Kentucky Basketball Game 30 At Georgia

BIG BLUE FANS FOR

BASKETBALL

2012-13 Season Analytical Writings

35
Cats 2012-13 Season Limping To Close Much The Way It Started

When a team gets an offensive rebound, it receives a bonus shot at the basket, an opportunity to score that is not matched by an opponent's corresponding opportunity. Some analysts treat the offensive rebound as the beginning of a new possession, others treat it as a continuation of the original possession. Regardless of the statistical treatment, the rebounding team gets another chance to score. Similarly, when a team commits a turnover, it ends a possession without getting an opportunity to score. These two aspects of a basketball game have the same net impact, relative to the teams. One team gains a scoring opportunity relative to its opponent.

One thing about this team that has been prevalent all season long, starting with the struggles with Maryland, and exposed again on Saturday by the Hogs, is the propensity of opponents getting significantly more shots at the basket than the Kentucky team. In 20 of the 29 games, the Cats got fewer shot attempts than their opponents, and in 9 of those games, the shot differential was 10 or more, and in 3 games, including yesterday, the differential exceed 20 shots. In 13 of the 16 SEC games, the Cats got fewer shot attempts than their opponents, and in 7 of those games, the shot differential was 10 or more, and in 2 games, including yesterday, the differential exceed 20 shots.

What is even more disturbing about this tendency is the pattern of the games in which these Cats managed to win these most fundamental aspects of the basketball games and lose them. In the 9 games in which the Cats got more shots, they occurred against LaFayette, Baylor, Samford, Portland, Lipscomb, Marshall, Tennessee (Knoxville), Vandy (Rupp), and Mississippi State. That is not exactly the crème de la crème of the 2012-13 slate of opponents. Against Maryland, Duke, Notre Dame, Louisville, the first 11 SEC games (Through Florida (Gainesville)), and against Missouri and at Arkansas the Cats were outshot a total of 189 shots, an average of over 11 shots per game. What is amazing is that the Cats managed to win 11 of those 17 games because giving opponents on average more than 11 more chances to score than you have is not a formula for winning, it is the equation for losing.

And this pattern started in game 1 (Maryland with 19 more shots), and continued through the first 6 games in which the Cats only got more shots than LaFayette. That pattern defined this team early on, and that tendency has really not improved, with Missouri getting 19 more shots and Arkansas getting 26 more shots. And, the +26 shots that Arkansas enjoyed was not even the season high (LOW) because Ole Miss had a 29 shot advantage.

This analysis does not provide any information that a UK fan has not already recognized this season, but perhaps puts the magnitude of this issue into some perspective for a fan. Did you know that Jon Hood, for all the criticism that has been thrown in his direction, gets an offensive rebound every 20 minutes of playing time, which is more often than every other player on this roster except Alex Poythress,Willie Cauley-Stein, and Nerlens Noel?

Georgia enters this game with a 14-15 record, 8-8 in the SEC. The three of the eight Bulldog losses in SEC play have occurred at home, #266 Mississippi State by 11, #1 Florida by 17, and to #71 Alabama by 7. The Bulldogs have won 3 SEC road games, at #91 Texas A&M by 7, at #205 South Carolina by 11, and at #64 Tennessee by 6. During their non-conference schedule, the Dawgs posted a 6-3 record at home. Georgia's most impressive win this season has been their two game sweep of Tennessee, and their most embarrassing loss has been at home to Mississippi State by 11. Overall, Georgia's schedule has been very respectable the 56 th most difficult in D1 basketball (0.6585 per Pomeroy).

At 8-8 with two games remaining, the Bulldogs are jockeying for SEC Tournament seeding in the Thursday portion of the tournament schedule. Georgia will not be in the bottom four or the top four spots regardless of the outcome of their final two games.

GEORGIA has averaged about 64 possessions per game, producing 60.4 ppg (0.94 ppp) and allowing 61.4 ppg (0.95 ppp). GEORGIA has turned the ball over on 23.1% of its possessions while forcing turnovers on 18.7% of opponent possessions. On the Boards, GEORGIA has secured an offensive rebounding rate of 30.8% about 2 to 3% below the 33% NCAA average, and a defensive rebounding rate of 70.0%, about about 3% better than the NCAA average.

In contrast, the Cats have averaged about 69 possessions per game, producing 74.8 ppg (1.08 ppp) and allowing 64.7 ppg (0.94 ppp) against a schedule strength of 0.6373 (67 th ). The Cats have committed turnovers on 19.4% of its possessions and forced turnovers on 17.7% of opponent possessions. On the Boards, the Cats' rebounding rates have been 34.5% and 68.4% on the offensive and defensive ends.

Based on this distribution, the analysis tips in favor of Kentucky by 3 points, 67-64 in a game played at a pace of 67 possessions for the Cats and 66 possessions for GEORGIA. Pomeroy figures the Game in Kentucky's favor by 3 points, 65-62 at a pace of 64 possessions. The likely margin range for this matchup is Georgia by 6 to Kentucky by 12 points.

Game Summary:

As he throughout the three game home stand, Coach Calipari will start three freshmen Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, and Archie Goodwin with Sophomore Ryan Harrow and Senior Julius Mays.. That will leave Kyle Wiltjer, Jarrod Polson and Jon Hood coming off the bench.

The Cats control the opening tip, and draw first blood when Willie Cauley-Stein scores on the inside. However, Georgia answers with a 3 pointer, and after the team trade baskets, Georgia takes the 1 point lead, 5-4, to the under 16 media timeout, and will have the ball after the timeout. In the opening segment, the Cats made 2-4 shots, but missed all 4 of their free throw attempts. Georgia also made 2-4 shots, but missed both of their free throw attempts. In the second segment, the Cats scored 7 straight points to move on top by 6 points, 11-5 before Georgia managed a basket with a chance to add on a third point on the play. However, they missed their third free throw of the game. At the Cats end, following a Kyle Wiltjer miss, Willie Cauley-Stein stole the ball and drove for a dunk and he was fouled. The Cats lead by 6, 13-7, at the under 12 media timeout, and Willie Cauley-Stein will have one free throw after the timeout.

In the third segment, the Cats watched Georgia erase the 6 point lead and move into a 1 point lead of their own, 15-14, and the Cats managed another score to regain a slim 1 point lead of their own, 16-15, at the under 8 media timeout. The Cats will have the ball after the timeout. Alex Poythress misses the front end after the timeout, and Georgia makes a 3 point play to move back on top by the Dawgs' biggest lead, 2 points, 18-16. On the inbounds, Goodwin throws it away, and fouls the Georgia shooter, who makes both of his free throws to put the Dawgs up by 4 points, 20-16. On the inbounds play, Goodwin can't get the ball in bounds and calls a timeout to save the possession. After leading 13-6, the Cats have been outscored 14-3, and roundly outplayed in nearly every aspect of the game, characterized by 1-8 free throw shooting and 1- 6 3 point shooting. After the timeout, Georgia adds another pair of free throws to lift them to a 6 point lead before Alex Poythress makes a couple of free throws for the Cats to stop the Georgia run. The teams then traded scores and Georgia maintained their lead at 3 points, 25-22, at the under 4 media timeout with 3:07 to play in the first half, and the Dawgs in possession.

In the final segment, the Cats pulled to 2 points, 28-26, but Georgia his a 3 pointer at the buzzer to take a 5 point lead to the locker room, 31-26.

UK scored its 26 points on 29 possessions for the half, and GEORGIA scored its 31 points on 30 possessions. Kentucky won the battle of the boards in the first half 21-17, and Kentucky owned the offensive glass, by a 8-3 margin. Georgia converted its 3 second chance possessions into 0 second chance points, and Kentucky used its 8 second chances for 3 points. GEORGIA had an offensive efficiency of 1.033 ppp on its 30 first chance possessions and 0.000 ppp for its 3 second chance possession. UK had 0.793 ppp on its 29 first chance possessions and 0.375 ppp on its 8 second chance possessions. With respect to the offensive rebounding, UK grabbed a strong 36.4% of its misses as offensive rebounds while GEORGIA was able to convert 18.8% of its misses into bonus possessions with offensive rebounds.

UK hit poorly from the free throw line in this half, making 3 of 10 attempts (30.0%). GEORGIA finished 6-10 [60.0%] from the free throw line. The Cats hit 11 of 29 (37.9%) shots in the first half including 1-9 (11.1%) from long range. For GEORGIA, their field goal shooting from inside the arc was a weak 5-14 [35.7%] and from long range, GEORGIA hit 5-9 [55.6%].

The Cats committed 3 turnovers, one for every 9.7 possessions. The Cats forced 6 GEORGIA turnovers, one for every 5.0 possessions.

Second Half:

The Cats open the second half with a Harrow basket and then a Harrow 3 pointer to pull within 2 points, 33-31, but Georgia responded with back to back baskets to move back on top by 6 points, 37-33, forcing a Kentucky timeout with 17:41 to play in the game. The second basket came after a Kentucky turnover. Out of the turnover, Kyle Wiltjer hit a 3 pointer to trim the lead back to 3 points, but Georgia turned another Goodwin turnover into a layup, and a foul at the other end to lift the Dawgs back on top by 5 at the under 16 media timeout with a free throw opportunity to move back out to the largest lead of the night, 6 points, 40-34 after the timeout. He missed the free throw, but the Dawgs only outplay the Cats to extend their lead to 10 points, 44-34 before the Cats stopped the run with a put back basket by Willie Cauley-Stein to trim the Georgia lead to 8 points, 44-36, at the under 12 media timeout, and Georgia in possession of the ball.

After a Georgia 3 pointer, and a Georgia 3 point play lifted the lead back to 10 points, 50-40, the Cats score 7 straight points, capped by a Kyle Wiltjer 3 pointer to trim the lead to 3 points, 50-47 with 7:40 to play in the game. After the timeout, Georgia scores the next 10 points to move on top by 13 points, 60-47. This game is over at the under 4 media timeout with that lead standing.

Turn out the lights, this party is over. This game is over, this season is over. Time to write the obituary on the 2012-13 Kentucky Wildcats. Final score, 72-62.

Analysis:

UK scored its 62 points in 64 possessions [0.97 ppp] for the game, and GEORGIA scored its 72 points on 64 possessions [1.12 ppp].

Kentucky won the boards, with a rebounding edge 42-40, and Kentucky won the battle of the offensive glass 17-13. GEORGIA converted its 13 second chance possessions into 3 second chance points while Kentucky converted their 17 second chance possessions to score 11 second chance points. GEORGIA had an offensive efficiency of 1.078 ppp on its 64 first chance possessions and 0.231 ppp for its 13 second chance possessions. UK had 0.797 ppp on its 64 first chance possessions and 0.647 ppp on its 17 second chance possessions. With respect to the offensive rebounding, UK grabbed 38.6% of its misses as offensive rebounds while GEORGIA was able to convert 34.2% of its misses into bonus possessions with offensive rebounds.

Kentucky shot poorly from the free throw line in this game, making 10-18 [55.6%] and missing the front end of several bonus opportunities. GEORGIA made 27-34 [79.4%] for the game. Field goal shooting for UK was 23-62 overall [37.1%] and 6-26 from long range [23.1%]. For GEORGIA, their field goal shooting from inside the arc was a low 12-37 32.4%] and from long range, GEORGIA hit 7-15 [46.7%].

The Cats who committed 10 turnovers, one for every 6.4 possessions. The Cats forced 10 GEORGIA turnovers, one for every 6.4 possessions.

Prior to the game, the NGE analysis predicted a 3 point Kentucky win, 67-64 at a pace of 67 possessions for UK and 66 possessions for GEORGIA. The final score was 62 (67) to 72 (64) at a pace of 64 possessions for the Cats and 64 possessions for GEORGIA. The UK offensive efficiency for the game was 0.969 ppp (1.000 ppp) and the UK defensive efficiency was 1.125 ppp (0.970 ppp).

Next Game On Schedule: Saturday, March 9, 2013 when the Cats back to Rupp for the final game of the regular season against the Championship Florida Gators..

Submitted by Richard Cheeks

Submitted by Richard Cheeks

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