Kentucky’s DJ Wagner is ‘Back in the Flow of Things’ at Just the Right Time
It’s safe to say that DJ Wagner is back. It’s coming at the right time.
Wagner finished with 11 points on 4-for-8 shooting, including 3-for-5 from three in Kentucky’s 93-77 win over Vanderbilt on Wednesday. He also had four rebounds and five assists in what could be his last game at Rupp Arena.
“I don’t know if it’s comfortable, but really feeling like I’m back in the flow of things,” Wagner said postgame. “I’m getting a lot of reps up, playing, and catching my wind and stuff like that. I felt pretty good when I first came back as well.”
Wagner was sidelined for multiple weeks with an ankle injury over two separate stretches over the course of the season. This marks his third consecutive game in double-figures.
“It helps a lot, just having that momentum going into the postseason,” Wagner said. “The postseason is coming right up. It means a lot. I feel like we just have to keep this momentum and keep this confidence.”
DJ Wagner is Starting to Hit Threes
DJ Wagner hasn’t been known as a great three-point shooter. However, he’s started to hit a groove from outside, shooting 9-for-14 from three over the past three games. Wagner attributes his improved shooting to his confidence. He had confidence when his shot wasn’t falling, so he’s sure to have confidence now.
“Confidence is always the most important thing, no matter if you’re missing shots or if you’re making shots,” he said. “It’s always important to stay confident no matter how many shots you miss. That’s something my coaches and teammates have been stressing to me a lot. It’s all about staying in the gym. That’s where you get your comfortability.”
That practice has turned his shooting into “muscle memory.” Even when he battled his toughest shooting slumps over the course of the season, those around him helped get him through it.
“I had coaches and teammates that told me to stay confident,” Wagner said. “Don’t lose that confidence because once you lose that confidence, what else are you going to rely on?”
Wagner is Getting More Comfortable
It’s never easy to miss a shot, but DJ Wagner is getting better at moving on after a miss. He’s not worried about the last shot and instead is focused on the next one.
“It was hard. It’s always hard,” Wagner said. “You miss a shot, there’s always a thought in the back of your mind. Dang, I’ve got to hit the next one. You can’t worry about that. you’ve just got to worry about the other things and not focus on making or missing shots. That doesn’t determine the game and how you play.”
With likely his final game at Rupp Arena in the books, Wagner is realizing how fast the season went by. It was just a few months ago that he was making his college debut.
“That just means we’re having fun,” he said. “Just knowing how fast it went by and how many games we’ve played in here, it just feels like there are a lot of games left. It went by fast for sure.”
Thursday night’s game was extra special for Wagner and his family Although Wagner is a freshman, his half-brother Kareem Watkins is a senior. Since it was Senior Night, Watkins and Wagner got to start alongside each other for the first time in their UK careers.
“That meant a lot,” Wagner said. “That’s my brother. I grew up with him. He’s been my blood brother since we were babies. Just getting to step on the college court with him is a blessing in itself. That’s what some people dream of, even just going to college with your brother. I was able to play in a college basketball game, at Kentucky at that. It’s just a blessing in itself. We’re both just grateful.”
‘He’s Back to Himself’
Among the players on Kentucky’s team who have noticed the effort that DJ Wagner has put into getting back on the court, it’s Antonio Reeves. The senior guard told reporters afterward that he’s seeing the work from Wagner and it’s paying off.
“He’s done a really good job,” Reeves said. “I’ve seen him in the gym each and every day, getting up 500 to 1,000 shots a day. [He’s] just working on it. He’s back to himself.”
Reeves said that Calipari “says all the time” that the team is glad to have Wagner back. It’s something he’s said to the team several times.
“We all see it as well because he’s knocking down shots consistently,” Reeves said. “We all know he could do that.”
Over the past three games, Wagner is averaging 13.3 points, three assists, and two rebounds per game in 26 minutes per game. He’s finding his rhythm at the right time this season.
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