Roy Williams has often said college basketball players make their biggest improvement between their freshman and sophomore years.
In terms of sophomore Michael Lee, Williams couldn’t be more right.
“I think the biggest thing (about my improvement) was just getting on the court and getting some game time experience,” Lee said. “I think the difference was getting a little bit more time early in the season.”
As a freshman last year, Lee played in 27 of KU’s 37 games. He was held out in close NCAA Tournament games against Holy Cross, Illinois, and Maryland. This season, Lee has been in double-figure minutes for all but three of the Jayhawks’ 36 games, including the last 32 straight.
“I’ve come a long way since the beginning of the year,” Lee said. “It’s a daily progression kind of thing, from game to game.”
Lee’s breakout game might have been KU’s loss to Oregon early last December in his hometown of Portland, Ore. Lee scored a career-high 11 points by hitting three of five shots and four of five free throws in 20 minutes of duty.
The most Lee played as a freshman was 10 minutes in KU’s second game of the season against Houston in the Maui Classic.
“I think the best teacher is experience, and I’ve had a lot more experience this season,” Lee said. “I think that’s really helped me.”
Aaron Miles, Lee’s teammate in high school and at KU, has always had confidence in his friend since the third grade, even when he was playing mop-up minutes.
“You could always tell Mike was a player,” Miles said. “He’s going to get out there and play as hard as he can, no matter who he’s matched up against. He’s going to give it his all.”
Given the chance to play more this year, Lee improved his statistics dramatically. He has gone from averaging 1.2 points per game in 2001-02 to 4.7 this season and since the Oregon game has twice scored 11 points. More recently, Lee nailed three of four shots from the field and all of his free throws in KU’s second-round NCAA Tournament win against Arizona State, finishing with 10 points.
Lee says he is grateful to Williams for the added playing time.
“I made a lot of mistakes early on, but I loved to get out there and try to figure things out,” Lee said.
Williams has been pleased with Lee’s improvement and hopes he doesn’t suffer a setback in New Orleans.
“Michael Lee, knock on wood, has really played well for the last month,” Williams said.
Lee, part of Williams’ seven-player rotation, will fill the Jayhawks’ sixth-man role at the Final Four.
