Kentucky 79, Providence 65
Sunday, December 1, 2013 | 8:30 p.m. EST | Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
Kentucky 7-1, Providence 7-2
Recap: Willie Cauley-Stein posted 15 points, 8 rebounds and a career-high 9 blocks to lead Kentucky tover Providence. The Friars kept it close, trailing 39-35 at halftime, but Kentucky inevitably stretched its lead and secured the victory. Julius Randle continued to dominate, even in the face of double-and triple-teams, scoring 12 points to go along with 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Aaron Harrison started to find his rhythm (15 points), and Kentucky went 6-for-8 from 3-point range, including three 3-pointers from James Young. Providence’s Bryce Cotton scored a game-high 23 points, but overall, Kentucky’s size and firepower proved to be too much.
Game Notes
1. Julius Randle — Freshman, 19 years old (at time of Draft)
F, 6-9, 245
Season (29.6 mpg): 19 PPG, 13.1 RPG, 1.9 APG
Game (34 min): 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
4-7 free throws
Notes: Despite facing constant double-and triple-teams, Randle scored 12 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 34 minutes. Randle was clearly the most NBA-ready player on the court, finishing through contact on nearly every field goal. Randle utilized his go-to move in the post: “one dribble, drop step, lefty hook shot.” The defense knew it was coming but still was helpless. Overall, a solid performance for Randle, who is a candidate to be the No.1 overall pick.
2. James Young — Freshman, 18 years old
G/F, 6-6, 205
Season: 12.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.3 APG
Game (33 min): 18 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Notes: Young was very impressive tonight. NBA size and length, terrific jump shot, tenacious defender and quick in transition. Plus, he’s only 18 years old.
Young was active tonight, and moved the ball unselfishly. He swung the ball in the beginning of possessions, and then knocked down shots when the ball reversed back to him late in the shot clock. He also finalized several plays in the open court, showcasing above-the-rim athleticism. Young’s combination of shooting, athleticism and basketball IQ give him one of the highest upsides of any player in college basketball. He impressed me across the board, and along with Julius Randle, looked like the best NBA prospect on the floor tonight.
3. Aaron Harrison — Freshman, 19 years old
G, 6-5, 210
Season (28.3 mpg): 13.6 PPG, 3 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1 SPG
Game (38 min): 15 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds
7-9 FG
I’ve observed Aaron and Andrew Harrison throughout their high school careers, but this was my first watching them on the college level.
Notes: Aaron continues to showcase that he’s not “just a shooter.” I’ve always believed Aaron can both initiate and facilitate offense. He played selfless, team-first basketball vs. Providence.
Aaron scored 15 points on an efficient 7-9 shooting, and also recorded 4 assists. On one particular play, James Young received an outlet pass, lofted the ball 40 feet to Aaron who—instead of going up for a contested layup—made a smart touch-pass to Cauley-Stein for an easy dunk. This showed good awareness and was a selfless play. The more Aaron can find his shot while still playing within the offense, the greater his overall impact. Due to his 6-5 frame, Aaron is very difficult to stop once he has momentum, and should become a better finisher as his body continues to develop.
On defense, Aaron used his length and instincts to disrupt passing lanes and deflect entry passes. Overall, Aaron Harrison did not dominate, but he nonetheless made a significant impact. He’s still not fully comfortable in Kentucky’s offense, but he’s a reliable scorer with an increasingly patient approach.
*My one criticism of Aaron tonight (along with his twin brother Andrew) was his lack of movement without the ball. It seems like the Harrison brothers often ball-watch when they don’t have the ball, which contributes to the offense becoming more stagnant. I’m sure it’s easy to zone out and watch Julius Randle go to work, but still, you can’t just stand on the 3-point line waiting for the ball.
4. Willie Cauley-Stein — Sophomore, 20 years old
C, 7-0, 245
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.
5. Andrew Harrison — Freshman, 19 years old
PG, 6-5, 210
Season (28.3 mpg): 10.7 PPG, 3.7 APG, 2 RPG
Game (22 min): 8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
0-2 FG, 8-8 FT
Notes: Standing at 6-5, Andrew Harrison has great size for an NBA point guard. His offensive game is inside-out; attacks the rim first, and shoots from outside second.
Andrew is a play-starting guard who needs to establish a rhythm to be effective. However, the problem is that Kentucky has so many capable ball handlers (Harrisons, Young, Randle, etc), that it makes it difficult for Andrew to settle in as Kentucky’s floor general, which sometimes hinders his flow. This was evident tonight, as Andrew moseyed around the perimeter (ball watching) more than you’d like. He still played well, powerfully driving to accumulate free throws (8-8 FT), but from a scouting perspective I didn’t leave particularly impressed. His game is predicated on having the ball in his hands, not playing off the ball like he did vs. Providence.
6. Alex Poythress — Sophomore, 20 years old
F, 6-8, 240
Season (19 minutes): 5.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG
Game (15 min): 5 points, 2 blocks
Notes: It’s sometimes difficult for me to evaluate Kentucky’s players during games due to the fact there’s only one basketball being shared between at least five future NBA players. I am not sure how to evaluate Alex Poythress at this point, but this is what I’ve gleaned from my observations thus far.
On one hand, I like his physical frame and defensive versatility. Terrific athlete who can “glide” through the air and finish through contact. Poythress has the length to defend multiple positions, and takes pride in playing defense. At only 20 years old, he has a chance to develop into a solid defender in the NBA.
On the other, though, there are times in each game where Poythress seems either unaware, not confident in his abilities, or simply lost. He didn’t assert himself at any point vs. Providence.
On one play in the second half, Poythress was wide open on a fast break, but inexplicably decided to attempt a lob-pass to a trailing teammate on the weak side, rather than going up for an easy basket. Poythress was then harping on this mistake, which seemed to impact his focus on consequent possessions.
It was only one play, but it caught my eye. In all honesty, though, I need to watch more film on Poythress to fully understand his game.
Other Players
Bryce Cotton— Senior, 21 years old
PG, 6-1, 165
Season (35.9 mpg): 18.5 PPG, 5.3 APG, 3 RPG
Game (40 min): 23 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Notes: Cotton has a “scorers feel.” He single-handedly kept Providence in the game, scoring 23 points (including five 3-pointers). Cotton initiated all of his points, without ball movement or any set plays. Cotton displayed impressive ball skills, and took Kentucky’s young guards to school.
However, I don’t think his scoring prowess will translate to the NBA level. He’s limited athletically, and at 6-2, Cotton is diminutive in size. Great effort by a very good college player.
Tyler Harris— Sophomore, 20 years old
F, 6-9, 215
Season (30.8 mpg): 13.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.3 APG
Game (36 min): 10 points, 3 rebounds
Cell: 631-697-1776
*Harris played his freshman year at North Carolina State in 2011-12, where his most notable moment was successfully defending Thomas Robinson in the NCAA Tournament. Harris then transferred to Providence amid an influx of forwards at NC State, and after sitting out last season, he’s back on the court.
Notes: A versatile lefty who can post up smaller guards and take bigger defenders off the dribble. Offensively, he has a quick first step and a mediocre jump shot. Defensively, Harris can defend multiple positions due to his length and quickness. I’ve known Tyler since his high school days, and like his brother Tobias, he competes hard on every possession.
All that being said, he doesn’t have the perimeter skills (ball handling, jump shot) to be an NBA small forward, and really lacks the strength to be a power forward. Julius Randle and Alex Poythress backed him down with ease throughout the game. In my estimation, Harris is not an NBA prospect right now.
*Ages calculated at time of 2014