Dontaie Allen is going to continue to draw a lot of defensive attention. (Vicky Graff Photo)
After Dontaie Allen scored 14 points in Kentucky’s win over Vanderbilt, UK coach John Calipari pointed out a list of defensive miscues that Allen made and must improve. Calipari admitted other players also made mistakes but singled out Allen for more criticism.
I asked Allen Friday if he agreed with Calipari’s assessment of his defense and if he agreed with the coach?
“For sure. He talked about things as far as game planning, so I knew I had to do those things. I just had some breakdowns. I would definitely agree with the things he was saying,” Allen said.
But what Allen is also doing is making opponents change the way they defend UK after he hit seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points at Mississippi State two games ago.
Kentucky assistant coach Jai Lucas said Vanderbilt’s defense on Allen was “completely different” than what Mississippi State did.
“The sample size going into Mississippi State was so small. So, you maybe didn’t even have him on the scouting report depending on how many people you put on the scouting report,” Lucas said Friday.
“And then the difference with Vandy is whenever a guy hits seven 3’s, he’s going to be on the scouting report. Each game his coverage and his stuff will become a lot and a lot harder for him to get shots and create shots.
“But the one thing about Dontaie and having him on the court is that you have to account for him. The defense has to know where he is, so it kind of opens up the court a little bit and creates driving lanes, eliminating people helping on the post and stuff like that. That’s one of the other bigger things about him being out there is his ability to just do that alone.”
Indeed it is and that’s why Calipari admitted last game that Allen had to be on the court and should be again tonight at Florida, especially with Terrence Clarke likely out again due to injury.
Florida is one of the SEC’s better defensive teams and certainly knows plenty about Allen, a player that was offered a Florida scholarship before he got his UK offer. However, no matter what the Gators or other teams throw at him, odds are Allen saw it during his Mr. Basketball career at Pendleton County High School.
“In high school I was getting triple-teamed, so there’s not much really different. It’s on a different level so it’s going to be an adjustment and I’m going to have to work harder to get open,” Allen said. “I’m just going to do anything to help my team win, to be honest.”
