Kentucky at Vanderbilt -- Statistical comparison

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 11, 2008 5:40 PM EST in Basketball Comment 12 comments

Here is the statistical comparison between Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

As you can see by the stats, these two teams are fairly evenly matched all the way around. The big difference is in the pre-conference schedule, where Vanderbilt ran the table. Since coming into conference play, Kentucky has been the better basketball team statistically, but not by much. So if you are inclined to get cocky off that fact, all you have to do is look at Vandy's sparkling 14-0 record at home. Kentucky has been stronger against top competition, and has a slightly stronger schedule than Vanderbilt, but the difference is not that great.

Vanderbilt is currently ranked just out of the Basketball Blogpoll (which I'll post later, I'm a little behind), but they have been in it for much of the year. Vandy is not playing as well lately as they were the last time we got them in Rupp, but they are on a 3-game winning streak of their own although like Kentucky, all of them have been close games. But two of those three have been on the road, and we all know how hard winning on the road in this league can be.

Kentucky has the longest winning streak in the SEC right now, along with Tennessee, but Vanderbilt is recovering from their January slump and looks ready to play very tough.

I'll have a more in-depth look at the game in my adversary analysis. For more on the Vanderbilt Commodores please be sure to visit our friends at Vanderbilt Sports Line.

Thanks again to Statsheet.com and Basketball State for the statistical data.

Statistic	UK	Vandy	Comments
*Overall*	12-9	20-4
*Conference*	6-2	5-4
*Home*	10-4	14-0
*Away*	2-4	4-4	!
*Top 25*	2-2	0-2	Weak schedule for Vandy
*RPI Top 50*	3-3	1-3
*Ranking*	NR	NR	BlogPoll
*RPI*	87	11	10 pts in a week.
*SOS*	29	50	Close

	Overall		Conf. Only
National rankings	UK	Vandy	UK	Vandy	Comments
FG%	26	46	1	10	Best FG% in the league
2 pt FG%	28	83	3	7	Advantage UK
3 pt FG%	98	9	2	6	We're better in conference
Possessions	213	23	12	7	We have to slow them down
Offensive Pts/Possession	100	51	4	10	We're better in conference
Defensive Pts/Possession	74	156	4	7	We're better in conference
TO/gm	292	252	11	9	Heh. Both horrible
APG	158	7	8	2	They pass the ball well
A/TO	243	43	9	5	What can I say?
Rebounds	148	120	7	10	We're better in conference
Location based rank*	102	141	N/A	N/a
*Factors in how well the team plays away from home

Statistic	All Games		Conference Games
Statistic	UK	Vandy	UK	Vandy	Delta (adjusted for all games played)	Comments
Total Games	21	24	8	9	-3
Wins	12	20	6	5	-8
Losses	9	4	2	4	5
Pct	0.57	0.83	0.75	0.56	-0.26
Field Goals Made	521	665	189	227	-60.88
Field Goals Attempted	1086	1414	397	523	-151.25
Field Goal Percentage	0.48	0.47	0.48	0.43	0.01	We're better in conference
Free Throws Made	325	403	130	110	-27.63
Free Throws Attempted	429	551	172	155	-53.13
Free Throw Percentage	0.76	0.73	0.76	0.71	0.03	Advantage Wildcats
3pt Field Goals Made	128	214	46	74	-59.25
3pt Field Goals Attempted	347	525	121	216	-112.38
3pt Field Goal Percentage	0.37	0.41	0.38	0.34	-0.04	We're better in conference
Points	1495	1947	554	638	-208.63
Points Per Game	71.2	81.1	69.3	70.9	-9.9	They score more.
Rebounds	773	951	301	333	-59.13
Rebounds Per Game	36.8	39.6	37.6	37	-2.8	Call it even
Offensive Rebounds	212	267	83	97	-21.63
Offensive Rebounds Per Game	10.1	11.1	10.4	10.8	-1	Again, even
Defensive Rebounds	512	600	194	204	-13
Defensive Rebounds Per Game	24.4	25	24.3	22.7	-0.6	Even again
Assists	285	438	103	152	-153
Assists Per Game	13.6	18.3	12.9	16.9	-4.7	Big advantage to Vandy
Steals	154	163	55	52	-9
Steals Per Game	7.3	6.8	6.9	5.8	0.5	Pretty even
Turnovers	351	377	125	134	-26
Turnovers Per Game	16.7	15.7	15.6	14.9	1	As close as we'll get to even
Blocks	96	89	36	34	7
Blocks Per Game	4.6	3.7	4.5	3.8	0.9	Small advantage UK
Fouls	416	430	147	154	-14
Fouls Per Game	19.8	17.9	18.4	17.1	1.9	Vandy fouls almost as much as us.
Disqualifications	14	4	5	2	10	Advantage Vandy

Game day is tomorrow. Go Cats!

0 recs | Comment 12 comments

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Cats clip Commodores

by 8 but the final score is not indicative of the intense game played before the lucky people in attendance and on tv. Enjoy the spectacle cat fans. PS Patterson will be okay, if not stronger.

by bluecrip on Feb 11, 2008 11:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is an allowable loss

Not that I don't think UK can win, but it will be very tough.

A win here would really make things interesting as far as the SEC East in concerned. Ahh, if LSU could have pulled off the upset over UT.

Two predictions: 1. UK won't shoot the ball nearly as well as they have been. 2. UK will turn it over at least 18-20 times.

That scenario spells doom for the 'Cats.

The patented toughness, and defense UK has been displaying of late is their potential savior in this game, I feel. If ever there was a game UK needs those two characteristics to come through in their play, it is this one.

I hope I am wrong, but I don't have a good feeling about this one.

by Ken Howlett on Feb 12, 2008 12:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

your predictions

is that mr. obvious making another appearance? :)

#2 is basically a guarantee...

i don't know why, but i have this feeling that the cats (esp. ramel and joe) will really step it up, especially defensively.

should be a close, exciting game...hope the cats come out on top.

oh, and as a UK fan, is there such a thing as an acceptable loss? :) maybe this season only...

GO BIG BLUE!! GO BIG BLUE!!

by UKWildCatFanatic on Feb 12, 2008 1:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you picking on Mr. Obvious? :)

I agree my predictions are fairly obvious, which is why I think UK will not win tonight. But, as we both note, if they can put together a defensive performance similar to the UT game, they certainly have a chance.

Here's how I look at it; Foster, Ogilvy, and Neltner had terrible games at Rupp, and UK only won by the skin of their teeth. Beal has really come on and is playing very good at the moment, which worries me. Plus the fact that Memorial Gym is a huge home court advantage... UK could play well and still lose.

I will gladly, happily eat my words if the boys prove me wrong. (It won't be the first time. I believe I ate some very public crow after the first Vandy game.)

by Ken Howlett on Feb 12, 2008 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This loss is in my "budget"

I think for serious NCAA consideration, the Cats have to finish at minimum 5-3 over these last 8 games and win 2 in the SEC tourney.

In my three loss "budget" I have accounted for at Vandy, at Tenn, and one of Ole Miss/Florida/Arkansas at home. So I'll survive if the Cats don't get it done tonight.

It won't be okay if we come out and don't play hard.

by chirop1 on Feb 12, 2008 1:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

UK By 2 (Somehow)

Cats have lost 4 of past 6 (2002 thru 2007) at Vandy but (somehow) pull W out tonight.

I don't always bet ON Kentucky but never bet AGAINST the Cats!

by FortyYearCatFan on Feb 12, 2008 7:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

close

I feel better about this game than I did after UK beat Vandy at Rupp. At least now they've won a few road games and Vandy has struggled a bit in conference play. That said, I don't have any big expectations that the Cats will win this one. I think it is a winnable game to be sure, but on the road against a good team is a tough order.

Can they win? Absolutely, and it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

By the same token though, it wouldn't surprise me if they lost either.

By the way Tru, I like the addition of the colors to the charts, it makes them much easier to read.

Looking for a rock to wind a piece of string around.

by JLeverenz on Feb 12, 2008 11:20 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I ...

think so too.

:-)

by Truzenzuzex on Feb 12, 2008 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Vandy's hard road

Let's not forget when analyzing Vandy that they have played the following ROAD games; UK, UT, UFA, and Ole Miss.

The schedule makers did Vandy no great shakes with that lineup. I feel the schedule skewers Vandy's perception at the moment. I think they are very talented, and definitely one of the 20 best team in the country.

by Ken Howlett on Feb 12, 2008 11:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs