DSS: Kentucky vs Indiana

It's been a while since I've done a single game DSS. As painful as it might be, I offer one up for UK's first loss of the season.

I also extend a big word of thanks to Luke Winn at Sports Illustrated for helping me out in completing a DSS for the victory over UNC. That game will now be included in future DSS results.

One more thing: based on comments I think there is still a bit of mystery as to what the DSS is and what the charts mean. I've considered doing an in-depth explanation of the process (how it is created) and results (what the ratings mean), but was unsure as to whether people would be interested or find it useful. I know there are several who don't care (which is perfectly fine!) but I've included a poll where you can indicate whether you would like to see such a post or not.

On to the game, and first a word on Terrence Jones (because there haven't been enough of those already).

Terrence Jones' defense is going to be remembered for 4 breakdowns in particular:

1. Not corralling a defensive rebound in the first half which Victor Oladipo took away and put back in for a bucket.
2. A failure to fight past a screen in the first half which allowed a wide open 3 point FG to Christian Watford for Indiana's first made 3 of the game.
   
3. Not hedging out on a screen which allowed Jordan Hulls to get an open 3 point look in the 2nd half
4. Not helping off a screen which allowed Oladipo a wide open path to the basket for his dunk in the second half

I have no explanation for why Jones didn't do any of those things - they were particularly egregious defensive lapses. However, for the course of the entire game those were the exceptions rather than the rule. Jones made several fine defensive plays including several that won't show up on the DSS where he stepped in to stop drives, hedged on screens until the primary defender could recover, and switched on screens to defend shot attempts. That doesn't mean he played a good defensive game, but I don't think he was as bad as it looked based on those 4 plays listed above. I thought he was better after watching a 2nd time.

Jones defense has always been one of the under-appreciated parts of his game and I think he will be fine going forward. I join Ashley Judd in offering my support to Jones - he's still a great player and he's going to have many, many games where he is totally awesome.

A few other notes:

• One more reason why UK lost: The Indiana offense got the ball one more time than UK did. The Hoosiers started and finished the 2nd half with the ball meaning that they got an extra possession. This happens occasionally.
• Terrence Jones' offensive game wasn't quite as bad as the box score showed: he was somehow incorrectly charged with a turnover that should have been given to Kidd-Gilchrist. The play occurred in the first half when MKG dribbled to the basket in transition and ran into Jordan Hulls. It probably should have been called a block on Hulls, but MKG turned the ball over. Somehow it got charged to Jones.
• In another play involving MKG, he was credited with a block late in the 2nd half when it was actually Anthony Davis who blocked the shot. The play occurred on the same possession when MKG was charged with travelling after falling to the floor with a defensive rebound. The proper credit is given to Davis in the Defense Box Score below.
  

• As bad as UK was at defending the perimeter, they were very good at guarding 2 pt shots. They did not allow a single open look inside the perimeter - every shot was contested in some fashion.
• Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Anthony Davis, and Marquis Teague were all excellent at forcing turnovers. Teague in particular did a much better job than his 1 Steal would indicate.
• You can really see how UK went after Jordan Hulls - he was victimized for 23 points on 14 field goals and 5 free throws. I was not impressed by Hulls' defense and I think Big 10 teams are going to take advantage of him the way UK did.
• UK had several wide open shots (IU's "Undefended" line) and couldn't connect on any of them. Ugh.

Players have been sorted by Defensive Rating from best to worst.

• Teague had the best rating by a smidgen, but there really is no qualitative difference between the Top 3 Cats. He had a fine defensive game though - I hope it's indicative of things to come.
  
• Vargas again has a good game in limited minutes. I didn't see anything during his time that would suggest that he was over-matched against Zeller the way Hulls was against whomever he was guarding.
• Indiana absolutely could not keep UK away from the basket. You don't see a team with a 57.4 eFG% and only 2 made threes. I still think UK needed to get more looks for Lamb from the perimeter in the 2nd half though.
• I am a little surprised by Miller's final Rating - he was very good at defending shots.

The DSS will be on hiatus during the break. I'll still be collecting results, but likely won't post any until January.