5 Takeaways: Cats’ Dominating Exhibition Win Over Clarion
By Chad Adams
While Anthony Davis and his fellow freshmen clearly propelled the Cats to the National Championship in 2012, the presence of Darius Miller was a key cog in that machine. In that sense, arguably no Cat was more impressive last night than senior Derek Willis, who got the start and was seemingly everywhere at times during his 19 minutes of action that led to 13 points and four rebounds. Of course, Briscoe, though only a sophomore, brings valuable big-game experience as well, and Dominique Hawkins contributed solid minutes. We expect Briscoe to be big all year, and Willis looks primed to be a key factor. Look for Hawkins to be a potential X-factor in this talented backcourt.
“We had 29 assists to 15 turns,” Calipari said. “So for the fist time out of the gate—but you got Derek (Willis) as a veteran, Dom(inique Hawkins) is a veteran, Isaiah Briscoe—and Isaiah was outstanding. He was five assists, one turn at the half, and I looked at it, I called him, I said, ‘Come here. Score the ball, man. You’re going to score the ball for us.
“But again, it starts with Isaiah Briscoe, and he’s coaching De’Aaron Fox, he’s coaching these guys, he’s talking, if you listen, you hear his voice more than you even hear mine, which is perfect, which is what I want,” Calipari added. “But it starts with him. But again, he made the 3, makes the free throw. Come on. And that, when you think of his game, if that’s who he is, make some 15-footers, he’s as good as anybody in the country now. He’s as physical, he’s a beast. And he defends and rebounds.”
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