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2015-16 Season Analytical Writings

23
Cats Continue Two Game Home Stand Against Missouri

Last Thursday, the Cats impressed with a huge road win at Arkansas. It was not simply the fact of the win that impressed so much as the manner of the win, which they accomplished with full effort from tip to final buzzer. Coming on the heels of an embarrassing loss at Auburn a few days earlier, the strong performance could have been simply another upward swing in a season marked by several wide swings from very good to very poor, repeating at least 4 prior times since the 6 th game of the season.

The very strong performance at Arkansas, given the pattern of oscillation that has occurred could have been yet another harbinger of the team returning to the deep valley of poor performance. With a resurging Vanderbilt team due to arrive at Rupp Arena in just two days, analyst concerns about the likelihood of another subpar performance by this Kentucky team could not be ignored or discounted.

The ANE projected the game as a 1 point UK favorite, Pomeroy gave the Cats a 4 point advantage, and while Vegas opened in with a small line in Vandy's favor, the betting pushed the Vegas line into the UK corner by game day. Yet, the projected margin was small. On Saturday afternoon, this UK team did not allow its play to decline on the heels of their strong showing at Arkansas. No, quite to the contrary, this UK team turned in its stronger single game performance of the year, beating Vanderbilt soundly, from start to finish, by 19 points.

I am reminded of how the 2011-12 team finished its season. Not many people will recall that the 2011-12 Cats started their season playing stronger than their pre-season projected efficiency for the first 5 games, and then the team's performance level fell below average and remained below average from games 6 through 18. Then something unique occurred. Starting in game 19, and extending through game 30, the 2011-12 UK Wildcats took their game to a new level. As I watched the data emerge, game by game during this final 1/3 of the regular season, I recall describing it as a “surge”. The surge defined a new, significantly higher norm for the play of this team. The team finished the season through the post season maintaining that new standard.

Prior to the surge, the 2011-12 team's performance was marked by regular oscillations between better than average and below average games. Peaks occurred in games 1, 3, 5, 11, and 15. Valleys occurred at games 2, 4, 6 through 9, 12 through 14, and 16 through 18. A pattern that is somewhat similar to how this team has managed its first 17 games.

Rhetorically, are we witnessing the beginning of a surge, similar to what the 2011-12 team accomplished from games 19 through 30? I believe it is entirely possible, but frankly two games does not a “surge” make. The Cats must sustain this newly found energy and efficiency for a substantial number of games beyond the two that are now on the books.

If this is the real deal, the beginning of a surge, then this team will demonstrate this by handling Missouri on Wednesday night, Kansas on Saturday, and the majority of the opponents remaining on this schedule with greater ease than the current analytical model would predict. This does not mean that additional losses will not occur, but if this trend is real, the number of losses will be much fewer than the 10 now projected for this team.

Missouri brings a 8-11 record, 1-5 in the SEC, into this meeting with the 15-4; 5-2 Wildcats. Missouri ended their non-conference schedule with a 7-6 record. They lost to #11 Arizona, #17 Xavier, and #40 Kansas State. However, they also lost to $118 Illinois. Missouri's most impressive non-conference win was over #111 Nebraska Omaha by 7 at home. In the SEC, the only Missouri win came at the expense of #160 Auburn by 15 at home. Can there be little doubt that Missouri is the weakest team in the SEC this season despite the fact that they handled the same Auburn team that beat the Cats?

Missouri and Kentucky have not played a common non-conference opponent but have both played Arkansas and Auburn.

MISSOURI has played its first 19 games at an average tempo of about 69 possessions per game, scoring 67.8 ppg (0.982 ppp) and allowing an average 68.9 ppg (1.002 ppp). MISSOURI has turned the ball over on 17.5% of its possessions while forcing turnovers on 17.1% of opponent possessions. On the Boards, MISSOURI has secured an offensive rebounding rate of 26.5%, and a defensive rebounding rate of 71.0%.

In contrast, the Cats have averaged about 70 possessions per game, producing 77.4 ppg (1.106 ppp) and allowing 67.1 ppg (0.953 ppp). The Cats have committed turnovers on 17.6% of its possessions and forced turnovers on 19.1% of opponent possessions. On the Boards, the Cats' rebounding rates have been 39.6% and 69.7% on the offensive and defensive ends.

Based on this distribution, the analysis tips in favor of Kentucky by 17 points, 79-62 in a game played at a pace of 69 possessions for the Cats and 70 possessions for Missouri. Pomeroy figures the Game in Kentucky's favor by 17 points, 78-67 at a pace of 67 possessions. Vegas opened this evening with the Cats favored by 17 ½ points, but within a few hours, the line has climbed to 20 points.

Coming back to the roller coaster theme as compared to the possibility of a surge occurring, if this team plays at its valley level, the Cats will find themselves in a struggle yet again, and the game will probably be decided either way in single digits. However, if this team continues it surge, the final margin is likely to be 10 or more points above the predicted average margin.

See how other Big Blue Fans see this game's likely outcome by clicking the following link.

http://bigbluefans4uk.com/2015-16DataandWritings/247_PREDICTIONS/20_PREDICTIONS.png

You can enter your prediction at any time prior to tip off by visiting the 247 Sports prediction thread for this game at:

http://kentucky.247sports.com/Board/296/Contents/Missouri-Prediction-Thread-43087060

Game Summary:

Coach Calipari starts Isaiah Briscoe, Derek Willis, Alex Poythress, Tyler Ulis, and Jamal Murray. Dominique Hawkins may be available for the game tonight.

Missouri controls the opening tip, and get the first score of the game, but the Cats get a second chance 3 pointer by Derek Willis, a basket by Isaiah Briscoe, and a fast break off a turnover by Jamal Murray to move on top 7-2. Then Derek Willis makes his second 3 pointer, a Isaiah Briscoe jump shot, and an offensive rebound basket by Alex Poythress to propel the Cats to a 14-2 lead at the under 16 media timeout. In the opening segment, the Cats have missed three shots for 9 attempts, and have 3 offensive rebounds and 5 second chance points to score 14 points on just 6 possessions. Missouri in contrast made 1 of 5 shots, committed two turnovers, and have 1 offensive rebounds, to get 2 points on 6 possessions.

After the timeout, Derek Willis made his third 3 pointer and following Missouri's third turnover, Tyler Ulis hit his first 3 pointer of the game, forcing a Missouri timeout down by 18, 20-2 with 15:15 remaining. After the timeout, Missouri stopped the UK run at 20-0, but the Cats extended their lead to 21 points at the under 12 media timeout, 27-6. At the under 8 media timeout, the Cats hold a 21 point lead, 35-14. At the under 4 media timeout, the Cats lead stands at 25 points, 43-18. The Cats take a 27 point lead to the locker room, 47-20.

Kentucky scored 47 points on 34 possessions (1.382 ppp) while MISSOURI scored 20 points on 35 possessions (0.57 ppp). The Cats shot well for most of the half, and a strong start lifted them to 19-35 (54.3%) including 5-10 (50.0%) from long range. MISSOURI shot the ball very poorly, 7-27 overall (25.9%) which included 3-8 (37.5%) from long range. From the line, the Cats were 4-5 (80.0%) while MISSOURI was 3-5 (60.0%). The Cats committed 3 turnovers, one for each 11.3 possessions, and the Cats forced MISSOURI into 10 turnovers, one for each 3.5 possessions.

On the boards, the Cats won the battle 23-14 and the Cats won the battle on the offensive glass 7-4. The Cats converted their 7 second chance opportunities into 9 second chance points while MISSOURI used their 4 second chances to score 0 second chance points.

MISSOURI had an efficiency of 0.57 ppp on its 35 first chance possessions and 0.00 ppp on its 4 second chance possessions. Kentucky had an efficiency of 1.12 ppp on its 34 first chance possessions and 1.29 ppp on its 7 second chance possession. The Cats grabbed 41.2% of its misses and MISSOURI grabbed 20.0% of its missed shots in the first half.

Second Half:

The Tigers open the second half, and after the first 4 minute segment, the Cats lead stretched to 30 points, 52-22. At the under 12 media timeout, the Cats lead stands at 40 points, 67-27. After leading by 41, 71-30, Missouri finished the third segment with a 7-0 run to trim the Cats' lead to 34 points, 71-37 at the under 8 media timeout. At the under 4 media timeout, the Cats lead remains at 40 points, 86-46.

Coach Calipari clears the bench that the Cats win 88-54.

Analysis:

UK scored its 88 points on 68 possessions for the game, and MISSOURI scored its 54 points on 70 possessions.

The Cats controlled the Boards, 47-28, and Kentucky won the battle on the offensive glass 15-9. Kentucky used its 15 second chance possessions to score 18 second chance points, and MISSOURI used its 9 second chance possessions to score 7 second chance points. MISSOURI had an offensive efficiency of 0.671 ppp on its 70 first chance possessions and 0.778 ppp for its 9 second chance possessions. UK had 1.029 ppp on its 68 first chance possessions and 1.200 ppp on its 15 second chance possessions. With respect to the offensive rebounding, UK grabbed 44.1% of its misses as offensive rebounds while MISSOURI was able to convert 22.0% of its misses into bonus possessions with offensive rebounds.

UK hit well from the free throw line in this game, making 11-14 [78.6%]. MISSOURI made 14-19 [73.7%] for the game. Field goal shooting for UK was 34-65 overall [52.3%] and 9-20 from long range [45.0%]. For MISSOURI, their field goal shooting from inside the arc was a 14-43 [32.6%] and from long range, MISSOURI hit 4-14 [28.6%].

The Cats committed 11 turnovers, one for every 6.2 possessions. The Cats forced 15 MISSOURI turnovers, one for every 4.7 possessions.

Next Game On Schedule: Saturday evening at Kansas in the 21 st regular season of the 2015-16 season .

Submitted by Richard Cheeks

Submitted by Richard Cheeks

To Cats Face Kansas In The Phog

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