John Clay: Poythress and UK basketball still searching for answers

Same question, same answer.

Why do you think Alex Poythress has been so inconsistent?

“You’d have to ask him,” said John Calipari on Saturday, as he has several times this season. “Next question.”

Only we couldn’t ask Poythress. Not after Kentucky lost at Vanderbilt 74-62 on Saturday. Home games or road games, UK doesn’t open its locker room for postgame interviews. Instead, it brings selected players to the interview room. Home games, the media gets to interview three players. Road games, two.

So it was Saturday in Memorial Gym. Freshman guard Jamal Murray, who had scored 33 points, and junior forward Marcus Lee were made available for questions. Soft-spoken anyway, Murray talked so low he was asked to raise his voice. Lee, who scored nine points and six rebounds, was left to answer for a front line that gave the Cats “nothing” in the words of their head coach.

So the question remains — maybe the biggest question when it comes to Kentucky and its postseason hopes — as to why Alex Poythress has been so inconsistent?

Last Tuesday, returning from a five-game absence after a minor knee procedure, Poythress scored 14 points in 17 minutes as Kentucky drilled Alabama 78-53.

Saturday, the Tennessee native fouled out after 16 minutes. For the sixth time in his career, Poythress failed to score. For the first time in his career, Poythress failed to take a shot. Kentucky lost its eighth game of the season.

This isn’t to place blame on Poythress. There was plenty of blame to shame. Tyler Ulis missed 15 of 20 shots. Kentucky claimed just 24.3 percent of its offensive rebound opportunities when it averages 38.0. It made 10 of 23 free throws for a putrid 43.5 percent.

Give Vandy credit. Kevin Stallings’ team has its groove back. Saturday marked the Commodores fifth win in its last six games. It now appears a lock to be on the NCAA Tournament dance card.

And Poythress has excuses. He was at a size disadvantage Saturday against the taller ’Dores. He was without fellow forward Derek Willis, absent a second straight game with a sprained right ankle. And, after missing nearly all of last season to a torn ACL, Poythress is coming off his second knee surgery in as many years.

Coming out of Memorial Coliseum late Monday afternoon after a UK basketball media opportunity, I saw Poythress walk across the parking lot to Wildcat Coal Lodge. His knees were covered by ice packs. He was moving slowly. Seeing that, I was surprised Poythress played Tuesday night, much less scored in double figures.

March won’t wait, however. Those who have followed this Kentucky 2015-16 basketball team could not have been shocked by Saturday’s happenings. When the Cats don’t play well, more often than not it’s because the front line didn’t play well.

Only four Kentucky players scored Saturday. Combined, Kentucky’s front line of Poythress, Lee, Isaac Humphries and Skal Labissiere combined for, well, not much. Humphries grabbed one rebound in 14 minutes. Labissiere had one rebound, one blocked shot and four fouls. Lee’s two baskets came off a lob and tap-in.

Willis’ return would help, obviously. When Willis is hustling and rebounding and making threes, he stretches the defense and opens the driving lanes for UK’s wings.

A consistent Poythress is paramount. Even with stellar guards, the Cats can’t survive as a donut. They need a consistent inside presence that can score an easy basket, grab an important rebound and give the defense something to worry about.

That was the Poythress who scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds at Kansas; who scored 25 points at Alabama; who scored 16 in the first game against Vanderbilt; who had 21 points and 13 rebounds against Eastern Kentucky back in November.

Will the Cats see that down the stretch? Don’t ask Calipari. He knows there’s only one person who can answer that question.

This story was originally published February 28, 2016 at 6:46 PM with the headline "John Clay: Poythress and UK basketball still searching for answers."