Green Steps Up in Sunday Win over Idaho State

Blair Green did not exactly come into the NCAA Tournament on a hot streak. In fact, it was much the opposite for the Harlan County (Ky.) native.

Since scoring 22 against Vanderbilt on Jan. 17, followed by 18 against Auburn on Jan. 21, Green had failed to reach double figures in scoring. In the last 11 games, Green’s high point total had been four, which she had accomplished three times. But she also had four scoreless games during that 11-game span.

UK head coach Kyra Elzy said before the tournament that she wanted to see more balanced scoring from her team, and Green was one of the options to step into a scoring role. And that’s exactly what Green did in Sunday’s NCAA Tournament opener against Idaho State.

Green hit four of her eight shots from the floor, including two of four from behind the arc, on her way to 10 points as Kentucky beat Idaho State 71-63 in San Antonio. It was Green’s seventh double-figure scoring effort of the season.

For Green, the process that led to her solid game was simple.

“Just moving and getting in a rhythm, that really helped me,” Green said. “Being able to knock down some shots on the move and getting a rhythm. My teammates found me and we were just having a lot of fun out there.”

Elzy was pleased with Green and her entire bench, which scored 31 points on Sunday.

“That was huge. So proud of our bench,” Elzy said. “Blair Green came in and hit some big shots, scored in double figures. During the NCAA Tournament, in order to make a deep run, you have to have players making plays and we have to be consistent offensively. When we are at our best, we have three or four people scoring in double figures.”

Green noted after the game that Elzy continues to encourage her, despite Green being removed from the starting lineup in the middle of the season.

“She just keeps telling me how much she needs me (to) just come in there off the bench and bring a spark and bring some energy,” Green said. “She just keeps encouraging me. No matter who’s starting, it doesn’t matter with this team, we could all start. It’s been OK, we’re doing really great. It’s pretty even across the board. We encourage each other. Starting spots really is not a big deal with this team, we just come and play.”

Elzy has tried to keep Green’s confidence up since the lineup change.

“Blair and I have met several times and I knew, down the stretch, we would need her,” Elzy said. “Wanted her to keep her confidence. Find a way to get her involved and for her to settle in defensively and she stepped up.”

Elzy had an idea that Green, along with forward Dre’una Edwards, might play well on Sunday.

“We had an excellent week of practice, I was proud of all of our players. But there were two players in particular that really stood out after the SEC Tournament,” Elzy said. “One was Blair Green and the other was Dre. They both practiced extremely well, they were playing with confidence, they both stepped up to the challenge I gave them in individual meetings. So, I was not surprised because both of them have practiced extremely well.”

As Kentucky moves forward in the NCAA Tournament, Elzy knows how important players like Green will be for the Cats as they try to have a more balanced scoring effort.

“This is closer to what I’ve envisioned,” Elzy said. “We met, after the SEC Tournament, as a team and just challenged people to step up. I thought Rhyne (Howard) had been pretty consistent and Chasity (Patterson) as far as scoring. Just challenged the rest of the team that we need two or three people to step up and score in double figures.”

That formula worked for Kentucky in Sunday’s first round game, especially with Green snapping out of her scoring slump.