Terrence Jones guards a North Carolina player during the Elite 8 game of the 2011 NCAA Basketball Tournament, at the Prudential Center, in Newark, NJ. Photo by Latara Appleby | Staff
With a team that restocks on freshmen each year, it’s hard to keep older players with experience tied into the mix.
But for the Cats, this year’s veterans have returned with potential and unquestionably improving. Because teams in the past have relied so heavily on young talent, this year’s roster with two seniors and two juniors is doing the same.
The sophomores have been forced to place themselves into older, more experienced leadership roles.
Sophomore forward Terrence Jones, who was named to ESPN Preseason All-America, has been putting up big numbers for the Cats so far this fresh season.
“Terrence now, you know, you look at him and you see an athlete now,” Calipari said after the Morehouse game on Monday, “a guy that can fly up and down the court and put his head on the rim.”
After spending this summer building strength, (Jones gained roughly 20 pounds over the summer), he has returned a stronger and quicker athlete, Calipari said at a Media Day press conference.
While some of the upperclassmen are still competing for starting spots with the freshmen, friendly competition and an understanding of what may work best for the team keeps the squad focused on the bigger picture.
“The thing that will take their games to another level, Darius and Doron, is that competitive spirit,” Calipari said. “That battle for a spot I think takes them to another level. And it really doesn’t matter who’s in the end.”
With UK consistently snagging top high school recruits, talent is rarely hard to come by for the Cats. In the 2010 season, guard Darius Miller earned MVP of the SEC Tournament while guard Doron Lamb performed explosively during the Final Four.
The veterans have the ability to contribute to the team where in past years it was predominantly carried by the freshmen.
In Monday’s game alone, (regardless of how unexpected the score margin was), the veterans accounted for 53 of the Cats’ 125 points.
“We really came in with the mindset that we needed to bring energy,” sophomore Jarrod Polson said. “That’s how we won that game.”
The question always rests with the importance of talent and experience, but the Cats have shown they can overcome that obstacle in past years.
“I think we can (rely on freshmen),” Miller said, “but I don’t think we have to.”
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