Photo by Vicki Graff
Today’s modern era of which the game of basketball is played has moved away from the significance “big men” have on the outcome of a contest. This trend has more-so made an impact on the professional level, but has slowly trickled down to the collegiate game as well. So how is Kentucky head coach John Calipari winning with what is considered a “big-heavy” roster?
The Wildcats start three guard amongst Ashton Hagans, Keldon Johnson and Tyler Herro. They additionally bring guards Immanuel Quickley and Jemarl Baker (in brief minutes) off the bench.
However, Kentucky starts two forwards PJ Washington and Reid Travis while also rotating in EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards.
For most teams, they’d look into recruiting wings who can dribble and drive from the outside as well as consistently shoot from the perimeter. But Calipari went away from that mold, returning last year’s starting power forward (Washington) and center (Richards) before landing a graduate transfer forward (Travis) who is 100% a painted area player.
Calipari’s top-recruit last spring was also a power forward (Montgomery). So, again, why is Kentucky putting so much emphasis on their big men in a guard/wing heavy league?
Because it’s working.
Kentucky has won nine straight games, most recently defeating South Carolina 76-48. The production has primarily been from their front court, too. While Hagans, Herro and Johnson have all won multiple South Eastern Conference Freshman of the Week awards, Washington was the first Wildcat to receive the SEC Player of the Week award.
Over his last five games, Washington is averaging 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest. His offensive production, while also consistently checking the opposition’s most significant big man, has worked wonders during the team’s winning streak.
While Washington has had a spectacular sophomore campaign for Kentucky, Montgomery has recently become the team’s budding star. The freshman has been stacked behind a heavy rotation of front court players but, during Tuesday night’s game, Kentucky’s bigs were handed multiple fouls early on.
Montgomery saw his opportunity and seized it without hesitation, scoring 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in just 20 minutes for his first double-double of the season. While his offensive contribution was comforting to watch, twas his energy at both ends of the court and tracking down 50-50 balls that aided Kentucky’s blowout win.
After the game, Montgomery was asked how it felt to notch his first double-double.
“It’s a good feeling when you put in all the hard work every day to come out and improve, and you do it,” he said.
Starting with head coach Frank Martin and star forward Chris Silva, the Gamecocks are known for their physical play inside. However, Montgomery was fully prepared for a chest match on Tuesday.
“That’s what the game plan was. To go out there and play physical and just hit first before they hit us. That’s what we did,” he said.
Washington joined Montgomery in dominating the paint on Tuesday night and was happy to watch his teammate’s breakout performance.
“It was great. I’m happy for him. I’m one of his biggest fans and just to see him go out there and put a smile on everyone’s faces, that’s big for us,” he said.
Calipari was also asked about Montgomery stepping up in significant minutes, specifically grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds.
“EJ was really good. Double-double, active, playing hard, blocking shots,” Calipari said. “He’s starting to come around. This was a great game for him to prove it against a really physical team, that they’re going to get body-to-body on you. He was able to still get it done.”
The Kentucky head coach also lended a sizable amount of credit to Travis, who scored nine points and grabbed 11 rebounds but was the “Silva Stopper” for the Wildcats.
“Look, just understand Travis had 9 and 11, but without Travis, Silva probably goes for 25 and 11,” Calipari said. “The kid’s in there exhausted. We’ve got him on an IV. Him and Silva just went at each other. He was able to withstand it, which tells you it’s good for us to have a guy. If they have a guy like that, we got one, too.”
Needless to say, Kentucky’s front court is doing a number on every opponent they’ve faced. During their win streak, the Wildcats have faced all levels of adversity. Yet, Kentucky has shown they have the ability to close games no matter the circumstance. With a premiere matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers just 10 days away, the Wildcats will need to continue their onus of dominating the painted area and it all starts with the play of their front court.
