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2015-16 Season Analytical Writings
33
Cats Stay On The Road At Florida
Certainly, the Cats' loss at Vanderbilt was costly to their hopes of another solitary finish at the top of the SEC, but the Cats remain in control of their own destiny with respect to earning a share of the championship. They must win their final two games, at Florida on Tuesday, and then for Senior Day at Rupp next Saturday afternoon. The Cats can still claim sole possession of this title, but to do so, the Cats must not lose AND Texas A&M must fall to Vanderbilt next Saturday in College Station.
The real question about Tuesday will be whether these Cats have enough fuel in their tank to put Florida away and then stay on top when the final horn sounds. That was not the case this past Saturday at Vanderbilt. The Cats played from the lead for nearly all of the first half, but the Commodores closed the half strong, reducing the lead that had been 8 points, 38-30, with 2:23 remaining to only 3 points, 39-36 at the half. When the second half started, the Cats showed a hint of renewed energy, but that only lasted 2 minutes and 10 seconds when Isaiah Briscoe made a layup to put the Cats on top by 7 points, 45-38. From that point to the end, the Commodores outpaced the tired, shorthanded Cats 36-17.
The Vanderbilt players said after the game that they “wore down Kentucky” and it is certainly hard to argue the point given the pattern that defined this game. However, Marcus Lee admitted that he and Alex Poythress “totally zoned out” and while Marcus could not offer a plausible explanation for this, many observers recall that this is not the only game that one or both of these “experienced” members of this team has only made cameo appearances in games this season. With Derek Willis missing, the impact of the “zone out” in Nashville is exaggerated.
It appeared that Coach Calipari was as frustrated by the way his Cats performed Saturday as he has been willing to reveal publically heretofore. When asked about why Alex Poythress seemed to disappear after such a strong performance against Alabama, Coach Calipari snapped, “I don't know, you'll have to ask him.” When asked about Derek Willis' condition, he snapped, “I don't know. Maybe he will take a picture of his ankle and let you know.”
These deflections seemed unusual, revealing a frustration level that Coach Calipari rarely allows to emerge in public view.
The SEC race remains unclear. Texas A&M and Kentucky are 1 game ahead of Vanderbilt, South Carolina, and LSU. These five teams are fighting for the 4 double byes in the SEC tournament, and it appears that Mississippi State, Tennessee, Auburn and Missouri have secured the bottom 4 positions, leaving Florida, Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to fight it out using a host of tie breaking criteria for positions 6 through 10 in the SEC Tournament seedings. Kentucky closes with LSU, and Texas A&M closes with Vanderbilt, giving LSU and Vandy an outside chance to still claim a part of the SEC regular season title. South Carolina needs that help, plus wins over Georgia and at Arkansas to earn a share.
Vanderbilt could still be in the hunt for a first place finish if they can beat the Cats and the Aggies over the next 8 days, and the Cats also fall to the Gators. That scenario could set up a 3 way tie for first place. South Carolina could also end up in a tie for first if they win out by winning at Mississippi State, at Arkansas, and at home over Georgia. Everyone else in the league trails the Cats by 3 or more games with only 3 games to play.
None of this matters if the Cats can get out of Gainesville with their 4 th road win of the SEC season on Tuesday night. Florida brings a 17-12, 8-8 SEC record into this encounter with the Cats. The Cats record now stands at 21-8, 11-5 in the SEC. In their first encountered at Rupp Arena on February 6, 2016, the Cats handled the Gators with much ease, winning 80-61. Since that first game, Florida has won 2 (over #86 Mississippi by 5, and at #79 Georgia by 4) and lost four times, including their last 3 games. Against the top 5 SEC teams, the Gators have been 1-6, and their only win came on January 9 against #73 LSU by 6 in Gainesville. At home this season, the Gators have dropped three games, including their last two appearances at the O Dome. The Cats have also won 4 and lost 2 since their first encounter with Florida, but without Derek Willis, the Cats have dropped 2 of their last 3 games.
FLORIDA has played its 29 games at an average tempo of about 70 to 71 possessions per game, scoring 73.6 ppg (1.041 ppp) and allowing an average 67.9 ppg (0.963 ppp). FLORIDA has turned the ball over on 16.6% of its possessions while forcing turnovers on 18.7% of opponent possessions. On the Boards, FLORIDA has secured an offensive rebounding rate of 33.8%, and a defensive rebounding rate of 70.6%. The Florida schedule has a strength of schedule of 0.7162 (#12).
In contrast, the Cats have averaged about 69 to 70 possessions per game, producing 78.2 ppg (1.130 ppp) and allowing 67.2ppg (0.963 ppp). The Cats have committed turnovers on 16.3% of its possessions and forced turnovers on 18.0% of opponent possessions. On the Boards, the Cats' rebounding rates have been 37.5% and 68.9% on the offensive and defensive ends. The Cats have a strength of schedule of 0.6882 (#26).
Based on this distribution, the analysis tips in favor of the Cats with a theoretical margin of 1 point, 72-71 in a game played at a pace of 70 possessions for the Cats and 70 possessions for Florida. Pomeroy figures the Game in Kentucky's favor by 2 points, 72-70 at a pace of 68 possessions.
See how other Big Blue Fans see this game's likely outcome by clicking the following link.
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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/Florida-Prediction-Thread-43970049
Game Summary:
Prior to the game, Derek Willis participated in the warmup drills, but Coach Calipari will not play Derek in this game. Coach Calipari starts Skal Labissiere, Isaiah Briscoe, Tyler Ulis, Jamal Murray, and Alex Poythress in yet another starting combination in an effort to find a lineup and rotation pattern that can sustain efficiency throughout the game.
Skal Labissiere controls the opening tip, and the Cats score first on a second chance basket by Alex Poythress. Florida matches UK at 2-2, 4-4, 8-8, and after the Gators eased on top 10-8, Isaiah Briscoe made a 15 foot baseline jumper to tie the score 10-10 at the under 16 media timeout. In the second segment, the Cats moved on top 15-10 on a 3 pointer by Jamal Murray and a baseline hook by Skal Labissiere. After Florida closed to within 1 point on 3-4 from the line, the Cats scored the next 4 points to lead 19-14 at the under 12 media timeout.
In the third segment, the Cats score the next 5 points to extend their run to 9-0 and to build their lead to 10 points 24-14. The Cats maintain the 10 point lead, 28-18 at the under 8 media timeout. In the 4 th segment, the Cats advanced their lead to a game high 14 points, 32-18, but the Gators scored the next 5 points to trim the lead into single digits. At the under 4 media timeout, the Cats are maintaining their lead at 10 points, 34-24.
In the final segment, the Cats missed its only shot and committed 4 turnovers, allowing Florida to cut the one time 14 point lead to only 4 points, 34-30. Coach Calipari takes a timeout. After the timeout, the Cats miss a 3 point attempt, and Florida pulls to within 2 points. The Cats stop the Florida run on a lob dunk by Marcus Lee, assist to Tyler Ulis. The Gators take a timeout with 19.7 seconds (17 on shot clock) remaining, down 4, 36-32. Cats lead by 4, 36-32 at the half.
Kentucky scored 36 points on 36 possessions (1.00 ppp) while FLORIDA scored 32 points on 36 possessions (0.89 ppp). The Cats shot well in the first half making 17-34 (50.0%) including 2-5 (40.0%) from long range. FLORIDA shot the ball very poorly, 12-35 overall (34.3%) which included 2-8 (25.0%) from long range. From the line, the Cats were 0-0 (0%) while FLORIDA was 6-16 (37.5%). The Cats committed 8 turnovers, one for each 4.5 possessions, and the Cats forced FLORIDA into 2 turnovers, one for each 18.0 possessions.
On the boards, the Cats won the battle 24-20, and Florida won the battle on the offensive glass 9-6 that resulted in a 8-4 advantage in second chance points for the Cats. FLORIDA had an efficiency of 0.78 ppp on its 36 first chance possessions and 0.44 ppp on its 9-second chance possessions. Kentucky had an efficiency of 0.78 ppp on its 36 first chance possessions and 1.333 ppp on its 6-second chance possession. The Cats grabbed 35.3% of its misses and FLORIDA grabbed 33.3% of its missed shots in the first half.
Second Half:
The Cats open the second half with their ninth turnover of the game. However, Isaiah Briscoe extends the Cats' lead to 6 points on a jump shot, his third of the game. The Cats will have the ball with a 5-point lead, 43-38, after the under16 media timeout. After the timeout, Skal Labissiere hits a 12 foot jump shot, and then Tyler Ulis hits his second 3 pointer of the game to extend the Cats' lead back to 10 points, 48-38, prompting Coach White to call a timeout with 14:07 remaining in the game.
In his first starting assignment in months, Skal Labissiere has responded with 10 points and 8 rebounds with 14 minutes yet to play. After the timeout, Florida goes inside for a bucket. A 3 pointer by Dominique Hawkins extends the lead to 11, but a bucket inside by the Gators trims the lead to 9 points, 51-42, at the under 12 media timeout. Florida will have possession after the timeout. In the third segment, the Cats extended their lead to 12 points, 61-49 at the under 8 media timeout, with 7:15 remaining in the game. Florida will be shooting a pair of free throws after the timeout.
After the timeout, the Gators make both free throws to trim the lead to 10, but a 3 pointer by Jamal Murray and a lob to Marcus Lee extends the Cats lead to a game high 15 points, forcing another Gator timeout with 6:32 remaining. After going up by a game high 17 points, the Gators trimmed the lead to 13, 72-59 at the under 4 media timeout, and the Gators will have two more free throws after the timeout.
In this game, the officials have called 22 fouls on the Cats and only 12 on Florida. The Gators have already been to the line 26 times, to only 8 for the Cats. The next two free throws will by their 27 th and 28 th of the game.
Final score, UK 88 Florida 79.
Analysis:
UK scored its 88 points on 74 possessions for the game, and FLORIDA scored its 79 points on 75 possessions.
The Cats controlled the Boards, 45-35, and the Gators won the battle on the offensive glass 16-9. Kentucky used its 9 second chance possessions to score 13 second chance points, and FLORIDA used its 16 second chance possessions to score 8 second chance points. FLORIDA had an offensive efficiency of 0.947 ppp on its 75 first chance possessions and 0.500 ppp for its 16 second chance possessions. UK had 1.014 ppp on its 74 first chance possessions and 1.444 ppp on its 9 second chance possessions. With respect to the offensive rebounding, UK grabbed 32.1% of its misses as offensive rebounds while FLORIDA was able to convert 30.8% of its misses into bonus possessions with offensive rebounds.
UK hit well from the free throw line in this game, making 23-32 [71.9%]. FLORIDA made 16-37 [43.2%] for the game. Field goal shooting for UK was 29-55 overall [52.7%] and 7-10 from long range [70.0%]. For FLORIDA, their field goal shooting from inside the arc was a 24-50 [48.0%] and from long range, FLORIDA hit 5-18 [27.8%].
The Cats committed 13 turnovers, one for every 5.7 possessions. The Cats forced 5 FLORIDA turnovers, one for every 15.0 possessions.
Next Game On Schedule: Saturday afternoon against LSU at Rupp Arena in the 31 st regular season and 18 th SEC game of the 2015-16 season .
Submitted by Richard Cheeks
A Player's Contribution To Final Scoring Margin
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As such, it is in an experimental stage.
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Submitted by Richard Cheeks
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