And The Giant responds ...

It was not two games hence that I posited the possibility that Shagari Alleyne -- whose classroom problems were perhaps only mildly worse than his on the court troubles -- was quickly on his way to obsolescence at the University of Kentucky. More than simply not producing, he was in danger of being left behind, both figuratively and literally.

What a difference a week makes.

Last night, Alleyne displayed the sort of promising array of skills that has had Kentucky fans predicting potential all-SEC honors for the gangly New Yorker for almost a year. Alleyne took advantage of a preposterous height advantage (the tallest opposing player was 6'11", but played only three minutes) and some extended minutes to tally a career-high 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting and 4-for-4 on free throws in UK's 73-46 dismantling of the Georgia State Panthers.

It was a rare road game at a smaller school for Tubby Smith's crew, and early on it seemed as if an embarassing loss to North Carolina might pale in comparison to a blowout defeat in Atlanta. But the Cats went on an 11-0 run to offset an early 11-0 deficit -- sparked by Alleyne's offensive play -- and hardly looked back.

The return of a banged-up Joe Crawford was also crucial, especially as star guard Rajon Rondo had to sit out with a case of strep throat. Crawford also reached his career best, scoring 14 points to equal his outburst in last year's SEC tournament semis win over LSU. Crawford also grabbed 7 big rebounds, and showed the kind of talent and offensive explosiveness that had many (myself included) touting him as a potential breakout player in the preseason. A productive Crawford would have meant a huge difference in a sluggish early season slate, and even 10-12 points a game from Joe C might mean the difference in a lot of close games and a few 10-point wins come SEC time.


But the story on Tuesday was definitely Shagari, and to a lesser extent rebounding in general. Realistic fans should remind the overzealous fanbase that Georgia State is no Duke, nor are they even North Carolina -- a team, by the way, that many people will consider laughably underrated come March. But what Kentucky needed after the home loss Saturday was a win, and a convincing one. They got it, thanks to the contributions of some much maligned players.

Alleyne is principal among them. The 7'3" beanpole had been terribly inneffective in this, his junior campaign. With the absence of last year's starter, Randolph Morris, the center job seemed ripe for the taking, and most figured the game-changing abilities of Alleyne would prevail over the occasionally competent stylings of the regular Pole, Lukasz Obrzut. But it was Woo who started the first few games, and who got the start on Tuesday. While Obrzut had his moments against GSU, finally showing some hustle and willingness to bang, Alleyne was a revelation. Shagari possesses something Woo just doesn't: the ability to alter the structure of the game. Woo is a bigger version of Bobby Perry or Sheray Thomas, a good player when on and a forgettable one when not. Alleyne, even when he's lost, can block shots and/or alter them. This ability alone makes him NBA draftable, and even a cursory amount of offense makes the Woo-Shag competition moot.

Tubby's decision to start Woo repeatedly has to have something to do with his play in practice, but to fans it seems baffling. In fact, the starting five for last night's game was as predictably lacking as it was unpredictably put together. Any observer, casual or otherwise, would be hard-pressed to look at game film, a paper printout of the roster or even a team photo and say that Patrick Sparks, Perry, Thomas, Obrzut and Ravi Moss -- the on-again, off-again walk on -- is the best team Smith could put together to start the game. Even if one were going on defensive ability and/or ignoring the talent gaps, that five simply possesses few of the necessary characteristics and seemingly none of the mettle to open a game strong. If trailing 11-0 to Georgia State didn't prove that to Tubby, I'm not sure what will.

Alleyne still can't play 30 minutes a game, and against smaller defenders he is still too often pushed around, but his little jump hook from 10 feet, if consistent, is unblockable. And the increasingly familiar play of "throw it near the rim and he'll dunk it" provides a nice safety valve for UK's penetrating guards.

With a big nationally televised tilt against Indiana, and stellar forward Marco Killingsworth, looming on Saturday, getting some consistency out of any of the UK big men would be huge. Killingsworth is not a big man, though he is bulky. A shot blocking presence could disrupt his game tremendously. He may be too quick or too strong for Alleyne, but he may not be tall enough for that to matter. In any event, seeing a solid Shagari brought many of the unsettled UK fans back to something resembling equilibrium, at least temporarily.

One wonders what a Kentucky team with a productive Shagari, a healthy and effective Crawford, a non-sick Rondo and a head-in-the-game Sparks might be capable of. Certainly, you'd think beating UNC at home would be a start. Toss in a reinstated Morris and maybe, just maybe, those heart palpitations you could feel vibrating all the way from Central Kentucky would slow to a manageable rhythm once more.