Lead guard leads Media Day questions

Reporters wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter at Kentucky basketball’s annual Media Day on Wednesday.

The very first question (courtesy of Alan Cutler of Lexington’s NBC television affiliate) was to the point: Billy, who’s your point guard?

Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie acknowledged the obvious. He doesn’t know yet. The answer must come after pre-season practice, a Blue-White scrimmage, two exhibition games and, most likely, several regular-season games. With the likely floor leader, Derrick Jasper, gone to UNLV, Kentucky will need time to find a replacement.

“I like the guys we have,” Gillispie said. The candidates include highly-regarded (and soft-spoken) freshman DeAndre Liggins, affable junior college transfer Kevin Galloway, junior Michael Porter and — surprise — junior Jodie Meeks.

The coaches spoke earlier that morning about Meeks, a shooting guard who missed practically all of last season because of various injuries.

“I don’t want to put any limits on him in any respect,” Gillispie said when asked about Meeks as a point guard.

The UK coach did not make it sound like Meeks would be UK’s primary point guard (or as Gillispie’s prefers, “lead” guard). But the UK coach made it sound like Meeks could be the decision-maker at times.

“He’ll initiate offense” at times, Gillispie said.

The UK coach spoke of wanting Meeks to be heavily invested in this season’s team.

“I just expect a humongous year from him based on what we’ve seen so far,” Gillispie said.

Meeks sounded willing to play point guard, but he was sensitive to the feelings of the presumed major candidates.

“I think I can do it in different situations,” Meeks said. “As far as being the main point guard, I wouldn’t want to do that.”

When asked why not, Meeks said, “Because we have Kevin Galloway, DeAndre Liggins and Michael Porter.”

Gillispie spoke of Liggins and Galloway as “very talented” players who needed to work on the subtle aspects of the position.

“Both have a lot to learn at this level,” the UK coach said. “That’s what you’d expect. You’re not going to come in and be a total commander.”

At this early stage, no point guard candidate has a hold on the position.

“They’re just trying to swim as hard as they can upstream,” Gillispie said. “We’ll teach them exactly what we want them to think, what we want them expressing to their teammates.

“They have tons of natural ability. They just lack experience. They’ll play extremely well. At times they’ll have some hiccups. That’s just the growing process.”

Gillispie mentioned the point guard position first when he talked about questions regarding the team. He also spoke of finding shooters, major roles for new players and two key players (Patrick Patterson and Meeks) coming off injury.

Gillispie gave Galloway an advantage in terms of experience. Galloway played for Southern Cal as a freshman, then for the College of Southern Idaho.

“In terms of team defense, he knows where to be already,” Gillispie said. “That’s a major, major, major plus for him. . . . You can count on him to be a good defender.”

Galloway recoiled from the suggestion that the experience gave him an advantage on Liggins. “I don’t have an edge,” he said. “We can help each other get better.

Although he’s 6-foot-6, Galloway has played point guard on the high school, Division I and junior college levels. He recalled playing the position as the only freshman on a senior-laden high school team. He noted how the older players help ease the transition.

“It was a little scary,” he said. “They showed me the ropes. They guided me through the whole year.”

Liggins conceded the advantage Galloway has in experience.

Each player noted how being lead guard requires the player to think like the coach.

“Play hard and take care of that basketball,” Galloway said. “If you make a decision, make sure it helps the team.”

Liggins acknowledged that he’ll probably have difficult moments as a freshman.

“I’ll make mistaekes,” he said. “Coach knows that, too. But coach will make me better.”

Even with his soft-spoken demeanor and a celebrated high school career, Liggins said he could handle a demanding college coach like Gillispie. It was noted that another freshman who fit that description, Alex Legion, transferred from UK at the semester break last year.

“I’m very competitive,” Liggins said, “and coach knows that. I will never give up.”