‘I’m shooting with confidence.’ Kentucky’s Juzang wants to see results of hard work.
Johnny Juzang — remember him? — gave Kentucky a productive eight minutes at South Carolina on Wednesday. It was the freshman’s first action since sitting out the previous three games because of illness or a coaching decision not to play him.
His first basket since the Ohio State game on Dec. 21 and five rebounds (two shy of a team high) may mean UK fans will be seeing a lot more of Juzang.
“So, now you say, did he earn more minutes?” UK Coach John Calipari said Friday.
Juzang said it was “nice” to play again. “I know I played my hardest,” he said.
Of course, Juzang came to UK billed as a shooter. The 1-for-4 shooting at South Carolina made him 7-for-31 (22.6 percent) on the season. He’s made two of 15 three-point shots with his last triple coming against UAB on Nov. 29. “Now, I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’m shooting the ball with a lot of confidence. I’ve just been in the gym non-stop, so (I’m) feeling super confident. Building my own confidence. So, the shots are feeling great right now. I’m shooting with a ton of confidence.
“They’re not falling. So, that’s a little frustrating. But, I’m not worried about it as long as I’m shooting with confidence.”
Juzang said a virus kept him mostly confined to his dorm room for five or six days. He acknowledged that setback and missing shots can test a player’s patience.
“’You just have got to stick to the course,” he said. “There are definitely some ups and downs. … The biggest thing is keep working, keep working. Trying to keep improving, keep improving because it can be tough if you’re not seeing the results you wanted.”
Refuse to shoot
Calipari likes a refuse-to-lose attitude. For a player UK looks to for scoring, he doesn’t like a refuse-to-shoot approach.
“I had to take Keion (Brooks) out,” Calipari said of UK’s loss at South Carolina. “He had a wide-open shot, and he chose to walk.
“Well, ‘Why didn’t you shoot it when you know you’re a finisher, and I’m telling you to shoot. And I don’t care if you make it. … Why would you pass up the open shots?’”
Brooks missed all five shots he took at South Carolina. The result was his third scoreless game of the season.
As if answering for Brooks, Calipari said, “‘I don’t think I’m going to make it because I missed four.’”
Calipari advised a player in that position to do extra shooting.
“You’ve got to master your craft,” he said.
Calipari said his son, Brad, learned long ago how taking a shot after several misses defines courage, confidence and toughness.
‘Not scared’
Arkansas has not beaten Kentucky since 2014. But sophomore Reggie Chaney said the Razorbacks do not find the prospect of playing UK intimidating.
“I’m ready to play them,” Chaney said. “Coach Muss (Eric Musselman) isn’t scared of nobody. We’re not scared of nobody. We’re not going to back down because it’s Kentucky.”
Hot streak
In the last four games, Immanuel Quickley has made 14 of 21 shots from three-point range. But he won’t be the only player on a hot streak.
Fifth-year senior guard Jimmy Whitt scored a career-high 30 points in Arkansas’ 75-55 victory over Vanderbilt on Wednesday.
“The amazing thing is I didn’t call one play for him,” Musselman said. “Not one play. He just figured out how to find open gaps, and he catches it and releases it over people. He’s really one of the most efficient players and unique players that I’ve ever coached.”
Whitt became the third Arkansas player to score 30 or more in a game this season. Mason Jones scored 41 against Tulsa and 32 against Rice. Isaiah Joe scored 34 at Ole Miss and 33 against Texas Southern.
CLASS act
Nate Sestina has been named a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible, a player must be an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Other SEC players named candidates are Breein Tyree (Ole Miss), Anfernee McLemore (Auburn), Skylar Mays (LSU) and Maik Kotsar (South Carolina).
Etc.
Bob Wischusen, Dick Vitale and sideline reporter Kris Budden will call the game for ESPN.
