Washington Chooses to Be a ‘Difference Maker’ in Blowout
PJ Washington’s sophomore-year return was supposed to bring a breakout, but his first two games had only brought frustration.
That led John Calipari to admit his star forward was “struggling a little bit” after a three-point, five-turnover outing against Southern Illinois. Washington would have to work his way through those struggles, Calipari said.
Washington did exactly that on Wednesday night.
“I was just confident,” Washington said. “I made a couple shots and I was just trying to keep it rolling. The guys did a great job of finding me in spots.”
After managing just 11 points through two games, Washington exploded as No. 10 Kentucky routed visiting South Dakota at Rupp Arena, 96-58. Washington matched his jersey number by scoring 25 points, besting his previous career-best total of 22 from his freshman season.
Washington flashed the expanded offensive game that was on display in the preseason, both attacking the basket and shooting comfortably from the outside. He made four 3-pointers in five attempts, just one fewer than the five 3s he made his entire freshman year.
“I feel like people gotta guard me out there, so it’s easier for me to get the rack now,” Washington said. “It’s easier for me to get other people involved as well.”
No one should expect Washington to overtake Tyler Herro as UK’s deadeye outside shooter anytime soon, but his career shooting day was no accident. Rather, it was the result of a lot of work on his mechanics.
“Last year when I would catch, I would always bring it down and go back up,” Washington said. “This year, I just try to come here (raises arms to chest level) and go straight up. We worked on it a lot this summer, me and Kenny Payne. I’m just more confident with it and I’m getting my shots off quicker.”
The 3s are nice, but outside shooting is hardly the most positive aspect of Washington’s performance against North Dakota for Calipari. What he likes is that Washington proved a point Coach Cal is not going to stop making anytime soon.
“I said if he chooses to come out and play with that kind of intensity, he’s a difference maker,” Calipari said. “He’s a separator. But the other guy standing straight up and down, balls going between your legs, can’t get a rebound, fumbling the ball, that guy ain’t a separator. And he is one of those guys. I still say he’s one of the best players. Now he’s got to go prove it.”
Washington can’t yet isolate a reason for the occasional appearances of that “other guy”, but he hears his coach loud and clear.
“He said I just gotta bring it every day,” Washington said. “He said I can’t go one day and bring it and next day not doing it. With me, it’s just going in every day and just try to bring the same energy, the same intensity.”
Calipari isn’t going to rest until he sees that from Washington. He wants everyone to see what he sees in Washington.
“I hate it when someone says, well, more motor, he needs more motor,” Calipari said. “That’s basically saying you’re not playing hard enough. I don’t want to hear that about any of my players. … When he competes and goes after it, he’s physically tough, he’s mentally tough, he’s skilled, he’s just got to do it. That’s who he’s got to be every moment he’s on the court.”
