Denzel Aberdeen has been a steady hand this season.
Sure, there are times he gets himself into trouble with over-driving. But so does nearly everyone on this team. He winds up taking some bad shots at times. But over the last four games? When Kentucky was desperately struggling with team-wide turnovers?
Aberdeen has been absolutely elite in that department.
He has dished out 16 assists with just three turnovers. For a guy that really isn't a natural point guard, those are some wow numbers. And Mark Pope definitely took notice when asked about Denzel ahead of the Vanderbilt matchup this weekend.
Denzel Aberdeen is top-level point guard in the SEC
"Well, listen. I mean, he's been a top-level point guard in this league," Pope told reporters. "Which is incredible considering that, you know, he didn't walk into the season as a point guard. It's really hard to do. I'm so proud of him, and he continues to grow every single game."
Pope added, "And this was a game where I think he sensed, like, okay, I need to put some extra impression on this game, and he was able to do it."
The one thing you have to do a little better if you are Aberdeen? Shoot a tad more efficiently.
Over that exact same four-game window, he is just 23-of-58 from the floor. If you are going to take that many shots in this offense, you have to make a higher percentage of them. That was cleaned up a lot against South Carolina when he was 6-12. He doesn't have to be 50% every night, but if he can be closer to 47 than 43, that would help a whole lot.
But otherwise? He has been exactly what Kentucky needed. And Mark Pope absolutely knows it.
Denzel will have to shine against the Dores to help Kentucky get a huge home win.