Watch the Tape: Kentucky Dominates the LSU Tigers on Senior Night

Playing one of the toughest schedules in college basketball has led to a shortage of stress-free basketball for Big Blue Nation. Whether games are held at Rupp Arena, on the road, or at a neutral site it has been hard to blow opponents out. However, fans were treated to a rare runaway victory on Tuesday night. The Wildcats jumped out to an early 10-2 lead, used a “Kill Shot” to extend their advantage, and went on to defeat the LSU Tigers 95-64. It was a feel-good, stress free win as Kentucky honored their six seniors. Now, heading into the final game of the regular season at Missouri, the ‘Cats are 20-10 overall and 9-8 in the Southeastern Conference. Saturday’s Quad 1 opportunity in CoMo could earn them their 10th such win. Especially given the season-ending injuries, Kentucky has performed very well.

Otega Oweh led the way once again for the ‘Cats scoring 24 points to go with 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Both Brandon Garrison and Ansley Almonor added 15 points. Those two combined for 5-9 shooting from beyond the arc as well. Collin Chandler stepped up in a big way off of the bench as well finishing with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Overall, the Wildcats shot 12-32 from three-point range, won the turnover battle 16 to 8, and held LSU to a 90.9% defensive rebounding percentage. It was a truly dominate performance as Coach Pope’s first group of six seniors were honored in front of the home Rupp Arena crowd for the final time this season.

As always, we’ve been hard at work in the KSR Film Room breaking down Kentucky’s latest contest. The ‘Cats were able to go on cruise control in the second half on Tuesday night. However, they still extended their 27-point halftime advantage into a 31-point victory. We will discuss the early missed dunks and layups by Kentucky before turning the page to more positive analysis. Obviously, those misses didn’t impact the game against LSU, but an inability to finish will be costly in March. The Wildcats were 12-32 from beyond the arc so we will spend some time highlighting their shooting from three-point range. Then, finally, we will take a look at the continued improvements on the defensive end of the floor. Let’s dive on in and take a closer look at Kentucky’s 95-64 win over the LSU Tigers.

Addressing the Early Missed Layups and Dunks

Obviously, in a game that Kentucky won by 31 points, a few early missed layups and dunks weren’t very costly. However, every game going forward will be significantly tougher than playing the LSU Tigers. The Wildcats have to finish better around the rim in order to reach their ceiling. This is a team that doesn’t create a ton of easy baskets. Therefore, when given an opportunity at the rim, they really need to convert it into two points. These four clips are examples of Kentucky failing to convert at the rim. Then, we will move on to much more positive breakdowns from the 95-64 blowout victory over the Tigers.

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There is definitely a point where you become too unselfish. Koby Brea turns down too many three-point shots per game. When he does that it hurts the team. Similarly, trying to make the extra pass here to Lamont Butler in the corner hurt the team. Brea made a great cut and Amari Williams threw a brilliant pass that should have resulted in a dunk or layup. However, Brea never appears to even look at the rim. Instead, he throws the drift pass and it is easily stolen by the LSU Tigers. We already say SHOOT ‘EM ALL, but maybe it is also time for DUNK ‘EM ALL.

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Lamont Butler went on to convert an alley-oop later in the game with Amari Williams. However, he threw this one just a touch too high for his big man to go catch up the rim. The Wildcats have struggled this season to convert lobs. Williams had a good hard roll to the basket. This needed to result in two points.

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This was a great cut by Lamont Butler and a great pass by Andrew Carr. LSU didn’t exactly provide a ton of rim protection here, but Butler couldn’t get the layup to go. Again, Kentucky doesn’t get very many easy baskets. Looks at the rim can be tough to come by and that will only become more and more true in the coming weeks. This needed to result in two points.

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We’ve seen Koby Brea turn down a potential dunk at the rim. Then, Lamont Butler threw an alley-oop just a couple of inches too high before failing to convert a layup of his own. Finally, we will see the worst clip of the first segment which was Andrew Carr’s missed dunk. Carr has continued to look more and more comfortable as his back heals. He has played very well for the most part in recent games. However, this simply has to end in two points for Kentucky.

Kentucky’s Three-Point Shooting Shined

Coach Pope has talked a lot about wanting Kentucky to shoot 30 or more three-point shots per game. However, Tuesday night against the LSU Tigers was just the fifth time this season that the ‘Cats actually accomplished that goal. Not only are they 5-0 in those games, but they have made 68 three-point shots at a 40% clip. Volume clearly matters for this team. However, getting to that number has become increasingly difficult in the absence of Kerr Kriisa and Jaxson Robinson. Being more aggressive in transition, getting Koby Brea to “SHOOT ‘EM ALL” and having Andrew Carr and Brandon Garrison shoot more is the most likely recipe for getting to that 30+ number. There will be some examples provided here in the next few clips.

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Everyone wants more shots for Koby Brea. Anytime you can get one of the best shooters in college basketball more looks it is a good thing. However, defenses are also specifically trying to take him away. If your goal is to increase the overall volume of three-point shots it may be hard to do so through Brea. Andrew Carr on the other hand still gets several open looks per game. In his last 10 games, essentially since he returned from injury, he is 8-22 (36.4%) from three-point range. This clip is a great example of Kentucky’s offensive execution, Amari Williams’ passing ability, and how Carr can be a catch-and-shoot threat.

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This is where the Wildcats have found their most success this season. Kentucky is shooting an impressive 37.3% from beyond the arc overall, but that number jumps to 39.0% in transition according to Synergy. The ball gets up the floor so fast and Lamont Butler does a great job of manipulating the defense to get Koby Brea as open of a look as possible. There isn’t much the LSU Tigers can do to stop this. Brea’s shot here really solidified Tuesday evening’s blowout.

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Here is another transition three-point shot for Kentucky. Ansley Almonor, believe it or not, actually leads the ‘Cats in three-point shooting percentage at 44.7%. Once again, the ball gets into the scoring area quickly and Trent Noah hits Collin Chandler who finds Almonor on the left wing for three. If the goal is to actually shoot 30 three-point shots per game, the ‘Cats will need to continue to find more opportunities in transition.

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We mentioned Andrew Carr’s three-point shooting earlier. Brandon Garrison is another that is on an upward trajectory. Kentucky’s backup 5-man is 6-15 (40.0%) over the last 10 games. Obviously, that isn’t a very high volume, but he is starting to prove that he can and will make them. In order for the Wildcats to reach those 30 three-point shots per game, Garrison is going to have to continue attempting multiple threes per game.

Continued Defensive Improvements Bottle Up LSU

Kentucky turned in their best defensive performance of the season holding South Carolina to 57 points back on February 8th. Then, they turned around and beat Tennessee 75-64. However, it was easy to point to both teams as being less-than-stellar offensively. Now, after an eight game sample size, the Wildcats are still producing much improved results on the defensive end of the floor. In fact, the ‘Cats rank 16th in adjusted defensive efficiency, since February 8th, per Bart Torvik. Kentucky is 5-3 in that span. They have also improved to 58th in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency from a season low of 112th. Playing more aggressively and forcing more turnovers has been a big part of the sustain improvements.

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Kentucky’s rim protection has been a disappointment this season. Being able to block some shots creates transition opportunities similar to what you would get off of a turnover. Andrew Carr did a great job of recognizing the drive and sliding over to block this shot. Then, Otega Oweh is off to the races and throws a perfect pass to a streaking Lamont Butler for an emphatic dunk. This is an example of the Wildcats at their very best.

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Turning Brandon Garrison loose defensively is a great way to create some more havoc. He has a real knack for being able to move his feet when switched onto guards and asking him to do more, whether it be switching or blitzing, seems to help keep him more engaged on that end. Here you see him step up a bit more aggressively at the point of the screen and steal the ball from #4 Bailey. Brandon Garrison played one of this best games of the season on Tuesday night against the LSU Tigers.

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The more willing you are to switch defensively the easier it is to keep a guy on a guy and not allow easy baskets for the opponent. This was a great switch here by Amari Williams and Otega Oweh as #5 Carter came off of the staggered zoom action. Then, Lamont Butler had a great closeout, short with a high hand, against #3 Givens III. Stringing together more defensive possessions that look like this will be a key to success in the month of March.

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Brandon Garrison is 6-15 (40.0%) from three-point range over the last 10 games. That obviously isn’t very high volume, but he is starting to show that he can make them consistently. He will need to keep shooting them with confidence for the Wildcats to reach their ceiling in the SEC and NCAA Tournament. Shots like this are what will get NBA scouts very interested down the road.