This is getting tight:
132. Morehead St: 13-5
146. Murray St: 7-10
148. W. Kentucky: 13-4
198. E. Kentucky: 8-9
214. E. Tenn. St: 9-8
221. Austin Peay: 8-10
286. Mid. Tenn.; St: 6-11
320. Tennessee Tech: 7-11
Meanwhile, here's the Classic SEC after UK's 97-92 overtime loss in College Station:
4. Auburn: 14-2
6. Alabama: 11-5
8. Tennessee: 12-4
19. Kentucky: 12-3
29. Mississippi St: 12-4
60. Florida: 11-5
70. Mississippi: 15-1
75. Georgia: 12-4
82. Louisiana St: 10-6
191. Vanderbilt: 5-11
OK, let's compare this year's UK team to the last really great team the Cats had -- the 2019 team with Tyler Herro and others who went to the Elite Eight and lost in overtime to Auburn.
Offensive Efficiency:
2019: 117.6 (14th in the country)
2024: 119.6 (8th in the country)
This year's team is slightly better on offense, but it gets there in a very different way. In 2019, the Cats were 8th in offensive rebound percentage and 14th in free throw rate. On the other hand, they only shot 35.4 percent from 3-point range and only 52.9 percent from 2-point range. This year's team shoots 39.8 percent from 3-point range and 55.3 percent from 2-point range. They only turn the ball over 12.8 percent of the time, while the 2019 team turned it over 18.6 percent of the time. Put it all together and it's a slight edge for this year's team.
Defensive Efficiency:
2019; 90.1 (8th in the country)
2024: 98.7 (54th in the country)
This is the problem, right here. The Cats are not good on defense, as everyone saw last Saturday. And the problem is on the interior. In 2019, UK's opponents made 46.6 percent of their 2-point shots -- this year that figure is 49.0. In 2019, UK's opponents got offensive rebounds 25.5 percent of the time -- this year that figure is 28.5. Last year, UK was 28th in the country in giving up free throws -- this year it is 162d.
Can it get better? Maybe, but we aren't seeing much improvement so far.
In a game played early due to weather, Tennessee crushes Florida 85-66 in Knoxville. The Vols move to 3-1 in the SEC, the Gators fall to 1-3. Tennessee is really good.
ReplyDeleteLast year's Tennessee team got to the Sweet 16 and finished at number 6 on Ken Pom -- the best finish for the Vols in Ken Pom's database, which goes back to 1997. Right now UT is at number 5, so on paper at least, this is the best team they've had in a very long time.
ReplyDeleteUT v. UK:
ReplyDeleteOffensive efficiency:
Kentucky: 119.6 (8th in the country)
Tennessee: 117.2 (19th)
Defensive efficiency:
Kentucky 98.7 (54th in the country)
Tennessee: 91.2 (3d)
Meanwhile, Purdue is pounding Indiana in Assembly Hall. The Boilermakers lead 48 to 29. According to Ken Pom, since 1997 Purdue is the 22d best program in America. Indiana is 24th. Tennessee is 15th. Kentucky is 2d.
ReplyDeleteKen Pom's top 20 since 1997:
ReplyDelete1. Duke (Champs in 2001, 2010, and 2015)
2. Kentucky (1998, 2012)
3. Kansas (2008, 2022)
4. N. Carolina (2005, 2009, 2017)
5. Michigan St (2000)
6. Gonzaga
7. Arizona (1997)
8. Villanova (2016, 2018)
9. Ohio St.
10. Connecticut (1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, 2023)
11. U.C.L.A.
12 Louisville (2013)
13. Texas
14. Florida (2006, 2007)
15. Tennessee
16. Michigan
17. Virginia (2019)
18. Illinois
19. Wisconsin
20. Baylor (2021)
K-Pom has Alabama beating Mizzou 89-72 in Tuscaloosa, but the Tide's lead is only 48 to 44 with 15 minutes left.
ReplyDeleteAlabama pulls away to win 93-75. Don't mess with Ken Pom.
ReplyDeleteOther SEC scores from last night:
ReplyDeleteArkansas 78 - 77 Texas A & M (The Aggies were 6-29 on 3's)
S. Carolina 69 - 74 Georgia (The Dawgs are 3-1)
UK fans are apparently in for drama tonight. K-Pom has the Cats by only 80 to 75 against Mississippi State. It's supposed to be the second-most dramatic game of the night, trailing only UConn v. Creighton.
ReplyDeleteThe Cats beat Mississippi State 90-77, which is the same score they had against Mizzou last week. UK was up 47-29 at the half, let MSU get to within 49-43, and then put the game away.
ReplyDeleteKentucky:
ReplyDelete7-23 from 3-point range (30.4 percent)
23-31 from 2-point range (74.2 percent)
23-27 from the line (85.2 percent)
90 points, 33 rebounds, 10 turnovers
Mississippi St:
9-27 from 3-point range (33.3 percent)
22-42 from 2-point range (52.4 percent)
6-10 from the line (60 percent)
77 points, 33 rebounds, 9 turnovers
The Cats allowed 14 offensive rebounds, and only got seven of their own. MSU's best play was to shoot a three. If the three went in, they got three points. If they missed, they probably got the rebound and scored anyway.
ReplyDeleteStill, this is a good result for Ken Pom, who had UK winning by 80 to 75. They have moved from 19 to 17 on Ken Pom's rankings.
ReplyDeleteAfter UConn crushed Creighton tonight, the Blue Jays fell to 17, so the Cats are now up to number 16.
DeleteK-Pom has the Cats going 10-5 the rest of the way, finishing with a record of 12-6 in Conference in 23-8 overall.
DeleteAntonio Reeves was the K-Pom MVP tonight. Reeves had 27 points and 4 rebounds in 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteKentucky fans are really going to miss this offense when the season's over. Tonight they scored 90 points in only 69 possessions -- a rate of 1.3 points per possession.
ReplyDeleteK-Pom now gives the Cats an offensive rating of 121.2 -- 4th in the country. Unfortunately, their defensive rating fell to 99.6 -- 61st in the country.
ReplyDeleteCats are now 13-3 overall and 3-1 in the SEC. Last year at this stage they were 10-6 overall and 1-3 after losing at home to South Carolina.
ReplyDeleteLSU wins at home, beating Ole Miss 89 to 80.
ReplyDeleteKen Pom said that Auburn would beat Vandy on the road by 81 to 65. Auburn actually won by 80 to 65. The Tigers move to 4-0 in the SEC, while the Dores fall to 0-4, and the Stackhouse Era is apparently headed to an end.
ReplyDeleteHere are the SEC games for Saturday (home teams listed first) (all times Central):
ReplyDeleteNoon: Arkansas v. S. Carolina
1 P.M: Tennessee v. Alabama
2:30 P.M: Mississippi St. v. Vanderbilt
3 P.M: Louisiana St. v. Texas A & M
5 P.M: Kentucky v. Georgia
7 P.M: Missouri v. Florida
7:30 P.M: Auburn v. Mississippi
Here are the top three teams in each of the NCAA's traditional regions:
ReplyDeleteEAST:
1. Connecticut (16-2) 2. N. Carolina (14-3) 3. Duke (13-3)
MIDEAST:
1. Purdue (16-2) 2. Auburn (15-2) 3. Tennessee (13-4)
MIDWEST:
1. Houston (15-2) 2. Kansas (15-2) 3. Baylor (14-3)
WEST:
1. Arizona (13-4) 2. B.Y.U. (14-3) 3. San Diego St. (15-3)
At 90.8 points per game, Kentucky is leading the nation in scoring average.
ReplyDeleteHere's UK's points per game under Calipari:
ReplyDelete2010: 79.3
2011: 74.9
2012: 77.4
2013: 72.6
2014: 74.8
2015: 74.4
2016: 79.5
2017: 84.9
2018: 76.8
2019: 75.8
2020: 74.4
2021: 70.4
2022: 79.4
2023: 74.5
2024: 90.8 (so far)
Here's points per game allowed:
ReplyDelete2010: 64.9
2011: 63.5
2012: 60.6
2013: 64.5
2014: 66.6
2015: 54.3
2016: 68.1
2017: 71.5
2018: 70.2
2019: 64.7
2020: 66.1
2021: 70.2
2022: 66.6
2023: 67.7
2024: 76.1 (so far)