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Jarrod Polson, right, shown driving against Ryan Harrow in Kentucky's Blue-White game last month, could fill in for Harrow at point guard in the Wildcats' season opener tonight against Maryland. (Clay Jackson / November 9, 2012) |
LEXINGTON — Guards Ryan Harrow and Julius Mays likely will not be 100 percent when Kentucky opens the season Friday night against Maryland.
Before the Wildcats left Thursday for New York, Calipari said that Harrow, the starting point guard, missed Wednesday’s practice “with some sort of flu” and that Mays “took the day off to make sure his leg” was OK after straining his knee Monday in the Wildcats’ exhibition win over Transylvania.
“There was nothing structurally or anything wrong, but he didn’t practice,” Calipari said of Mays.
If Harrow and Mays can’t play or are limited, Calipari said either freshman Archie Goodwin or junior Jarrod Polson would run the point.
“It’s not like we don’t have enough at point, but you are limited in players. It is starting to get down to numbers, and I don’t think in a game like that with excitement and anxiety you can play 40 minutes. It’s just the numbers game,” Calipari said. “Jarrod looked pretty good (in practice), and I think Jarrod will be fine if we had to play him. The other guys worked pretty hard. We are what we are right now.”
Calipari said the staff would be “comfortable” if Polson had to play “significant minutes” against Maryland.
“He is not going to be like the guy trying to get 30 points, but he has some size with him, he has some toughness with him, he will make open shots,” Calipari said. “I think he is dying for an opportunity, which is what you want from a player.”
Calipari has not been pleased with Harrow’s overall play and lack of aggressiveness at times during preseason practices and games. However, Maryland coach Mark Turgeon sees no problems with Harrow’s play.
“Knowing John, I would expect him to be really hard on him. I am sure he was disappointed last year in Marquis Teague, and he was a first-rounder (in the NBA draft),” Turgeon said. “I think Ryan is really good. He is an unbelievable scorer. He makes it look easy. He creates a lot of opportunities for players around him. John might think he shoots too much or is too loose with the ball, but he looks pretty darn good to me.”
Before the Wildcats left Thursday for New York, Calipari said that Harrow, the starting point guard, missed Wednesday’s practice “with some sort of flu” and that Mays “took the day off to make sure his leg” was OK after straining his knee Monday in the Wildcats’ exhibition win over Transylvania.
“There was nothing structurally or anything wrong, but he didn’t practice,” Calipari said of Mays.
If Harrow and Mays can’t play or are limited, Calipari said either freshman Archie Goodwin or junior Jarrod Polson would run the point.
“It’s not like we don’t have enough at point, but you are limited in players. It is starting to get down to numbers, and I don’t think in a game like that with excitement and anxiety you can play 40 minutes. It’s just the numbers game,” Calipari said. “Jarrod looked pretty good (in practice), and I think Jarrod will be fine if we had to play him. The other guys worked pretty hard. We are what we are right now.”
Calipari said the staff would be “comfortable” if Polson had to play “significant minutes” against Maryland.
“He is not going to be like the guy trying to get 30 points, but he has some size with him, he has some toughness with him, he will make open shots,” Calipari said. “I think he is dying for an opportunity, which is what you want from a player.”
Calipari has not been pleased with Harrow’s overall play and lack of aggressiveness at times during preseason practices and games. However, Maryland coach Mark Turgeon sees no problems with Harrow’s play.
“Knowing John, I would expect him to be really hard on him. I am sure he was disappointed last year in Marquis Teague, and he was a first-rounder (in the NBA draft),” Turgeon said. “I think Ryan is really good. He is an unbelievable scorer. He makes it look easy. He creates a lot of opportunities for players around him. John might think he shoots too much or is too loose with the ball, but he looks pretty darn good to me.”
