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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 02-19-2015, 09:50 AM:

Booker's confidence is what makes him extra special. He can miss 3 or 4 shots in a row but if he is open next time down the floor he will let it fly again.

Normally Devin Booker impresses opponents and helps No. 1 Kentucky win with his shooting.

Yet at Tennessee Tuesday night the freshman guard did other things to help UK still win even though he went just 5-for-16 from the field and only 2-for-9 from 3-point range. For a player shooting 49 percent overall and 45 percent from 3-point range on the season, those were shocking numbers.

However, he went 6-for-6 at the foul line and still led UK in the 66-48 win with 18 points and pulled off a career-high seven rebounds, including four on offense. That was a big total for a player averaging just 1.5 rebounds per game in UK’s first 25 games. He also had an assist and steal.

Tennessee coach Donnie Tyndall noticed what Booker did.

“Someone asked me before the game, they said you know they don’t really have a superstar because they have a few guys that average eight or nine or 10 (points) but I said if those guys were on another team in our league they would average 16, 17 or 18. They are not necessarily superstars on that team as deep as they are but they have so many weapons,” said Tyndall.

“I love Booker’s game. He was 5-16 and I thought we did a decent job on him, but he is so poised and his game is compact. He is confident. He has a great way about him for a freshman.”

Booker said he was more assertive and focused on rebounding more. That’s what UK coach John Calipari wants.

“He’s not just a 3-point shooter now. He defends, he rebounds, he does all those other things,” Calipari said after the win. “So when he’s not making shots, I can leave him in the game. We’ve got some other guys: You’re not making shots and then you don’t defensive rebound, guys run by you and tip balls in, it’s hard (to play you). You can’t – you gotta give something if you’re not shooting.”

Still, Calipari included Booker among those who might have shot from 3-point range too quick. Kentucky made just five of 22 3-pointers and Booker and Aaron Harrison were a combined 2-for-14 from long range.

“Yeah, but he missed a bunch of shots, and I was getting upset because I kept saying we wanted to start the game posting the ball. So what’d we do? We shot 3s. We shot five, six, seven threes. The key was we were going to get it in. Well, obviously we didn’t,” Calipari said. “So then at halftime, I reinforced it, said, ‘We’re going to post it to start this half.’ And our first four shots were 3’s. So, I mean, yeah, he did good stuff (but) I tell you what I loved is he rebounded. Down the stretch, he was the one who came up with all those balls.”

Booker said missing shots does not frustrate him.

“I’ve been through slumps before. I shoot with the same mechanics and just miss them, but those are shots I need to take for the team. They’re open shots, but, you know, hopefully they’ll fall, but again, (those) shots help people set up for getting offensive rebounds. That’s the way I look at it. I don’t really focus on if I make it or miss it. I just keep the same mechanics every time,” Booker said.

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[ 02-19-2015, 09:52 AM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 02-19-2015, 11:47 AM:

I personally think Booker is our best player right now. He plays hard all the time and is a natural shooter. He has come up big in quite a few games this season and seems to have all the tools to be a really good player.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 02-19-2015, 11:58 AM:

I think the argument can be raised that Towns is our best player. I realize he disappeared the other night against UT. Foul trouble has a tendency to do that to a player!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 02-19-2015, 12:42 PM:

There can be several of our players that can be said to be our best player and probably is in the eye of the beholder.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 02-19-2015, 12:45 PM:

It also could be broken down into catagories like best scorer, best defensive player, best assist man and on and on.