Basketball is often a game of spacing and matchups, and no one understands that better right now than Clara Strack.
For the last three games, the 6-foot-5 sophomore has looked human. With her frontcourt partner Teonni Key sidelined by an elbow injury, Strack was forced to battle entire defenses by herself.
The paint was clogged. The double teams were instant. The efficiency plummeted, and Strack struggled to get off in a meaningful way.
But on Sunday in Fayetteville, Key returned to the starting lineup. And just like that, the "Monster" version of Clara Strack returned with her.
The life without Key struggle
To understand how important Key is, you have to look at what happened to Strack during the losing streak. Without Key’s athleticism and gravity on the floor, opponents were able to suffocate Strack.
In the losses to Texas and Georgia, Strack’s efficiency fell off a cliff:
- vs. Loss 1: 3-of-16 shooting (18%), 10 points.
- vs. Georgia: 3-of-13 shooting (23%), 9 points.
- Combined: 6-of-29 (20.6%) from the field.
For a player who lives in the paint, shooting 20% is unheard of. It wasn't that Strack suddenly forgot how to play; it was that she had zero room to operate. Every time she touched the ball, she saw three jerseys.
The Key effect
Enter Teonni Key.
Making her return against Arkansas, Key didn't just play; she made her presence felt immediately. She posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, proving that her elbow is just fine.
But her biggest contribution was what she did for Strack. With Arkansas forced to respect Key as a post threat and a scorer, Strack finally had room to breathe. She wasn't fighting through a phone booth anymore. The result was instant domination:
- vs. Arkansas: 13-of-20 shooting (65%), 33 points, 15 rebounds.
She went from shooting 20% without Key to 65% with Key. That isn't a coincidence. That is chemistry.
Chasing the top 4
The return of the "Twin Towers" couldn't have come at a better time. The three-game skid caused Kentucky to slide in bracketology projections, falling to a 5-seed in many mock brackets. And just as important, it put their Top 4 SEC seed (and the double-bye that comes with it) in jeopardy.
Kenny Brooks has said all season that this team is built around its size. Sunday proved that when both pillars are healthy, this team has a ceiling that few in the country can reach.
Key is back. Strack is free. And Kentucky looks dangerous again.