Andrew Harrison Has Developed Into a Special Player

[caption id="attachment_174697" align="alignright" width="600"] Photo by Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]   Andrew Harrison has emerged as one of Kentucky's most-reliable players this season. Once thought as a weak link, he's lately been the rock on a 30-0 team that is chasing history. He's developed into an elite Kentucky point guard. It's time to start appreciating his time at Kentucky as "special." Here are three reasons why:

Andrew has elevated his game since the end of January

Andrew has scored in double figures in seven of the last 11 games, dating back to a 15-point performance at Missouri on January 29th. According to UK's new fancy player website, he led the team in assists with 117 (as of March 1). Before scoring 12 points Tuesday night in Athens, Andrew averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 assists in his last 10 games. Those numbers do not jump out at you, but on this historic team, they are critical.

Andrew is eight career assists away from Rajon Rondo

Other than Rondo, no other two-year player has more assists than Andrew (277) at Kentucky. The next best in two years or less are John Wall (241), Patrick Sparks (236) and Rex Chapman (220). Andrew is also one assist away from tying four-year star Darius Miller (278) and four away from tying Mike Pratt (281).

Andrew has become the unquestioned leader of the team

Remember when Coach Cal scolded Andrew for leaving the huddle against Louisville? What a difference a few months can make. In a late huddle at Georgia on Tuesday night, someone said "let's get three stops," to which Andrew responded, “no, let’s get five.” Andrew also led a huddle at midcourt during a timeout after Coach Cal went back to the bench. What did he tell the team? “I told them we’re not losing. I told them what we had to do to win and we did that," Andrew said.