Watch the Tape: Alabama Crimson Tide

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It is getting harder and harder to remain optimistic about this Kentucky Basketball season. The Wildcats have gone to Gonzaga, Missouri, and Alabama and essentially never had a chance to win any of those three games. On Saturday, the ‘Cats were absolutely punched in the mouth by the Alabama Crimson Tide. Despite it being a 21-19 game at the under four minute timeout, it never really felt like Kentucky was in the game. The end result was an ugly 78-52 blowout in Tuscaloosa.

There seem to be more questions than answers anytime the Wildcats play a quality opponent. Is there any leadership, on the floor or from the sideline, with this group? Are the players on the same page as to what the defensive game plan is? What, offensively, are we trying to accomplish? These are not questions you ask about a good team in January. Right now, as hard as it may be to admit, it is not abundantly clear whether or not Kentucky is a good basketball team. Even though a lot of the problems are fixable, it doesn’t seem likely they get fixed as they still persist into the new year.

Despite the frustration we are back in the KSR Film Room for another breakdown. We will address some of the offensive problems, defensive breakdowns, and everything in between. Let’s dive on in and take a look at what went wrong in Kentucky’s embarrassing loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Poor Overall Structure Makes Offense Harder Against Alabama

There are far too many possessions where it looks like Kentucky is playing against themselves offensively. Guys are in the way, players are put in situations where they are unlikely to succeed, and there is simply no space to play in. Now, there are also times where it all comes together and looks good. It truly isn’t, even now, all doom and gloom. However, it is starting to get too late in the season to remain hopeful that the issues get fixed. Game after game we are seeing the same problems. That is extremely concerning.

This is mind-bogglingly frustrating. Why is Oscar Tshiebwe setting this ballscreen for Cason Wallace to drive it right? The ball JUST came from that side of the floor and there are two players out on the perimeter. Wallace’s defender could fall down and there would still be no where for him to go because the help defense is standing right there. Also, this isn’t all Tshiebwe’s fault. Why doesn’t Wallace notice this and just reject the ballscreen to come play on the left side of the floor. There is a TON more space on the left side. Disappointing lack of awareness for a game played on January 7th. This was the 15th game of the season.

Oscar Tshiebwe is a really, REALLY bad screener. That doesn’t mean he isn’t an overall great player, he is still great, but his inability to screen really hurts Kentucky offensively. That was on full display against the Alabama Crimson Tide. First of all, he comes way too high to set this ballscreen. He makes it so easy for the defender to hop underneath while Cason Wallace is still outside of the scoring area. Secondly, he completely whiffs on the screen because he comes up so high. He should have came up right to the butt of the Alabama defender and set a flat ballscreen. The defender would have never known it was coming and Wallace could get downhill.

However, the other issue here is why is Wallace picking up his dribble? With under 10 seconds on the shot clock it is time to go make a play! Be the man and go score! Very disappointing.

Coach Calipari does not play guys with two fouls in the first half. You can like that or not, but it isn’t going to change at this point in his career. An argument could be made that Cason Wallace should have been back in at this point in the second half when Kentucky actually was very much in the game. However, again, that simply isn’t going to happen. The primary issue here was why did Oscar Tshiebwe not come into the game after Alabama’s free throws or on the dead ball out of bounds? He did come in just about 30 seconds later after the Crimson Tide scored again. Look at this lineup. There is VERY little you could do offensively that would actually work with this group in there together. Tshiebwe should have been put into the game because the ‘Cats NEEDED a bucket here.

Here is a perfect example of how simple STRUCTURE can change failure into success. We aren’t talking about reinventing the wheel. It can be as simple as where you stand on the floor. Great job by Sahvir Wheeler noticing this and getting Daimion Collins to move to the opposite block. That simple adjustment allowed Wheeler to drive all the way to the left block off of the ballscreen and throw the lob up to Collins. About as easy of two points as the Wildcats got against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.

Too Many Defensive Breakdowns

There are some serious and obvious offensive issues for this Kentucky team. However, they are probably struggling even more on the defensive end of the floor right now. Too often it looks like they have given no thought to who they are guarding. There isn’t enough evidence of a proper scouting report and the execution of a game plan. Individual players showcase a lack of awareness and basketball IQ on a routine basis. Above all else, there isn’t the necessary effort and urgency to help make some breakdowns that are bound to happen every game. Here are some clips of Kentucky’s breakdowns against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

One the big talking points before Saturday’s game was how you needed to be doing SOMETHING defensively. Alabama has enough solid shooters that you have to make decisions to help off of some of them. However, if you aren’t ACTUALLY helping then you might as well tighten up to your man and take them away from three. Here, Sahvir Wheeler ends up in complete no man’s land. He is obviously not providing any help on the #1 Sears drive, but he also doesn’t take #15 Clowney away from three. Even worse, he starts to run at #0 Bradley (3-12 from 3 on the season) instead of immediately going to #15 Clowney. Really poor defensive awareness and decision-making.

Adou Thiero provided some solid minutes off of the bench on Saturday. However, there is a reason why he typically isn’t in the rotation. When asked to play 18+ minutes there are going to be breakdowns like this. Again, nothing was accomplished by sagging into the lane here. Thiero shouldn’t help AT ALL off of #24 Miller, but you especially shouldn’t help if you aren’t ACTUALLY helping anything. Completely unnecessary three that allowed the Alabama Crimson Tide to open their lead back up going into the half.

Poor awareness and an apparent lack of emphasis on scouting report specific items. That is what you see here. #1 Sears is left handed, but Antonio Reeves lets him get downhill to his left hand. Reeves has his feet and shoulders parallel to the sideline as if he is FORCING him left. What are you doing? Then, Daimion Collins is in perfect position to cut off the drive. However, he completely leaves to go guard #14 Bediako on the perimeter despite him being an 0-2 three-point shooter. You don’t need to guard him AT ALL away from the basket. Really, really disappointing awareness on this possession.

It is disappointing that effort, urgency, and communication are still issues for this veteran Kentucky team. A coach, a player, SOMEBODY needs to step up and fix these issues. You just can’t run into a screen when you are guarding #24 Miller. If you do, it needs to be an immediate and aggressive switch to take away the three. That is fully on Cason Wallace though. Oscar Tshiebwe needs to be communicating his way through it. “SCREEN RIGHT, SCREEN RIGHT, OVER, OVER!!! ANOTHER ONE, ANOTHER ONE, LEFT, LEFT, OVER, OVER!!!” Guarding a guy like #24 Miller you should be SCARED of giving up a three. Between scouting and on-court effort there just isn’t enough urgency when it comes to in-game decision making and execution.

Pictures are Worth 1000 Words

It is no secret that Kentucky struggles with offensive spacing. In terms of roster construction there still aren’t many shooters. When your point guard and 4-man both can’t shoot it makes it very hard to shoot a lot of threes and creating spacing. This is only made worse in the absence of CJ Fredrick. Offensive scheme doesn’t help the Wildcats either. They don’t manufacture much spacing and often have offensive players in the way of action taking place. These next three pictures are truly striking. It is hard to imagine having success offensively when the floor looks like this.

When Oscar Tshiebwe gets the ball inside it generally isn’t coming back out. Opposing defenses, including the Alabama Crimson Tide, have figured out they can fully sell out on trying to defend him inside without much risk of getting burnt on a kick-out. Here, there are five Alabama defenders in the paint. 10 feet and 10 eyes all focused on one player. Tshiebwe has to become a more willing and able passer for the Wildcats to improve offensively.

Sahvir Wheeler has a tendency to over penetrate and jump to pass. Those are bad habits. However, on this possession, he is left with absolutely no options. Wheeler, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Jacob Toppin are all standing between the right and left blocks. Alabama stays with Antonio Reeves on the perimeter so there is absolutely nowhere left to throw the basketball. Kentucky makes it too easy on opponents to help defensively. The Crimson Tide essentially have three, almost four, defenders on Wheeler without even having to actually “help.” They are each just guarding their own man but standing so close that they are also in Wheeler’s way.

It is really hard to penetrate when the players on the perimeter don’t really need to be guarded. The Alabama defenders on Sahvir Wheeler and Daimion Collins have completely left their men to come help on the Antonio Reeves drive. Then, you have Oscar Tshiebwe right at the front of the rim. It is great to have him posting up and it puts him in offensive rebounding position, but never having him off in the dunker’s spot really clogs up the lane. Again, just another example of guys driving it with absolutely no where to go.