By LARRY VAUGHT
HOUSTON  DeAndre Liggins is as fearless when it comes to speaking his mind as he is on the basketball court.
That’s why the University of Kentucky junior was not afraid to say what no one else really has as UK prepares to play Connecticut here Saturday night in the Final Four.
Liggins started by elaborating on teammate Brandon Knight’s comment on Tuesday that UK was not as good early in the season as the players thought and that likely led to several of the Wildcats’ eight losses.
“I think that was part of it, but we did not share the ball, either,†said Liggins here Thursday. “Everybody wanted to get their shots and points.â€Â
Notice Liggins said “everybody†and included himself in the problem.
“It’s got to be a team game. Since then, we have played like that,†Liggins said.
Kentucky lost four freshmen  John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton  to the NBA as first-round draft picks off the 35-3 and Elite Eight team from last year. This is where Liggins went publicly that no one connected with the team really has before.
“Last year’s freshmen were great freshmen, but we had too many egos (on the team). Everybody wanted to be the man. This year we all know our roles and what we have to do to win,†Liggins said.
“We play great defense. Everybody is playing good right now. Everybody is coming along and contributing, even (backup center) Eloy (Vargas). We all know what it takes to win and do it.â€Â
Perhaps that is why Kentucky coach John Calipari said the two “heroes†on the team were freshmen Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb because both have accepted somewhat different roles during UK’s current 10-game win streak.
Calipari noted that Jones took 44 shots in three games in the Maui Invitational when UConn pounded the Cats in the title game in November. In four NCAA games, he has 33 shots.
Lamb’s playing time has dipped slightly because Liggins not only has become a lockdown defender, but he’s also making better decisions with the ball and knocking off shots at a high rate.
“Both Doron and Terrence can go for 25 (points), and they have done it,†Calipari said. “But we have good kids who respect each other and understand the bigger picture. Both Doron and Terrence understand that my role is not as important as the team.â€Â
Junior Darius Miller says UK’s freshmen  Brandon Knight, Jones and Lamb  are just “different personalities†from last year’s star-studded freshman class.
“These guys have different personalities and are a different group of guys. We still have a lot of fun,†he said.
Miller acknowledged that this team’s ego might not be as big compared to a year ago because UK has lost eight times this season compared to only two going into last year’s postseason play.
“At the beginning of the season we thought we could just win and be more successful without doing all the things we are now,†he said. “We thought we could just go out and play because of the names on our team. It came back to bite us. We came out lackadaisical. Once we bought into the system, we started doing better.â€Â
Miller said he learned leadership skills he has used this season the previous two years from Patrick Patterson, who was also a first-round draft choice and now plays for the Houston Rockets here.
“When I first came here he helped me the whole year and we had a tough year. He never got down on anybody or own himself even in our NIT year. He helped me through a lot of stuff and our team through a lot of adversity,†Miller said. “He kept his head up and just kept playing and I try to take after him. I am really close to him and look up to him because he took me under his wing.
Miller says he not only feels like Patterson is still part of the team, but thinks the other players off last year’s team are, too.
“I think they are all part of the team still. They talk to us and ask how we are doing and keep up with us. We talk to them a lot. They tell us just not to settle for being here. They want us to win it all.â€Â
Calipari says he knows UK’s five first-round draft picks from last year are being “teased†because this team is in the Final Four and they were not.
“But this is not bittersweet. It’s a different team. That is over. I’ve really enjoyed this ride,†the UK coach said. “This team went from me dragging them to them dragging me along.â€Â
No one has pulled harder than Liggins, who admits he learned from watching last year’s talented team play.
“But we also know at times last year not everybody quite bough into everything like we have this year and that’s why we probably have been able to do more than anyone expected,†Liggins said. “We had five guys that left for the NBA and no one saw us in this predicament. They all doubted us. It feels great now, just like a dream.â€Â
20 Responses to Liggins: Everybody wanted to be the man last year
Leave a Reply
Blue Zoom Radio Show
Polls
Loading ...Choose Your Favorite!
Glad to know that members of last year’s team is urging this year’s team not to settle for just being there, but to win it all.I love the part that they are considered part of the team because of their support. ONCE A WILDCAT, ALWAYS A WILDCAT!!!!
THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN DO IT AND I BELIEVE THEY CAN DO IT!!!!!
Looking for Patrick and Chuck to both be here Saturday. former UK golfers J.B. Holmes and Steve Flesch will be too from what I hear
Larry, this piece is just outstanding. Too, I think DeAndre’s probably right that this team has (finally, that is) “bought into” the system, all the players’ putting the TEAM first. Also, it does, indeed, seem like a “dream,” an absolutely beautiful dream come true.
My favorite part, though, had been Darius’ comment: “I think they are all part of the team still” (as he had referred to the players who departed at last season’s end). That sounds just like Darius, thinking of others. Too, Darius talks about what a great leader Patrick had been, adding how he “looks up to him.” Well, make that thousands of us Kentucky fans who also “look up” to Patrick Patterson. Most of all, though, as Darius said, all those guys “want us to win it all.” Yes, they do, and I’m going to think of the Final Four and the potential national championship as “theirs,” too. What a wonderful two years we Kentucky fans are getting to enjoy — and may these guys, who had, indeed, been helped by last year’s players WIN IT ALL for ALL of them. GO CATS!!!
Larry, is your girlfriend, Ashley gonna be there? GO CATS!
Great article, love it.
I’d hope, and I think it does, go even deeper than what’s described in your article Larry.
Watched the Mickey D’s stars game last night and heard both Anthony Davis and Michael Teague refer to this Wildcat team as their “team mates” and how they were watching and pulling for their “team mates” to win it all (which they will). Should this thinking carry forward to next season???
OMG whata team !!!
These kids, this year are the “Fantastic Few”. Next year ?? Gotta give that some thought.
WOW WOW WOW. PP is still helping this team PERIOD. His LEADERSHIP is still visable. This story is AMAZING, thanks Larry.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GO BLUE OR STAY HOME
I remember discussing this same thing on the blog like a month ago with many of the readers from here.
When this team “got it” they became nearly unstoppable.
The biggest key was getting Jones to buy into being more of a team player and it has been a success.
HOpe she will be Linda. If not, going to be plenty of Big Blue babes here. YOu should be too
The team last year was great. I think their only problem was inconsistent outside shooting. I thought they played together as a team very well. They didn’t buy into the system like this team has because for one they were a different bunch and not really a dribble drive type team. And they could win playing the way they played. Only a very cold shooting night sent them home. I’m just not going to get down on that team in any way because IMO they did play as a team and people sacrificed for the team. Patterson in particular sacrificed big time for the team. Maybe too much. He wanted the young guys to learn the college game but he already knew it. I thought he should have been more assertive at times. But the other players knew what he did for them.
I just remember seeing a tight group last year. There were a couple of problems but that often happens on a team loaded with talent. Egos get hurt but not everyone can be a star. And when you have bona fide stars on your team you dang well should let them be the stars. But I don’t think there was a whole lot of stuff indicating they weren’t doing that.
I love Liggins. I love the way he plays the game. But I’m wondering now if his ego isn’t speaking out a little. But that’s ok. He’s earned it.
Maybe I’m wrong but any team that wins 35 games must be doing something right. Maybe it’s just that I was so happy to see a great team at UK again that I overlooked any problems. Maybe I just remember what a team full of turmoil really looks like and last year wasn’t it. I think most of you know what I mean here.
not really suprised at all to hear that about last years team, i mean that team was loaded with alpha males. no big deal, as a uk fan i want those recruits, it is just a matter of having a goal , other than the nba at the end of the year, and getting those young men too buy into a system and a belief. the fact that last years players that are in the league miss being at uk says something. to me it means , even if you have to take a back seat for a while, take it like a man and be a team player, and advance as a TEAM as far as you can and leave no regrets, because you never no if you’ll make it back.
Nice article.I entered an office bracketology and have UK in the final 4 playing Conn. with U Conn. winning. I sure hope that I lose. Who cares about the money. $ can be spent but the championship will live forever.
Roger, hope you lose as well (ha ha)
Just thinking here. If in fact the cats go on and win the nat’l championship, which i believe they will, what a blueprint we have for future cats. 1. Frosh can come in and look at the blueprint left by this frosh class as to what it takes to put it all on the line and buy in to the foundation in place. 2. Future cats can look at harrellson as someone who has transformed himself into a viable commodity and that indeed hard work and effort does not go unrewarded. Good times are again upon us.
Grant, that is the model. I suggest that this model is now effective regardless of what happens this weekend because this group used that formula to overcome great odds and break the final four drought.
Don’t read this wrong, because I believe this team is now poised to finish their journey and bring home #8, and that is exactly what I want them to get done in Houston, but I am now convinced that Calipari’s model of recruiting the best of the best, and wishing many of them well as they move on to the NBA after only 1 year can deliver championships. Not many weeks ago, that remained an open question for me.
Professor, your not the only one who was not sure about cals’ model , i am included in that group as well. I do agree with you as far as this model being effective regardless, but , i will say that without a doubt in my mind, when the frosh class or recruits come in and see a banner that reads 2011 na’t champs , i propose that it will have an impact. Something current and tangible that these young men can see.
The impact of a 2011 National Champions banner will have more impact than a 2011 Final Four, or 2011 Runner Up banner. But the National Champions banner will hang up there, if not this year, in the very near future.
I want it now, just like all fans do. I expect this team to deliver it. I will be disappointed if they don’t.
But, I now am completely convinced that Calipari will get that done while he is at UK, and I believe he will hang multiple banners during his tenure. After he arrived, he was so bold to speak about his destiny to coach at UK, and that it could include surpassing UCLA’s # of championships. I chuckled at his statements at the time he made them, but I have also learned that there is a method to his madness when it comes to his comments on the public record.
Liggins is a Commonwealth treasure. He is this team’s bad boy and I love it. Can’t wait to see him up in the jersey of Walker and/or Lamb (which ever he is guarding at the time).
Last year’s team was awesome, but “The Avengers’” Payback Tour 2011 needs to continue Saturday night.
I could not care less what celebrities are there… but I sure hope there are lots of loud screaming joes and janes that are used to rattling the rafters of Rupp in the house in Houston.
totally agree professor.
And professor, this years model may serve as a real teaching tool to a player like s. poole as well. Things may not have gone according to script for him , but he reminds me of a liggins type of player at least physically, maybe he’s our next great defensive stopper. What better guy to learn from than liggins in all aspects?
Grant, I think that Harrellson and Liggins are the model for players like Poole and Hood, and some that are yet to appear on the rosters.
If Harrellson does not play ball for pay next year, I would consider adding him as one of my low paid graduate assistants. Let his enthusiasm permeate through the program and percolate to other players.