Adou Thiero trusts the process: "It's a marathon, not a sprint"

“How about Adou (Theiro)? Again. Adou, he’s just getting it done. He comes up with balls, so tough physically. I’m going to tell you, and I said it to him, he’s going to be a guy that has a major impact on college basketball. He will. You watch.”

That was John Calipari‘s quote on the freshman guard following Kentucky‘s win over Tennessee on Saturday. Different from the time he said Thiero “will have a huge impact on college basketball” after the team’s win vs. Florida A&M on December 21. Or the time he said the Leetsdale, PA native was “next in line” and “exactly what we are missing” just a few days earlier.

Calipari called his shot from the beginning. He didn’t know when Thiero would break through or how the opportunity would come, but he knew it was inevitable. And that optimism remains.

Remaining focused through inconsistent playing time

The 6-foot-6 guard — the UK head coach is convinced he’s grown another inch since his last measurement — has played just 14 games for the Wildcats, an average of 10.4 minutes per contest. Seven games of at least 12 minutes, five in SEC play. Seven games between three and nine minutes, 14 games with no playing time at all.

To say his time on the floor has been inconsistent would be an understatement. And he’d be lying if he said it wasn’t difficult to adjust with the up-and-down nature of his opportunities.

“It’s pretty difficult because I’ll go through stretches of not playing games, then I kind of go through a slump because I haven’t played,” Thiero said Friday. “I just have to stay focused and be ready for the next game even if you don’t play.”

The freshman guard was a pleasant surprise in the Bahamas, averaging 6.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in 14.3 minutes per contest. And then he exploded for 21 points and 12 rebounds in Kentucky’s Blue-White Game, followed by a pair of impressive all-around performances during the team’s exhibition slate. Seen as a project piece when he signed with the Wildcats, there was early optimism he could be a day-one contributor, potentially even a rotation player.

Trusting the process

He’s made his contributions, sure. Four points and five rebounds in 14 minutes vs. Howard, six points and four rebounds in nine minutes vs. South Carolina State, five points and three rebounds in 17 minutes at Missouri, four points and two steals in 13 minutes at Tennessee and four points and four rebounds in eight minutes at Mississippi State. No more than two buckets in a game all season, but he’s getting to the line, attacking the glass and working defensively. If he makes mistakes, he makes them at 110 percent. He’s full go every second he’s on the floor, for better and sometimes worse.

His mindset? Stay ready so he doesn’t have to get ready. Injuries happen, and unfortunately with this team, so do sluggish stretches. Thiero is the perfect plug-and-play piece to complement some of those issues, one Calipari trusts.

“It’s been pretty important (getting playing time) because it shows the work I’ve been putting in is somewhat coming together,” the freshman guard said. “I just have to keep working and trusting the process. … You never know when you’re going to play so if you go into games ready, you don’t have to get ready if Coach calls your name.”

Ready for his opportunity

Sahvir Wheeler and CJ Fredrick missing time due to injury has opened the door for Thiero to get some run, likely more than he would’ve seen with a full, healthy roster. And though he’s delivered on both ends, the reality of the situation is that when he’ll likely return to his bench role when both veteran guards get back to full strength, potentially sooner rather than later.

That reality is not something he’s losing sleep over. Like he’s been all season, he’ll be ready if and when the team needs him.

“I don’t think too much of it,” he said. “If my name gets called, I’m going to be ready.”

Building toward the future

Big-picture, this season has always been about growth and adjusting to life as a Kentucky basketball player. He surpassed early expectations while also building toward the future — inarguably a bright one, as Calipari has made clear.

Through it all, he’s learning and adjusting, preparing for that day. He’s learning how to take losses (and how to avoid them entirely, if he can).

“Being able to see how a team is whenever they’re not winning very many games. We might lose to someone we’re not supposed to lose to,” Thiero said. “Getting that feeling early, I think that’s good for everyone’s career. Now you know you don’t want to have that feeling again and you’re going to do whatever it takes to not get that feeling.”

Another lesson? Early bumps and bruises don’t define a team over the course of a year. It’s a long season and overcoming adversity is a part of the process.

“There’s a lot I’ve learned, it’s hard to just take one thing. But it’s a long season. We started off a little shaky but we just had to stay focused and regroup, get better for the end of the season. That’s what always matters. … Like everyone says, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

The same can be said about Thiero’s career. He may not be in position to win the first-year race, but he’s got plenty of other wins coming his way in the future.