‘He’s really bothering people.’ Kentucky unleashes another shut-down defender.
As the Southeastern Conference’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year last season, Ashton Hagans has the credentials to judge a player as a defender. So, he was asked if those who watch Kentucky fully appreciated teammate Immanuel Quickley’s defense.
“I’d say you all don’t,” Hagans told reporters with a smile Friday.
Hagans cited how Quickley led the defensive effort that limited Louisville’s Jordan Nwora (the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading scorer) to a season-low eight points two weeks ago.
“Louisville had one of the best scorers in college basketball today,” Hagans said. “He shut that down.”
Quickley also took a turn making Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, who is projected as an early first-round pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, work for 23 points Tuesday night.
When asked to appraise Quickley’s defensive style, Hagans said a key was “being in the right position at all times. And he talks a lot. … He’s one of the main ones on the court talking. If there’s a breakdown, he’s there. He’s watching film on defense. He’s always moving his feet on defense.”
UK Coach John Calipari cited Quickley’s tenacity as a defender.
“He’s really bothering people and making it difficult,” Calipari said. “That’s what a good defender does.”
A poor defender does not disrupt the man he’s guarding, Calipari said.
“Immanuel occupies the guy’s eyes,” the UK coach said. “You’ve got to worry where Immanuel is.”
Matchup to watch
A matchup to anticipate is at point guard featuring Hagans and Alabama’s Kira Lewis Jr.
During the SEC Network’s telecast of Alabama’s victory over Mississippi State on Wednesday, analyst Mark Wise called Lewis “the fastest guard playing college basketball right now.”
How indispensable is Lewis? He averages more minutes (37.8 per game) than any SEC player. In the double-overtime loss at Florida last weekend, he played 45 minutes and 46 seconds.
Earlier this season, Alabama Coach Nate Oats chuckled as he said that Lewis played 39 minutes and 54 seconds against Stephen F. Austin.
“Yeah, I got him out for six seconds,” Oats said. “Great big rest he had.”
Hagans said he has played against Lewis since the two were in the eighth grade.
“He’s a real fast guard,” Hagans said. “A real smart guard.”
Counting all games, Hagans and Lewis are among the SEC leaders in assists (first and tied for eighth, respectively) and steals (tied for first and fifth).
Hagans’ health
Although he sprained his left ankle late in last weekend’s victory over Missouri, Hagans played 36 minutes and 22 seconds at Georgia on Tuesday night.
Hagans said he was continuing to get treatment while being OK to play.
When asked if he gets weary about defending a key offensive player for the opposition game after game, Hagans said, “This year hasn’t been as bad. We have guards who can really guard.
“If that’s what I got to do, then I’m here to do that.”
Nick’s ‘glow’
Hagans vouched for Nick Richards being a changed man this season. This was most recently evidenced by the sure-handed catches Richards made in transition and while defended in the post at Georgia.
“Nick probably wouldn’t have caught that last year,” Hagans said of the catch of an EJ Montgomery pass in transition. “You know, he’s got this glow on now. He’s ready for everything.”
Hagans suggested Richards also had undergone a personality change.
“It’s amazing because last year Nick, it was just him into his own world type. Now, you just see him interacting with everybody. Talking on the court. Yelling, you know. And screaming. That’s what we need. I’ve tried to tell him since Day One, since I stepped on campus, we go as you go.”
Alabama adversity
Alabama had had to deal with adversity. The Tide lost at Penn State on Dec. 14 despite leading by nine in the second half.
Then last weekend, Alabama had a potentially crushing double-overtime loss at Florida in a game it led for all but six minutes and 30 seconds. The Tide led by 21 points in the first half. It was the largest comeback victory in the history of Florida basketball.
“When stuff started to go south, we haven’t been able to fix it,” Oats said. “I don’t know if we’re good enough to get a lead like that against Kentucky in Rupp (Arena).”
On the plus side, Alabama beat Mississippi State 90-69 on Wednesday.
“That really could have had a lingering effect in the next game,” Oats said of the loss at Florida. “Which would have been disastrous having to go to Kentucky and then having Auburn at home (next weekend). I was proud of the way they responded.”
Keys
For Kentucky, Calipari cited three-point defense. Alabama has made 10 or more threes in 10 games. In nine games (and seven of the last eight), the Tide has shot 30 or more times from beyond the arc.
For Alabama, Oats spoke of limiting UK’s transition offense and staying competitive on the boards.
Etc.
Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas will call the Kentucky-Alabama game for ESPN.
