BJ Boston supported a promising performance in Georgia with another good game tonight, scoring 18 points and combining with six rebounds, three assists, a block, a steal and zero turnovers in 34 minutes. The freshman had 7-17 on the ground (2-7 out of three) and when LSU made his comeback in the second half to cut Kentucky’s lead to five, Boston scored straight eight to push the lead back to double digits.
“I always thought of myself as the guy who can help the team, I just do everything I can to help the team win, honestly,” said Boston later. “Whether I’m scoring, hitting or helping, playing defense.”
Boston’s work ethic has long been observed by its coaches and teammates. At the beginning of the season, he founded the “Breakfast Club” and, after Kentucky’s recent struggles, the story of him being in the gym on Monday night circulated and was mentioned again in tonight’s broadcast. On Friday, Boston said that working more at the gym is “the only thing that helps me escape from reality”, and tonight, we had more proof that it is paying off.
“I would just say my work ethic,” said Boston of what he “clicked” for him this week. “I’ve only been working hard, taking it day after day, just remaining humble, keeping my head down, keeping my balance. Just believe what my team is doing, believe what my coaches are telling us to do. “
That said, Boston still hasn’t broken all of its bad habits. At the end of the first half, he tried one of his inverted shots near the edge, which drove John Calipari totally crazy on the sides.
“Did you see that flip he gave in the first half?” Calipari said when asked about Boston’s performance. “I went crazy. – You are not going back to that guy. This guy left the building. You will be the guy we continue to train you to be. That is who you are. ‘And now, downhill runner, make fouls, go over the edge. Suddenly, you look like one of the best players in the country. The wandering squiggles that get nothing but a tray on the other side? No. We are not having this anymore. So when he turned around, I went crazy. It was one against two, Dontaie was open and he did a flipsy. I was furious. I jumped back. He said, ‘We won’t go back to that.’ So again, I’m trying to hold these guys accountable and, thank God, I can do that while we’re winning. “
“When I did that, he lost control, but I just heard him,” said Boston of the flip shot. “And when I came back, I got the e-one and it was just over there.”
Baby steps.