If you wanted to sum up Brandon Garrison’s turbulent Kentucky career so far in 40 minutes of basketball, tonight was the perfect movie.
It had the redemption arc. It had the dominant flashes of a former McDonald’s All-American. And in true Garrison fashion, it had the head-scratching moment at the buzzer that leaves you staring at the ceiling.
The context
To say Garrison has been in the doghouse this season would be an understatement. He has struggled to live up to the hype. He was supposed to be the bridge to the future backing up Jayden Quaintance, but when JQ went down, it was Malachi Moreno who seized the starting role.
Garrison’s effort has been questioned openly. Just weeks ago, after he failed to hustle back on a turnover and was benched by Mark Pope, a KSR panelist went as far as to say it wouldn't bother them if he never played for Kentucky again.
The dominance
Tonight, the "other" version of Brandon Garrison showed up. Against a desperate Oklahoma team, he was a monster. He finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds while playing with a motor that has been missing for much of the year.
The biggest moment of the night belonged to him. When the Sooners cut the lead to eight, and Rupp Arena started to get tight, Garrison didn't fade. He battled for a massive offensive rebound and powered back up to finish through contact for an And-1 that effectively slammed the door shut.
For 39 minutes and 50 seconds, it was a masterclass in responding to adversity.
The drama always follows Garrison around
But of course, it wouldn't be a Brandon Garrison game without a little extra drama. With six seconds left and the game effectively over, Garrison wasn't content to dribble out the clock. He was begging for the ball. When he got it, he slammed it home for an exclamation point that nobody really asked for.
The result was an upset Oklahoma team. Double technical fouls were called, leading to a regular foul in the final seconds of a double-digit win. Those are the things that drive coaches and fans crazy. You love the 20 and 11, and you love the fight, but sometimes the fight extends a little too far beyond the whistle.
Tonight was a reminder of why the staff stuck with him. He is frustrating and emotional, but he is also incredibly talented.
For one night, the player who takes the most heat stepped up in the biggest way possible. And if 20 points and 11 rebounds come with a meaningless technical at the buzzer, Mark Pope will probably take that trade every single time. Except in close games, those kinds of things cost you wins. Luckily, it wasn't close tonight.
Make no mistake about it because Kentucky doesn't win this game without him.