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Liggins relieved mistake is behind him

Does 'some good things' in his first collegiate start

In his first public comments since refusing to enter a game almost exactly a month ago, Kentucky freshman DeAndre Liggins acknowledged his mistake and expressed relief with how Coach Billy Gillispie and UK fans reacted.

"Everybody makes mistakes," Liggins said after UK beat Central Michigan 84-52 Monday night. "As a freshman, I made a mistake."

Upon getting benched after playing two minutes in the first half, Liggins refused to re-enter UK's game against Kansas State on Nov. 28. He denied that the site, Las Vegas, where he played for a prep school last season, contributed to his decision to disobey Gillispie.

"I just got caught up and frustrated," he said. "I just wanted to play."

Liggins, who had not been made available for interviews despite repeated media requests, admitted that he feared Gillispie's wrath. "I was kind of scared," he said.

With UK facing West Virginia the next night in the Las Vegas Invitational finals, Liggins expected to stay on the bench. "I thought I wasn't going to play," he said.

Instead, Gillispie, who cited the players' request for leniency, played Liggins 27 minutes against West Virginia. "I love my teammates for that," Liggins said.

Liggins contributed four points, three assists, two rebounds and steady ballhandling as UK won.

"I thought I owed them that game," he said.

The next test came when Kentucky returned home. "I thought (pause) I would get booed," Liggins said. "But they're great fans. I just can't let my fans down like that again."

While more than once noting his desire to move on from the mistake, Liggins politely responded to all questions.

As UK personnel stood nearby, Liggins admitted that the immediate success of other freshmen, for instance fellow Chicagoan Derrick Rose at Memphis last season, fueled his frustration as a Kentucky reserve.

"It goes through my mind sometimes," he said. "I just have to wait my turn."

Patience does not come easy when friends and family sing a player's praises and wonder aloud why the coach isn't playing him more.

"I hear that from everybody," Liggins said. "I've just got to wait my turn. That's what I tell them."

Asked how that response plays with his family and friends, Liggins said, "They react (by saying) 'Maybe you should be playing.'

"I tell them, "I'm a freshman. I have to wait my turn and I still have a lot to learn.' "

By making his first collegiate start, Liggins seemingly progressed along the learning curve against Central Michigan. He learned of Gillispie's latest lineup machination minutes before tip-off.

"It felt good, it felt good," he said. "I just wanted to come in and make an impact and help my team win.

"I knew it was coming. I just didn't know when. Today I got lucky and made the start. I did some good things out there."

Liggins, who had been progressively getting steadier and more patient as a player, had a career-high eight assists in 22 minutes. On the down side, he committed five turnovers.

"I'm trying to learn the system and be smart with the ball," he said. "Not try to make the home-run play all the time."

In one such instance, Liggins jumped up on the drive in order to pass but then struggled in vain to find an open teammate as gravity mercilessly tugged him back to the court.

"I got caught up in high school stuff," Liggins said of the play. "Coming here is a whole new level. That's what I'm finding out."

Opponents are faster and quicker than in high school. More importantly, many opponents, especially those in the future, are just as talented.

Liggins voiced his eagerness for UK's next opponent: No. 18 Louisville on national television Sunday.

"I play great in rivalries and ranked teams," he said. "I'm up for the challenge."

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