Kentucky’s game at LSU will feature all-too-familiar surname for BBN
If you’re rating the pain inflicted by buzzer-beating shots that defeated Kentucky, Christian Laettner’s in the 1992 NCAA Tournament has to be No. 1. It gave the college careers of “the Unforgettables” and Rick Pitino’s remarkably successful three-year resuscitation of UK basketball an unhappy ending.
But an argument can be made that a shot by another Christian was — if not as painful — certainly another memorable dagger into the Big Blue Nation’s heart. Christian Watford’s three-pointer at the buzzer gave Indiana a 73-72 victory over Kentucky on Dec. 10, 2011. It ignited a scary fan stampede onto the Assembly Hall court. It also was the first of only two defeats for UK’s eventual national championship team. And it was the last time Kentucky played at Indiana.
Kentucky’s game at LSU on Tuesday night evokes thoughts of Watford’s shot. His younger brother, Trendon Watford, is a freshman for LSU.
Christian plans to be at the game rooting on Trendon and the Tigers.
“There isn’t any added hostility because it’s Kentucky,” Christian said last week. “When Trendon’s playing, it doesn’t matter who he’s playing. He could be playing Kentucky State. I’m still going to want him to be as impactful as he would be in any other game.”
Speaking of impactful, Christian helped guide Trendon through the recruiting process.
“Just helping him make decisions, narrowing things down,” said Christian, who is nine years older. “Because I’ve been through it, I can decipher between a lot of B.S. and what’s real.
“And make sure you’re used correctly on the court. So, I was pivotal in our recruitment.”
The Watford family, which calls Birmingham, Ala., home, uses words like “we” and “our” when talking about Trendon.
“Without them, I’d probably be going in all kinds of directions,” Trendon told The Commercial Appeal of Memphis last year. “But they try to make the process as easy as they can.”
Trendon, a 6-foot-9 forward, had offers from Indiana, Alabama, Mississippi State, Auburn, LSU, Iowa and TCU. Kentucky reportedly had expressed an interest.
Why LSU?
“There was just a big-time need for him there,” Christian said. “I mean, everybody wanted him, and stuff like that. But, you’ve got to go where you’re going to be the most impactful.”
LSU lost two “bigs” — Naz Reid and Kavell Bigby-Williams — after last season.
Both Watford brothers have been productive college players. Christian scored 1,730 points for Indiana. Trendon was averaging 13.8 points and 7.1 rebounds going into the weekend.
Christian described Trendon’s game as versatile and marked by an ability to be productive around the basket and also on the perimeter.
“They play through him a little bit more than Indiana did when I was playing,” Christian said. “Because we had two lottery picks on our team.”
Those two were Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller.
Christian said he attends as many of Trendon’s games as possible. His presence at Tuesday’s game will be something of a basketball circle being completed. Trendon and parents Ernest and Belinda Watford, were at the Kentucky-Indiana game that Christian punctuated with the winning shot.
That shot is remembered.
“I’m reminded about that shot probably three or four times a week,” Christian said. “Just all over social media. … Every time Indiana is in a situation where they need a last-second shot or anyone needs a last-second shot, they’ll say, ‘Hey, that looks like Christian Watford’s shot.’
“I don’t shy away from it. I’m just happy to be a part of that historic moment.”
Indiana held a contest at a game earlier this season in which fans tried to make the same shot Christian made to beat Kentucky.
Christian was among those unnerved by the frenetic energy stirred by the shot.
“When the people first jumped on me, I was fine,” he said. “Then, more people started doing it. That caused a little anxiety. And I was telling my teammates, ‘Get them off of me.’ I thought they were going to break my ribs.”
Here’s an irresistible hypothetical scenario to bounce off Christian: What if Trendon makes the game-winning shot to beat Kentucky on Tuesday?
“Hey, man, that would be unreal,” Christian said. “Hopefully, it doesn’t get down to that. But, if it does, I wouldn’t mind that happening.”
Shot selection
Ole Miss Coach Kermit Davis said he was slow to embrace the floater.
“It took me two or three years to make (the team) practice floaters,” he said. “I’d say, ‘God, I hate doing this.’
“About three years ago, I had to give in and start working on some floaters. I’m probably not the greatest floater coach in the SEC, I’d guess.”
Mid-range game
UK fans might recall that Tyler Herro shot a pretty mid-range pull-up jumper. Although that shot is out of favor, Ole Miss guard Breein Tyree also shoots it with the blessing of Coach Kermit Davis.
“I’m not one of those coaches that are just layups and threes,” Davis said. “I still value mid-range jump-shooting. And I just think that’s a critical part of basketball, still, and he does it really well.”
Those who crunch basketball numbers say shots from the basket area and three-point distance are more valuable that those from mid-range. Davis did not dispute this calculation.
“I get the analytics, and the threes and all that,” the Ole Miss coach said. “I just still think the old-school jump shooting from 15 to 18 feet is still valued. At least, it still is in Oxford.”
Record keeping
Going into the weekend, Immanuel Quickley had made 92.5 percent of his free throws (111 of 120). That ranked second nationally. The leader was Terrell Gomez of Cal State Northridge. He had made 94.6 percent of his free throws (88 of 93).
Tyler Herro set the UK record for free-throw accuracy last season when he made 93.5 percent of his free throws (87 of 93).
At a team, UK had made 78.9 percent of its free throws (456 of 578). The Harvard team of 1982-83 holds the NCAA Division I record for free-throw accuracy: 82.2 percent (535 of 651).
Nick Richards had made 66.3 percent of his shots (132 of 199). That ranked fifth nationally. The UK record for field-goal percentage belongs to — surprise — Marcus Lee. He made 68 percent of his shots (102 of 150) in 2015-16.
Three-for-all
In its 95-91 overtime loss at Auburn on Wednesday, Alabama set SEC records by taking 59 three-point shots and making 22.
Incidentally, the NCAA record for three-pointers shot and made belongs to Troy. The Trojans made 28 of 74 in a game against George Mason on Dec. 10, 1994.
Freshman Jaden Shackelford made seven of 17 three-point shots at Auburn. John Petty Jr. made six of 11.
Lost in the three-for-all was Kira Lewis Jr. posting a triple-double. He scored 10 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and got credit for 13 assists. It was the second triple-double in Alabama basketball history (Roy Rogers had the first) and the 21st in Division I this season.
Happy birthday
To Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski. He turned 73 on Thursday. … To Ray Edelman. He turned 68 on Friday. … To Tod Lanter. He turned 29 on Saturday. … To Al Robinson. He turns 82 on Monday.
