KU preparing for Kentucky team that could be missing some big men at Champions Classic
A shorthanded No. 17-ranked Kentucky basketball team missing 7-footers Aaron Bradshaw, Zvonimir Ivisic and Ugonna Onyenso, as well as 6-8 guard Adou Thiero, barely outrebounded Texas A&M Commerce en route to an 81-61 victory Friday at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
Asked if the small margin on the glass (36 rebounds to 33 for the visitors) was a concern heading into Tuesday’s Champions Classic Contest against Kansas with only Thiero likely to return after sustaining a recent concussion, UK coach John Calipari told the Lexington Herald-Leader: “Yeah we’ve got a lot of concerns coming up Tuesday night, not just that.”
Tipoff between the No. 1-ranked Jayhawks (2-0) and Wildcats (2-0) will take place at approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Chicago’s United Center.
Bradshaw and Onyenso have not yet returned from foot injuries, while Ivisic, a native of Croatia, is awaiting clearance to play from the NCAA.
Kentucky’s frontcourt is currently led by former West Virginia forward Tre Mitchell, a 6-9 senior, and 6-8 freshman Jordan Burks. Kentucky is starting three freshmen in 6-8 Justin Edwards, 6-4 D.J. Wagner and 6-3 Robert Dillingham.
“I can only talk so much, and then if you’re not coming up with balls (off the glass), if you’re not getting in there — then you can’t be in the game,” said Calipari, who used just seven players in the 20-point win over A&M Commerce.
KU coach Bill Self said Monday the Jayhawks “are preparing for the personnel they played with the first two games. If Bradshaw or one of the (other) big guys come back, personnel would be hard to prepare for, matchups wouldn’t be as hard because at least it’d be be big on big.”
KU has 7-footer Hunter Dickinson, 6-7 KJ Adams and 6-10 Parker Braun to help combat UK on the boards.
“When they get their bigs back this is going to be a hard hard team to deal with,” Self said. “They are hard to deal with now because of the matchups. If you can’t take advantage of them playing small and they can take advantage of you playing small, that will probably have a lot to do with how the game goes tomorrow.”
Calipari, whose Wildcats teams are 5-5 against Bill Self-coached KU squads, said he realizes the Jayhawks “are good. Are they still No. 1 in the country? Then we are playing a No. 1 team in the country. We could be shorthanded. Should we play the game anyway? Yeah, let’s play it. I mean, if you are shorthanded, you are shorthanded. Like, do you think anybody’s feeling sorry for us? Oh, no. They are happy. They hope two more guys get hurt.”
On Friday, senior guard Antonio Reeves led the way for Kentucky with 21 points. Mitchell had 18 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Edwards had 16 points and seven rebounds. Dillingham had 12 points, five rebounds and four assists while Wagner had 11 points.
“That is right up there with some of Kentucky’s best recruiting classes,” Self said of the young group led by Wagner, Dillingham, Edwards and Bradshaw. The class also includes Burks and Reed Sheppard.
“I am definitely looking forward to that game, just to see where we’re at,” said Reeves. “I feel like we’re going to do really big things and these freshmen are ready. I’m very excited to play (in his hometown of Chicago). I can’t wait. I’ve got a lot of people coming. It’s going to be a big game so we have to show what we can do.”
Reeves, a 6-6 graduate of Chicago’s Simeon High, said former WVU forward Mitchell has been a great addition.
“He’s a big that can really do it all: dribble, pass, shoot, set good screens, and things like that,” Reeves said. “He’s out there to get the offense going and he’s really doing a good job. He’s definitely (good to have in the post), just because if they try to double team him, someone is going to be open. I feel like we’re going to need that stuff moving forward.”
Of playing Kentucky, shorthanded or not, KU coach Self said: “It’ll be a totally different animal than what we’ve experienced so far. They can score, really score. They are good forcing help in getting downhill. They are athletic, fast, hard to keep in front of you, good in transition.”
Kentucky has beaten Texas A&M Commerce and New Mexico State (86-46) in Lexington. KU has wins over North Carolina Central (99-56) and Manhattan College (99-61) in Lawrence.
“We’ll be very excited. I know both programs will and both sets of players. It should be fun,” Self said. “It will be a very nervous time for our young guys (including Elmarko Jackson, Johnny Furphy, Jamari McDowell). They are learning how to swim by jumping in the deep end. That’s fine. I was nervous how they would react to North Carolina Central and Manhattan. Naturally I’ll be anxious to see how they react in this environment.
“I don’t know anybody ever thinks they are ready,” Self added of playing a marquee game early in the season.
Of the matchup, KU senior guard Kevin McCullar said after Friday’s win over Manhattan: “It’s a big game, the Champions Classic, two bluebloods going at it. I’m looking forward to it.”
Senior point guard Dajuan Harris noted Monday: “It’s going to be fun playing against another blueblood. It’s always war (when it is) Kansas versus Kentucky. I’m just ready to play to see how we react to the fans and crowd. We want to go in and play hard.”
“I think it will be fun,” junior forward Adams said. “We’ve not played an athletic team like this this season. It’s going to be fun playing against high level athletes and another blueblood.”
This story was originally published November 13, 2023 at 12:36 PM with the headline "KU preparing for Kentucky team that could be missing some big men at Champions Classic."
