Mike Pratt says Olivier Sarr needs to get more touches but also needs to play harder. (SEC Photo)
Former Kentucky All-American Mike Pratt still believes John Calipari will do a “great job bringing this team around” despite UK’s 1-5 start going into Saturday’s game at Louisville.
“But it will take time,” Pratt said Tuesday on The Leach Report. “I think they will get better. I don’t know how much better. I see potential but whether they want to do it together is the real question.”
Pratt admits he normally would have a better feel for the team because he would attend practice once or twice per week. Now with COVID-19 protocols, he doesn’t attend practice often.
“I do know this, the sooner they go all-in on the word we instead of the word I they will be a better team,” Pratt said.
Say amen UK fans who have been frustrated by the team’s lack of team play that has resulted in more turnovers than assists almost every game this season.
Kentucky went into the season expecting to be a Final Four contender. Pratt, the analyst for the UK Radio Network, admits he does not know exactly what to expect in the months ahead for this team.
“They have so many more pieces that we have not seen fit. Right now they just do not seem to fit,” Pratt said. “Final Four” I don’t know. This team is not going to overwhelm anyone with talent but they can be pretty good. It’s going to be a bumpy ride for a while longer but I still think they have a chance to finish strong.”
Finish strong? Pratt knows a lot more basketball than me but chances of a strong finish for UK seem pretty minimal to me.
“All the negativity, these guys need some positive comments,” Pratt said.
Freshman Brandon Boston was being counted on to be the bellcow for this team. That’s not happened even though he is the leading scorer and second leading rebounder.
“Depends on what you term good. If he will rebound consistently, defend adequately, pass the ball and take open shots out of the offense he could be a main contributor,” Pratt said. “Now he’s stuck in one mode. He has flashes (of good play) and then other times he falls back into watching, spectating and taking quick shots.”
Then there is Olivier Sarr, the transfer from Wake Forest who was supposed to be the missing piece for a potential Final Four team. Instead, he’s been foul prone, didn’t take a shot against North Carolina and has yet to be a dominant player many thought he would be.
“I think they have got to feed him at the block and elbow. He has to work harder, too,” Pratt said. “Sometimes I don’t know if he works quite as hard as he should at times. He does get pushed around,” Pratt said. “They have to make sure he gets touches.”
Pratt said Sarr’s foul troubles indicate he needs to play more with his feet and move to stay out of foul trouble that limits his time on the court.
“He has got to give you 14 or 15 points or more and seven rebounds (a game),” Pratt said. “To do that he has got to stay out of foul trouble and get touches in areas where he is efficient.”
