Jordan Burks 'changed the game' vs. No. 1 Kansas

Kentucky freshman forward Jordan Burks closed out the Wildcats’ loss to No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic with zero points on 0-2 shooting in 10 minutes of game action. Both of his misses were from three — one being an airball.

Yet in a five-point loss against the top-ranked team in college basketball, he finished with a team-high +19 in the plus/minus. How? Thrown into the fire, the 6-8 role piece came in and pulled down four rebounds while dishing out two assists with zero turnovers. He fought and defended, embraced the moment.

“Jordan Burks was really good,” John Calipari said following the 89-84 loss. “Whatever minutes he had, he was a +19. And it was all based on energy and effort, all of those kinds of things.”

Burks entered the game with the Wildcats down 11-3 at the 15:35 mark in the first half. Kentucky had taken the first punch and needed a spark to shift the momentum, likely to avoid a beatdown on the national stage. That’s where things were trending early.

And then that early deficit was erased, Kentucky tying it up at 11-11 with Burks still on the floor. Subbed out, Kansas retook a four-point lead with 7:12 to go in the first half. He then returned and found Rob Dillingham for back-to-back 3-pointers — the start of his four-make explosion. Assists on both, Wildcats back on top.

That was the story of Burks’ time on the floor. Nothing flashy, but productive and impactful. Positive.

“Jordan was a +19. You look at Jordan and say, ‘Why was that?’ He just played with unbelievable effort, he changed the game,” Calipari added. “He and this guy here, Reed (Sheppard). They walked in and the game changed. We’ve got a good group.”

Maybe the most impressive part of it all? Burks is playing out of position in a role he did not sign up for when he joined the program this offseason. He led Overtime Elite in scoring at 27.1 points per game as a senior while adding 7.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals. A versatile wing in high school — he’s listed as a guard at Kentucky — Burks has had to become a true big for the Wildcats with Aaron Bradshaw, Ugonna Onyenso and Zvonimir Ivisic out.

That’s how the former three-star recruit has earned early playing time in Lexington. And he’s making the most of that opportunity.

“One guy’s misery is another guy’s opportunity. Jordan did well,” Calipari said. “… They’re taking advantage. When these guys come back, we’ll figure it out.”

Tre Mitchell, Burks’ lone frontcourtmate at the moment, has taken the freshman under his wing to help with the adjustment. He knows it’s not easy to do what he’s doing right now, but appreciates his ability to adapt and embrace teaching.

“He’s like a sponge. He’s really like a sponge,” Mitchell said earlier this month. “He takes all the information in and he applies it immediately.”

As inconvenient as the role change may be for a guy who has never played the position, it’s just necessary right now. He’s all Kentucky has at the moment. His time will come in his natural role, but until then, it just kind of is what it is.

Burks continues to take that challenge in stride.

“Jordan Burks is a guy that — I talk to him all day long. Practice, game. I’m in constant interaction with him because he’s new to it. They’re all new to it, but Jordan is out of position,” Mitchell added. “You can tell sometimes he gets a little frustrated with what’s going on and that’s when I have to step in and be like ‘We just need you here right now.’ Flat out. That’s what we need.

“‘This is how you read this, this is how you play this. Do that and everything is gonna come back full circle as soon as we get — hopefully — one of our seven-footers back and we’re ready to go. You’re gonna bump up to the three, the four, and you’re gonna rock and be in a more comfortable position.’”

For now, Burks is doing his job — and doing it well.