Kentucky Basketball: 2018-19 keys for the Wildcats at Mississippi State
By Andy Harrell
2. Nick Richards and E.J. Montgomery continue to improve
The Kentucky starting front-court duo, of Graduate Transfer, Reid Travis and Sophomore, PJ Washington, has been exceptional to say the least. The two are combining for 25.7 points per game and 15.2 rebounds per game while shooting over 51% from the field. Behind them is a group of perhaps, more talented, but significantly less fine tuned underclassmen, in the tandem of E.J. Montgomery and Nick Richards.
Montgomery and Richards, a freshman and sophomore respectively, were both highly touted recruits, both McDonald’s All- Americans in fact. Their lack of playing time and experience to date says less about them and more about the depth of this iteration of John Calipari’s Wildcats.
On the season Richards is average just 3.5 points per game and 3.1 rebound per game while blocking an astounding 1.5 shot attempts in just over 13 minutes per contest. Montgomery similarly, is averaging 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds while blocking a shot per game, in right at 14 minutes on the court, on average.
Keen-eyed Kentucky fans and coaches of the SEC have noticed an upward trend in the play of both of the young, big men. Kentucky’s contest this past Tuesday against South Carolina and the reigning SEC player of the year, Chris Silva, showcased some of the significant improvements the pair has been making but also some of their shortcomings still.
Drawing three fouls in the first half and due to the solid performances of Kentucky’s other bigs, Nick Richards saw the floor for only eleven minutes as Kentucky ran over Frank Martin’s squad inside Rupp Arena. E.J. Montgomery was able to capitalize on the increased minutes. He notched a double-double by posting career highs in points and rebounds with 11 and 13 in 20 minutes of play.
Even with Richards riding the pine, the front-court still looked dangerous with Montgomery coming in to contribute to perhaps the SEC’s best starting front court. The quartet of Wildcat bigs won’t be unmatched in talent, just perhaps in number of bodies.
Kentucky native, 6-10 Senior Forward, Aric Holman is the Bulldogs’s 3rd leading scorer and leading rebounder. Holman is the conference’s sixth best rebounder and third best shot blocker. He is accompanied by Mississippi State’s McDonald’s All-American of their own, 6-10 Freshman Forward, Reggie Perry.
Perry has started the Dogs’s last two outings and has come up big. The young man from Thomasville, Georgia seized his window of opportunity and has averaged 20 points per game and 10.5 rebounds in his two starts.
Ben Howland’s State team also starts a more defensively minded, non scoring threat, Center, in 6-11 Sophomore Abdul Ado. They’ll need his best effort to try and contain the emerging four headed monster of John Calipari’s young Wildcats.
If Montgomery can continue this growth and Richards can stay out of foul trouble Kentucky should have a new found interchangeable depth going forward. Perhaps starting as early as this Saturday in Starkville. If that’s the case the Bulldogs are going to have a very bad, no good, awful day. Look for both to play well and Montgomery to start making a name for himself nationally.