As low-post showdown looms, Kentucky big man says he’s fine playing with back to basket

Earlier this season, Nick Richards seemed, uh, less than wildly enthusiastic about being the low-post man for Kentucky. He said it wasn’t a role he saw played in the NBA, where small ball and position-less basketball are trendy.

But on the eve of a potential showdown in the low post, Richards offered a clarification.

“I didn’t have reservations about it,” he said Monday. “I always consider myself as whatever I need to do for the team is best. If playing with my back to the basket is best for the team, that’s what I’ll do.”

Of course, a big man averse to posting up on offense is hardly unusual. On a Southeastern Conference teleconference earlier Monday, Texas A&M Coach Billy Kennedy said star forward Robert Williams needed persuading. “All post men want to face up and show they can play on the perimeter,” Kennedy said.

Freshman Daniel Gafford gives Arkansas a back-to-the-basket threat. Against A&M on Saturday, he scored 18 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots. This was a form of retribution.

“Pretty much I got punked when we went down to Texas A&M,” he said of a loss to the Aggies earlier this season. “I didn’t want that to happen today.”

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson saw this as part of the learning process. “When you go through the rigors of this SEC, you learn from game to game,” he said.

Richards is no exception.

“I’m getting better at it,” he said of the post game. “It’s something I’m getting used to. Coaches help me in practice all the time.” He mentioned working with associate coach Kenny Payne and assistant Tony Barbee.

Gafford has averaged 14.8 points and 6.2 rebounds in the last five games.

Of facing Gafford, Richards said, “We’re both basketball players. We’re going to study his game, find a few weak points. And Coach (John Calipari) is going to help us find ways to defeat this team.”

Losing streak good?

Wenyen Gabriel did not just suggest that UK’s recent four-game losing streak was a good thing. He flat-out said the program’s longest losing streak since 2008-09 was a good thing.

“I think the losing streak actually helped us focus” on the need to improve, he said. “What can we do to get better? We all had to take a step back and look in the mirror and say, what can we do to get better?’”

Gabriel said he did some soul searching.

“One of my things was to be more vocal,” he said. “When I see any type of joking (I say) cut that out. Just trying to make sure all our focus level is on the same page.”

The losing streak reduced the attempts at humor, Gabriel said. “You can’t be joking as much because it’s not funny when you’re losing.”

Lack of experience

None of Arkansas’ players have beaten Kentucky. The last time the Hogs beat UK was in 2014. The Arkansas players are aware.

“It’ll feel good to play those guys again and try to beat them,” Jaylen Barford said. “I mean, they do have to come to Bud Walton. Last year, we saw them on a neutral site (SEC Tournament in Nashville) and at their place. So it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a great game. So we’ll see what the outcome is.”

‘8 or 9’ bids?

Calipari joined the chorus of coaches suggesting the quality of SEC basketball should merit multiple bids to the NCAA Tournament.

“Eight or nine teams should be getting in the NCAA Tournament,” he said. “When we beat each other . . . , it’ should be good for everybody because how everybody’s playing. No easy wins.”

Only two SEC teams were in The Associated Press Top 25 poll this week: No. 12 Auburn and No. 19 Tennessee. Five other SEC teams received votes: UK, Arkansas, Missouri, Texas A&M and Alabama.

Seniors vs. freshmen

Anderson downplayed the significance of Arkansas having seniors to play against Kentucky’s freshmen.

“This day and time, it doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman, sophomore, junior,” the Arkansas coach said. “It doesn’t matter. You’re a good basketball player. That’s what you’re seeing with a lot of teams. Some of your better teams are young teams. But they all put their uniforms on the same.

“You hope the experience of some of the older guys can pay off, especially when adversity takes place. You have a settling force and some guys knowing what to do. But the freshmen nowadays, they’re so talented. . . . (UK) is very, very talented.”

Etc.

▪ Arkansas is riding a four-game winning streak. The Hogs made 10 of 23 three-pointers in beating Texas A&M on Saturday.

▪ Joe Tessitore, Sean Farnham and sideline reporter Laura Rutledge will call the game for ESPN.

This story was originally published February 19, 2018 at 6:15 PM with the headline "As low-post showdown looms, Kentucky big man says he’s fine playing with back to basket."