Kellan Grady and UK in a win-win situation as regular season nears end
Kellan Grady (aka “Steady Eddie”) has had a season marked by fluctuation lately. That’s because point guards Sahvir Wheeler and TyTy Washington have been sidelined by injuries.
When asked Friday how his role has changed, Grady said, “I’m not sprinting to the corner and then playing off those guys.”
Besides a greater responsibility to initiate offense, Grady noted how he’s guarding more opposing point guards and shooting guards rather than shooting guards and small forwards.
Whether this was a refreshing change or lessening the chance to improve as a shooting guard Grady suggested was not relevant. “We did what we did the last two games out of necessity,” he said.
Whether Grady and Davion Mintz continue as stop-gap point guards at Arkansas on Saturday remains unclear.
As has become customary with players affected by injury, UK Coach John Calipari said he did not know if Wheeler and/or Washington would play at Arkansas.
“I’m not going to force a kid to play,” Calipari said before adding, “there may be a point (I say), ‘I’m not going to let you play today. You need more rest.’”
Even with Wheeler and Washington sidelined, Kentucky defeated Alabama and LSU in the last two games. Calipari noted that Grady and Mintz had experience playing point guard for their previous schools, Davidson and Creighton, respectively.
“So, they know the position …,” the UK coach said. “They’re just not as fast as Sahvir and they’re not as crafty as TyTy. …
“The issue becomes 40 minutes.”
Calipari said the reason he has called timeouts rather than wait for the next television timeout is to give Grady and Mintz extra rest.
As he has noted before, Calipari stressed the importance of “fresh legs and fresh minds” in the final stretch of a regular season and in the postseason.
Of the recent victories, Grady said, “we showed that we can find ways to be productive and win without those guys.
“When we get them back, that will just add to our team and make us even better. Collectively, I think we’ve all done a really good job of stepping up. So, we’re excited about having our full unit together again.”
That future will include Kentucky’s annual Senior Day ceremony prior to next Tuesday’s home game against Ole Miss. For Grady and presumably Mintz, that will be their final home game for Kentucky.
Grady reminded reporters that his wealth of experience extends beyond having scored 2,000-plus points. He was at four Senior Day ceremonies while a player for Davidson. He said he gained “a different level of appreciation” for these sentimental farewells.
“Ultimately, it’s going to be just a meaningful thing Tuesday,” Grady said. “This has been an exceptional year for us. (UK has had) a lot of success. We’ve had some statement wins.
“And playing on the biggest stage in college basketball, I’m grateful to be here.”
Calipari described Grady’s season for Kentucky as a win-win. Both player and program benefited.
“Here’s a young man that gave everything he could for this program,” Calipari said of Grady.
As he has said before, the UK coach voiced his belief that good teams have good players, but great teams have great teammates.
Grady and Mintz fit the latter category, Calipari said.
When little-used players like Bryce Hopkins and Daimion Collins had breakthrough performances against LSU and at Alabama, respectively, Grady and Mintz were among the first teammates to congratulate the freshmen, Calipari said.
“We were fortunate that he decided he wanted to come here for that last year,” Calipari said of Grady. “Hopefully, he looks at it as he’s fortunate, too. Because that’s how it’s supposed to work.”
Saturday
No. 6 Kentucky at No. 18 Arkansas
When: 2 p.m. EST
TV: CBS-27
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: UK 23-5 (12-3 SEC), Arkansas 22-6 (11-4)
Series: UK leads 33-12
Last meeting: Arkansas won 81-80 on Feb. 9, 2021, in Lexington
