Kentucky Wildcat Basketball: Jarrod Polson our new hero.
By Paul Jordan
Kentuckians connect with their own like no other people in the nation. I have been on countless trips, vacations and business meetings out of state and even country and have seen UK hats or shirts and immediately felt as if I were at home. I have engaged in conversations about Kentucky basketball for hours in places like Seattle, Boston and even London (the European variety) with people I had never met before. Needless to say the Big Blue Nation is everywhere. We will always have each other’s back whether it be a year we go to the Final Four or when we suffer a first round loss (thanks Billy G).
Those connections become even more prevalent when a Kentucky born and bred player gets the privilege to wear the blue and white in Rupp Arena. Players like Richie Farmer, John Pelphrey, Darren Feldhaus, Darius Miller and Scott Padgett hold a special place in our hearts because they are “Kentucky Boys”. Although these players go down as favorites for many UK fans throughout the years, there are other players that the average fan connects with more than any. The walk-on. The guys that bust their butt’s day in and day out with little to no playing time and feel honored to play out their dreams and wear “KENTUCKY” across their chest. Mark Krebs and Ravi Moss recently; Cameron Mills and Preston LeMaster before them; all fit the mold of Kentuckians that we cheer for just a little bit harder than the rest of the guys. They are one of our own and they are living the dream many of us played out in our heads in our back yard on a rusted hoop and busted backboard. 5…4…3…2…1 SWISH Kentucky wins the National Championship!
It seems now that the Big Blue Nation has a new hero. One that hails from Nicholasville, KY, just a stone’s throw from Rupp. A diminutive guy on the floor with a baby face is the new walk-on (turned scholarship player) that has the hearts of young girls and old crazy Wildcat fans alike. Jarrod Polson a six foot 2 (wearing 2 pairs of socks and boots) 185 pounds (carrying lead in his pockets and soaking wet) has become the 2011 fan favorite. Every time he touches the ball whether it be on the baseline or in the back court the fans scream and clap just a little bit louder. Not because they are patronizing him, but because they truly want him to succeed. But Polson isn’t a novelty act, and many believe (myself included) that he could be a real contributor.
Polson played 3 minutes in the South Carolina game. A game in which Kentucky won, and a game many considered a must win for this year’s Cats. These weren’t mop up minutes at the end of a blow out, these were first half minutes when the game was in question. These were minutes where starting point guard Brandon Knight was gassed and needed a break. Minutes where Knight was struggling to get the ball through South Carolina’s full court press because of fatigue. Polson came in and did his job. He committed no turnovers, navigated through that tough press and guarded his man, all the while running the point guard position. The team actually increased their lead by 3 points while Polson spelled Knight, a sign of team being controlled the correct way.
Many fans scratched their head when he came into the game, but Polson soon made them realize he fit in out on the floor. He didn’t score any points, but he attempted a lay-up in which Coach John Calipari said “I thought that was the greatest thing ever. Like, ‘I belong out here’.” Polson earned that playing time in practice where he played harder and more physical than any of the other reserves, a true sign of a Kentucky kid grateful to wear the jersey. I for one was grateful Polson was on the court.
Any fan that has kept track of this team knows that we lack depth as Calipari has struggled to find even a 7th man to help this team win. With guards like Knight, Deandre Liggins and Doron Lamb forced to play 35-40 minutes a game, a long 40 game season can wear on them and cause fatigue. Even 3 minute stretches on the bench to catch their breath can allow them to be fresh during clutch time of big Conference and Tournament games in February and March. A back-up point guard is a welcome addition. Coach Cal said he feels comfortable playing him because he doesn’t make mistakes and plays the right way. Players like Darius Miller feel at ease when Jarrod is on the court. Miller said “we had Jarrod step in, play a lot of quality minutes, didn’t make any mistakes, guarded his man.” This is exactly what this team needs.
For Polson, meaningful game time is a welcome sight. He said a week ago that he was tired of all the fans yelling at him to shoot every time he got in at the end of games. Maybe the reason we were all yelling was because we knew Jarrod could be a contributor. Those yells weren’t aimed to disparage, but because we know if Jarrod “SHOOOOOTS” this team has a better chance at winning games. So Mr. Polson, if you a reading this, we will cheer for you just a little louder, have a little bigger smile when you make a bucket and be more proud when you check in the game. After-all, you are a Kentucky Boy and those players somehow become “Unforgettable”.
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