Twany Beckham (Sun photo by Bo Morris) |
LEXINGTON — Twany Beckham is playing catch up with the rest of his Kentucky teammates.
“A lot of guys already have their roles established, but for me, I’ve just got to keep finding ways by working hard in practice so I can get in and help the team (win games),” he said. “But, I’m not going to look at it like that. Any chance I get, I’m going to try and help out and contribute in some kind of way.”
The Mississippi State transfer and former Louisville Ballard product has been waiting for his chance to play for the third-ranked Wildcats since he transfered last spring. He has endured a long wait, one that came to an end when he played three minutes in an 87-62 blowout over Chattanooga last Saturday at Rupp¿Arena. Beckham added seven minutes to his season tally Tuesday night when he pulled down three rebounds and dished out an assist in an 82-50 rout of Samford at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky hosts Loyola-Maryland at 1 today at Rupp Arena before taking a brief Christmas break.
As for Beckham, returning to the court has been a slow process, but one that he finds rewarding.
“It feels good to get out and get some minutes with the first team,” he said earlier this week. “I’ve just got to keep working hard every day and getting better so I can get more minutes (on the court).”
Beckham admitted that the wait has been a difficult one, but added that he’s ready to contribute to the team’s success during the remainder of the season.
“It was tough,” he said. “But, I watched my teammates come together, and (the wait) went by really fast. I just had to keep focused every day in practice on getting better and help the team.”
In his view, Beckham’s top priority off the bench is to provide a spark when he gets the call from Kentucky coach John Calipari.
“I want to bring a lot of energy,” he said. “With me and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the floor (at the same time), we can play defense and bring energy (in the game). Coach Calipari wants me to focus on defense right now, so I can bring energy and defense (into the game) and my offense will come and take care of itself. I’m not worried about my offense right now.”
Behind the scenes, Beckham’s main responsibility is defending starting guard Doron Lamb, which he admitted can be difficult, considering Lamb has led the team in scoring the past three games. In that three-game span, Lamb has scored 69 points and has increased his scoring average to 16.7 points per game. Beckham isn’t surprised by Lamb’s recent surge in the scoring column.
“He’s been putting a lot of extra work in,” Beckham said. “He’s been getting into the gym early and it’s showing and paying off in games. I guard him every day in practice and he makes tough shots on me and I feel like I’m pretty good defender. I’m not shocked with how well he’s been doing. He’s picked it up a notch.”
Along with Lamb, Beckham also is close to Kentucky forward Terrence Jones.
“I’ve been looking to both of them and Terrence has been helping me learn the plays,” he said. “I’ve been looking up to both of them.”
In addition to his progression, Beckham said the team is improving as a unit.
“Every day in practice, we’re getting better,” he said. “Coach Cal doesn’t let us settle and we’ve been going hard in practice. I think we’re getting better, especially defensively.”
“A lot of guys already have their roles established, but for me, I’ve just got to keep finding ways by working hard in practice so I can get in and help the team (win games),” he said. “But, I’m not going to look at it like that. Any chance I get, I’m going to try and help out and contribute in some kind of way.”
The Mississippi State transfer and former Louisville Ballard product has been waiting for his chance to play for the third-ranked Wildcats since he transfered last spring. He has endured a long wait, one that came to an end when he played three minutes in an 87-62 blowout over Chattanooga last Saturday at Rupp¿Arena. Beckham added seven minutes to his season tally Tuesday night when he pulled down three rebounds and dished out an assist in an 82-50 rout of Samford at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky hosts Loyola-Maryland at 1 today at Rupp Arena before taking a brief Christmas break.
As for Beckham, returning to the court has been a slow process, but one that he finds rewarding.
“It feels good to get out and get some minutes with the first team,” he said earlier this week. “I’ve just got to keep working hard every day and getting better so I can get more minutes (on the court).”
Beckham admitted that the wait has been a difficult one, but added that he’s ready to contribute to the team’s success during the remainder of the season.
“It was tough,” he said. “But, I watched my teammates come together, and (the wait) went by really fast. I just had to keep focused every day in practice on getting better and help the team.”
In his view, Beckham’s top priority off the bench is to provide a spark when he gets the call from Kentucky coach John Calipari.
“I want to bring a lot of energy,” he said. “With me and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist on the floor (at the same time), we can play defense and bring energy (in the game). Coach Calipari wants me to focus on defense right now, so I can bring energy and defense (into the game) and my offense will come and take care of itself. I’m not worried about my offense right now.”
Behind the scenes, Beckham’s main responsibility is defending starting guard Doron Lamb, which he admitted can be difficult, considering Lamb has led the team in scoring the past three games. In that three-game span, Lamb has scored 69 points and has increased his scoring average to 16.7 points per game. Beckham isn’t surprised by Lamb’s recent surge in the scoring column.
“He’s been putting a lot of extra work in,” Beckham said. “He’s been getting into the gym early and it’s showing and paying off in games. I guard him every day in practice and he makes tough shots on me and I feel like I’m pretty good defender. I’m not shocked with how well he’s been doing. He’s picked it up a notch.”
Along with Lamb, Beckham also is close to Kentucky forward Terrence Jones.
“I’ve been looking to both of them and Terrence has been helping me learn the plays,” he said. “I’ve been looking up to both of them.”
In addition to his progression, Beckham said the team is improving as a unit.
“Every day in practice, we’re getting better,” he said. “Coach Cal doesn’t let us settle and we’ve been going hard in practice. I think we’re getting better, especially defensively.”
