Samford at Rupp

BIG BLUE FANS FOR

BASKETBALL

2012-13 Season Analytical Writings

11
Cats Are Facing Realities After Back To Back Losses

It has finally happened. I suppose it was always simply a matter of time when Coach Calipari would experience a loss on the Rupp Arena floor, but that inevitability does not lessen the sting at all. The streak ends at 55 games, and it is time to start a new streak. However, the way this group of Cats is playing at this time, any home court streaks in the near term are likely to be very short, and this team is not likely to hand a streak in progress over to next year's group. When one looks at how this team is playing relative to the Gators, a season ending home loss to the Gators seems more likely than yesterday's loss to Baylor on Saturday.

It is safe to say that seven games into this season (over ½ of the non-conference schedule), this team does not even come close to getting it. As a result, there are other inevitabilities staring these Cats in the face given the quality of their play that has produced a 4-3 record, with a two game losing streak. For starters, this group is the likely to lose to Louisville on December 29 at the Yum Center. This group is not likely to win another SEC Championship for the school and they may find themselves fighting for that important Bye to the quarterfinals in the SEC Tournament. This team is not likely to advance deep into the tournament come March.

The good news is that there is still time for this group to “get it” and respond to Coach Calipari's teaching and coaching. They get to play four games at Rupp before it must travel to Louisville. During that time, Coach Calipari should be able to intensify the practice regime once the semester ends. The time will be spent mostly teaching and coaching, with games against Samford (December 4), Portland (December 8), Lipscomb (December 15), and Marshall (December 22) prior to the date with the Cards on December 29 that will give us all the next chance to measure this team's progress.

Samford has opened the season with two wins in nine starts, and one of the two wins came at the expense of non-D1 opponent Martin Methodist by 19 points. Samford's only win over a D1 opponent was yesterday by 9 points over #275 Georgia Southern. Among Samford's early season losses are by 11 to #291 Austin Peay, by 4 to #356 Alcorn State. #7 Louisville defeated Samford at the Yum Center by 26 points, 80-54.

Samford has averaged about 64 possessions per game, producing 60.4 ppg (0.94 ppp) and allowing 71.3 ppg (1.12 ppp) against an early schedule that Pomeroy rates as the 176 th toughest (0.5228). Stamford has turned the ball over on 21.3% of its possessions while forcing turnovers on 19.5% of opponent possessions. On the Boards, Samford has secured an offensive rebounding rate of 30.0%, slightly below the the NCAA average, and a defensive rebounding rate of 61.0%, which is 6% better than the national average.

In contrast, the Cats have started the season averaging 68 to 69 possessions per game, producing 75.9 ppg (1.11 ppp) and allowing 66.6 ppg (0.964 ppp) against a schedule strength of 0.6761 (37 th ). The Cats have committed turnovers on 18.0% of its possessions and forced turnovers on 19.2% of opponent possessions. On the Boards, the Cats' rebounding rates have been 32.5% and 67.2% on the offensive and defensive ends.

Based on this distribution, the analysis tips in favor of the Cats by 33 points, 85-52, in a game played at a pace of 66 possessions for the Cats and 67 possessions for Stamford. Pomeroy figures the Game in Kentucky's favor by 28 points, 81-53 at a pace of 62 possessions. Another performance like the last two on the offensive end will allow Stamford to remain in contention into the second half before the Cats finish them off with a victory of 20 points or less. If that occurs, it will continue to signal problems for this team. Of course, we can always hope for a 40 to 50 point blow out to heal some bruised Wildcat Psyche.

Game Summary:

Twany Beckham will be available after missing the last two games due to a stomach ailment. Coach Calipari will use the same starting 5 with the three freshmen, Noel, Goodwin, and Poythress starting with Kyle Wiltjer and Julius Mays. Goodwin will start the game at the point. Coach Calipari will use Cauley-Stein and Polson first off the bench, but has said that Jon Hood will get an opportunity to earn some playing time, and Harrow will be available for minutes to begin his comeback.

The Cats control the opening tip, and after missing the first attempt, a 3 pointer by Wiltjer, Poythress makes a 3 pointer on the second possession to draw first blood. At the end of the opening segment, the Cats extended their lead to 7-0. In the second segment, Samford finally ended their scoring drought, but Goodwin answered with the Cats' second 3 pointer of the evening. Polson was the first substitute off the bench tonight, followed by Cauley-Stein and then Harrow by the end of the second segment. The Cats lead by 9, 12-3 at the under 12 media timeout.

The early pace of this game is very slow, about 60 possession for a game. Out of the timeout, the Cats connect to Goodwin on a lob for a basket, and following a steal, convert to extend the lead to 16-3, prompting a Samford timeout with 10:49 to play in the first half. During the timeout, Coach Calipari brings Mays, Wiltjer, and Noel back into the game. Over the balance of the third segment, the Cats outscored Samford by 9-3 to extend their lead to 19 points, 25-6 at the under 8 media timeout with 7:44 to play in the first half.

After the timeout, the Cats ran off a quick 7 points to only 1 for Samford to go on top by 25 points, 32-7, forcing Samford to call another timeout with 5:53 to play. Over the balance of the fourth segment, the Cats extend their lead to 29 points, 39-10, at the under 4 media timeout with 2:43 to play in the first half. The teams close out the first half with the Cats up by 31 points, 45-14.

UK scored its 45 points in a total of 38 possessions for the half, and SAMFORD scored its 14 points on a total of 37 possessions. Kentucky WON the boards, with a rebounding edge 22-13, and Kentucky controlled the offensive glass, 6-1. Kentucky converted its offensive rounding advantage into a 6-0 advantage in second chance points. SAMFORD had an offensive efficiency of 0.378 ppp on its 37 first chance possessions and 0.000 ppp for its 1 second chance possession. UK had 1.026 ppp on its 38 first chance possessions and 1.000 ppp on its 6 second chance possessions. With respect to the offensive rebounding, UK grabbed an average 33.3% of its misses as offensive rebounds while SAMFORD was able to convert 5.9% of its misses into bonus possessions with offensive rebounds.

UK hit poorly from the free throw line in this half, after making 8-12 (66.7%) overall. SAMFORD finished 5-9 [55.6%] for the half. Field goal shooting for UK was 17-32 overall [53.1%] and 3-10 from long range [30.0%]. For SAMFORD, their field goal shooting from inside the arc was a weak 3-15 [20.0%] and from long range, SAMFORD hit 1-4 [25.0%].

The Cats committed 7 turnovers, one for every 5.4 possessions. The Cats forced 14 SAMFORD turnovers, one for every 2.6 possessions.

Second Half:

Samford opens the second half by scoring the first 9 points, and outscoring the Cats 11-7 in the first segment of the second half, trimming the lead to 27, 52-25 at the under 16 media timeout. In a short second period, the Cats dropped 4 more points from their lead, to 58-33 at the under 12 media timeout. In the second half, the Cats have only managed 13 points on 13 possessions while allowing 19 points on 14 possessions.

The teams finished the game playing within a range of 25 to 35 point Kentucky advantage, and the final score was 88-56.

Analysis:

UK scored its 88 points in 70 possessions [1.26 ppp] for the game, and SAMFORD scored its 56 points on 71 possessions [0.79 ppp].

Kentucky won the boards, with a rebounding edge 41-25, and Kentucky won the offensive glass with a 11-5 offensive rebounding advantage. SAMFORD converted its 5 second chance possessions into 8 second chance points while Kentucky converted their 11 second chance possessions to score 13 second chance points. SAMFORD had an offensive efficiency of 0.676 ppp on its 71 first chance possessions and 1.600 ppp for its 5 second chance possessions. UK had 1.071ppp on its 70 first chance possessions and 1.182 ppp on its11 second chance possessions. With respect to the offensive rebounding, UK grabbed 35.5% of its misses as offensive rebounds while SAMFORD was able to convert a weak 14.3% of its misses into bonus possessions with offensive rebounds.

UK hit poorly from the free throw line in this game, making 11-18 [61.1%]. SAMFORD made 7-12 [58.3%] for the game. Field goal shooting for UK was 34-61 overall [55.7%] and 9-21 from long range [42.9%]. For SAMFORD, their field goal shooting from inside the arc was a strong 14-39 [35.9%] and from long range, SAMFORD hit 7-14 [50.0%].

The Cats who committed 12 turnovers, one for every 5.8 possessions. The Cats forced 17 SAMFORD turnovers, one for every 4.2 possessions.

Prior to the game, the NGE analysis predicted a 33 point UK win, 85-52 at a pace of 66 possessions for UK and 67 possessions for Samford. The final score was 88 (85) to 56 (52) at a pace of 70 possessions for the Cats and 71 possessions for SAMFORD. The UK offensive efficiency for the game was 1.257ppp (1.288 ppp) and the UK defensive efficiency was 0.789 ppp (0.776 ppp).

Next Game On Schedule: Saturday afternoon against Portland at Rupp Arena

Submitted by Richard Cheeks

Submitted by Richard Cheeks

To Cats Take On Portland-Try To Satisfy Coach Calipari

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