A challenge to Andrew Harrison

Baylor was one of his worst, but Boise was one of his best. Andrew Harrison hasn’t quite clicked as the Kentucky point guard like many had hoped, but signs of improvement are beginning to show. He hasn’t played terribly by any stretch, but turnovers and foul trouble have limited his production and allowed his brother Aaron to steal the spotlight, and in turn, overshadow the guy who many think is the better NBA prospect. What’s even more concerning about Andrew is his poor body language; when things don’t go his way, he mopes around and raises his arms in frustration. A team destined for the Final Four cannot have that from its floor general.

We all remember the talks in the pre-season. This team was hyped more than any other. While it’s still too early to abandon that hype altogether, a little reality check certainly won’t hurt. This team is young, this team is learning, but this team is still very dangerous. What we remember about these players doesn’t matter anymore. It’s a new day and a new season. But they can make their own legacy, and it starts with the point guard.

While it may be unfair to compare any Calipari point guard to John Wall, that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Well, not directly, but he is included in the data. In case you forgot, Wall was amazing during his short stint in Lexington. He could do it all. Shoot, slash, find open teammates, create steals, and stay out of foul trouble. His one weakness was turnovers, but for a guy who plays so fast and aggressively in Cal’s dribble-drive, that’s to be expected anyway. Andrew Harrison has that potential, but we’ve just not seen it yet.

The following year Brandon Knight replaced Wall beautifully. He scored at a similar rate, rebounded well and limited his turnovers even further. Marquis Teague in year three changed the mold slightly to a more standard pass-first point guard. His scoring dropped off and assists rose over Knight. He shot well from the floor but was always looking to direct his teammates to the right spot.

Ryan Harrow, bless his soul, came in and was way over his head. He missed a handful of games right at the start of the season but still had an abysmal opening to his Kentucky tenure. One good thing about Harrow, though, was that he did continually improve every single game.

And then Andrew. If you look at his stats alone, he’s having one of the worst starts of any of Calipari’s point guards at Kentucky. His minutes are low(er), his point production is barely above double-digits, his assists are at rock bottom, and his fouls per game are sky high. All of that combined says he is simply not in the zone. We know his ability to perform is through the roof; he’s just got to figure it all out.

This chart summarizes each point guard through their first ten games at Kentucky. It says pretty much what you expect: John Wall was amazing, Ryan Harrow not so much, and Andrew Harrison is barely keeping his head above water. But none of that matters, because you can create your own legacy. Let us remember you for something else.

Dominique Hawkins plays with more heart and passion than anybody on this team. If Harrison showed half as much energy and desire to perform as Hawkins did we’d be cooking with fire. Thankfully, there is still a lot more season left to play, and it seems Harrison is beginning to “get it,” if his post-game comments have any merit. Hawkins demonstrates perfectly that it is about the name on the front of the jersey and not on the back. However you get it done, whether it’s like Wall or Knight getting buckets, like Teague finding the open man, or Harrow limiting his mistakes (albeit a lack of minutes helped contribute to that), Andrew must find a way to help the team.

He is the captain of this ship we’re sailing on. And it can sail to two very different destinations: an island of disappointment, regret, and what-ifs; or the Promised Land of Arlington, Texas, home of the 2014 Final Four. What we knew about you before doesn’t matter anymore, Andrew. We are ten games down with thirty to go. How do you want to be remembered now?

@StuartHammerKSR