Dontaie Allen (UK Athletics Photo)
Redshirt freshman Dontaie Allen has played in four of Kentucky’s six games but only for a combined 20 minutes. He has four turnovers, no assists and just one rebound. He’s only gone 2-for-6 from 3-point range but only two players — Devin Askew (.364 percent on 4-for-11) and Lance Ware (.667 on 2-for-3) are shooting a better percentage from long range.
So for a team struggling to make shots — UK was 3-for-13 from 3-point range in Saturday’s loss to North Carolina and the only player to hit a trey was Davion Mintz — why not let the former Kentucky Mr. Basketball get a few more chances?
That’s what I asked Kentucky coach John Calipari after the North Carolina loss.
“I could have done it today,” Calipari said.
But he didn’t because he was “giving guys in front of him the room they need to miss shots” and see if they could start making shots.
“I go in practice and they (UK players) make shots,” Calipari said. “Not coming out every time I miss a shot. That’s not how I coach. I am trying to give them room and encourage them to shoot. We have some guys in huddles I tell if they do not shoot they are coming out.”
Not Allen. He’s sitting and watching Kentucky struggle offensively and just continue to lose games while Brandon Boston is 5-for-29 from 3-point range, Terrence Clarke 5-for-19 and Mintz 8-for-28 even with the three makes against North Carolina.
“Dontaie just has to stay ready so when the opportunity comes, he is ready,” Calipari said.
Keaton Belcher, Allen’s coach at Pendleton County, went on social media after the game in response to so many questions from UK fans and speculation Allen might transfer over his lack of playing time.
“I just keep telling DA (Dontaie Allen) to work harder. He will get his shot eventually,” Belcher said. “He’s not going anywhere. Whole state is rooting for him.”
