07 ARIZONA STATE

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2016-17 Season Analytical Writings

10
Cats Finish First Six Games In Historic Manner
Now They Must Strut Their Stuff Against Stronger Opponents

Rarely, if ever, will I find the subjective wire service polls have it right while analytical models such as my ANE model, or Pomeroy not so much. However, this is one of those times and want to explain why I believe this is happening. First, a short recap of the first six games. The Cats have beaten their first 6 opponents by an average of 28 points, and their closest margin so far has been the 21 point defeat they handed Michigan State at MSG. No UK team since 1947-48 team has dominated its first 6 opponents by 21 or more points in each game.

Yes, that was a different era, but consider the many great UK basketball teams since 1948 that were not able to match this start. The 1949 National Champions did not do it. Ditto for the 1951 National Champions or even the undefeated 1954 Cats. The 1957 National Champions did not start this well, and neither did Coach Rupp's favorite team, the Runts in 1966. Dan Issel's senior team in 1970 could not do it. Joe Hall's great team in 1975, 1977, 1978 and 84 did not start like this. Eddie Sutton's best UK teams in 1986 and 1988 fell short of this mark. None of Pitino's great teams did this, not even the gold standard 1996 National Champions, and their younger brothers in 1997. Only the 2004 Tubby Smith team managed to start 6-0, but it did not dominate in this manner. The 2012 National Champions didn't do it, and while the 2015 defensive monster came close, it could not defeat all six opponents by 21 points or more.

And, the average 28 point margin, by and large, is an understatement of this team's early power. Why? “It's Calipari Time” (hummed to the tune of “It's Howdy Doody Time”) has routinely seen UK's final margin of victory shrink over the last 2 to 6 minutes. This team has established much larger working margins during the first 35 minutes of nearly every game, only to see those margins shrink to the final margins after Coach Calipari empties his bench, starting with the insertion of his son, Brad, into the game.

Therefore, the poll voters can see beyond the mere final margins and better value UK's strength, while the analytics miss the full impact that this team has had on its collective opponents because of the impact that “Calipari Time” has on the final efficiencies and margins.

Some critics look at this achievement and discount its significance due to the weakness of the collective opposition. However, consider who the 1947-48 team played to set this mark nearly 70 years ago: Indiana Central, Fort Knox, Tulsa twice, Depaul at the Jefferson County Armory in Louisville, and at Cincinnati. Or consider the powerful 2015 team that started against Grand Canyon, Buffalo, Kansas, Boston U, Montana State, and Texas Arlington. Regardless of Era, regardless of strength of schedule, this team is playing at a consistent level that has not been witnessed in these parts for nearly 70 years, stretching back to a team that became known around the world at the Fabulous Five, and in addition to the NCAA Championship, also won Olympic Gold.

Yes, it is too soon to anoint this group with such high praise. Other than a noteworthy start, they have not really achieved anything, at least by UK's true standards. It must continue to improve and win games of course, but to enter the real conversation about all-time great teams it must cut down the nets in April and bring home the hardware for the 9 th time in the program's history.

The journey continues on Monday evening when the Cats take on Bobby Hurley's Arizona State Sun Devils in the Bahamas. Outside of Michigan State, the other five UK opponents have Pomeroy ratings between #138 (Stephen F. Austin) and 229 (Canisius). With Michigan State at #31, the average rank of the first six opponents has been #174.

The next six games will be a significant step up in the level of the opposition with an average Pomeroy rank of #60. The Sun Devils are at the #78 position, a clear step up in the level of competition. The remainder of the next six games will see the Cats taking on teams currently at #72 (Valparaiso), #20 (UCLA), #7 (UL), and #3 (UNC). Arizona State in the Bahamas on Monday will be the first opponent in this group.

Like the Cats, Arizona State has played six games, with a 4-2 record. Their average level of opposition has been #205. The Sun Devils' most impressive wins of this young season have been over #233 Cal Poly by 22 points, and over #222 Tulane by 9 on a neutral court. The Sun Devils have lost to #68 Northern Iowa by 19 and #67 Davidson by 8, both on a neutral court. Arizona State enters this game with an ANE of 0.027 points per possession against a strength of schedule of -0.0559 ppp. The Cats enter this game with an ANE of 0.307 ppp against a strength of schedule of -0.0537 ppp. The ANE analysis indicates a UK win by 21 points, 91-70 at a pace of 77 possessions. This would produce game efficiencies of 1.182 ppp and 0.909 ppp. Pomeroy sees this game in UK's favor by 16 points, 87-71 at a pace of 75 possessions.

Use the following link to see how other UK fans handicap this game at 247Sports, The Cats Pause message board:

http://bigbluefans4uk.com/2016-17DataandWritings/247_PREDICTIONS/07_Predictions.png

You can participate in the score prediction contest at 247Sports at the following link:

http://kentucky.247sports.com/Board/296/Contents/Arizona-State-Prediction-Thread-49257258

Game Summary:

Isaiah Briscoe has missed the last two games with a back injury, and Derek Willis sprained his thumb on his shooting hand against Tennessee Martin. Coach Calipari says both of them are good to go for this game. The starting lineup today is Edrice (BAM) Adebayo, Wenyen Gabriel, Malik Monk, De'Aaron Fox, and Isaiah Briscoe.

The Cats control the opening tip, and draw first blood on their first possession. ASU answers with a 3 pointer. The Cats open the game hitting 7 of their 12 shots and move on top of ASU 14-8 at the under 16 media timeout . Edrice (BAM) Adebayo will have one free throw after the timeout to complete a 3 point play. In the second segment, Derek Willis enters the game for Wenyen Gabriel, followed by Isaac Humphries for Edrice (BAM) Adebayo and Dominique Hawkins for Isaiah Briscoe. The Cats outscore the Sun Devils 12-4 in the segment to extend their lead to 14 points, 26-12 at the under 12 media timeout, and the Cats retain possession.

During the break, Isaiah Briscoe reenters the game and Mychal Mulder makes his first appearance for Malik Monk. Edrice (BAM) Adebayo returned to the game, sending Isaac Humphries back to the bench. In the third segment the Cats add one point to their lead, extending it to 15 points, 33-18, at the under 8 media timeout with ASU in possession. In the fourth segment, the Cats continue to extend their lead on strong shooting and several fast break baskets forcing ASU to take a timeout with 4:40 remaining and the Cats on top by 19, 44-25. After the timeout, the teams trade baskets to the under 4 media timeout with the Cats on top 46-27 with Isaac Humphries to shoot a pair of free throws after the break.

The Cats finish the half with a 28 point lead, 58-30.

The Cats scored 58 points on 41 possessions, 1.415 points per possession, and Arizona State managed their 30 points on 41 possessions, 0.732 ppp. The Cats made 53.5% (23-43) of their first half shots, including 5-12 (41.7%) from outside the arc. Arizona State managed to make 34.3% (12-35) of their first half shots, including 6-17 (35.3%) from outside the arc.

The Cats made 7-9 free throws (77.8%) and Arizona State did not get to the line in the first half.

On the Boards, the Cats won the glass 30-14 overall, and 12-5 on the offensive glass. Kentucky won the second chance points 12-5. The Cats secured 57.1% of their misses and allowed Arizona State to grab 21.7% of their misses as second chance opportunities.

Second Half:

ASU opens the second half but fail to score. The Cats add 4 quick points, forcing a quick ASU timeout. At the under 16 media timeout, the Cats lead is at 38 points, 68-30, and Edrice (BAM) Adebayo will have a pair of free throws after the break. At the under 12 media timeout, the Cats lead by 40 points, 89-49 with 9:31 remaining on the clock. At the under 8 media timeout, the Sun Devils have trimmed the lead to 32 points, 89-57, and will have 1 free throw to complete a 3 point play after the break.

Brad Calipari enters the game with 4:16 remaining, and the Cats on top 101-62 on 73 possessions (Game Net Efficiency 0.534 ppp). At the under 4 media timeout, the Cats lead 106-63 with 75 possessions. Cats win 115-69, 46 points in 82 possessions. During Calipari Time, the Cats outscored ASU 14-7 in 9 possessions (Game Ending Net Efficiency 0.778 ppp).

Analysis:

UK scored its 115 points (the most scored in a game during the Calipari Era) in a total of 81 possessions (1.420 ppp) for the game, and Arizona State scored its 69 points on a total of 82 possessions 0.842 ppp).

Kentucky won the battle of the boards 60-32, and Kentucky won the battle of the offensive glass 21-11. Kentucky used its 21 second chance possessions to score 18 second chance points, and Arizona State used its 11 second chance possessions to score 7 second chance points. Arizona State had an offensive efficiency of 0.756 ppp on its 82 first chance possessions and 0.636 ppp for its 11 second chance possessions. UK had 1.198 ppp on its 81 first chance possessions and 0.857 ppp on its 21 second chance possessions. With respect to the offensive rebounding, UK grabbed 50.0%of its misses as offensive rebounds while Arizona State 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 16-22 [72.7%]. Arizona State made 11-15 [73.3%] for the game. Field goal shooting for UK was 44-83 overall [53.0%] and 11-28 from long range [39.3%]. For Arizona State, their field goal shooting from inside the arc was 17-47 [36.2%] and from long range, Arizona State hit 8-26 [30.8%].

The Cats committed 9 turnovers, one for every 9.0 possessions. The Cats forced 13 Arizona State turnovers, one for every 6.3 possessions.

Next Game On Schedule: Saturday Afternoon at Rupp Arena against UCLA in the eighth regular season game of the 2016-17 season.

Submitted by Richard Cheeks

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