The future of Kentucky women's basketball is historic. Kenny Brooks has secured commitments from three McDonald's All-Americans for next season, a haul that signals a new era for the program.
But as the current Wildcats found out in a frustrating loss to Vanderbilt, you cannot fast-forward time. The future might be bright, but the present is still going through some serious growing pains.
Fans are seeing that reality first-hand with Kaelyn Carroll. A McDonald's All-American herself last year, Carroll arrived with high expectations. But the jump from high school to the SEC is a massive leap, and right now, she is hitting the rookie wall.
In her last two games, Carroll has played just 12 total minutes, recording 0 points and 2 rebounds.
Kenny Brooks says the best thing about freshman is that "They become sophomores"
Brooks knows this process better than anyone. Speaking on his radio show, he urged patience with the development curve. “Freshmen, they all grasp it at different speeds, they really do,” Brooks said. “I’ve always joked about it and said the best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores, and then they become juniors.”
He noted that in the era of social media highlights, players often expect immediate dominance that just isn't realistic.
“With instant gratification, everybody wants it quickly,” Brooks explained. And that is largely true; fans and media alike want to see rapid development. Sometimes, a player needs just a little bit longer than 6 months to adjust.
It still doesn't make the current reality any better though.
The Vanderbilt bench
That learning curve had real consequences against Vanderbilt. In a game where the Commodores hassled Kentucky into 20 turnovers, Carroll had a "freshman moment" where she picked up her dribble and had the ball knocked loose. Brooks wasn't happy, and Carroll didn't see the floor again.
The problem is that Kentucky doesn't have the luxury of letting players make mistakes and sit. They desperately need depth. But an even bigger issue could be a loss of confidence. Carroll game out fast right after a mistake, but Clara Strack committed 6 turnovers, several that were careless, and played through it. She, of course, is a star, but you see the dilemma. Kaelyn could look at it and think why does she get to play through it, especially with the depth problems.
Vanderbilt played 8 players for at least 11 minutes. Kentucky essentially played a six-woman rotation, with every starter logging over 17 minutes. The bench minutes don't need to be spectacular; they just need to be safe. Right now, Brooks is struggling to find that stability.
Next up: A Texas-sized test
The loss drops Kentucky back to .500 in the SEC, and the road doesn't get any easier. The Wildcats travel to Austin on Monday to face #4 Texas. The "babies" on the roster are going to have to grow up fast because the Longhorns won't offer any sympathy, and Kentucky needs a win.