Kentucky Basketball: Players That Deserve More or Less Playing Time

The Kentucky Wildcats are 13-1 and the No. 3 team in the country. The squad is coming off of a big win against the rival Louisville Cardinals and has the potential to produce six first-round NBA draft picks.

But there are still some tweaks that could be made to the Wildcats’ roster.

Some players deserve to see the floor more, while others should spend a bit more time honing their game on the bench. The Wildcats do not have a deep team right now, though, and mostly are searching for more players who can contribute key minutes.

Kentucky needs hustle, strength and toughness as it begins SEC play. Coach John Calipari knows this and will undoubtedly make a few changes to his rotation.

Here is a look at some players who could benefit from a change and others who could be left on the outside looking in.

Twany Beckham

The Mississippi State Bulldogs transfer was just declared eligible in December. While it may be true that there is still a bit of a learning curve for Twany Beckham, he could still be effective. 

Beckham played point guard for Mississippi State, and the Kentucky Wildcats desperately need a backup for Marquis Teague. 

If Beckham could play just 10-15 minutes a night, Teague would get a much-needed breather, and Doron Lamb would not have to abandon his true position of shooting guard to fill in at the point. 

Beckham understands how to play the position. It might take him a few more practices to learn Kentucky’s offense, but soon he should be on the court for longer stretches. 

Jarrod Polson

Sure, Jarrod Polson may not be quite as talented as the high school All-Americans and future NBA lottery draft picks he plays alongside, but he can still help the team.

Polson is a true point guard and has spent two years learning coach John Calipari’s system. He is a steady player and could contribute for more than a mere three minutes per game.

Much like Twany Beckham, Polson could spell point guard Marquis Teague when he needs a rest or if he gets in foul trouble.

Polson does not need to score in bunches. He simply needs to run the team, play good defense and know his role.

As he is from Kentucky, Polson already gets love from Kentucky Wildcats fans. At the very least, he could inject energy into the crowd and his teammates.

What team doesn’t need a scrappy guard, who is guaranteed to give his all every possession?

Kyle Wiltjer

Yes, Kyle Wiltjer can shoot threes. Yes, he has a hook shot that is reminiscent of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson (that he has attempted all of twice this season).

But Wiltjer simply should not be on the floor as much as he has been this season.

When a player can score points in bunches, it often covers up other flaws for fans. Wiltjer’s inadequacies are on the defensive end of the floor.

He is not strong or quick enough to match up with the skilled players the Kentucky Wildcats face. Time and again, opposing teams will attack Wiltjer in the post or on the perimeter because they know he cannot keep up.

Furthermore, Wiltjer cannot rebound at all. He is averaging less than three rebounds per game, despite often playing at the power forward position.

His scoring is helpful for the Wildcats, and he can certainly stretch defenses with his three-point shooting ability.

However, until Wiltjer proves that he is tough enough to guard and rebound against SEC opponents, he should not get much playing time.

Eloy Vargas

Eloy Vargas has all the raw tools necessary to be a key player for the Kentucky Wildcats. His problem is that he just hasn’t been able to put them all together and become a complete player yet. 

But Vargas should still get more playing time. Already this season, Vargas has shown improvement. He is strong underneath, plays solid defense and does not get the ball batted away from him on rebounds nearly as often as he used to.

Anthony Davis is a great player, but he is counted on to play a lot of minutes each game. Even he needs a breather from time to time, and that is where Vargas comes in.

Vargas is averaging three rebounds per game and should be able to play more than the 8.4 minutes per game he is currently averaging. 

Much of Vargas’ improvement this year can be attributed to his stint with the Dominican National Team over the summer. Through more playing time, Vargas learned and improved.

He should be given the same chance with the Wildcats.

Terrence Jones

The question, as always with Terrence Jones, is which player will show up?

Will it be the preseason All-American, who averaged 15 points and eight rebounds his freshman year?

Or will it be the erratic teenager who had six turnovers and one measly rebound against the Indiana Hoosiers? 

Jones is very skilled and, when he sets his mind to it, is a great contributor and one of the best players on the Kentucky Wildcats roster.

When he doesn’t show up for games, however, Jones is a liability who brings down the rest of the team.

If Jones can recover from a dislocated finger and play with the energy and determination he showed at the beginning of the season, by all means play him the 28 minutes per game he is currently averaging. 

But if Jones cannot rise to the occasion, coach John Calipari should put him on the bench in favor of other players who will hustle and help the team.

Darius Miller

With teammate Terrence Jones commencing his once-a-season disappearing act, the player that stands to gain the most is Darius Miller. 

Miller is one of just two seniors on the Kentucky Wildcats’ roster and has proven that he is a very skilled player who can help the team in a number of ways. 

Miller’s main problem has been that he is not consistent and is too often content to sit back and let his teammates run the show.

But since Jones’ disastrous outing against the Indiana Hoosiers and his injury in the next game, the stage has been set for Miller to emerge as a valuable part of the Wildcats team.

When Miller sets his mind to it, he can be a great player. He can drive into the lane and put up a beautiful mid-range jumper, snag key rebounds and find open teammates.

Clearly, Jones is still not 100 percent, opening the door for Miller’s increased playing time. The only question now is how much he can take advantage of his opportunity.