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UK Basketball: Auburn could use junk defense on Meeks

January 19, 2009|LARRY VAUGHT

LEXINGTON - If Jodie Meeks starts making as many shots Wednesday as he did in his school-record 54-point game at Tennessee, he'll likely see a gimmick defense from Auburn.

Coach Jeff Lebo said he's used a box-and-one defense before at Auburn against a prolific scorer like Meeks has turned into.

"The junk defenses are what they are aptly named. They are junk. They don't work against everybody," said Lebo Monday. "Against him at times, if he is really going off like the Tennessee game, I would have played a triangle and two and put two guys on him. But I don't think you can live in those things."

Neither does Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie even though he's been preparing his team to see a gimmick defense because of the way Meeks has been scoring. He's fourth nationally in scoring average at 25.7 points per game, fifth in the nation in 3-point goals made with 70 and leads the Southeastern Conference in free throw percentage at 90.8. He was named SEC Player of the Week for the third time this season this week.

Gillispie said he never expected Meeks, who missed most of last year with various injuries, to play as well as he has.

"I thought he would have a great year because of the way he did come back. I could tell he was 100 percent in the summer. He had a different look about him," the Kentucky coach said. "But to be honest, I don't think anyone could expect a guy who averaged the amount of points he did (last year) to do what he has for us.

"I love his energy level. He has a great disposition and he always has a smile on his face. I don't know if I have seen anybody use more energy for 40 minutes offensively, defensively and running the court than him. He has just been scoring the basketball like crazy. We expected him to have a good year, but to this point we could not have expected this much."

Lebo senses that Meeks is playing with such confidence - he's hitting 44 percent from 3-point range - because he can score more than one way.

"His shooting percentages are staggering. He is doing it and everybody knows he is going to get it. That's when you know you are in a zone," Lebo said. "He's still getting shots and being very efficient. Look at his ability to get to the free throw line. He leads them in attempts (120) at the guard spot.

"He is just hard to defend. When he is shooting the ball from the perimeter and is so strong and explosive with his first step, he can use his body well and just looks for fouls. He is also scoring very well in transition. He's getting 3's, taking the ball to the basket, scoring off offensive rebounds. He is scoring every which way you can score. You have to try and keep him somewhat under control if you can."

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