Upon Further Review: Has UK Improved Since the Non-Conference Season?

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 8, 2010 7:39 PM EST in Basketball Comment 63 comments

"All right, guys, get better right now!"

That sounds like an easy question, doesn't it? Surely the Kentucky Wildcats have improved since the pre-season schedule -- they have to, right?

Well, not necessarily. North Carolina certainly hasn't improved -- in fact, they've arguably devolved into a team eerily reminiscent of Kentucky last season. In fact, I'm not sure last year's UK team wouldn't beat North Carolina at this moment in the season.

Other teams have devolved, too. The victory against the Connecticut Huskies now looks pretty average, just like the North Carolina Tar Heels game. The win over the Louisville Cardinals still looks pretty good. It's pretty interesting to see how teams, when they get tested, behave. Sometimes teams respond, and sometimes they do not.

So what do you think? Do you think UK has improved? Well, follow me past the jump and find out.

Here are the numbers:

					Offense					Defense
Date	Opponent	Result	Site	Pace	Eff.	eFG%	TO%	OR%	FTR	Eff.	eFG%	TO%	OR%	FTR
11/13/10	Morehead St. (sked)	W, 75-59	H	73	103.5	53.9	33.1	55.8	53.9	81.4	41.5	16.6	30.5	18.5
11/16/10	Miami OH (sked)	W, 72-70	H	63	113.7	54.7	23.7	46.5	45.3	110.6	63.5	25.3	22.6	25
11/19/10	Sam Houston St. (sked)	W, 102-92	H	83	123	69.2	28.9	45.6	48.3	111	49.4	14.5	30.9	24.7
11/21/10	Rider (sked)	W, 92-63	H	76	120.6	54.5	21	46.8	42.4	82.6	34.5	26.2	41.2	53.5
11/24/10	Cleveland St. (sked)	W, 73-49	N	70	104.5	58.3	27.2	35.7	83.3	70.1	30.5	15.7	20.8	23.4
11/25/10	Stanford (sked)	W, 73-65	N	58	111.7	50	22.9	46.4	44.6	99.5	42.7	18.4	40.3	47.3
11/30/10	NC Asheville (sked)	W, 94-57	h	70	133.6	58	11.4	42.7	29	81	48.1	28.4	21.7	16.7
12/05/10	North Carolina (sked)	W, 68-66	H	74	92.1	50	27.1	33.3	40.7	89.4	44	21.7	34.9	19.4
12/09/10	Connecticut (sked)	W, 64-61	N	69	92.8	41.4	18.8	33.3	26.6	88.4	46.1	27.5	42.3	47.1
12/12/10	Indiana (sked)	W, 90-73	A	68	132.7	58.3	19.2	56.8	31.8	107.7	54.2	13.3	22.2	23.3
12/19/10	Austin Peay (sked)	W, 90-69	H	68	131.7	57.1	23.4	63.5	28.6	101	44.5	16.1	34.3	21.9
12/21/10	Drexel (sked)	W, 88-44	H	67	131	61.2	20.8	48.1	32.8	65.5	35.5	23.8	20.7	12.7
12/23/10	Long Beach St. (sked)	W, 86-73	H	74	115.5	49.2	12.1	36.3	46.1	98.1	47.1	16.1	29.1	23.5
12/29/10	Hartford (sked)	W, 104-61	H	69	150.2	70.6	10.1	40	20.6	88.1	48.3	21.7	20	8.6
01/02/10	Louisville (sked)	W, 71-62	H	75	94.7	48.1	24	32	65.4	82.7	36.4	24	34.2	44.1
Averages				70.47	116.75	55.63	21.58	44.19	42.63	90.47	44.42	20.62	29.71	27.31
01/09/10	Georgia (sked)	W, 76-68	H	75	101.8	45	18.8	38	55	91.1	52.8	34.8	39	28.3
01/12/10	Florida (sked)	W, 89-77	A	72	123	56.4	13.8	37.1	18.6	106.5	44.1	13.8	35.6	29.4
01/16/10	Auburn (sked)	W, 72-67	A	66	108.5	57	24.1	35.6	81.4	100.9	49.2	18.1	31.9	23.3
01/23/10	Arkansas (sked)	W, 101-70	H	83	121.6	54.5	18.1	48.3	32.5	84.3	32.6	16.9	29.9	40.3
01/26/10	South Carolina (sked)	L, 68-62	A	69	89.7	41.2	21.7	35	36.8	98.3	37.5	15.9	40.9	43.8
01/30/10	Vanderbilt (sked)	W, 85-72	H	71	119.1	55.6	23.8	50.7	72.2	100.9	53.3	21	13.7	67.4
02/02/10	Mississippi (sked)	W, 85-75	H	74	115.5	57.3	23.1	42.4	30.6	101.9	50	20.4	36.8	19.7
02/06/10	Louisiana St. (sked)	W, 81-55	A	76	107.2	49.2	21.2	45.3	34.9	72.8	34.9	18.5	22.6	18.2
Averages				73.25	110.8	52.03	20.58	41.55	45.25	94.59	44.3	19.93	31.3	33.8

Okay, well, that's not as clear as we'd hope, right? Let's visualize it for more clarity. First, the offense:

Now that's a bit more clear. Kentucky is playing a bit faster, are a bit less efficient, shooting the ball a bit worse, taking slightly better care of the ball, getting a smaller percentage of offensive rebounds and getting to the line a bit more often. Overall, that doesn't really look better.

What about on defense? That looks like this:

UK's opponents are more efficient on offense, shooting the ball about the same, the 'Cats are forcing fewer turnovers, allowing more offensive rebounds and getting to the line more against us. At first blush, no improvement there, either. Maybe a little bit the other way.

Of course, by now you have figured out that these statistics really don't fully take the quality of competition into account, and they don't. There is some adjustment for the quality of Kentucky's opponent, but the reason UK is at or even a bit below par numbers-wise is that the quality of the competition they are playing has risen significantly. The average Kenpom.com ranking of Kentucky's non-conference schedule was 121.5, and the average ranking of UK's conference opponents is 85.63. So the quality of UK's opponent has improved, and yet the better opponents have had a negligible impact on Kentucky's statistics as a team.

There is really no doubt at all that the quality of the basketball we are watching, at least in my opinion, is vastly improved even since the Louisville game. The Wildcat offense looks much more fluid and professional, players are more intense on defense, and overall, the 'Cats look more and more like the contender the polls say they are.

So even though the numbers haven't changed appreciably from non-conference to conference, the competition has gotten better and yet the Wildcats keep doing what they do at about the same rate they did it against much softer teams. But Kentucky, at some point in the near future, needs to take that next step up. Maybe the game against the LSU Tigers was a harbinger of that transition, but it needs to happen sometime between now and the SEC tournament.

This UK team still has a ton of room between where they are and where they can be. I'm hoping to see the 'Cats reel in some of that slack in the coming two or three games, and move closer to their full capability.

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This team is growing into their potential

The only question is, will they run out of season before they get there?

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Feb 8, 2010 8:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Agree. Fully understand, accept, support and expect Wall and Cuz to move on to the NBA at the end of this season...

but imagine for just a moment how much better these guys will be after even one more season.

Having written the above, I also fully understand, accept, support and expect this will be UK’s pattern of 1 and done players for quite sometime… given Coach Cal’s history and expertise in
recruiting and coaching upcoming NBA players,

by blue oregon on Feb 8, 2010 8:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Post Script...Super freshman may be a pattern, but the difference in 2010/2011 will be that...

Coach Cal will be UK’s Coach for year 2 and returning players will also be in year 2 of the DDMO

by blue oregon on Feb 8, 2010 8:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its the realities of the college system today

We complained and moaned and groaned that Tubby wasn’t getting these types of players, now people are hemming and hawing that we have them.

I can envision a team in the near future that features Seniors DeAndre Liggins, Darnell Dodson, and Darius Miller; Juniors Daniel Orton and John Hood; some top notch sophomores from the upcoming recruiting class, and a stellar freshman class.

Now that will be a team that mixes the best of both worlds. Leadership with experience in the system, and amazing talent.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Feb 9, 2010 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Unquestionably Better

Considering only the defense the improvement is measurable: position, help, recover, switch — all discernibly improved. The other areas are at a higher level though not as recognizable for me. Rebounding block out and stance: considerably better; shot selection: better; role acceptance and understanding: better; quality depth: perhaps biggest development.

Areas offering opportunities for amelioration: patience in guard play (I would hope that Wall, Bledsoe, et al, watched Villanova’s senior guards tonight), free throw shooting, aggressive wing play, and extended attention span.

"The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale." --Thomas Jefferson

by Wild Weasel on Feb 8, 2010 9:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Would have never expected the numbers to show what they do...

Looks like a different team compared to December, in my eyes… The only thing I question is

Maybe the game against the LSU Tigers was a harbinger of that transition, but it needs to happen sometime between now and the SEC tournament.

In this final quarter of the season, there’s only two “gimmes” on the schedule and that’s Bama and UGA. And you can make the argument that UGA won’t be a pushover given the way they’ve been playing of late and it’s at their house… Gonna be tough to improve those numbers given who’s left on the schedule!

Thanks for the poop, Tru, good article!

If your wings don't sweep....

by EagleTDL on Feb 8, 2010 9:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

agree strongly with your caveat

I don’t think UGA will be a pushover at home.

by bob in bg on Feb 9, 2010 11:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate watching games played at UGA

With their damn epileptic seizure inducing LED billboards on the sidelines.

Uggh.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Feb 9, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tru

Good charts.
Knowing how what we do about Lousville, Carolina and indiana, do we havea true gauge of the pre conference teams?
LSU was terrible. I wouldn’t put much stock in what we saw from the Cats in that game.

I have be correctly accused of having a 'football fetish'. You know, someone who doesn't think football is the warm up sport to basketball season.

by ParisGuy on Feb 8, 2010 10:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

True enough, but

Early in the season we weren’t crushing the teams that we should have. Ark and LSU absolutely should have been crushed…and they were. That is what wasn’t happening earlier. I think that is a good sign even if its not really a useful gauge of how they will play against stiffer competition.

by sylvar on Feb 8, 2010 10:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah ...

… it’s hard to take the LSU game as much of an indicator, but they are better than many teams we played closer in the early part of the season.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 8, 2010 11:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We played them at their place. MANY of the earlier scheduled schools were in Lexington.
You can’t tell, too many varibiles.

I have be correctly accused of having a 'football fetish'. You know, someone who doesn't think football is the warm up sport to basketball season.

by ParisGuy on Feb 9, 2010 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah ...

… and playing them at their place is always tougher than playing them in Rupp Arena.

Hence, my point. :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 12:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree. That what I was trying to say. At Lexington we would have beat them much worse.

I have be correctly accused of having a 'football fetish'. You know, someone who doesn't think football is the warm up sport to basketball season.

by ParisGuy on Feb 9, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very likely.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 5:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Watching Kansas and Texas as

I type this. Kansas has scored 40 points in 24 minutes. Haven’t seen Syracuse play much this season but we look better than either Kansas or Texas and I think we’re much better that Nova.

The bottom line to this team is they have improved and much of that in my opinion is playing inside out instead of the chaotic way we were playing early in the season. I don’t see another team out there as deep as we are and to me it’s all going to be a question of focus. If this team WANTS something….can’t see another team that could stop us.

Cal keeps tweeking things like putting Dodson in the starting lineup but it appears they’re all on the same page. PP is tired of reading he’s not agressive and he’s stepping up his play. The turnovers are still a concern and especially when they happen because they can be a speed bump in a spurt but overall this team is looking much better than they did in late December.

You can't fix "stupid"!

by UKlvrJM on Feb 8, 2010 10:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

was just going to rant about cole

being able to get away with stuff with that elbow. Got the tech, though. How about the announcers, though? According to Mr. Knight, a reaction elbow isn’t malicious if you’re not being given space. Nice to see that call get made.

by jacobbleedsblue on Feb 8, 2010 11:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Only ...

… if it comes from someone other than a Kentucky player. :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 8, 2010 11:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

my point exactly.....

…what’s the sarcasm button?

by jacobbleedsblue on Feb 9, 2010 12:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ctrl + . if you pay 1.99 to download it

http://mashable.com/2010/01/15/sarcmark/

by dannytanner on Feb 9, 2010 2:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have said since the 1st few games of the season...

that TX scares me and I like our match-ups vs. Kansas. I’ll recant my statement about TX, they just look lost. Dexter Pittman is hardly a force and Balbay needs to just not be on the floor. They still looked athletic though, more so even than Kansas, but had no real plan and even less efficiency. I was looking forward to this game the whole year and what a let down! TX is going down the same path as UNC and UCONN, unfortunately. I’m not ready, however, to change my stance on Kansas. I think we still are their worst nightmare matchup for matchup. Bobby Knight would definitely argue, though! Syracuse is a legitimate team and so are Villanova and Georgetown. If I had money, I would bet that the final four consisted of 3 of the following four, UK, Syracuse, Georgetown and Villanova…. with UK being the only definite. Just my opinion. Bring on the Roll TIdes!

I left TN and now I am back in the Bluegrass... just in time for Football and Keeneland! Life is great!

by sleepytimetea on Feb 9, 2010 1:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're right but...

…Kansas scares me.

Texas doesn’t, but Kansas does.

We have the depth and talent to match up with them well, but I fear that their experience would win out.

by bob in bg on Feb 9, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Syracuse scares me

A combination of the athleticism of Wes Johnson on the offensive end and that infernal zone defense on the other could wreck havoc on our guys if things don’t fall just right.

Its why I was glad to see LSU playing some zone against us. Its harmless for us (because the game was already wrapped up) but gives us some much needed experience on how to play it in a live game situation come tournament time.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Feb 9, 2010 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Villanova, too.

Honestly, any of the top 25 teams COULD beat us on a neutral court;
but I really believe we could beat any of them, too.

by bob in bg on Feb 9, 2010 2:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True, but there are some that worry me more than others

I think Villanova could be had because they are more likely to try and run with us… which as we’ve seen, generally doesn’t work well.

Its the teams with the “schemes” that worry me more.

Of course its difficult, its a shortcut... if it was easy it'd just be "the way."

by chirop1 on Feb 9, 2010 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Senior guard depth

a concern playing Nova. We would have to overpower them in the post and shut them down in the backcourt. TALL TASK considering experience difference. I think we would beat them though.

I have kleptomania,
but when it gets bad,
I take something for it.

by bluecrip on Feb 9, 2010 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not only have we improved, we have evolved.

Where some teams seem to be imploding as the pressure of the season increases, we seem to be making ourselves more comfortable with it all. We have not heard about 1 bad practice since the incident over a month ago, the players are loose. They are communicating. Role players are stepping up and the rotation is shrinking. We still have some defensive holes, and some turnover issues, but with a group this young, those things are part and parcel.

Let us see where we are on Mar 1st. IF nothing has changed from today, then we can scratch our heads a little…..for now, they get better every time they play in some manner.

We complained about giving up leads, so they have started running up scores. We complained about Cousins and how he was going to get thrown out, so he is now actively working on the problem. The defense had more holes than swiss cheese in the beginning, now it is starting to tighten up. We are evolving…..not just improving……and it is amazing to watch.

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Feb 8, 2010 10:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

AMEN!

by blue oregon on Feb 8, 2010 11:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't really agree with that.

We are better than we were, but not by leaps and bounds.

I keep hoping for an “evolution,” but I’m confident we have not seen that yet.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 8, 2010 11:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh ye of little faith.....lol....

c’mon tru……SC still gnawing at you? Everyone predicted it…..no one was really surprised….most were even relieved. What are we not a lot better at than wew were at the beginning of the year? Turnovers? Defense?

Let’s do a little quick review of three key factors

1) Interior play- this is where I think we get the leaps and bounds to stick out at us. We are the best interior playing team in the country. Bar None. I have watched all of the top 10 teams play multiple times, and most of them dont have anyone who can hold a light for Cousins, Orton, and Patterson to work by when they are on their game. And now they are on their game much much more. But remember that they are having to do this Cal’s way. They learn from every time out on the floor. Grade A

2) Guard Play- I would really love to say this was where the interior play was at this point, but it is not yet there. We are much better, because both Wall and Bledsoe are running Cal’s offense now the way he wants it run. It is not yet the DDMO, but it is a hybrid of it as a result of the much improved interior play. More importantly than that, we have developed solid play from the 3. It takes platooning to do it, but it is now a dependable position for us. Are turnovers going to hurt us, yes, but only if we do not play to our potential offensively. As freshmen, both guards are at least in the top 3 back courts in the country, if not the top 2, inspite of what few mistakes are being made. Defensively they are better, but they can only improve so much in one year. Grade A-

3) Team Play- This is where the Cats have really started to shine. Everyone on this team works to pick up everyone else. They believe in their teammates, they play hard from start to finish, even when they dont play well, they play hard. Everyone not only knows, but they gladly accept their roles on this team, and I have yet to see an ego get in the way of anything this season, even the coach’s. There is no browbeating, no having to force guys to sit to get a point across, and no selfishness anywhere on this squad.

As a technogeek, I know there are a lot of little tuning issues, and settings that will still have to be tweaked as the season goes on, and although we are about 14-8 in Cal’s eyes, we still share the best record in the country. Had anyone told me that this would have been possible last October, I would have laughed and rolled my eyes. Now, all the blue Kool-Aid in the world aside, I would have given us a B- to start the year, simply because there was no way I thought the freshmen would come this far this fast. Now they get a solid A, and if they finish the rest of the regular season without stumbling again, that goes to an A+ in my book. I dont have any charts or graphs to point to, you guys do that better than me, but I have about 50 hrs of game film that shows me the improvements are huge since game 1.

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Feb 9, 2010 7:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Heh.

As a technogeek, even if I allow that you are right, the relative improvement to other teams, if any, is slight. Too slight, really, to get excited about.

Why do I say that? Because the statistics, the benchmark to which us technogeeks turn for actual objective information, don’t really support your perception.

Let’s address each of your points in turn:

1. In what way has our interior play improved? We have been one of the best in the country all year, and in the critical areas of offensive rebounding and shooting percentage defense, the statistics show little, if any, measurable improvement.

2. Guard play — We have not seen the dribble drive offense 25 plays all year, and if we have, they are doing it wrong. The guards are taking slightly better care of the ball, but again, it is marginal. A/T is down, Assist% is down. So what part of the guard play do you think is better? Prettier? Maybe. Better as compared to the competition? I’m gonna say no.

3. Team play — Again, they may be playing prettier basketball, but this has not translated into statistical improvement. Overall, defensive and offensive stats are very slightly down from the non-conf. season. We are allowing fewer steals, so that is one area where there has been a noticeable improvement, which kind of goes along with the slightly decreased turnovers.

I would agree that Kentucky is playing prettier basketball, but relative to other teams, I don’t think they are necessarily performing better. But I would agree that this is an important step on the way to measurable improvement.

I just want to point out that measurable improvement, as of now, is modest at best, and only exists at all when compared to an increased quality of competition.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 9:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dang Tru.....you make it sound like we really are 14-8

When it was pre-conference play, everyone said the real test would come when conference play started, and even more when we hit the road in conference. We have done that and still have walked away 8 pts short of a perfect season so far. Everyone wants to point out how many things we still dont do perfect yet……geez….you would think the BCG was still here…..lol…..

Our interior play had improved because they are ALL playing at a higher level now. The drop off from Cousins to Orton is less noticable, Cousins and Patterson are learning to play together now that Patterson is stepping up the intensity. Cousins now has better focus than early on….all of these things show in the game. Are we really splitting hairs here because Calipari hasnt shoved the accelerator to the floor yet?

My comment on the guards stems from there being less mistakes. This offense is not a true DDMO and Cal has said as much. He couldnt run a true DDMO with this group because they are so strong inside. We have War Admiral, Secretariat, and Seabiscuit on the inside, we are not going to be able to avoid going to the whip. The flash is being replaced by substance.

I know you are looking at X’s and O’s, and how all of that compares to the “historical” data. I know we can put our stats up against other teams and there will be things that stick out. My point is simply this. They aint played us yet…….lol

We are not only fine, we are better than fine. We are not yet pooping ice cream, but I dont think its that far away.

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Feb 9, 2010 9:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by the way.....technogeek is always going to be secondary to being a fan

when it comes to my Cats……!!!

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Feb 9, 2010 9:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No, that's not true.

We have been very good all year, and going up from up is harder than going up from down.

You say that people are playing better, but compared to other teams, the stats say they aren’t. We can talk about how the team looks ’till the cows come home, but the bottom line is, compared to the teams we are playing, our stats are not improving yet.

When you are looking for the DDM, look where Cousins is stationed. If he is on the strong side, it isn’t the DDM. You can’t play the DDM with the post player on the strong side, and both Cousins and Orton have been on the strong side of the ball 85-90% of the time this year, which is smart — this team isn’t built for the DDM, despite the speed of Wall and Bledsoe. When you have a Maserati like Cousins in the paint, you get him the basketball, and style points be damned.

I agree, we are fine. I never said otherwise. We have been fine all year long.

I just don’t put on my Big Blue shades when I get out of bed every morning. If we are going to be different than the “rah, rah, sis boom bah” crowd, we have to take off those shades and look at objective facts. I don’t apologize for doing that.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 10:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think we said the same thing in varying levels of enthusiasm....lol....

I have looked at the DDMO we are playing, which admittedly isnt much of a DDMO, but I believe as you said style points be damned….lol….

You dont have to apologize to me, IMNSHO, I think the intangibles are where this team shines above all others. All of those little things which can trip you up in any given year seem to be nothing more than a slight breeze to these guys. Which means all they have to do is play tough basketball, and at that they seem to be in good shape.

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Feb 9, 2010 10:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Intangibles?

Well, I guess I have to mostly agree. It is always difficult to get this many really good players to play together without egos getting involved and messing up chemistry. Calipari gets most of the credit for that, but not all.

On the basketball floor, though, I’d say they have yet to take advantage of their God-given talent and the coaching they have received on a consistent basis. That’s an intangible that is a negative. But overall, especially for so many freshmen, I think this team deserves high marks for trying to do the little things and keeping their egos in check. Nice to see.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 12:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am all for looking

at objective facts, I just happen to believe that most stats don’t fit that description.

by kywineman on Feb 9, 2010 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What else would they be?

Facts are defined as “Knowledge or information based on real occurrences.” Statistics are therefore, irrefutably, facts.

What is disputable are conclusions about what those facts mean. :-)

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The key word

is objective. If the measurements taken have subjective elements they can’t be reproduced reliably. While stats report what happened, they do not accurately measure why. KenPom is a perfect example. His “facts” change weekly.

by kywineman on Feb 9, 2010 3:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They do ...

… but then again, all of the stats I have used for the sake of this comparison do not. That makes them objective. They can be reproduced reliably by the simple use of a formula.

Your complaints about Pomeroy are unfounded. Every one of the statistics he adjusts are so noted. You can use the raw stats, which are posted right alongside. They never change.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Improved In Several Area

Post play has improved by leaps and bounds. Guards are beginning to learn not to over penetrate. Defense is certainly better. Understanding that each team we play is getting better too and that conference foes are scouting and figuring out our weaknesses, I think the team is progressing nicely. Also, we are taking everyone’s best shot. Noone has really figured out a formula to beat UK like they have Texas, UConn, Purdue, and many others. USC won because we had a very bad game and they played beyond their abilities. If I were an opposing coach I would still be wondering what to do to beat this team. Foul a lot I suppose seems to be what works the best. Foul 50 times and only get 10 called. Hopefully Cousins gets kicked out of the game because he cannot be stopped otherwise. Crowd the post and hope everyone misses and the ball bounces long.

by LyricSmith on Feb 8, 2010 11:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

TIME WILL TELL

Time will tell if UK has truly improved. With three tough road games remaining, we will see how far this young Kentucky team has matured.

At Tennessee, at Georgia, at Vanderbilt – all critical and tough road test for UK. Win those three and you have to believe the Cats have made the step to the next level.

Key will be leadership. Someone has to take reigns and make a decision they are going to lead this team when its crunch time. Patterson is the obvious choice, but he has yet to step into that role.

So, if not him who? Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, combination of Players?

Whoever it is and whenever it is, the tough part of the SEC schedule is still to come for UK and time will tell if they are ready for the Big Dance.

Thanks for the story and for the opportunity to post.

by UKBIGBLUENATION on Feb 9, 2010 12:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don't get down on Pat yet :)

Knowing the way Pat has been over the last couple of years, you can expect the kid to step up. He always does. He’s probably one of the most, if not the most, reliable players to ever play for UK. I’m sure he’ll step up, especially when March rolls around and this kid finally gets his chance to shine in the tournament.

But I’m willing to bet Kentucky will have an abundance of leaders by then. Wall is finally getting his head back into the games and Cousins knows how to get momentum going, and sometimes that’s all that’s really needed, especially for a team as talented as this one. That one little push can put them in the zone.

I’m as concerned as the next person about the way we throttle down the pressure when we build a lead, but then again it’s also made me feel a bit more confident in this team’s ability to play a close game. I don’t think we have too much to worry about. We’re as talented as anyone there is, if not more so, and experience only goes so far. In the end, what really matters is how well you can play under pressure and these kids has have been playing well with ridiculous amounts of it; most of it from the fans. ;)

by Roflectomy on Feb 9, 2010 1:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pat is gonna be fine......Cal will have him ready to do anything it takes to win by tournament time.

Remember, we're having fun now!!!

by ALLBLUCAT on Feb 9, 2010 7:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Patrick realizes that it’s not all about the numbers. Much like Chuck Hayes did, Pat is doing what it takes to win. The effort is there. This group of Freshmen wouldn’t be near as successful without Pat in the background.

by cthom on Feb 9, 2010 8:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed :-)

Blue... there is no other color to Bleed !!!

by a2d2 on Feb 9, 2010 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Turnovers

Are the only thing I’m worried about so far with this team. I don’t know how many times I have screamed at the tv after witnessing an unforced turnover or a bad decision. I figured we would be past this by now or at least improved somewhat. If anything is holding us back it has to be turnovers. I think our assist to turnover ratio is at .8 now or something? I don’t know if any team has ever won a championship with such a ratio but if any team would it would be this team. I don’t know, I just don’t see how we’re ever gonna win it all without experienced guard play and I think that is something we are going to be seeing a lot of from now on. Don’t quote me on this….hopefully I’ll anti jinx us by saying this…

by dannytanner on Feb 9, 2010 2:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

We have seen ...

… a slight, but not insignificant, improvement in TO%. TO% is down over 1% versus the non-conference season, so we are moving in the right direction there.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 9:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Non-conference schedule was 15 games, of which only 1 was an away game (and 3 neutral site). Conference schedule is 50-50 home/away. I think that makes a difference. In-conference offensive efficiency (for example) is 115 at home and 107 on the road. I suspect that if you break out the conference stats into home/away, you’d find that the play at home has statistically improved (slightly) against tougher competition. It’s hard to compare road play, since they only had one true non-conference road game, but I think part of the reason the SEC stats look worse is that even for a good team, going on the road can be tough.

by cmadler on Feb 9, 2010 6:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Steady improvement

I feel like the five or six minute lapses that we had earlier in the season are now three and four minute lapses. That’s improvement. Earlier, we’d see one or two guys dominate while the rest of the team would stand around and watch. Now, more players are getting involved over the course of a game. That’s good too. Liggins getting back into the line-up has improved our defense and overall intensity. Another positive. Turnovers is the area of the game where we’ve seen the least improvement. We’re still too reckless with the ball.

by chicagoblues on Feb 9, 2010 8:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

The addition of Liggins ...

… has been a revelation, as well as a big help. Our 3-headed 3-spot is really producing some better play.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 9:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Road-

In the SEC can be really tough. We’ll find out how far we’ve come soon enough…

"You are what you are and you ain't what you ain't"

by iam4ukintn on Feb 9, 2010 11:16 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

true that!

by bob in bg on Feb 9, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

… the one blemish on our record came on the road in a tough environment. And while Downey made a number of low-percentage, almost miraculous shots that night, I think in the end it was our rebounding that cost us the game. I expect to see similar efforts from the opposition when we visit Starkville, Nashville, Knoxville and Athens. I think winning 3 out of those 4 road games would be a lofty goal. If we win all 4, then there’s no doubt this team will have evolved into something special.

by Shive on Feb 9, 2010 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

"You are what you are and you ain't what you ain't"

by iam4ukintn on Feb 9, 2010 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take that.

by bob in bg on Feb 9, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Video Vs Statistics

I have no absolute evidence to support my belief but listening to any number of D1 coaches comment on the performance of their teams and the individual players I believe I can safely aver that video review is more important in assessment than the relevant statistics. Having viewed nearly every UK game multiple times it is quite evident that comparing early games with those more recent shows marked improvement in nearly every area. Probably the most glaring example is obtaining and maintaining rebound position — the term leaps and bounds is neither hyperbole or pun. DeMarcus Cousins’ rebounding base is wider and knees more flexed — in other words he’s progressed from a high school rebounder to a D1 Windex man. There are other more subtle improvements in other players. Numbers don’t tell the whole story and, in this case, don’t tell a true story.

"The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale." --Thomas Jefferson

by Wild Weasel on Feb 9, 2010 12:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

not sure

Bledsoe has regressed, Wall has stayed the same, Cousins has flourished and the bench players have now assumed their roles.

by jamaalflash on Feb 9, 2010 3:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I am not

sure that I would describe Bledsoe as having regressed. He is still learning his role and shows signs of making better decisions when handling the ball. Wall has definitely changed, he looks more to involve his teammates now. All of the freshmen had to unlearn bad habits, learn new skills and turn them into good habits in the context of both individual and team performance. The next 8 games will hopefully refine their games to the point of being able to run the NCAA gauntlet.

by kywineman on Feb 9, 2010 3:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This fact that this team is

moving forward and not back is testament to the fact that they are improving. Lil by lil this team will get to the FInal Four.

Alabama kills us by 20.

I have kleptomania,
but when it gets bad,
I take something for it.

by bluecrip on Feb 9, 2010 4:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Very informative post

This really helps to put a lot of things in perspective about the gameplay of this team. However, as some previous posts state, the numbers do not reflect how these players perform in actuality. There are many play-by-play things they do throughout a given game that are not reflected in the box score—and really, that’s a shame.

Overall, I think this team is playing is good basketball right now. We’ve only lost one game, and that’s really a blessing. Let’s hope our intensity is sustained and we keep winning games!

by pinata89 on Feb 9, 2010 5:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

At the end of the day ...

… stats are really not any good for telling you how the game is played. They are best for examining trends, or for the sake of individual area comparison.

We don’t play basketball on paper, thank God. That would be boring, indeed.

And as ABC said earlier, no matter what the statistics show, Kentucky is playing much prettier basketball right now, even if they haven’t improved their stats relative to the competition.

My take is that once you get to playing pretty basketball, you are ready to take the next step. I think Calipari was trying to tell us that on his show the other night when he said he was going to start working on John Wall’s defense, and praised his efforts by saying that Wall was no longer trying to live up to hype, but trying to play basketball the right way.

I think that’s a sign that we are primed for a quantum improvement. I hope so.

A Sea of Blue -- Kentucky Sports for the Discerning Fan

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 9, 2010 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs