Kentucky Basketball: What Makes Karl-Anthony Towns so Dominant Down Low?

The saying may suggest that we should see the forest through the trees, but what if one of the individual trees is so special that it deserves the occasional attention over the larger picture?

If the race for an undefeated season and national championship is the forest for this year’s Kentucky Wildcats, then Karl-Anthony Towns is the individual tree who deserves more attention. In sum, let’s not get so caught up in the quest for the perfect record that we run the risk of overlooking an absolute superstar in his (likely) one year of college.

Towns is a topic of discussion now because he went through something of an abbreviated story of redemption during the final 10 minutes of the victory over LSU Wednesday. 

The Wildcats were in control of the game with an eight-point lead in the second half when Towns picked up an ill-advised technical foul for hanging on the rim. Safe to say, coach John Calipari was not pleased, as Scott Rabalais of The Advocate noted:

Naturally, the Tigers went on an extended 16-0 run, much of which came with Towns on the bench, and took a six-point lead with seven minutes remaining. Rob Dauster of NBC Sports recognized the need to put Towns back in the game before it was too late:

That is exactly what Calipari did, and the result was perfect for the Wildcats. Towns gave the offense another weapon down low, cleaned up on the boards and made two of the most important plays of the entire game.

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

He hit a baby-hook shot with 1:33 remaining in the game to give the Wildcats the lead for good and then shut down a drive attempt on the other end with 50 seconds remaining to force a shot clock violation. One Devin Booker free throw and Keith Hornsby miss later, and the Wildcats walked away with a heart-stopping 71-69 win.

Calipari discussed the journey for Towns, according to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com: "I'm proud of Karl because he came back and grew up. Now I doubt -- ever in his life -- will he chin-up on a basket, ever again. But that's why I looked like an idiot on the sideline and why I refused to call timeout. I even said, 'I hope we lose. Watch this!"

It is not like this was Towns’ first impressive game of the season, either, and he is playing some of his best basketball as the season heads toward March and the postseason.

He scored in double figures in his last four contests and racked up a double-double in two of those. During that span, he is shooting 58 percent from the field, and he is also averaging 11.33 rebounds in the last three games.

Some freshmen hit a wall as the long college basketball season progresses, but Towns is hitting his stride.

Basketball Reference pointed out that Towns is in some impressive statistical company:

So how is it that Towns is such an unstoppable force?

It starts with his physical makeup at 6’11” and 250 pounds, but it is his wingspan and reach that make him so effective. Per DraftExpress, he checks in with a 7'3.5" wingspan and a massive 9'5" standing reach, which help him grab boards that most players could never dream of reaching and control the paint as a shot-blocking menace.

That reach is also the main reason he is able to hit ridiculously smooth hook shots like the one that ended LSU’s upset bid Wednesday.

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The athleticism that goes with that frame is what makes him such an enticing NBA prospect and why DraftExpress has him as the No. 4 pick in its latest 2015 mock draft. The Anthony Davis comparisons are easy because of the Kentucky connection, but Towns sometimes gets out in transition like a guard and has an ability to contort his lengthy frame in the air to find the best finishing angles to score on the low blocks.

It is more than just the athleticism and physical tools that make Towns special, though.

He has a unique offensive skill set that few (if any) college players can match, regardless of his status as a freshman. It was on full display in the LSU game when he came back in the contest with his team down six and drilled a fadeaway jumper from the top of the key to stop the bleeding and then used his impressive footwork and post moves to maneuver his way to a basket in the paint.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

If he can hit from the outside and overpower defenders down low, there is really no way to stop him other than hope the shot doesn’t go in. Throw in the soft touch he demonstrates around the basket, and Towns has the potential to be the entire package.

The defensive prowess is easier to explain once fans have a grasp of the wingspan and athleticism combination.

He has the speed and lateral quickness to cover the entire baseline in a matter of moments and the reach to swat any shot within his vicinity. Shot blocking is a skill that typically translates to the next level, and whichever team drafts Towns will find that out rather quickly.

Ultimately, we are talking about someone who is nearly 7'0" tall and has the athleticism of a versatile guard or forward and a diverse skill set that helps him dominate overmatched opponents on both ends. It is simply unfair to expect anyone at the college level to realistically stop him on a nightly basis. 

Perhaps NBA bigs will have better luck next season.

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