LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Saturday against Portland, Ryan Harrow put together his best game yet in a Kentucky uniform. If the Cats are to put together a successful season, even better play from Harrow is a must.

Harrow played 25 minutes against Portland and finished with 8 points and 6 assists. Coach John Calipari said he liked it, with a couple exceptions. "He had two lapses of his old self and I absolutely jerked him out of the game because he's not playing that way."

Harrow said his lapses are stopping on defense and not being vocal enough. He practiced last season with the Cats after transferring from North Carolina State, but defense remains the biggest challenge. "Coach Cal always says that's the hard thing to do, so everybody tries to go around doing the hard thing. But this is kind of new for me playing defense hard all the time, so I'm just trying to focus on that."

Harrow was sidelined in November with an unknown illness, then he left Lexington briefly to attend to a personal matter. Since his return to the team he's putting in more extra time and listening to Cal. "I'm just starting to listen to him more and accpet what he's saying and doing what's best for the team."