Watch the Tape: Kentucky Gets Revenge on the Vanderbilt Commodores

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watch-the-tape-kentucky-gets-revenge-on-the-vanderbilt-commodores — Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

This Kentucky team continues to answer the bell at every turn. A lot of their best basketball has come with their backs against the wall. Wednesday night’s contest might have been the Wildcats’ toughest spot all year though. Not only was it a “must-win” Quad 2 home game, but the ‘Cats were missing their second leading scorer (Jaxson Robinson), third leading scorer (Lamont Butler), and backup point guard (Kerr Kriisa). A loss would have put Kentucky below .500 in the Southeastern Conference like they were a few weeks ago after a loss at Ole Miss. However, the Wildcats moved to 18-8 overall and 7-6 in conference play with what turned into a runaway 82-61 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores. It was an all-around feel good victory and avenged an earlier loss in Nashville.

Once again, Otega Oweh led the way for the Wildcats with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. He has scored in double-figures in every game this season. That consistency should put him in serious All-SEC consideration. Meanwhile, Amari Williams added 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots. Koby Brea was 3-4 from three-point range and scored 12 points while Andrew Carr rounded out the double-figure scoring with 11 points. Collin Chandler played his best game in a Kentucky uniform as well with 7 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. As a team, the ‘Cats shot 11-27 from three-point range and were a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line. Those strong shooting numbers helped offset a 19.4% turnover rate and allowing the Commodores to offensive rebound 28.2% of their misses.

As always, we have been hard at work inside the KSR Film Room breaking down Kentucky’s latest contest. The Wildcats were able to hold the Commodores to their lowest scoring output of the season. However, they did still score 40 points in the first half. We will showcase the difference in shot quality allowed in the first and second halves. Then, we will highlight some of the offensive execution that led to scoring 82 points without two of Kentucky’s three leading scorers. It was a feel good win and an important one to “not lose” for the resume. Now, the ‘Cats have earned their right to go take a shot at Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Let’s dive on in and take a closer look at Kentucky’s 82-61 victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Poor Defensive Execution in the First Half

Let’s go ahead and get this out of the way. Kentucky was not very good defensively in the first half. After three consecutive pretty strong defensive performances, it was very disappointing to see the lack of execution in the first half. The Wildcats were relentlessly punished off of the dribble in closeout situations, left shooters open from beyond the arc, were consistently slow in their rotations, and failed to end possessions with a defensive rebound. All of that combined to allow the Vanderbilt Commodores to score 40 points in the first half. With as good as Kentucky played offensively in the first half, it was a bit disheartening to go into the locker room only leading by one point. Here is a look at several of the defensive breakdowns in the first half.

Kentucky was pretty darn good on this possession for about 20 seconds. Andrew Carr did a good job of shrinking the floor off of a non-shooter to take away the short roll. Koby Brea had a good, aggressive closeout to take away #5 Nickel and then moved his feet on the drive. Otega Oweh fought through a middle ballscreen. However, at the end of the possession, Brea simply wasn’t tight enough to Nickel. He should have never been far enough off of him to get flared in like that. Also, Carr needs to see the flare coming sooner and communicate it to Brea. You can’t give up clean looks like this to high level shooters. That was a lapse in concentration and urgency.

This is where Kentucky still needs the most work defensively. The Vanderbilt Commodores, in the first half, were able to beat them one-on-one off of the dribble consistently. First of all, Collin Chandler needs to put himself in a better position to succeed. There is no reason to be out that far guarding #11 Hoggard. Back up and go under the ballscreen. Secondly, where is Brandon Garrison at? #22 Carey is 8-32 from three-point range. He needs to drop down towards the rim and be there to contest Hoggard’s layup. However, Garrison simply watches the drive end in a layup. No resistance on the ball and no resistance at the rim. That is a deadly combination defensively.

There was a confluence of errors by Kentucky on this extended defensive possession. First of all, #99 McGlockton came up with an offensive rebound. The Vanderbilt Commodores offensive rebounded 44.4% of their own misses in the second half. Then, you have a really bad closeout by Otega Oweh against a 22-79 (27.8%) three-point shooter. Finally, you see very late recognition of the baseline drive by Koby Brea. Going back to Oweh’s closeout, it is especially confounding because of how he guarded #2 Collins earlier in this same possession. Oweh tried to go under the ballscreen, which was the right move, before Collins pulled up for the three-point attempt. However, despite executing properly in that instance, he had an out of control closeout just moments later.

There has to be some semblance of an in between for Kentucky in closeout situations. It seems as if they either close out far too aggressively and then get whipped on straight line drives or they closeout too short and give up open three-point attempts. Obviously, neither one of those are ideal. Finding good, solid closeouts with high hands and choppy feet is not an easy task. This is a perfect example of that problem. #99 McGlockton is a good enough shooter that you definitely have to closeout to him. However, you don’t need to run at him in the way you would someone like #5 Nickel. Andrew Carr ignores that nuance on this possession. He runs McGlockton off of the line, gives up a straight line drive, Amari Williams steps up at the rim, and #22 Carey finishes it out of the dunker’s spot.

Excellent Defensive Execution in the Second Half

It was a tale of two halves for Kentucky defensively. The proof is in the box score. After shooting 48.6% from the field and making four three-point shots in the first half, the Vanderbilt Commodores were just 8-27 (29.6%) from the field and 1-10 from deep in the second half. The Wildcats were much more connected defensively showcasing improved attention to detail, concentration, and urgency. Also, the ‘Cats went from rebounding just 55.6% of Vanderbilt’s misses to getting 85.7% of them in the second half. It was truly a night and day difference in execution on the defensive end of the floor.

Defensive improvements can be so subtle. To the untrained eye the Vanderbilt Commodores simply threw this ball out of bounds. However, it was Otega Oweh that forced this turnover. First though Koby Brea deserves a shoutout. After getting flared in early in the game and giving up a three to #5 Nickel he did a great job on this possession of going up through the staggered double set for #11 Hoggard. Then, you get the good, active play from Oweh. Oweh is guarding an excellent shooter in #1 Edwards, but makes an aggressive jab to shrink the floor and get Hoggard to pick up his dribble. Then, Oweh quickly recovers with his arms out and is in the initial passing lane. Hoggard adjusts by throwing ball further out, but Edwards cut the opposite direction. The quick “stunt and recover” by Oweh forced this turnover.

This is a pretty complete defensive possession put together by Kentucky. They do a good job of sprinting back in transition and Collin Chandler is there to stop the ball. He has really emerged as the best defender on this team not named Lamont Butler. Otega Oweh did a good job of closing out and pressuring #5 Nickel in the corner. Andrew Carr closed out short and moved his feet to stay in front of #3 Tanner on the drive. Chandler contested a three-point shot from #11 Hoggard who is 24-77 (31.2%) on the season. Carr came down with the defensive rebound. Great job by Kentucky getting the ball stopped in transition and then flipping the switch to sound half court defense.

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Here is another look at good transition defense by Kentucky. Collin Chandler was back to stop the ball and Brandon Garrison was actively helping corral it instead of just running to his man. That is really good awareness and activity level from him. Then, Trent Noah and Ansley Almonor switch a ballscreen which allows Noah to take away #5 Nickel on the pop and for Almonor to stay in front of #3 Tanner. Both Collin Chandler and Noah did a good job of bothering the drive while still quickly recovering to shooters on the strong side. Finally, Almonor built a wall inside, stayed down, and blocked the shot. Great execution by all of the Wildcats on the floor.

This is as encouraging of a defensive possession as you’ll find from Kentucky. Stunt and recover. Don’t over help on the drives. Staying in front of the ball. Good contest on the shot and a defensive rebound. This is how they shut down the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second half. Otega Oweh did a great job of containing #1 Edwards’ drive and Trent Noah didn’t help off of #5 Nickel. Andrew Carr had a good closeout on #2 Collins. Chandler stunted and recovered to #3 Tanner. Amari Williams came over to deter the shot at the rim. Carr contested a low percentage shooter and Williams came down with the defensive rebound. This is what perfect defensive execution looks like.

Offense Executes At a Top 5 Level Despite Missing Pieces

The last couple of weeks has seen a major improvement from Kentucky defensively. They have improved from a low of 112th in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency following the loss at Ole Miss to 68th now after defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores. However, what has essentially remained a constant is the Wildcats’ Top 5 offense. Despite missing their second and third leading scorers, the ‘Cats put up 82 points, shot 58% from the field, 11-27 from three-point range, and a perfect 13-13 at the free throw line. Coach Pope and company deserve a ton of credit for keeping the machine operating while missing key components. Unexpected heroes such as Ansley Almonor, Collin Chandler, Trent Noah, and Travis Perry certainly deserve praise as well for how they have stepped into much larger roles.

There are few coaches in the country that have had more success this season on the first possession of the game, first possession of the half, or out of a timeout than Coach Pope. He seems to have a new action or additional wrinkle to begin every game. Here you see Koby Brea ghost the ballscreen into a back screen which he curls to the rim. Andrew Carr would have had him on the curl, but Amari Williams’ man did a great job of helping back towards the rim. However, that was just look number one. Brea finished his cut and went directly into a staggered zoom action. #30 Manon did a great job of chasing him, but Brea’s right to left crossover created enough space to squeeze off the three-point attempt. Beautiful execution and a great shot by Brea to start the game.

Kentucky came out of the gate execute an offensive script like a football team against the Vanderbilt Commodores. After scoring on their first play of the game, Coach Pope had another set play up his sleeve for the second possession. The screening angle from Travis Perry is what really makes this play. It looks to the defense like he is just cutting through after enter the ball to the wing, but instead he stops and sets the bak screen for Andrew Carr. Good patience and balance by Carr inside to finish on the other side of the rim. Great offensive execution on back-to-back set plays by the Wildcats.

This would have been a turnover earlier in this season. We saw times where Amari Williams would decide he was going to drive to the basket, put his head down, and get it stolen from him or lose the ball. However, he now has the ability to stop on the dime when the defense stunts and throw a pass to Otega Oweh on the backdoor from a live dribble. Seven-foot centers are not supposed to be able to make that play.

Similar to the last clip, this is a play that Amari Williams would not have completed even just a month ago. That tight spin move to his off-hand and two-handed flush through the contact is simply unfair. Williams is playing at an All-SEC level right now.

Amari Williams’ rapid offensive development has been the biggest reason why Kentucky has been able to continue operating as a Top 5 offense despite missing Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson. In the second half it was clear that Coach Pope wanted to pound the ball inside more and utilize the Wildcats’ size advantage over the Vanderbilt Commodores. That plan certainly seemed to work. Williams being able to finish with his right hand over his left shoulder is the latest development of his low post game.