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UK Basketball: Extra shots a boost for Dodson
By Marty Warren
February 5, 2010

LEXINGTON — Of all of the players Mississippi coach Andy Kennedy didn’t expect to beat his team, it was Darnell Dodson.

The Ole Miss coach expected to see John Wall, Patrick Patterson, DeMarcus Cousins or Eric Bledsoe with the ball in critical situations. However, it was Dodson, making his second straight start of the season, who delivered the crunching blow to the Rebels’ comeback attempt.

“He was the player of the game in my opinion,” Kennedy said. “He’s a guy you can spend 30 minutes of your scouting report and his name will not come up. He made some big ones I thought. We cut it to three and he raises up and knocked in a big shot.”

Did he ever.

All Dodson did was hit 4 of 5 shots — all from 3-point range — 2-of-2 free tosses, had three rebounds and one assist with no turnovers in 16 minutes of playing time. Last week in his first start against Vanderbilt, he was 5-of-8 overall from the field, 4-of-8 from 3-point range, 2-of-2 from the charity stripe, collected seven rebounds and once again had no turnovers in 30 minutes of playing time for 16 points.

“When he had an opportunity to score he took advantage of it,” the Ole Miss coach said.

Dodson said he found out just before game time that he was starting again, and wanted to make the most of the opportunity.

“I just wanted to come out with the same intensity,” he said. “The coaches told me that if I played with the same intensity as John (Wall), I would never come off of the floor. I liked hearing that. I try to stay as active as I can on the offensive end of the floor. It’s sort of a give and take situation. We want to get in inside to (Cousins and Patterson), and if they kick it back out to shoot the 3. I can see where it is paying off. I am feeling comfortable on the wing”

Since starting, Dodson said he is staying around after practice to shoot.

“I put up as many as 200 or 300 shots in many varieties to try to improve my game,” Dodson said. “It’s more of a confidence booster than anything. Eventually, all of that work will pay off.”

And the sophomore from Greenbelt, Md. readily admits he isn’t gun shy about shooting.

“I prepare to shoot it every time I touch it,” he said. “I look at every shot as if it is going in.”

His quick release on his shot makes it harder for teams to come out and guard him.

“I’ve always had a quick release. When people realize I can shoot they are trying to get out on me quicker. That opens other chances to me to get it inside if (our opponents) get out on me.”

As Kentucky coach John Calipari said, that’s just the attitude he wants to see.

“It makes a big difference when he hits shots,” the Kentucky coach said. “He creates the gap we need.”

Dodson admitted it is a lot easier for him to get in the flow of the game as a starter, but he is willing to do whatever the coaches want him to do..

“I do think I play better when I start, but that is not for me to decide,” he said. “I’m having a lot of fun. Being 21-1 helps. So far, we have handled all of the expectations. We just have to keep playing. We know that every game our opponent is going to gives us their best game.”

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