Watch the Tape: Kentucky Holds on to Beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs 95-90

This will likely be how we begin every single one of these film breakdowns this season. Life in the Southeastern Conference is never as good as it seems or as bad as it seems. These games really do exist in a vacuum. Kentucky poured in 106 points to beat Florida last Saturday. However, they were held to just 69 points while getting physically out played in Athens on Tuesday. Then, despite a bad matchup on paper, the Wildcats reversed course and defeated the #14 Mississippi State Bulldogs 95-90 in Starkville. After allowing Georgia to offensive rebound 37.1% of their misses, Kentucky held Mississippi State to just 25.6%. It was their third lowest offensive rebounding percentage of the season as the ‘Dawgs fell to 14-2 overall and 2-1 in the SEC.

Kentucky connected on 16 three-point shots, their second most of the season, to lead them to the road victory. Jaxson Robinson experienced a breakout performance going 7-10 from beyond the arc and scoring a game-high 27 points. Otega Oweh added 15 points and 8 rebounds while Andrew Carr finished with 13 points and Ansley Almonor scored 11 points off the bench while making three massive three-point shots late in the second half. Amari Williams and Lamont Butler rounded out the six Wildcats in double-figures with 10 points a piece. Williams added 12 rebounds and 6 assists while Butler dished out 8 assists while not turning the ball over. It was yet another balanced offensive attack for the ‘Cats who are now third in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency.

As always, we’ve been hard at work inside the KSR Film Room breaking down Kentucky’s latest contest. The offensive, rightfully so, will capture many of the headlines. However, the Wildcats defense held Mississippi State to just four points in the final 4:10 to win the game. A much improved effort on the defensive glass went a long way towards capturing the road victory as well. In this film breakdown we will primarily focus on the offensive execution, how the ‘Cats shared the basketball, and highlight Ansley Almonor’s late-game heroics. Let’s dive on in and take a closer look at Kentucky’s 95-90 victory in Starkville over the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Excellent Ball Movement Led to Open Shots

Going into the game, the KSR Scouting Report, we discussed how crisp ball movement and drive-and-kick opportunities would be the best way to score against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. That certainly proved to be true as the Wildcat scored a season-high 30 points, per Synergy, via spot up opportunities. Shooting 16-32 of three-point range, and assisting on 21 of 34 made field goals, was enough to lead the ‘Cats over the ‘Dawgs in Starkville. Let’s roll the film and highlight how Kentucky’s unselfishness and elite ball movement led to so many open shots on Saturday night.

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This is beautiful half court execution. Offense isn’t always about running intricate set plays. Sometimes the best shots simply come from driving and kicking. Kentucky had a lot of success doing just that on Saturday night. Andrew Carr had just made a pick-and-pop three so he was able to get #3 Murphy to bite on the shot fake here. Carr did a great job of staying under control and playing off of two feet at the end of his drives. Mississippi State unnecessarily closed out aggressively to Brandon Garrison which put them into rotation. Garrison delivered a perfect one-more pass to Robinson. Then, the Bulldogs stunted at him before retreating to Koby Brea in the corner leaving Robinson wide open for a three-point shot. Great passes by Carr and Garrison got Robinson this shot.

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Beginning in elementary school basketball coaches try to establish the virtue of making a good, unselfish pass and how the ball will come back and find you. That is exactly what you see in this clip. The Mississippi State Bulldogs came out of the halftime break trapping some ballscreens. Jaxson Robinson did a great job of passing out of the first trap which put the ‘Dawgs in scramble mode. Andrew Carr reversed it to Otega Oweh who immediately hit Lamont Butler in the corner. Then, Butler attacked the middle of the floor, played off two feet, and found Robinson open in the corner for a catch-and-shoot three. The ball came back to find the guy who started the play.

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Jaxson Robinson experienced his breakout performance on Saturday night in Starkville. After falling below 30% from three-point range, Robinson shot 7-10 from deep and led all scorers with 27 points in the win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. His hot shooting was a big part of the Wildcats building their 14-point lead early in the second half, but he also hit the biggest shot of the game in the final moments. Once again, it was great ball movement and unselfishness that led to this pull-up jump shot. Otega Oweh hit Lamont Butler on a back cut. Butler threw the drift pass to Ansley Almonor who attracted an aggressive closeout after making three second half three-point shots. Then, Almonor delivered the one-more pass to Jaxson Robinson who used a shot fake to get to a wide open pull-up jump shot.

High-Level Offensive Execution

This has been a recurring segment in a handful of “Watch the Tape” breakdowns. Kentucky now sits third in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency in large part due to their half court execution. Whether it was coming out of a timeout, after free throws, or following any sort of dead ball it seemed like Coach Pope always had something dialed up. Here are a few of the most impressive examples of half court execution against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

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Basketball nerds will be adding this to their compilation of Kentucky’s “Peja Action” clips. Against Florida, Travis Perry hit a three-point shot off of Peja Action and the ‘Cats ran it a second time with success as well. This clip showcases a counter to the same action. Peja Action involves a shooter setting a backscreen and immediately running into a handoff. However, this time, Jaxson Robinson plants his foot and back cuts to the rim. Mississippi State overplayed on the high side expecting Robinson to come off the handoff. Amari Williams delivered a perfect pass as Robinson trailed Lamont Butler’s cut to the basket.

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We have spent a lot of time this season discussing Zoom Action and how it is so hard to guard. The multiplicity and read-and-react nature allow for the action to result in different looks possession after possession. With the Mississippi State Bulldogs looking to switch as Jaxson Robinson came off of the staggered double into a handoff it allowed for him to settle behind the screening action and knock home his seventh three-point shot of the game. The Bulldogs were ready to meet Robinson at the point of the handoff, but he never got that far. This is great recognition by Robinson and obviously a great shot as well.

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Kentucky connected on 16 three-point shots, but they also found some success around the basket against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Amari Williams turned the ball over too much on Saturday night, but he also dished out six assists. Andrew Carr is an excellent cutter and did a great job of making himself available as the double team attacked Williams. Obviously, Williams didn’t get credit for an assist here, but it was still a great pass by the big man. Great job by Andrew Carr staying with the play after the initial miss.

Ansley Almonor Plays Hero

Saturday’s contest in Starkville will likely go down as “The Jaxson Robinson Game” in Big Blue Nation lore. However, there is a case to be made for it to be “The Ansley Almonor Game” as well. Robinson scored 27 points and connected on seven three-point shots, but no points were bigger than the nine that Almonor scored, via three three-point shots, in a two minute span from 7:16 to 5:16 in the second half. The senior transfer from Fairleigh Dickinson was ready when his number was called and played a crucial role in Kentucky defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

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Sometimes college basketball is just a make-or-miss game. In order to win on the road, especially against the best teams, you need guys to step up and make big shots. Kentucky had that happen on Saturday night as Jaxson Robinson hit seven three-point shots and Ansley Almonor connected on three more. These late second half shots by Almonor lifted the ‘Cats over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville. Almonor did a good job of making himself available on the perimeter while his defender was still protecting the basket from the staggered double. Great job of relocating after screening. This shot stopped the bleeding and gave the Wildcats a lead after letting a 14-point advantage slip away. They never trailed again.

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Nothing flashy here, but Mississippi State just wasn’t ready enough to guard Almonor. This is the confidence that comes from having made 93 three-point shots last season at Fairleigh Dickinson. Shooting travels across levels.

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Almonor’s third and final three was the most impressive one of them all. Along with two points from Otega Oweh, Almonor was solely responsible for taking Kentucky from down two points at 80-78 to up seven points at 89-82 against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The ‘Dawgs literally fall over each other trying to get to him as he cuts to receive the handoff. Having a forward who can make shots like this behind a handoff is such a luxury. Credit to Almonor for making the most of his moment in Starkville.