In the world of college basketball, the term "Glue Guy" often gets tossed around, yet it's a bit elusive to pin down. These are the players who might not light up the scoreboard but are crucial to their team’s success. They're the ones who hold everything together, making the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
Enter Evan Miyakawa, a savvy analyst who uses a metric called BPR to measure a player's impact beyond just points per game. By setting a scoring cap at ten points, Miyakawa identifies those unsung heroes who excel in the less glamorous aspects of the game.
In his latest rankings of the top 25 Glue Guys in college basketball, two Kentucky Wildcats stand out: Malachi Moreno at No. 7 and Kam Williams at No. 17. These players have a knack for elevating their team's performance in ways that might not always show up in the box score.
Kentucky fans have felt Williams’ presence, especially as he began to shine during SEC play. Unfortunately, a foot injury has sidelined him, and while Coach Mark Pope is hopeful for a late-season return, it's uncertain.
Moreno, on the other hand, delivered one of the most unforgettable moments of Kentucky's season with a game-winning play against LSU, catching a full-court pass and scoring as time expired. Not bad for a freshman who wasn't expected to start but has proven his worth in 20 of 26 games.
With 44 blocks, he ranks third in the SEC, and his 6.5 rebounds per game show his growing influence. Despite facing challenges with the SEC's physicality, Moreno’s ability to facilitate the offense is what excites Coach Pope the most.
“Malachi is going to continue to grow in terms of his IQ with the game. I think inherently, he’s a really, really smart player,” Pope said.
“As he learns more, that’s going to be really focused, where he’s going to bring that to his team and be able to communicate guys into the right spots, right places, right reads. I think that’ll be a part of his growth as a leader.”
With injuries impacting the roster, Kentucky is leaning heavily on its stars. But it’s players like Moreno who make them a formidable opponent. As the postseason approaches, his development could be the key to Kentucky’s success.