Kentucky basketball has been lacking "dog" lately.
The Wildcats have been without one for a few seasons. Someone who can hang in the clutch, get stops and buckets when the team needs them, has the confidence to bring others up around him and the talent to execute while things get tight.
Call it "dog," or a "baller" or even a "pure hooper." Kentucky has been searching for one.
They might have found a few this offseason.
Former Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis recently joined the Sources Say podcast of KSR to discuss the upcoming season for the Wildcats.
According to Ulis, the team is full of pure hoopers.
“They’re basketball players. Hoopers. Pure hoopers, all of them. And they love the game,” Ulis said. “How me and Devin (Booker) were in the gym, me and Zay (Briscoe), me and Jamal (Murray), that’s what these guys are doing. They all want to get better — scared to fail, scared not to make it. That’s what shows they want to be great.”
What defines a pure hooper? Ulis explained.
“Anyone can make a play, anyone can get in the lane, anyone can knock a shot down," Ulis said. "We have so many options and so much depth, it’s hard not to have fun with this team. In Toronto, we barely even put anything in. We had a few plays, but defensively, we didn’t put anything in. They rotated, helped each other out, saved each other’s back, and it was fun to watch. It was fun to be a part of."
Kentucky is creating a culture surrounding the young core that has gotten Wildcat fans really excited about John Calipari turning UK's postseason fortunes around.
Ulis is excited too.
“I can’t say it enough: I’m extremely excited to see how this goes. We’re deep with a lot of players, and they’re skilled.”
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