Kentucky basketball: when will Fletcher and Brooks return plus Allen’s wait over

Calipari again tells Dontaie Allen to be ready

There is little doubt besides the obvious team issue that besides Brooks’ injury that Allen’s is the lack of playing time is a great mystery.

Game after game Calipari has told him to be ready his time was coming yet he remained on the bench and even when they are short on players or players fouling out of games.

Even more so was Calipari admitting he made a mistake playing an injured Terrence Clarke  over Allen against Louisville.

The Pendelton County star had a sensational high school senior year cut short by injury—he was averaging 42.9 points and 14.2 rebounds per game.  He took a redshirt last year and has played in just four of Kentucky’s seven games so far this year, shooting 2-of-6 from behind the 3-point arc.

He is often referred to as the team’s best shooter. Thus why isn’t he seeing playing time?

This team needs a spark, energy a bucket or two. Anything.

He isn’t going to be the savior of this team nor will he most likely lead in any category, but he is a home-grown kid who loves UK basketball.

Against Louisville who knows if he was the right choice to take the winning shot, but doubtful the Cardinals whould have planned for that. Instead, it was Olivier Sarr who has disappeared and not scored a basket in the past two games taking it.

What a lift that would have given this team had Allen hit that.

During his weekly call-in show on Monday, he said Allen had a great practice earlier in the day and had earned minutes this upcoming Saturday.

Here’s hoping it’s not a short leash. He needs to gain the confidence to shoot and if he misses keep on shooting. That’s what Calipari has preached about players in the past.

He referenced during the show players in the past who have gone through the same thing.

"“Just like I was with Dominque (Hawkins) and Derek (Willis), who waited their time,” he said. “Like I was with Immanuel (Quickley), who waited his time, or PJ (Washington), who waited his time. Nick Richards, who waited his time, he was behind guys who were better than him. The greatest thing about coaching is seeing that guy continue to fight, stay the course, and do his thing.”"

Here is hoping that Calipari is right about that and Allen is the player who could drum up that Kentucky mojo for a run toward March.