Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Lyles-Hawkins switch a smart move
In last nights game against Missouri, Kentucky head coach John Calipari made an interesting change in the lineups. Since Alex Poythress unfortunately lost the rest of his junior season to an ACL, talented freshman Trey Lyles had been placed in the starting lineup (or blue platoon, whichever you wanna call it) to replace him. However, for the Mizzou game, Calipari decided to move Trey back to the second group and give sophomore Dominique Hawkins the start. Lyles had started the previous five games before, and averaged 8.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Some of Kentucky’s faithful may have questioned the move, but I personally love the move. I love it because not only will it benefit Hawkins and the first platoon, but it will benefit Trey Lyles and the second platoon as well. The move helps spread the floor for the first platoon that’s fluctuated with immense size, and will allow Lyles to move more freely with a smaller-sized second group.
Trey Lyles is listed at 6’10” and 235 lbs; he’s a big guy, and he’s athletic. People have forgotten how good Lyles is, and that he has the highest ranked recruit that Kentucky got from this latest class. He was ranked #6, ahead of Karl Anthony-Towns, Tyler Ullis and Devin Booker. He has such great athletic ability, that experts were already making comparisons to Grant Hill before he even signed with Kentucky.
Unfortunately, Lyles has not yet been able to come to full form, because he’s not able to fully take advantage of his size and athleticism because the inside is clogged up with so many huge bodies. He’s been forced to settle for mainly mid-range jumpers, which he has made a good amount of, shooting 56.6 percent on shots inside the three-point line. I say that, only because he’s 4-24 from distance this year.
Like I previously said, Lyles can’t profoundly attack the post like he’s capable of because of the giant bodies that spend about all their time there. Being with that second group more could very well help him though, assuming that Cal will stick with it. The only true paint presence with that squad is Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee does have good size and length but isn’t much of an offensive threat. So if Lyles can find a way to become a consistent slasher to the rim and inside scorer, that will help spread the floor and will keep giving guys like Ullis and Booker open looks. It improves not only the player, but the rest of the group as well.
Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
The guy who replaced Lyles in the starting lineup is former Mr. Kentucky Basketball Dominique Hawkins. Most people will never hear of him, unfortunately. Last season he didn’t do much of anything, but he is a guy who, in my opinion, has improved himself and his abilities to a level perhaps higher than anybody else on the team, given how he was last year.
His increased athletic ability and improved jumper certainly help spread the floor and allows guys like Karl and Willie plenty of room to dominate the rim, which they were able to do last night. It also gives Kentucky a pretty decent ball handler and passer to help in certain situations like fighting off a full-court press, and also lets the Harrison twins play their more natural combo guard positions. Will Coach Cal continue this switch? Only he knows, but if the Trey Lyles- scenario plays out, this team will become even more unstoppable.