Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie and his players expressed a key to Saturday’s game against South Carolina: contain Gamecock guard Devan Downey.
Downey excels in dribbling into the heart of an opposing defense. He’s scored 20 or more points in four straight games and ranks No. 3 among Southeastern Conference players in assists.
“We’re going to have to have very strong help,” UK guard Ramel Bradley said of defending Downey. “We have to stop him from dribble-penetrating, because he’s very good.”
Downey also leads the SEC in steals (3.5 per game).
Stopping opponents from dribbling to the basket area has not been a Kentucky strength this season.
“We’ve been inconsistent at it,” Gillispie said. “He’s outstanding at it.”
[Hear Gillispie’s Friday press conference.]
South Carolina starts four players 6-foot-7 or shorter. So UK faces an unorthodox opponent.
“I don’t think you can play conventionally and match up with them,” Gillispie said. “If you play conventionally all the time, you’ll be hoping they miss.”
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
0 Responses to “Defending Downey a key for UK”