‘Pick Nick’: Richards is a candidate that can unite the Big Blue Nation
In this presidential election season, Kentucky has launched a campaign ad online promoting Nick Richards as an All-American candidate.
“Nick Richards is the big man America needs,” SEC Network analyst Jimmy Dykes says on the 90-second pseudo commercial.
“Kentucky will go as far as Nick Richards will take them,” ESPN commentator Jay Bilas says.
The catchphrase “Pick Nick” is repeated.
When asked about the promotion Friday, Richards said, “I think it was pretty fun to have the entire team involved.”
Of his journey from someone who played 44 seconds against Auburn in the 2019 Elite Eight to an All-American candidate, Richards said, “I’m just taking it as a good blessing.”
In Southeastern Conference games, Richards ranks in the top 10 in scoring (10th at 16.0 points per game), rebounding (third at 8.5), shooting (first at 63.7 percent), offensive rebounds (fourth at 2.0 per game) and defensive rebounding (5.5 per game).
“I’m Nick Richards,” he says at the end of the promotion, “and I approve this message.”
7 shots, 24 points
Sophomore Keyontae Johnson took only seven shots in Florida’s 73-59 victory over Arkansas on Tuesday. Yet he led all scorers with 24 points.
Johnson became only the fourth Florida player in the last 25 years to score 24 or more points while taking seven or fewer shots. The others were Eddie Shannon (27 points on seven shots on Nov. 18, 1997), Matt Walsh (25 points on seven shots on Feb. 7, 2004) and KeVaughn Allen (26 points on seven shots on Feb. 21, 2017).
As a 6-5 power forward, Johnson can have a quickness advantage over defenders.
“He’s so quick off the bounce,” Arkansas Coach Eric Musselman said of Johnson after the game. “That’s how he ended up with 17 foul shots. … He’s one of the best dribble-drivers in all of college basketball from the four-spot.”
Johnson made 15 of 17 free throws against Arkansas.
UK in the UK
The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame provided details on UK’s game in the UK (United Kingdom) next season.
Kentucky will play Michigan in London on Dec. 6 as part of a doubleheader named the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase. Marist will play Maryland-Baltimore County at 3 p.m. London time (10 a.m. EST) in the first game followed by UK-Michigan at 6 p.m. London time (1 p.m. EST).
In a news release, UK Coach John Calipari said the game would make for “an unforgettable experience” and that “I know our fans will show up in full force.”
Tickets will go on sale to the public next Thursday beginning at 10 a.m. London time (5 a.m. EST). Tickets are available at AXS.com.
Facing the best
Florida marks the third straight opponent in which Kentucky will face one of the top three active career scorers among SEC players.
Going into this weekend, Ole Miss guard Breein Tyree was the career leader in scoring among active SEC players at 1,694 points. UK held him to 19 last weekend. That was below his average in SEC games (24.5) and a significant decrease for a player who had scored 101 points in the previous three games.
Going into this weekend, LSU guard Skylar Mays ranked second in career points with 1,530. The 17 he scored against UK on Tuesday were about his average against league teams (17.8 per game), but it a decrease from the 77 he had scored in the previous three games.
Florida big man Kerry Blackshear Jr. ranks third in career scoring among active SEC players. Counting his three seasons for Virginia Tech, he has scored 1,494 points going into the game at Kentucky. He is averaging 13.2 points this season.
Remember when?
Kentucky’s victory last weekend meant Ole Miss still has not beaten UK in Lexington since 1998. Florida Coach Mike White was the point guard on that Ole Miss team. He scored 16 points and got credit for six assists in the Rebels’ 73-64 victory.
The SEC named White as Player of the Week.
Transfers
With the NCAA seemingly moving to liberalize its transfer rules, allowing players to change schools once without having to sit out a season, Calipari offered a cautionary note. The impact on mid-major programs should be considered, he said. And coaches that tamper with potential transfers should be fired, he said.
Richards, who averaged 4.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 13.4 minutes in his first two college seasons, said he did not consider transferring.
“Nah,” he said. “Transferring wasn’t even remotely close to my mind. That’s really not in me to leave and just give up on something.”
Etc.
Bob Wischusen, Dick Vitale and sideline reporter Kris Budden will call the game for ESPN.
