Watch the Tape: Duquesne Dukes

Two games, two easy victories for the Kentucky Wildcats. On Friday night, UK took down the Duquesne Dukes 77-52 to move to 2-0 on the young season. Now, the opponents will get a little tougher. Kentucky plays three games this coming week against Michigan State on Tuesday in Indianapolis, South Carolina State on Thursday, and then a trip to No. 2 Gonzaga on Sunday. If you are looking for a measuring stick as to how good the ‘Cats are in November, you’ll likely have your answer after this upcoming week.

Against Duquesne, Antonio Reeves and CJ Fredrick led Kentucky once again with 18 and 14 points respectively. Each of the sharpshooters knocked in four 3-pointers as the ‘Cats finished 11-19 from deep as a team. Through two games, Kentucky is shooting 51.2% from three-point range. Along with the continued great shooting from Reeves and Fredrick, Ugonna Onyenso made waves on Friday night and Sahvir Wheeler returned to the floor. However, head coach John Calipari is still shorthanded as he awaits the return of Oscar Tshiebwe and Daimion Collins.

Let’s step inside the KSR Film Room and look back at Kentucky’s victory over the Duquesne Dukes. We will begin by highlighting what Sahvir Wheeler brings to the table and how much easier he makes things offensively. Then, we will take a look at what is allowing the Wildcats to play at a faster pace this season. Finally, as with any film session, we will take a look at some mistakes made on both ends of the floor against the Dukes. Settle in for another edition of Watch the Tape.

Sahvir Wheeler is PG1

In football, there is a common saying that if you have two quarterbacks then you really have none. The parallel is not true when transferred to the hardwood. Having two elite point guards is certainly a luxury and playing them together as much as possible makes everyone on the floor better. Freshman Cason Wallace manned the position in the season-opener scoring 15 points to go with six rebounds and nine assists. Then, on Friday night, Sahvir Wheeler made his return to the floor and finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists. The Bob Cousy Award finalist had his elite playmaking skills on full display against the Duquesne Dukes.

There might not be a player in the country as quick in a straight line with the ball as Sahvir Wheeler. His burst when he gets going downhill is really special. In this clip you see him reject the drag ballscreen to drive it to his left hand. Kentucky has a lot of skilled playmakers on this team, but nobody can create easy baskets like Wheeler. This is as simple as two points can possibly be.

---

This is exactly why the words “slow down” should never be uttered in the direction of Sahvir Wheeler. He is a little out of control and jumps to pass leaving him very little time to make a decision. However, it results in an easy lay-in for Ugonna Onyenso who was rewarded for a great rim-run. If you don’t grant Wheeler the freedom to play this way you will immediately take points off of the table. 11 assists to just two turnovers against Duquesne for PG1.

---

One reason why playing Wheeler and Wallace together at times will be beneficial for Kentucky’s offense is that it will allow Wheeler to get some catches off of the ball. That may seem like an odd benefit for a player who isn’t a shooter. However, Wheeler is excellent when he can play off of the catch because he can use that first step against a closeout to penetrate the defense. Here you see him attack to his right against the closeout and fire a pinpoint pass across the floor to a wide-open Chris Livingston in the corner for a three.

---

This is another example of why you hand the keys to Sahvir Wheeler and let him do his thing. This admittedly isn’t a great shot. There should have been a foul called on Duquesne, but since there wasn’t the result is a running contested layup that was essentially just tossed over Wheeler’s head. However, he is a high enough percentage finisher at the rim that you don’t want to take it away from his game. Kentucky had two points on the board within two seconds of the shot clock.

More Able Ball Handlers = Ability to Play Faster

Nothing slows an offense down like having to wait for the point guard to come get the ball. Kentucky’s best transition offense will always be with Sahvir Wheeler or Cason Wallace leading the break. However, having other pieces who can successfully get the ball into the scoring area is a very welcomed asset. You can play faster and put more pressure on the defense when you can just rebound and go. That is what the ‘Cats did some against the Duquesne Dukes.

The execution isn’t perfect by any means, but overall this is a fantastic play by Chris Livingston. First and foremost, the freshman pulls down a big-time rebound to end the defensive possession. Then, he immediately rushes the ball up the floor as Kentucky’s shooters get into possession. The Wildcats are going to make a lot of transition 3-pointers this season. Livingston just about gets himself in a pickle as he approaches the baseline and jumps to pass, but luckily he found an open CJ Fredrick in the opposite corner. Fredrick then sent the one-more pass to Antonio Reeves for three points. Great offense.

---

Just like Livingston did in the previous clip, here Jacob Toppin is the one who gets the rebound and starts the fastbreak. Kentucky has the ball in the scoring area with Cason Wallace on the wing at the 26-second mark on the shot clock. That is a great start to running efficient offense. Wallace is able to immediately attack the defense that is still trying to get set and finds Reeves sliding along the wing for a pretty step-back 3-pointer.

---

There is nobody in the country better at creating offense after a made basket than Sahvir Wheeler. This time he launches the ball ahead to a running CJ Fredrick who knocks down a 3-pointer just three seconds into the shot clock. The Wildcats had some very quick baskets against the Duquesne Dukes on Friday night.

Fixing Some Mistakes

Even in a 77-52 victory, there are some teaching points. That is why breaking down the film is so valuable. Through two games the Kentucky Wildcats have executed at a very high level. However, the competition is about to get a lot tougher. Some of the mistakes you can play through against the Duquesne Dukes will get you beat by Michigan State or Gonzaga. Here are three plays that stood out when watching the tape that Coach Calipari and company can spend some time on before tipping off on Tuesday.

Coach Calipari hasn’t had the opportunity to coach many seniors in Lexington. However, you hold your older guys to a higher standard because they have been through it all. Jacob Toppin has had three years at Kentucky being coached, studying film, and participating in walkthroughs. He simply has to be more aware of what is happening when he is on defense. Too often he is standing straight up and doesn’t have the awareness to diagnose what is happening.

This is a play that Kentucky almost assuredly walked through during pregame. Coach Chin Coleman was calling out the action as it happened from the sideline. However, Toppin doesn’t anticipate the staggered double and is too late trying to get Ugonna Onyenso to switch out to the shooter. When the diagonal backscreen happens directly in front of him he should be thinking that the staggered double is coming. Also, once he can’t chase his man off the double, he needs to immediately begin yelling at Onyenso to switch out at the top of the key. This could get the ‘Cats beat on Tuesday or Sunday.

---

This isn’t meant to pile on Jacob Toppin. He has certainly improved and will be a major factor for the Wildcats this season. However, you just need better decision-making from a senior. You can’t lead your team in field goal attempts and be as inefficient as Toppin has been through two games. 8-21 from 2-point range is not good for a guy who should mostly be dunking the basketball. This quick 3-pointer when trailing the play is simply not a good shot for him. The Dukes had a 5’9″ guard matched up to him out of transition. Toppin needs to look to drive it or swing it back to Wheeler and let the ball play on the other side of the floor.

---

When you are an elite shooter you get yelled at more for NOT shooting than you ever would for maybe squeezing off a couple of forced attempts. CJ Fredrick and Antonio Reeves are that level of shot-makers. When the Duquesne Dukes went zone for a stretch in the second half the Wildcats got way too tentative offensively. Too much standing around and too many turned-down shots. Fredrick probably could have squeezed one off from the Rupp Arena logo on the left wing, but Reeves definitely needed to shoot from the top of the key. Why is he in such a hurry to move it to Wheeler on the wing? We don’t say “shoot ’em all” just for fun. After Kentucky’s two best shooters turned down attempts the possession ended with Chris Livingston stepping out of bounds.