Kentucky-Alabama notes: Cats see SEC title as proof of grit, answer to skeptics

Even after 46 championships, winning the Southeastern Conference regular-season title still means something to Kentucky.

Forward Marcus Lee said an SEC championship would validate Kentucky’s front line.

The 2015-16 championship would “kind of show that we’re getting tougher and we’re learning,” he said.

When asked about an SEC title, assistant coach Tony Barbee recalled the dispiriting losses at UCLA and to Ohio State in December.

“It’s big,” he said of a 47th SEC crown. “Particularly how we came out of non-conference play. I think there were question marks for everybody about the season.

“The guys really rallied around each other and turned things around. We talk about it all the time. It’s important for these guys to win the SEC. Even though we lost a game at College Station, we’re still in first place.”

With a 10-4 SEC record, Kentucky is in first place heading into the regular season’s final two weeks. There’s a three-way tie for second with LSU, South Carolina and Texas A&M all at 9-5.

Each of UK’s final four opponents has a .500 or better league record.

Barbee mentioned another reason to put importance on an SEC championship. In the Cats’ current stretch of three games in six days, the race serves as a stimulant.

“It’s easier to find motivation when you’re in first place or at least in the hunt,” he said.

In a zone

UK Coach John Calipari is averse to a zone defense. But he acknowledged that a zone helped the Cats win at South Carolina.

“He hates zone,” Barbee said. “I stay in his ear that there are some teams I think we can use the zone against and be fairly effective.”

When asked why Calipari had such a strong distaste for zone defenses, Barbee said, “It comes down to accountability.”

A man-to-man defense makes it easier to identify which players lapsed and to then hold those players accountable, Barbee said.

“We work on it quite a bit in practice because you never know when you’re going to need it,” Barbee said of the zone.

As part of his advocacy, Barbee said zones can better contain dribble penetration.

‘Never slows down’

Tyler Ulis played all 45 minutes at Texas A&M. He also played the entire 45 minutes in Kentucky’s overtime game at Kansas.

Six times this season Ulis has played 40 or more minutes. His workload continues to increase. He’s averaging 36.7 minutes overall, 37.3 minutes in SEC play and 38.0 minutes in UK’s last five games.

“At the tip and at the 40-minute mark, there’s no difference in his speed, his athleticism, his mental sharpness,” Barbee said of Ulis’ stamina. “It never stops. It never slows down.”

‘California to New York City’

Mississippi State Coach Ben Howland paid Alabama guard Retin Obasohan perhaps what Tide fans would consider the ultimate compliment.

“He’s like a great Nick Saban running back with basketball skills,” Howland said. “He’s just a beast. Good luck to the people left on their schedule trying to contain him.”

Obasohan, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound senior, combines strength, skill and intelligence into an effective basketball package. He leads Alabama in scoring (16.9 ppg) and minutes (32.7 per game). He’s also tied for the team lead with 89 defensive rebounds.

He has made 46.7 percent of his shots (35.6 percent from three-point range), while averaging 2.8 assists.

By stark contrast, Obasohan averaged only 6.2 points last season while having more turnovers (35) than assists (24).

He scored 21 points in Alabama’s first meeting with Kentucky this season.

When asked about Obasohan’s improvement, first-year coach Avery Johnson said, “Man, he’s come a long way. From California to New York City.”

Obasohan’s improvement came as he moved from point guard to shooting guard this season. He has already more than doubled his total of three-point baskets of last season.

“We definitely didn’t see this coming,” Johnson said. “We knew he had potential, but we didn’t see possibly first-team All-SEC coming.”

Obasohan has consistently performed in the classroom. A native of Belgium, he speaks four languages (English, Dutch, French and Nigerian). He graduated with a degree in finance last May and is seeking a Master’s degree in marketing.

‘Luxury for any coach’

Johnson, a former NBA point guard, lauded how well Tyler Ulis and Jamal Murray complement each other in UK’s backcourt.

“They help each other,” he said, “and that’s problematic for every team that plays Kentucky. ... It’s a luxury for a coach to have extra ball-handlers like that. Guys who can pass, dribble and shoot. That’s why Murray and Ulis are so difficult to scout and defend.”

Pros and college

Before being hired by Alabama, Johnson coached the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets in the NBA.

College coaching, he said, involves “a lot more teaching. You have to be really patient and make sure you communicate in a crystal clear way where there’s no gray areas.”

College coaching involves much more video sessions with individual players, he said.

Etc.

▪  Texas A&M Coach Billy Kennedy did not select Skal Labissiere to shoot Isaac Humphries’ free throws after the UK freshman fouled out on a technical foul. “We put him in,” Calipari said. “For both free-throw shooting and defense.”

▪  Brad Nessler, Sean Farnham and sideline reporter Shannon Spake will call the game for ESPN.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Kentucky-Alabama notes: Cats see SEC title as proof of grit, answer to skeptics."