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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-26-2015, 07:21 PM:

If he starts attacking with success they will have to back off and when they do he will chalk up even more 3's. He could be a scoring machine if he learns how to score off the dribble.

For three straight weeks, Kentucky guard Devin Booker has been named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week after his 18-point effort on 6-for-9 shooting at South Carolina on Saturday. It was the seventh time this season he’s led UK in scoring.

Even more impressive is that in four true road games, Booker leads No. 1 UK with 14.5 poitns per game and is shooting 56.3 percent from the field. From 3-point range, he’s 10 of 19 in UK’s four true road games.

Still, Kentucky coach John Calipari wants more from Booker, who is shooting 50 percent (36 of 72) from 3-point range overall this season and 83 percent at the foul line.

“Again, I want to see him attack the basket better. Right now when he attacks the basket, he doesn’t avoid people. He’s still flailing a little bit,” said Calipari Monday on the SEC coaches teleconference. “I don’t want him to just be a catch-and-shoot player. I want him to be an offensive threat.”

How do we make him aggressive?’ If you saw Aaron (Harrison) last game, we’re on Aaron for the same thing. ‘Don’t settle man. Take that thing to the rim. I’m not telling you not to shoot 3’s. Attack that basket, get to that foul line, put them in jeopardy.’ We’re doing different things to try to get him to that best version of himself.”

Kentucky plays at Missouri Thursday. Booker’s father was an all-conference player there and current Missouri head coach Kim Anderson was an assistant at Missouri then. This is his first year back as Missouri’s head coach.

“Booker is playing way too good. He is playing too well,” Anderson joked Monday. “I don’t know Devin. I know we recruited him here last year. He is an outstanding player and has really been a key for them. Think about it. Shooting 50 percent from 3. That is pretty salty.

“The only thing I hope is that Melvin is here Thursday so I get the opportunity to say hello.”

The Kentucky freshman admitted after Saturday’s win at South Carolina that playing at Missouri would be special for him.

“I think (my dad) will be there, most definitely. It’s just, it’s kinda like the one at Rupp (Arena). I’m kinda close to the coaching staff and they recruited me since seventh-eighth grade and I still have love for Missouri because my dad went there and I’ve been up there plenty of times, so really it’s just another game, but obviously it’s kind of a rivalry for me,” Booker said.

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Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-26-2015, 08:16 PM:

Booker is a great free throw shooter and by driving he should get more trips to the line.

[ 01-27-2015, 10:49 PM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 01-27-2015, 06:31 AM:

The young man has a good head on his shoulders. He's imporved his defense, according to Coach C. If coach wants him to drive to the basket , he'll learn to start driving to the basket!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-27-2015, 10:16 AM:

Booker's stats are off the charts for a freshman that plays 20 minutes a game. He is our 2nd leading scorer, is shooting 51% from the field, 50% from the 3 point line, and 83.% from the free throw line. He has a good chance to be Kentucky's most accurate 3 point shooter.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-27-2015, 10:20 AM:

Booker gives this team so much as without his outside shooting as teams could drop back and make it real tough on our bigs on the inside. If he puts on some muscle and learns to drive to the basket he is going to make one heck of a NBA player as shooter like him are far and few between.

Posted by ALA_KAT2 (Member # 1559) on 01-27-2015, 06:23 PM:

Booker drives just fine and is one of our better finishers at the rim. Why Cal wants to mess with him is beyond me. As long as he can fill it up from 3 and hit pull-up jumpers he will be fine.

Posted by SCWC (Member # 2464) on 01-27-2015, 06:54 PM:

I really like Booker's game, I don't know what Cal is talking about to be quite frank. Booker is a great spot up shooter but he has also shown that he can finish at the rim. I am assuming Cal is wanting him to take his man off the dribble to the basket, something he has not done a lot of.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 01-27-2015, 09:11 PM:

That would be my guess too, scwc

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 01-27-2015, 11:00 PM:

Cal is just trying to make him better and the more he drives the harder he is to guard. It also opens up his 3 point game, imo. There are a couple of things that I personally don't like that Cal does but trying to make Booker better off the dribble isn't one of them. We all have different opinions and sure respect ALA_ and Ray's but being Cat fans we have the right to disagree, at least on occasions. [Wink]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 01-28-2015, 06:34 AM:

The more skills a player can home, the beteer value he makes of himself. On this level and the next!