Scouting Report: Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers

It is finally time to play somebody else. Basketball season is here and the Kentucky Wildcats will suit up to take on the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers at Rupp Arena this evening at 7:00 p.m. The first chance to compete against another team is always exciting. However, tonight’s scrimmage is all about Kentucky.

As a former college basketball coach, I try to deliver these scouting reports in a way that allows the “average fan” a glimpse at what goes on in the locker room prior to game time. They are written as if you are reading them as a player. Typically, the first scrimmage scouting report is very basic. Then, the scouting gets ramped up for the second scrimmage as a true dress rehearsal prior to the season. As for this game, there may not be a program in the country that plays things closer to the vest than the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers. Their coaching staff is very secretive even about who they recruit, so you can imagine there is little information about the actual team prior to tip-off. However, with a little film study and research, you still have to piece together a plan.

The Panthers had five of their final six regular-season games canceled last season due to Coronavirus concerns. Their 10-6 season, 9-5 in the GMAC, came to an end with a 64-55 loss to Cedarville in the conference tournament. Heading into this year, the eight-time Division II national champions were picked to finish seventh in their league. However, three starters return and some impact transfers are expected to contribute right away. Here is what we know about the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers.

Personnel

Starters

#4 Jamil Wilson: 5’11” 175 lbs, Fifth Year Point Guard

8.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.2 apg

Lefty. Very quick with the ball in his hands and wants to push it up the floor. DRIVER! No left-hand drives! He is a non-shooter. 7-23 last season. BACK UP and take away the left-hand drives. Closeout short to stay between him and the basket. You can help off of him when he doesn’t have it. Go under the ballscreens and handoffs. Make him finish inside. Don’t bail him out by fouling. No layups!

#5 Jordan Roland: 6’1″ 170 lbs, Junior Guard

18.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.1 apg at Notre Dame College (DII)

Lefty. Good all-around scorer. Need to play him straight up. Good shooter. 35.5% from 3 on about 4.5 attempts per game. More aggressive getting to the basket than hunting 3’s. No left-hand drives! Looking to get all the way to the basket when he drives it left. Will shoot the pull-up when he goes right. Give a hard contest to all pull-up jumpers. Closeout with high hands to take away the initial catch-and-shoot. Then, bounce back and guard the left-hand drive. Make him work for everything. Get over the ballscreens and handoffs. Chase him off down screens and flares. Contest everything!

#2 Wyatt Battaile: 6’4″ 195 lbs, Senior Guard

12.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 2.1 apg

Strong, physical wing. SHOOTER! NO 3’s! Nearly five 3-point attempts per game on over 40% shooting. Just as good from 3 as he is from 2. Closeout to take away the 3’s. Tighten up as the ball is driven towards you. Once you take away the catch-and-shoot he is going to look to drive it right. No right-hand drives. Stay down at the end of his drives. Loves to pump fake around the basket. Excellent rebounder. Box out.

#30 Ben Sisson: 6’6″ 225 lbs, Junior Forward

4.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.2 apg

Back to the basket 4-man. Very physical. Do not let him be more physical than you. Stay low and keep him off of the block. Don’t get ducked in and allow a deep post catch. Wants to score with his right hand over his left shoulder. Be physical on his left shoulder and make him finish back into you with his right hand. No quick drop steps. Make him finish over you. Very good offensive rebounder. BOX OUT!

#20 Sasha Sukhanov: 6’11” 220 lbs, Senior Center

6.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg

Big and long. You can be physical with him and make him uncomfortable. Make him catch the ball off the block. His percentages go down the further out you make him catch it. Wants to score with his right hand over his left shoulder. Be physical on his left shoulder. Will step out to the perimeter some. Just throw a hand up to contest when he shoots. We will adjust if he makes a couple. Box out!

Bench

#0 Antonio Thomas: 6’2″ 183 lbs, Junior Guard

2.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.2 apg at Bradley

Backup guard. Small and thin. More of a driver than a shooter. 0-13 in two seasons at Bradley. Closeout short. No right-hand drives! Closeout short to take away the drives. The deeper he drives it the more he is looking to pass. No need to overhelp when he drives. Stay between him and the basket. Go under the ballscreens and handoffs. Help off of him when he doesn’t have it. No layups.

#11 A.J. Youngman: 6’5″ 190 lbs, Senior Guard

3.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg at Idaho (played four games before opting out)

SHOOTER!!! No 3’s! Must close out to take away his 3-point attempts. If he isn’t dribbling you aren’t close enough. He really wants to catch and shoot. Do not help off of him. Tighten up as the ball is driven towards you. Get over ballscreens and handoffs. Chase him off down screens and flares. Find him in transition. Must take him away from three. Stay tight and close out to take away the attempts.

#21 JoMel Boyd: 6’6″ 207 lbs, Junior Forward

12.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.9 apg at Montana State Northern

Physical, undersized 4-man. Wants to face you up and drive it right. No right-hand drives! Closeout short anytime he is on the perimeter. He is looking to drive it right. If he starts going left he will spin back right. Right hand, left shoulder in the post. Non-shooter. Just be physical with him and make him score with you between him and the basket. BOX OUT! Will crash the offensive glass.

Kentucky Wesleyan Offense

Based on the film from last season, the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers are a methodical offensive team. They are going to operate in the halfcourt and run their motion offense to get the best shot available. Expect to see 4-around-1 motion with a lot of cutting from the perimeter. Depending on their lineup, the spacing could get a little cramped.

In the end, this is a game we need to focus on personnel. We don’t know exactly what they will run because they have new faces. However, we can be sound in our closeouts and take away what we need to take away. Execute our man-to-man defensive principles.

As you can see from this clip of their motion, they aren’t super dynamic off of the dribble. The ball moves, and players cut, but it is hard for anyone to shake their defender. However, we have to be ready to guard for the full 30 seconds. They are patient and methodical in the halfcourt. Be good on the ball and be ready to close out to shooters.

Kentucky Wesleyan Defense

The Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers, in the past, is primarily a man-to-man defensive team. The Panthers will probably switch everything on the perimeter 1 through 4 in order to stay between us and the basket. They will try and turn this game into a 1-on-1 affair. Coach Cooper will not want to allow us to get downhill off of the dribble. However, again, we need to be ready for them to mix it up as they try to decide what works this season.

Keys to the Game

• No 3’s for #2 Battaile or #11 Youngman. Hard closeouts. Make them drive it.
• Keep #4 Wilson out of the paint. Closeout short. Go under ballscreens. No left-hand drives. Stay between him and the basket.
• Dominate the glass. We will have a large size and strength advantage.
• Dictate the pace. They want to play slow. We want to play fast. Make them speed up to our pace.