Editor’s Note: Winchester Sun sports editor Keith Taylor offers this perspective on freshman Eric Bledsoe’s play in Wednesday’s Blue-White Game.

By KEITH TAYLOR
John Wall stole the show. Eric Bledsoe went with the flow.
Then two freshmen guards made an immediate impact in a Blue-White scrimmage held at Rupp Arena Wednesday night. Wall and Bledsoe, both point guards, started for the Blue team, which posted a 106-73 win over the White unit.
Wall and Bledsoe combined for 39 points, but more than putting the ball in the basket, both players were unselfish and distributed the ball to teammates for dazzling dunks and other athletic fireworks. Wall had 11 assists and Bledsoe dished out nine while playing for both teams.
Kentucky coach John Calipari started both players on the same team in order to see how Wall and Bledsoe would respond in an entire contest rather than bits and pieces in practice. Calipari is optimistic he can play both players at the same time, giving the Cats one of the fastest backcourts in the nation.
“Those two on the court together is great,” he said. “When you think about it, when Eric was playing with John, Eric had six assists and no turnovers.”
When Bledsoe switched teams in the second half, Calipari noticed the difference between the two guards and said Bledsoe functioned better playing alongside Wall.
“Eric and John help each other when they are out on the court together and I thought that they played better when they were together than they did when they were separated,” he said.
Bledsoe said he noticed a difference playing against Wall than for his classmate and wants to spend more time with Wall in the lineup. Bledsoe added that he didn’t feel as pressured with Wall in the same backcourt.
“There was a big difference,” he said. “Playing without John, I had to do everything. I had to spread the ball, create defense and pass. When I had John, I could play defense, come up the court, and let John bring it up. If someone is trying to guard John, they have to handle me. If someone is trying to guard me, we have John. I hope we play together a lot, but that’s Coach Cal’s decision.”
Like Wall, Bledsoe is adjusting to Calipari’s system and trying to blend in with his new teammates. Bledsoe said the team is a work in progress and said the team’s top priority is having fun while adjusting to new surroundings on and off the court.
“I think we need a little more work on offense and defense,” he said. “We still have things to learn about. It’s an exhibition game, and we aren’t going to play like it’s a practice. We want to go out there and have fun.”
Bledsoe said the Cats had fun in the first of three exhibition games.
“We had a lot of fun with the crowd and the whole team taking shots,” he said. “Everyone was out there doing what they can do. The crowd was wonderful. They were into it, and when they have momentum, you do too.”

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