 attempts. He added seven made free throws in his third 20-point outing and fifth double-figure scoring performance in his last six games.
Perhaps most impressively, Gilgeous-Alexander is doing it all while shouldering an incredibly heavy burden as Green has sat the last two games due to a back injury. He has now played 39 minutes in back-to-back games with Green out after playing 38 against Tennessee. Dating back to his breakout performance against Louisville, Gilgeous-Alexander has played 214 of a possible 240 minutes over six games.
“It’s starting to take a toll,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I’m going off adrenaline tonight. I think I’m OK tonight.”
It’s no surprise, then, that UK had some lapses as Vanderbilt tried to mount a rally in the final minutes. Playing seven players all game and three 38 minutes or more will do that.
“They got tired,” John Calipari said. “PJ (Washington) didn’t play well. I mean, he got tired. Hami (Diallo) and Shai, when they get tired, their decision-making is not the same.”
On the flip side, Coach Cal has counted on a similarly thin rotation for an entire season before, namely when he coached UMass to the Final Four in 1995-96.
“But I played two guards 39 minutes a game when I was there at UMass that year,” Calipari said. “It was the best team I coached – I didn’t say the most talented, even though Marcus Camby may be one of the most talented guys I’ve ever coached. The rest of the guys were really good – I hate to tell you, they were juniors and seniors. They were veterans.”
Though the goal is to get the likes of Green, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jemarl Baker and Tai Wynyard healthy, it’s a good thing his team of freshmen and a couple sophomore is getting all this experience with them out.
“I think we’re really tested, especially in the last two games with them being so close down the stretch,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I think that’s how it’s going to be all season. We’re going to continue to grow and we’re going to make strides and we’re going to be really good late in the season.”
