Volunteering not to start a ‘big step’ for Cousins, UK
November 21st, 2009 | 
Author: By LARRY VAUGHT
LEXINGTON — Numbers don’t always indicate what a coach likes best in a game.
Sure, Kentucky coach John Calipari was thrilled with freshman John Wall’s double-double of 21 points and 11 assists in UK’s 92-63 win over Rider here Saturday. He liked Patrick Patterson’s 19-point, 18-rebound effort. He was thrilled that backup center Daniel Orton had a career-high 14 points and six rebounds.
He was even happy that freshman DeMarcus Cousins had 18 points, six rebounds and five blocked shots because of a dominating second half. However, he was even happier about what Cousins did at halftime.
He had played just three minutes in the first half because of foul problems and Orton had 10 points and three rebounds by halftime.
“Here is the great thing that happened today. Daniel played so well (in the first half) but I want to make sure that I am bringing DeMarcus along, too. I have a lot of things on my plate that I need to get done,” Calipari said. “I need to bring all these guys along.
“I was going to start DeMarcus in the second half, but I asked (assistant) coach (John) Robic ask him if he wanted to come off the bench or start and he said to let Daniel start because he had been playing so well and he would come off the bench. That is a big step for our program. That means they are starting to care about each other. That means they are starting to be able to see when another man is playing well to leave him in the game and not worry about themselves.”
Patterson was impressed by Cousins’ decision.
“I figured DeMarcus would be starting the second half because he started the first. It shows that were starting to grow up and look after one another when someone steps up and says, ‘No leave him in he’s playing better right now,’” Patterson said.
Orton said Robic, then Patterson and finally Cousins himself told him that he would be starting.
“We have a lot of great guys on this team and this showed how great our personalities are. We all have great people around us and it reflects how much we all love each other and how much love is on this team,” Orton said.
“I realized the situation he was in with the fouls and it was my job to play well until he came back in and I think I did that.”
Posted in UK Basketball
8 Responses to “Volunteering not to start a ‘big step’ for Cousins, UK”
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I don’t even know what to say about this. If this team continues to progress and this type of WE first attitude prevails, I can’t even begin to imagine how great the outcome will be. Cuz is the REAL DEAL. He dives for balls, hustles around and gives maximum effort the whole time he is on the court and now THIS. I’m truly in awe. GO BIG CUZ!!! and GO BIG BLUE!!!
These guys are learning fast. They are learning to trust on defense and offense. They are adjusting to the zones. Coach is adjusting to an inside out dribble drive system. The sky is the limit for this team. I would say if they continue to buy in to what coach is teaching. But it is obvious to me that they have already BOUGHT IN TO WHAT COACH IS DOING. Their collective bb IQ is impressive to watch develope. Not so many highlight film passes today. Less turnovers and more two handed rebounds. Coach is on his game and you can see improvement from game to game.
That said I’m popping the cork on a nice bottle of tequila in preperation for UK’s big road win by 4 over GA. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME!!!!!
My first post should have started like this. I am not surprised by Bis Cuz. He wants to get better and he want to win and he seems like a GREAT kid(you could tell by the way he reacted to a that talking to he got from the coach). KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR GO HOME!!!!!
UKFMLY…gonna tell you what my daughter told me, don’t become friends with Jose…he will turn on you! This team is so unselfish. I’m just in awe. Pinch me, I think I am dreaming. It seems like we have more than one remarkable young man on the team, it seem that Mrs. Patterson and Patrick are in these young men’s minds and attitudes!
Larry, today was a huge step in more ways than one. Better D, better ball control by John and just better team play all the way round. Some of the guys need to move their feet and stop reaching and fouling. I’m sure coach will correct that problem in the next game or two.
GO BIG BLUE………
it was a huge step by Cousins and shows a side of him not many expected. I have coaching friends who still wonder if Cousins will eventually disrupt this team, but I keep telling them he seems to be doing and saying all the right things here. I really like him and his enthusiasm
Well put Larry….I think that their is alot of other fans across the country that is hoping this mcdonalds team will implode..But so far so good..How About Brooks and those WILDCATS!!! WOW!!! GO BIG BLUE!!!
[...] Larry Vaught of the Danville Advocate-Messenger writes on DeMarcus Cousins giving up his starting spot to start second half: “Numbers don’t always indicate what a coach likes best in a game.” [...]