Breaking down necessary player roles for Kentucky down the stretch

You could credit Kentucky basketball‘s pre-Kansas turnaround to a number of things. Shots were finally starting to fall, players were locking in defensively, the rotation was being tightened and lineups shifted toward the prioritization of shooting and scoring. Maybe above all else, the mood had shifted for the better, with the team that once seemed as disconnected as any was finally starting to come together as a cohesive unit.

The combination of those factors paved the path for the Wildcats’ four-game winning streak, with the group playing its best basketball of the season. For the first time this year, there appeared to be a buy-in from the players that simply wasn’t there early on — a team-focused approach rather than individual success. There was a real internal belief that this team could be the one many predicted to contend for a national title leading up to the season, with real tangible progress in the form of a four-game winning streak, just the second such streak of the season (and against real competition this time around).

In the midst of that productive stretch, John Calipari was outspoken about some of these changes and the specific ways this team was growing. A common theme? Player identity with a deeper focus on roles in hopes of bringing the best out of each individual talent.

“The process begins with individual players trying to develop, and not only develop themselves, but trying to establish themselves and who they are. And that supersedes everything for a while,” Calipari said last week. “… They now trust each other, they’re being all-stars in their roles — and all the roles have changed. … If we’re going to be any good, the team has to be empowered.”

Sometimes that’s as simple as a position change or how a player is being used, the number of minutes they’re receiving each game. Or it can account for roles away from the floor. Midway through the season, this locker room was in desperate need of a team leader, someone willing to step up and promote change and accountability. How can this team move past the early-season issues and come together down the stretch, getting things right heading into postseason play? Someone had to step up.

Some of the role developments are obvious, others are more subtle and ongoing — all crucial. And unfortunately, setbacks remain possible, as made clear in Kentucky’s home loss to No. 9 Kansas.

As the Wildcats approach their road matchup at Ole Miss, KSR took a stab at breaking down the individual roles each player should embrace to close out the season.

Cason Wallace — Take the keys

John Calipari has offered up the starting point guard position at the University of Kentucky, a dream opportunity for any basketball player growing up. Cason Wallace is the intended recipient, with his college coach dangling the keys out in front of him simply waiting for him to snatch them, jump in the care and drive this team to the finish line. Five straight games the star freshman has started at the one, four straight wins, followed by a strong all-around effort in the unfortunate loss in game five. His play hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been stable enough to continue moving forward in the role. He needs to push the ball up the floor — a recent gripe of Calipari’s — and keep the ball moving while also getting back to knocking down open shots (he’s made just nine of his last 33 3-point attempts, good for 27.3%).

The team is his if he wants it. Calipari is putting his trust in his five-star rookie to take advantage.

Oscar Tshiebwe — Work to reestablish dominance

Calipari has made it known that Tshiebwe hasn’t been in the gym as often as he was last season when he emerged as the most dominant force in college basketball. Blame it on NIL obligations or injury, whatever, the time clock hasn’t been punched as often and his impact has taken a hit because of it — up until recently, anyway.

The Kentucky head coach has changed his tune as of late, saying Tshiebwe is back to living in the gym and putting in the work necessary to take games over the way he did before. His recent 37-point, 24-rebound effort vs. Georgia is a clear example of that. He doesn’t have to put up video game numbers every night, but he can’t be played off the floor due to defensive lapses and missed bunnies. The player he’s been as of late is what this team needs, and a big part of that has been the extra work he’s putting in.

A breakthrough in pick-and-roll defense would certainly be nice, too.

CJ Fredrick — Make shots and be a vocal leader

Making shots is the obvious role for Fredrick, what he was brought in to do from the start as a transfer from Iowa. He’s working his way back from a finger dislocation on his shooting hand, still dealing with a splint that is impacting his touch, with his inefficient numbers backing that up. A career 47% 3-point shooter, Fredrick has made just 10 of his last 38 attempts, good for just 26.3% in his last six games. Maybe the most frustrating part of the 6-foot-3 guard’s slump is that the majority of his misses are coming on open looks, shots that earned him the reputation of being one of the best 3-point snipers in all of college basketball at his previous stop.

He’s got to get back to doing what he does best.

Another recent development is that Fredrick has emerged as a vocal leader on a team that was desperately in need of one for much of the year. He’s been visibly outspoken on the floor and in huddles, being a veteran presence for younger teammates to lean on. Build on that and hit some shots.

Antonio Reeves — Take advantage of the green light

So much was said about Reeves following his transfer from Illinois State to Kentucky. Would he be able to score the way he was able to at his previous stop where length, athleticism and size were a significant step down from the SEC? He’s had early spurts of greatness, but typically against lesser competition. Like Fredrick, his struggles came against better competition, with efficiency lacking.

He’s found his groove a bit in recent weeks, shooting with confidence and embracing the green light Calipari has given him — his head coach gave him credit for taking the game over late vs. Texas A&M. The staff is clearly OK with him taking double-digit shot attempts.

Reeves must return the favor with efficient scoring nights — he’s hit the double figure mark in seven straight games, but shot above 40% from the field in just four of those. The preference is to see his 3-point shot fall (14-42, 33.3% in those seven games), but even knocking down mid-range jumpers, floaters and finishing around the basket works, too. The 6-foot-5 guard is wired to score, and with his role expanding, the team needs him to do just that.

Jacob Toppin — Be comfortable with ‘good’

Confidence was the biggest issue for Toppin to open this season, one that unfortunately forced him off the floor during Kentucky’s road loss at Missouri. Defensive lapses, missed shots and turnovers unfortunately made the risk far exceed the reward during his time on the floor. Something clearly wasn’t right, as his body language was poor and he couldn’t stay locked in.

He’s found a new level of confidence in recent weeks, and it’s because he took the weight off of his own shoulders. Rather than working to prove himself as a first-round pick in hopes of following in his brother’s footsteps, he’s realized he doesn’t have to be a superstar to help this team and look good in the process. Being a 20-point-per-game scorer isn’t the only path to the league — the NBA likes versatile two-way forwards capable of knocking down shots and playing above the rim, too. 10-10-5 guys are valuable.

We’re slowly seeing him embrace that role, and the production is coming as a result. He needs to remain locked in on both ends — he struggled defensively vs. Kansas, albeit against a NPOY contender — but progress is being made. Good is what this team needs, not necessarily great.

Sahvir Wheeler — Embrace the spark plug role

There isn’t a more polarizing player on the roster than Sahvir Wheeler. At his best, he’s an electrifying point guard capable of taking a game over with his playmaking abilities and speed to push the tempo. At his worst, he’s a turnover-prone, 5-foot-9 non-shooter who kills spacing.

That dilemma is what forced John Calipari’s hand following his absence at Tennessee, a game Cason Wallace led the Wildcats to victory as PG1.

Wheeler has since played sparingly as a complementary role piece rather than a high-minute, high-usage starter. And we saw what value he can bring in that role against Vanderbilt, coming off the bench and being a spark plug capable of getting you quick assists and the occasional bucket around the basket. That’s when he’s a true change-of-pace player, rather than setting the pace, stuck in the same gear from start to finish.

Again, it’s not easy to hand over the keys at the lead guard position, especially to a five-star freshman who isn’t even a true PG at the end of the day. It’s an ego hit. You could see his frustrations vs. Georgia, playing just one minute in the second half against his former team, on his birthday. It doesn’t help, either, that he didn’t get a ton of minutes playing with shooters in the lineup for much of the season.

The proof is in the pudding, though. No more than 23 minutes in any of Kentucky’s last four games, 15 in the most recent loss vs. Kansas. Wallace has been handed the keys — a role he has thrived in — and now it’s on Wheeler to make the most of his time on the floor as a spark off the bench. And that’s a good thing. When used the right way, it’s a way both Wallace and Wheeler can produce at a high level.

Chris Livingston — Positionless basketball is the path to production

Hellbent on putting Livingston at the three for much of the season, Calipari has finally backed off that a bit, giving him minutes at the four in small-ball situations. It’s the role fans have been begging for, one that maximizes mismatches thanks to his size, strength, athleticism and skill. That also allows him to take the occasional 3-pointer and work out of the high post when the opportunities present themselves — again, since when is a modern-day four a dinosaur position that forces you to play with your back to the basket? The league looks for players like Livingston at the four and the pushback — no matter who is at fault here — made zero sense.

That tune has been shifted and the minutes are expanding for the 6-foot-7 forward at the position. Then came the second-half issue vs. Kansas, where Calipari said he regretted playing him just one minute — though it was because Bill Self didn’t respect him as a shooter and decided to double Tshiebwe because of it.

(Another reason he’s better suited as a four.)

There is a clear opportunity for him there alongside Wallace, Reeves, Fredrick and Tshiebwe, a complementary piece to Toppin when he needs a breather. And then slide him back over to the three on occasion when matchups deem that beneficial. Minutes are there for the taking, and it’d undoubtedly help the team better than Livingston was at his previous role.

Lance Ware — Continue the fight

The 6-foot-9 junior has embraced his role as the eighth man, an enforcer willing to fight on defense and on the glass while providing the occasional bucket during his time on the floor. Minutes are hard to come by there, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t bring a ton of value.

“Lance is an unbelievable leader,” Calipari said of Ware following the team’s win over Texas A&M last week. “Maybe not playing a whole lot, but still leads. Still a huge piece of what we’ve got going on.”

That’s what this team needs him to be the rest of the way.

Daimion Collins/Adou Thiero/Ugonna Onyenso — Stay ready

The rotation is tightening up, and therefore, Kentucky’s bench pieces are simply not going to get much run to close out the season. They have crucial roles on this team specifically as foundational pieces in the future, but in terms of current production, it’s just not realistic to ask any of these three to step in and explode at any given moment.

What can be asked of them, though, is to stay ready should their number be called on any given night, Adou Thiero at Tennessee being the perfect example. They don’t have to be high-level scorers or
a savior off the bench, but they have to be able to contribute should injury or foul trouble arise, something that unfortunately became an issue right around this time last season.

Until then, motivate and support the core rotation pieces from the bench — a crucial role for this team as it inches closer toward the finish line.