Cal lauds Wake point guard as Downey-esque

Kentucky Coach John Calipari compared Wake Forest point guard Ishmael Smith to South Carolina guard Devan Downey.

“He’s (the) Devan Downey that beat us at South Carolina,” Calipari said.

Smith’s buzzer-beater enabled Wake Forest to beat Texas in overtime in Thursday’s first round. That’s at least the fourth game-winning shot he’s made in his college career.

Texas Coach Rick Barnes referred to Smith as a “one-man fastbreak.” Smith’s speed led the media to debate on Friday whether Smith or Wall was the fastest point guard in college basketball.

“John Wall. Derrick Rose. He’s fast,” Calipari said of Smith. “Seems like a great kid and a good player and scorer, and gets his teammates involved and brings it the whole game.”