Mick Cronin didn’t hesitate when he was asked who would pick up the scoring slack next season in the wake of the Lance Stephenson’s decision to leave UC for the NBA after one year.
“Sean Kilpatrick is the answer for that,” the UC coach said. “That’s why he was red-shirted.”
That’s a lot of responsibility for a kid who has never played a minute of college basketball and hasn’t been in a competitive game for over a year, but Kilpatrick says he welcomes the challenge.
“I like the pressure,” Kilpatrick said. “It makes my coaches look at me a certain way, as somebody that takes the full responsibility to do whatever it takes to win. With him looking at me the same way he looks at Lance, that’s big shoes to fill, but I’m willing to do it.”
Kilpatrick said his redshirt year went quickly – “In the blink of an eye, it was over,” he said – but that’s not to say there weren’t some anxious moments when he wished he was playing, especially when the Bearcats were having trouble scoring consistently. Now that he’s gotten through the year, he’s glad he had the advantage of watching and learning for a year instead jumping right into the fray out of Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass.
“Sitting out taught me the game and it taught me a little more about what it takes and how you have to be on this level,” Kilpatrick said.
Kilpatrick was as surprised as everyone else when Stephenson decided to make himself eligible for the NBA draft.
“It was a shocker,” Kilpatrick said. “With me and him being roommates and me and him being so close the way we were, I didn’t think that he was going to leave. But I think it was best for him and his family. I looked at it like now that he’s gone, I’ve got to pick up a lot more slack, pick up what he left.
“I’d say our attitudes are the same. We’ve got the killer instinct attitude. I don’t know if that’s because of where we’re from, but I would say that our game is different. He’s a straight, get-to-the point guy. I’m a little bit smoother.
Kilpatrick, who averaged 28.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists during four years at White Plains High School, also appears more outgoing than Stephenson.
“He’s a leader,” Cronin said. “He’s got great character. He’s always been a scorer. He’s working hard on being a consistent perimeter shooter.”
Kilpatrick, who will turn 21 in January, says he’s working the mechanics of his shot and becoming a better defender.
“Coach (Larry) Davis and Coach Cronin are always telling me to shoot higher,” Kilpatrick said. “When I’m shooting, it’s like I’m shooting darts. I’m shooting right at the rim. I need a little bit more lift. Other than that, I can score the ball.”
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2010/05/03/kilpatrick-eager-to-show-what-he-can-do/
“Sean Kilpatrick is the answer for that,” the UC coach said. “That’s why he was red-shirted.”
That’s a lot of responsibility for a kid who has never played a minute of college basketball and hasn’t been in a competitive game for over a year, but Kilpatrick says he welcomes the challenge.
“I like the pressure,” Kilpatrick said. “It makes my coaches look at me a certain way, as somebody that takes the full responsibility to do whatever it takes to win. With him looking at me the same way he looks at Lance, that’s big shoes to fill, but I’m willing to do it.”
Kilpatrick said his redshirt year went quickly – “In the blink of an eye, it was over,” he said – but that’s not to say there weren’t some anxious moments when he wished he was playing, especially when the Bearcats were having trouble scoring consistently. Now that he’s gotten through the year, he’s glad he had the advantage of watching and learning for a year instead jumping right into the fray out of Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass.
“Sitting out taught me the game and it taught me a little more about what it takes and how you have to be on this level,” Kilpatrick said.
Kilpatrick was as surprised as everyone else when Stephenson decided to make himself eligible for the NBA draft.
“It was a shocker,” Kilpatrick said. “With me and him being roommates and me and him being so close the way we were, I didn’t think that he was going to leave. But I think it was best for him and his family. I looked at it like now that he’s gone, I’ve got to pick up a lot more slack, pick up what he left.
“I’d say our attitudes are the same. We’ve got the killer instinct attitude. I don’t know if that’s because of where we’re from, but I would say that our game is different. He’s a straight, get-to-the point guy. I’m a little bit smoother.
Kilpatrick, who averaged 28.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists during four years at White Plains High School, also appears more outgoing than Stephenson.
“He’s a leader,” Cronin said. “He’s got great character. He’s always been a scorer. He’s working hard on being a consistent perimeter shooter.”
Kilpatrick, who will turn 21 in January, says he’s working the mechanics of his shot and becoming a better defender.
“Coach (Larry) Davis and Coach Cronin are always telling me to shoot higher,” Kilpatrick said. “When I’m shooting, it’s like I’m shooting darts. I’m shooting right at the rim. I need a little bit more lift. Other than that, I can score the ball.”
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2010/05/03/kilpatrick-eager-to-show-what-he-can-do/
