Willie Cauley-Stein

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Kentucky 79, Providence 65

Sunday, December 1, 2013 | Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)

Willie Cauley-Stein — C, 7-0, 245
Sophomore, 20 years old

Season: 8.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 3.1 BPG

Game (36 min): 15 points, 8 rebounds, 9 blocks

Notes: Cauley-Stein had somewhat of a “breakout” game, showcasing his full arsenal of skills vs. Providence. He posted 9 blocks against a sizable Providence frontline. Cauley-Stein smartly blocked shots in the direction of his teammates, which ignited fast-break opportunities.

Offensively, Cauley-Stein showcased a developing touch inside the foul line, and gave a second effort on the offensive glass. He ran the floor well, and was the recipient of two alley-oops (by my count). The alley-oops were not “easy,” either. Cauley-Stein jumped high to catch—and then finish—the play. If he continues to assert himself defensively, while making incremental strides scoring in the paint, Cauley-Stein could elevate his game to “a new level.”

Going forward, I still want to see him against NBA strength and physicality. I’m not sure how he would fair against stronger players like, say, Patric Young.

North Carolina 82, Kentucky 77

Saturday, December 14, 2013 | Dean Smith Center (Chapel Hill, NC)

Willie Cauley-Stein — Sophomore, 20 years old
C, 7-0, 245

Season (26.5 mpg): 8.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 4.4 BPG

Game (29 min): 5 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks
2-3 FG, 1-2 FT

Outlook: Cauley-Stein continues to showcase his strengths—and limitations—with consistency. Right now, he’s a gangly 7-footer who plays above the rim and blocks shots.

Similar to his effort vs. Providence, Cauley-Stein protected the rim with great awareness, footwork and timing. He recorded 5 blocks, and his current 14.7% block percentage ranks 9th in the country. He also grabbed 12 rebounds (5 offensive, 7 defensive), and did so with relative ease against an undersized UNC frontline.

He runs the floor in transition as well as any big man in the country, although he must continue to hone his hand-eye coordination to finish on the move. In the half court, though, Cauley-Stein is a major “work in progress.” Only 19% of his shot attempts this season are post ups; he’s not much more than an alley-oop/put-back threat at this point. He attempted just three shots vs. North Carolina, two of which were at point-blank range.

In short, he doesn’t have much of an offensive “skill set.” While it’s true he’s been playing basketball for only a few years, if you’re going to invest a high draft pick in Cauley-Stein, you have to believe he has upside offensively. Before I make any definitive statements, I still want to see Cauley-Stein compete against elite college frontcourts.

If Cauley-Stein continues to dominate defensively and on the glass, while incrementally improving his back to the basket game, there will be tangible evidence of offensive upside.

Video: Cauley-Stein vs. UNC