What we need from each player as Kentucky leaves tune-up games behind

The tune-up games for Kentucky are now over. After competing against Duke on college basketball’s biggest stage in the Champions Classic to open the season, the Wildcats have played seven consecutive games against inferior competition at Rupp Arena. Some teams have been better than others — Ohio and Southern were fine tests — but overall, it’s been nothing special.

Starting tomorrow, though, the real tests begin. Kentucky will play its first true road game of the season, taking on Mike Brey and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend. Then, the Wildcats play Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic out in Las Vegas on Dec. 18, followed by a mid-week date with Louisville on Dec. 22.

From there, SEC play begins, where Kentucky will play just two non-conference games the rest of the year, one being a true road game at Kansas.

What does Kentucky need from its roster as the schedule transitions from tune-up matchups to legitimate competition?

Oscar Tshiebwe — Avoid cheap fouls

The best ability is availability. From here on out, opposing frontcourts will be longer and stronger, and teams know Tshiebwe has struggled with foul trouble. He’s dominated in his time on the floor, averaging a career-high 15.3 points and 15.4 rebounds in 27.0 minutes per contest. Behind him, though, Kentucky has been inconsistent and exposed at times down low.

UK needs Tshiebwe on the floor to win basketball games.

TyTy Washington — Aggressive shot opportunities

Washington has not only been consistent with his scoring, but he’s been also been wildly efficient. Following his rough nine-point, 3-14 shooting performance to open the season vs. Duke, the freshman guard has finished in double figures every game, including at least 14 points in six straight. More importantly, he’s shot at least 50 percent in six of eight games on the year and at least 46.2 percent every game since the season-opener.

He’s fit perfectly in his role as is, but even shooting 12.4 shots per game on the year, there are times Washington can be more aggressive as a go-to scorer. The 6-foot-3 freshman is an elite shooter, especially from deep. Give him the green light to let it fly. He’s got the ability.

Sahvir Wheeler — Patience

Through his turnovers and poor shot selection at times, Wheeler is a great player. He had arguably his worst game as a Wildcat against Southern, yet he was still brought up as a game-changer during postgame by UK Athletics Hall of Famer Sean Woods.

He’s currently second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.48) during John Calipari’s time at Kentucky, behind only Tyler Ulis (3.5). Averaging a career-high 8.4 assists per game, his presence as a playmaker has dramatically raised the ceiling of this team.

Wheeler struggles when he forces the issue, overdribbling in traffic and fitting unnecessary passes into tight spaces. When he plays with patience and lets his physical speed catch up with his mind, there aren’t many point guards in the country better. Kentucky will need the former as the schedule ramps up, not the latter.

Kellan Grady — Be more than a catch-and-shoot specialist

The former Davidson standout came in averaging 17.1 points on 13.1 field goal attempts and 6.9 attempts from three in 2020-21. Through eight games, the efficiency is there (45.8 FG%, 42.1 3P%), but the volume is low (7.4 FGA).

To open the season, Grady has not gone out of his way to look for his shot, simply thriving as a catch-and-shoot specialist. He’s crushed the role, but there’s so much more to his game than what’s been asked of him in Lexington thus far. Grady needs to be the three-level scorer he proved to be at Davidson, not limit himself to 3-point opportunities.

Keion Brooks Jr. — Attack the basket

Brooks is averaging a career-high 11.7 points, but the junior forward’s game hasn’t exploded the way many anticipated to open the season. He’s fallen in love with shooting mid-range jumpers rather than capitalizing on mismatches with his size, athleticism and skill.

Brooks is at his best when he’s aggressive and attacks the basket with purpose, sprinkling in jumpers here and there to keep defenders honest.

Davion Mintz — Throw daggers

Mintz returned to Kentucky with dreams of taking the roof off of Rupp Arena with a run of 3-point makes or clutch baskets late in games. He wanted to take advantage of full arenas and be the ultimate momentum-shifter.

Thus far, he hasn’t needed to be the dagger-thrower he was last season. Outside of Kentucky’s matchup against Duke — Mintz finished with five points on 2-7 shooting in 21 minutes — games haven’t been close enough to find out either way.

Can he be that player for UK when it counts again?

Jacob Toppin — Continue to be a defensive stopper

Like Mintz, Toppin’s time on the floor has been limited, playing just four games and averaging just 17.0 minutes per contest in those matchups. In that time, though, his length and versatility on defense has impressed.

As competition ramps up, Kentucky will need Toppin to be that plug-and-play defensive stopper against SEC size. It’d obviously help to see the 6-foot-9 forward expand his offensive game a bit, but defense is a guarantee when he steps on the floor.

Daimion Collins — Enjoy the process

Collins came into the year not only with the highest ceiling on the roster, but maybe even all of college basketball. Brand new to the sport with zero strength and conditioning work before his time in Lexington, he’s raw and uncoordinated.

At his best, though, he shows flashes of brilliance and top-10 draft potential. Luckily for Collins, Kentucky doesn’t need him to be that finished product yet, letting him find his footing in his rim-running, shot-blocking role.

Collins’ ceiling is insanely high and the process will be a fun one to watch unfold. He doesn’t need to rush things or be something he’s not too soon.

Bryce Hopkins — Consistency

John Calipari singled out Hopkins as a player who needed to show more consistency in his time on the floor, saying the freshman forward needed to “bring it” every day.

“We’ve got to get Bryce (Hopkins) to be more consistent, to bring it to every practice,” Calipari said Friday. “So, that’s who he is. Because you can’t, as a coach, (wonder) who’s he going to be today,” Now, do you play that guy or do you say, ‘The game’s too close, I better wait. I can’t guess. Who is this?’ … We need Bryce to be that next-level team, because he gives us a physical presence.”

There are times he shows unbelievable flashes of potential, slicing through defenders to score in transition and showing off polished footwork and patience in the paint. Other times, though, he disappears for long stretches and floats on the perimeter waiting for catch-and-shoot opportunities. Kentucky needs Hopkins to be the versatile, physical offensive threat he’s shown in spurts.

Lance Ware — No zeroes in the box score

Ware may be near the bottom of the rotation and minutes may be limited going into the bulk of the schedule, but that doesn’t mean he can’t make an impact. No one is asking him to be a double-double threat, but he can make winning plays when his name is called.

Grab a tough rebound, dive on the floor for a loose ball, finish an and-one, pin a shot on the backboard, whatever. He may not explode in any one column of the box score, but he can certainly make an impact across the board to help win games. He just has to provide something when opportunities present themselves. With minimal depth in the frontcourt, he’s got to be a net positive.

Dontaie Allen — Get out of your head

Allen is arguably Kentucky’s best shooter, the talent is there. He proved he could catch fire and take a game over at any moment last season on numerous occasions.

This season, though, it’s clear something is off. After shooting 40 percent from three last year, he’s now shooting just 22.2 percent on four attempts per game. The looks are there, he just hasn’t been able to sink them. At some point, Kentucky will need Allen to put some quick points on the board or shoot them back into a game.

He’s got to keep letting shots go and find his groove, do whatever it takes to break out of his mini rut. Shake off the rust, clear his head, anything to get back to his usual self.