4-Point Play: Tony Snell catches a stray from Aaron Bradshaw

Ah, do you smell that, BBN? There’s big-time basketball in the Lexington air, now just one sleep away from Kentucky‘s high-profile matchup vs. Gonzaga to officially close out the Wildcats’ non-conference schedule. The team took care of business in Nashville, beating down on a very bad Vanderbilt team to build back some momentum. And it comes at the perfect time, both the Cats and Zags in need of a resume-boosting victory as the regular season winds down.

Some quick-hitters ahead of the matchup on tonight’s 4-Point Play.

What did Tony Snell ever do to Aaron Bradshaw?

The NBA veteran became a walking meme in February 2017 after failing to record a single stat in the box score despite playing 28 minutes. Zero points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. What’s funny is Snell had scored in double figures three straight games ahead of that matchup, but no one will ever remember it.

Seven years later to the month, his goose egg game continues to be the New Mexico alum’s pro legacy.

Don’t believe me? Ask Aaron Bradshaw, who used Snell as an example for his own impact at Kentucky. In short, he doesn’t care if he fills the box score or leaves it empty on any given night as long as the Cats win.

“It felt good, but I’m not really into the (box score) and all of that, I just want to win,” Bradshaw said. “I’m not going to lie to you, I don’t care if I score zero points with eight fouls. Dennis Rodman-type numbers, Tony Snell, I don’t care. As long as we get the W and I see everybody else smiling, I’m good.”

As Snell figures out how to stop catching strays — those are his stats, he’s got to own them — Bradshaw is figuring out how to find consistency in Lexington.

“Learning positions and bringing that edge every game,” he said of the biggest adjustment from high school to college. “You can tell, if I get mad or angry, then I try to flip that switch instead of bringing it from the jump. I have to adjust to that because that’s what I used to do in high school.”

Jordan Burks finds identity

It’s hard not to focus on Burks’ career night on the offensive end, going for 13 points on a perfect 6-6 shooting while adding five boards in 15 minutes — all season-highs. The 6-8 freshman led OTE in scoring as a senior but had put up 22 total points leading up to the team’s trip to Nashville, five fewer than his 27.1 PPG average suiting up for Hillcrest Prep.

Of course there is going to be some excitement when that part of his game finally gets rolling as a Wildcat.

“Mr. Perfect? Man. It was just like when Z came back, I was just really ecstatic,” Bradshaw said. “I was smiling for a good hour after the game because that’s one of my dawgs. He showed what he can do. And he can do way more than what he showed.”

What does that look like exactly?

“Versatility, he can do it all,” Bradshaw added. “He can defend, shoot, rebound, aggressive. He does everything we need.”

This team’s got plenty of offense, though. That’s not really what Kentucky needs from Burks at this point. Defense has been the Cats’ kryptonite, turning blowout wins into high-scoring heartbreaks far too often. That’s the path to playing time for the Decatur, AL native.

“Defensively. Coach Chin really put it in my head,” Burks said of his role. “That’s my identity I feel like. The defense and having a high motor and high energy, just trying to get everybody involved. That’s what I’m taking passion in for real.

“I’m not gonna lie, it was scoring. I like getting buckets, but now if I can stop you then we can do whatever we want to on you on the offensive end.”

That can be the entire team’s mindset, too.

“We’re the number one scoring team in the country. All 16 players can score,” he added. “If all 16 can play defense, who can beat us?”

“Oh yeah, he’s back.”

Justin Edwards’ breakthrough was a different kind of surprise, almost more of a relief than anything. Everybody knew he had it in him, it was just on the 6-8 freshman to jumpstart himself.

And then he went for a career-high 17 points at Vanderbilt, his aha moment coming on a breakaway windmill slam after forcing a turnover.

“I seen him stop. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s back.’ After he did that I was like, ‘Yeah, he’s back,'” Burks said of his teammate. “He didn’t even celebrate. He’s mentally back. When he’s in that mode like that, nobody can stop him. I’ve been saying that. Nobody can stop him. Left-hand death, that’s what Cal has been saying. ‘Left-hand death.’ Every time he goes to the left, it’s death. He’s gonna score.”

As Edwards struggled to overcome that mental barrier holding him back, his coaches and teammates never gave up. And that patience finally paid off this week.

Now it’s time to start stacking those performances.

What is this team at full strength?

Kentucky looked good in Nashville. Really good. It was the first feel-good win for the Cats in a minute, necessary after a tough two-game home skid.

What worked for them against the Commodores?

“Aggressive, we were really aggressive,” Bradshaw said. “We had a lot of fun out there and did what everybody thought we couldn’t do. We feel good, day by day. Gotta stack days, good days and bad days, so you can prepare for the worst days. We’re preparing really good, doing everything we’ve got to do.”

That was without DJ Wagner and Tre Mitchell in the lineup, two starters and among the most valuable pieces on the roster. You’ve got to get them both back sooner rather than later. And when that happens, it’ll be the first time we will have seen this team at full strength, the complete 11-man rotation.

What does that team look like when the dust settles?

“Really good. Like really, really good, I feel like,” Bradshaw said. “Really good. One of those old Coach Cal teams, like 2012, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16. Those guys. We could be really good.”

And I really can’t wait.