Kalib Boone Has Turned the Corner and Is Playing His Best Basketball
STILLWATER – To say Kalib Boone has had a resurgence on the court the past few weeks would be an understatement. The sophomore forward out of Tulsa Memorial has been playing some of the best basketball of his college career the past three games after posting some of the worst throughout the season.
Boone was asked a few weeks ago about his struggles to start the season and he surprised quite a few people saying he wasn’t in the right mindset. There aren’t too many athletes who would be willing to accept responsibility like that.
However, since he admitted his struggles, Ka. Boone has had a resurgence and posted an impressive 68 points and 30 rebounds in the last five games. The anomaly would be the two points and one rebound against Kansas.
"I think he’s playing with a little bit more clarity,” said head coach Mike Boynton. “I think he admitted his mind wasn’t focused on the right things a couple weeks ago. It’s hard to play this game, especially when you’re relied on to do a lot of other things without having the ball in your hands. So, if you’re frustrated about things that don’t matter, it’s really hard because lot of his job is to help his teammate first, and if you’re worried about how things are going for you too much, it’s hard to do that. So, he seems to be more engaged as a teammate and think that’s helped him have more individual success, and in turn, it’s helping our team, as well."
Kalib posted a career-high 21 points against Baylor a week ago, then posted his first career-double-double against Arkansas of 16-points and 12 rebounds. He also recorded a season-high three blocks.
"I feel good. Honestly, it's more just me doing the stuff that I know I need to do like running to the rim hard, post up, steal, really just the little things. Honestly, being active on defense. When I'm active on defense, it brings energy to Cade [Cunningham], [Isaac Likekele], [Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe], and Bryce [Williams] and everybody. So, then that gets me running, and when I run to the rim, I get easy points. Then I get opportunities to show I’m not a person only on the perimeter, I can get on the block and make a move and go score.”
There’s no doubt Kalib’s seemingly turned the corner this season, but he’s got a big test coming up on Wednesday against TCU. While the Horned Frogs are struggling this season, Boone and the rest of the Cowboys allowed TCU big man Kevin Samuel a season-high 18 points and seven blocks in the 77-76 loss back in Jan.
"Honestly, we can’t give him as much as we gave up last game we played him, which was like offensive rebounds and easy rolls to the rim and stuff,” Boone said of trying to limit TCU’s Kevin Samuel. “That first game I didn’t play with energy and I didn’t set a tone for the rest of the bigs. I’ve got to come in and set a tone for [Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe], Keylan (Boone) and Bernard (Kouma). I’ve just got to set a tone for the bigs. If I get punked then that gives Samuel motivation against the bigs. We’ve been playing good lately, so I’ve just got to step up from last time."
If Kalib is able to limit Samuel down low on both ends, added to the fact the Pokes are playing really good basketball right now, the Pokes will have a good chance to add to their Big 12 win column.