UK Hoops changes attitude during winning streak
March 6, 2014
By Tyler Spanyer | UK Hoops beat writer
UK Hoops is returning to its early season form, when it pulled off 11 consecutive wins to open the season.
The Cats have won five of their last six games, and clinched the No. 4 seed in this weekend’s SEC Tournament in Duluth, Ga.
“This stretch shows a lot about our players and the character of this group,” said UK head coach Matthew Mitchell. “We have made the necessary changes to make ourselves better.”
The Cats have averaged 78.3 points per game in their last six games, which is well above their average of 65.8 points per game during their mid-season slide.
“I think the issue was our attitude,” Mitchell said. “We were playing not to lose. In close games players were waiting for someone else to make a play, whereas now we are playing with no fear.”
Part of the rebirth of this team has been the resurgence of senior forward DeNesha Stallworth. Coming into the season,
Stallworth was the go-to player, but after knee surgery kept her out of five games, she struggled to return to form until recently.
“I think I’m back,” Stallworth said. “I know how important I am to our team’s success, and I have been trying to get back out there just to help them.”
In the last six games, Stallworth has scored in double figures five times, notching a double-double in three of those games.
She has averaged 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
“The thing that’s been tough on me emotionally is that you want the players to succeed,” Mitchell said. “To go from such a great start and thinking about a number one seed to sliding through the middle of the schedule is tough.”
The Cats are also improving defensively, thanks to some defensive philosophy changes Mitchell made midway through the season. Although UK has allowed an average of 73.5 points per game in the last six games, it is caused in part by the new rule changes regarding fouls.
“I think to start, it was my fault,” Mitchell said. “The new rules allowed for the offense to touch the defense but not the other way around, and that hurt us. We had to make some changes, including going to zone at times, and that’s on me.”
