Willie Cauley-Stein is making winning plays once again for La Familia

During La Familia’s debut run in The Basketball Tournament last summer, Willie Cauley-Stein was among the team’s most impactful players. On his way to helping the UK alums reach the semifinals, he averaged 10.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per outing on 70.4 percent shooting. His 14 blocks led the entire TBT and earned him Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Now in his second summer suiting up for La Familia, Cauley-Stein has seen his playing time decrease, but his impact on winning is still being felt on the hardwood. He’s started both games of the Lexington Regional, finishing with six points (3-3 FG), two rebounds, one assist, and one block in 13 minutes to open the tournament, a dominant 105-52 win over Stroh’s Squad.

But head coach Sean Woods didn’t need Cauley-Stein’s length and athleticism in that one. He certainly did for round two against the Auburn alums, War Ready, though.

Cauley-Stein came up huge down the stretch for La Familia, particularly on the defensive end. He only finished with four points (1-1 FG), two steals, and one rebound in his 24 minutes of action, but his versatility on defense helped fend off War Ready’s comeback attempt. Most of his production came in the fourth quarter and Elam Ending of a tight game.

WILLIE CAULEY-STEIN SLAM!

Archie Goodwin drives and dishes to Cauley-Stein and he finishes to put @LaFamiliaTBT up 9!

Tune in on Fox pic.twitter.com/jvh886n1Zu

— TBT (@thetournament) July 20, 2025

What stood out about Cauley-Stein’s performance above anything else was his ability to defend on the perimeter in the Elam Ending. With La Familia leading 78-76 and the Elam Ending target score set at 79 points, War Ready was looking for the winning triple. In what would end up being War Ready’s final possession, Cauley-Stein found himself matched up against Travis McConico, who missed a three-pointer over Cauley-Stein’s outstretched hand. He then did the same to Wendell Green Jr.‘s three-point look a few moments later.

Green’s miss ultimately led to Kahlil Whitney‘s steal and then Archie Goodwin‘s fastbreak game-winner.

“That’s Willie, that’s what he does,” Woods said postgame. “He’s unlike anyone in this tournament and that’s why he’s so amazing and so interesting as a UK basketball player. You’re talking about 7-1 that has guard speed but has a wingspan of almost eight feet, that can move his feet and guard one through five, and that was a big reason that they couldn’t get a shot off because they were trying to switch and trying to iso him, and he may be the toughest defender to get a three off on.”

War Ready learned that the hard way. The Elam Ending can tease a team into taking ill-advised shots, and Cauley-Stein was there to make them even tougher. His excellent defensive effort has La Familia playing in the Sweet 16 on Tuesday against Eberlein Drive (6:00 p.m. ET | FS2).

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.