Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: A Few Early-Season Superlatives

by Glenn Logan on Dec 16, 2011 5:36 PM EST in Kentucky Wildcats Basketball

I always like to check over at KenPom.com and Statsheet.com about this time every year to see which players seem to be doing a particularly good job in some statistical areas. I am not surprised to find only a few individual things to discuss.

If that last comment seems surprising, it shouldn't be. Like all the teams we have had under Calipari, the load is being shared quite widely among the team members for almost every statistical area. I think that's a good thing -- instead of having great guards, or a great center, or a great front court, UK basically have six really excellent players who can do it all to some degree or another.

That flexibility has really served this team well so far, and I think it will be a major asset moving forward. With Twany Beckham now available, that really helps our point guard rotation, and even though we'll continue to see a lot of Doron Lamb in that spot in relief of Marquis Teague, this gives Calipari options, and options are always a good thing for coaches.

But let's see who is making an impact on the statistical scene from Kentucky (note that some rankings differ between KenPom and Statsheet, and where they do, I took KenPom):

Anthony Davis

Davis is highly ranked in a number of statistical areas. It's funny, the things that really stand out watching him play are his blocks and dunks, and as you might expect, blocks are a big part of his statistical impact. Here's where Davis has been in the top 50:

Blocks -- Davis is #3 nationally in blocks per game, #2 in total blocks, and #9 in block%. What block percent means is Davis is rejecting 14.4% of our opponents total 2-point attempts. What about 3's, you say? Indeed, they aren't included in that particular stat, but he's blocked a few of them, too.
Shooting -- Davis is #13 in FG% and #21 in effective FG%.
Per 40 minutes -- Davis is ranked #29 in floor% and #47 in total defensive rebounds.

Doron Lamb

As you might expect, Doron Lamb hits mostly offensive categories:

3-point FG% -- Lamb is #19 nationally.
Offensive rating -- Lamb is #47 nationally.
Per 40 minutes -- not ranked in any other stat.

Terrence Jones

Jones is ranked in one defensive category:

Blocks -- Jones is ranked #32 in total blocks and #36 in blocks/game.
Per 40 minutes -- not ranked in any other stat.

Marquis Teague

Marquis Teague is not currently ranked in the top 50 in any stat.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

General awesomeness -- I know it's not a statistical category, but if it was, he'd be #1.

Darius Miller

Miller is not ranked currently in the top 50 in any stat.

That leaves only one thing, which deserves mentioning -- the team:

Kentucky Wildcats

Block%, Blocks, Blocks/game -- #1
Floor% -- #7
Total rebounds/game -- #9
Defensive rebounds/game -- #9
Points/game -- #13
FG% -- #15
Points/possesion -- #15
Offensive efficiency -- #4
Steal% -- #42
FG point% -- #3
True shooting% -- #45
eFG% Defense -- #4
True shooting% defense -- #4
Defensive PPP -- #11
Steals allowed -- #37
Floor% allowed -- #39
Points/Game allowed -- #39
Defensive reb% allowed -- #41

A very good start to the season, I would say.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I know Davis has not yet developed offensive post moves he's comfortable with

However, with the 3-week break from classes, I hope he can begin to work on those. The only offense we seem to run for Anthony is the lob dunk. I think he is capable of much more, so perhaps Cal can get Kenny Payne to work with him (now that the 20 hour per week limit is suspended). I’d like to see him get some back-to-the-basket passes and see what he can do. I imagine he can hit a turnaround jumper off the post move pretty well.

by jdogblue on Dec 16, 2011 5:56 PM EST reply actions

Well ...

… we have seen him hit a foul-line jumper, so he does have a face-up game. I’d like to see more of that, and I’d like to see him put the ball on the floor more.

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

by Glenn Logan on Dec 16, 2011 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

Davis attacking off the dribble from the high post seems like an excellent play. I don’t think there are many centers who can stay in front of him. The great thing is that the same goes for Terrence. There’s no place to hide immobile bigs against UK.

by KDH2011 on Dec 16, 2011 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

The only problem with putting the ball on the floor

is that his daggone dribble is so “long”! It takes him forever to dribble, however, when he’s on the break, that means he covers about 15’ in one dribble! In the lane, with hedging defenders, I’d rather see the turn-around or a baby-hook rather than a dribble-drive. Now, if the lane is clear, that’s a round of a different caliber…

If your wings don't sweep....

by EagleTDL on Dec 16, 2011 11:00 PM EST up reply actions