It sounds odd to say that DeAndre Liggins is a shoo-in for UK’s most improved player of the season. The reason it sounds odd is that Liggins stats are not that impressive as a whole. Liggins is averaging 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds a game — basically the same as last season’s 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds a game. So what gives?
With Liggins, it is about his rebirth at Kentucky this season. No player on the roster has had as tumultuous beginning to his UK career as Liggins. DeAndre came to UK as a top 50 recruit and one of the top small forwards in the country. Due to the PG environment at UK, Liggins not only had to adjust at playing basketball under the biggest microscope, he had to do it out of position as he was thrust into service at PG. The results were mixed. He had a four game span where he averaged 13.5 points, 4.25 rebounds and 4.25 assists. Mind you, this occurred AFTER a public spat in Las Vegas where it was widely rumored that Liggins was leaving the team.
Unfortunately, Liggin’s freshman season peaked with a 10 point average against Indiana. Then over the next eight games, Liggins scoring dipped to 2.8 a game, and the losses and turnovers mounted, and Liggins found himself firmly in Coach Gillispie’s doghouse the rest of the season. He found himself the victim of a wildly bizarre substitution pattern and he barely got his feet on the floor the last part of the season.
With Gillispie’s firing came Calipari’s hiring and salvation loomed for Liggins. He was recruited by Calipari at Memphis, and his point forward skills were a natural for Calipari’s DDMO. Liggins spent the summer saying the right thing to the press and seeking atonement for last season. It appeared that the brash top 50 player that came to UK last season was a humbler version of his former self. The Big Blue nation waited to see the much hyped, new and improved Liggins, but there was one more hurdle to jump.
For some unrevealed reason, Liggins missed the first nine games of the season to a disciplinary action. Rather than throw Liggins under the bus, Calipari was supportive, as was the Big Blue Nation. Finally in the thenth game of the year, Liggins made the most significant one minute appearance of the season. That aside, now was the time for the re-born Liggins to appear.
Kentucky had great depth at the PG position, so Liggins could now utilize his skills as a point forward. And the results have been good thus far. Calipari eased Liggins into the rotation and in just his third game back, he nailed both his 3-point attempts for 6 points against Drexel. Liggins has become the “heart and hustle” guy on the team as when ever you see a loose ball on the court, odds are good #34 will be diving after it. With such play comes more minutes, and Liggins has responded.
In his last five games, Liggins has gotten more than 25 minutes three times. He has produced, averaging 7.2 points and 5.6 rebounds. His high octane sttle has energized his team mates and he has made several big plays on his time on the court. Last night versus Tennessee, he was the nail in the coffin when he made a great steal and followed that with a dunk that brought down Rupp Arena. Tennessee never had a chance after that.
And don’t worry about his numbers when making the argument for most improved player of the year. While the points and rebound numbers may be very similar, his stats show his game has changed drastically from last year. He has improved his shooting percentage from 36.2% to 51.3%. His 3-point percentage improvement is even more impressive, going from 23.5%% to 55%.
The thing that Ligins represents the most is the “x-factor” as the Cats claw for a SEC title and possible eight national title. No other player in the country has a player like Liggins that they can bring off the bench that can be a game changer the way that Liggins can be. He has been a powder keg like burst of energy instead of the ticking time bomb his detractors painted him as last year. And that is something to be excited about as UK fans rediscover DeAndre Liggins this season.
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