Watch the Tape: LSU Tigers

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In Southeastern Conference play there is only one thing that truly matters. Win the game. The Kentucky Wildcats accomplished that goal with a 74-71 victory over the LSU Tigers at Rupp Arena on Tuesday night. In many ways, this felt like a must-win game as the ‘Cats try to build some semblance of a resume. Now, they are 10-4 overall and 1-1 in the SEC heading into Saturday’s trip to Tuscaloosa. LSU fell to 12-2, 1-1 with the loss.

For the first three-quarters of the game, things were very positive for the Wildcats. Kentucky scored 60 points in under 30 minutes and held a 10-point lead after an alley-oop to Jacob Toppin with 10:41 left to play. However, late-game execution reared its ugly head once again as the Tigers would come all the way back and have a shot to tie it at the end. The goal of winning was accomplished, but how the Wildcats close out games still has to be addressed. It is always better to discuss those issues after a win though. It also can’t be overlooked how well the offense played for the first 30 minutes of the night. Coach Calipari and company just have to continue inching towards putting a full 40 minutes together.

It is time once again to step inside the KSR film room and take a look at what went right and wrong. The offensive execution can pretty much be split between “first 30” and “last 10.” We will take a look at what led to Kentucky building its lead, and then what changed to produce some tough scoring droughts. Also, the Wildcats did not guard the three-point line well but did flash their defensive ceiling at times as well. Let’s dive on in and break down everything that led to Kentucky’s 74-71 win over the LSU Tigers.

Strong Offensive Execution Built Lead Against LSU

When you just keep scoring it can cover up a lot of flaws. That is what Kentucky was doing against the LSU Tigers for the first 30 minutes or so of Tuesday night’s game. The Wildcats put up 60 points by the 10:41 mark in the second half and held on to a 10-point advantage. Similar to the improvements we saw against Louisville, the ball was moving, the structure looked better, and the ‘Cats were being more aggressive early in possessions. Here are some of the examples that helped build the comfortable lead.

Anytime you attack the defense within the first five seconds of the shot clock it improves your chances of something positive happening. Kentucky had a ton of success in transition opportunities on Tuesday night, but they came few and far between. Giving Cason Wallace an entire side of the floor to work with is generally great basketball. Oscar Tshiebwe has his man sealed up the lane line after a good rim-run. Then, Wallace attacks the baseline and throws the drift to Jacob Toppin. Good spacing around the perimeter allows for a couple of “one-more” passes and the ball finds a nearly 40% three-pointer shooter at the top of the key. Four passes, one baseline drive, and one wide-open shot attempt all in just 10 seconds. That is beautiful offense.

When the LSU Tigers went to their 2-3 zone it slowed Kentucky down some offensively. However, it didn’t really impact the Cats’ execution. Kentucky actually scored better against the Tigers zone (1.27 points per possession) than against their man-to-man (1.04 points per possession). The same principles that work against man also lead to scoring against zone defense. Move the ball from side to side, penetrate gaps, and relocate on the perimeter. That was executed to perfection on this clip. After a couple of ball reversals, Sahvir Wheeler is able to attack and draw two defenders. Seeing the drive, Cason Wallace cuts into the open space along the arc and drains the open three-pointer. Once again, that is beautiful basketball.

These are the opportunities that Kentucky must continue to seek out game after game. Opponents are going to continue to key on Oscar Tshiebwe in the half-court more than ever. However, with his elite rim-running ability, getting these early post-ups a couple of times a game will be crucial to offensive success. Great entry by Sahvir Wheeler, great finish by Tshiebwe, and the ‘Cats take a 10-point lead after the free throw.

Something we’ve talked about a lot in these watch-the-tape articles recently is how execution doesn’t have to be perfect if your overall structure is good. There are many ways this play could develop in a better way for Kentucky. Oscar Tshiebwe could start lower and sprint up into the ballscreen instead of taking just a couple of slow steps. Antonio Reeves could be deeper in the corner to make it harder for his man to help on the Cason Wallace drive. However, the bones of it all are good enough that it manufactures just enough spacing to make it hard on the LSU Tigers. The Wallace penetration and Tshiebwe seal at the rim opens up a small window for Jacob Toppin to cut into. He converts with a nice little jumper at the SEC logo. Love the activity level he shows by making that cut.

Poor Late Game Execution Due to Stagnant Offense

There are understandable reasons to want to take the air out of the ball a little bit once you build a comfortable lead. Kentucky led the LSU Tigers by 10 points, 60-50, with 10:41 remaining in the game. Longer possessions keep the clock moving, the ball out of the opponent’s hands, and shrink the game. However, when you really struggle with late-clock playmaking, it can make for some really hairy situations. That is what Coach Calipari and his staff ran into on Tuesday night.

For as much as Coach Calipari likes to call set plays and have control of Kentucky’s offense, it is odd the number of times he doesn’t call something when the ‘Cats really need a bucket. Now, in the MOST critical moments down the stretch, his play calls likely won the game. However, this is an example of where Kentucky needs some structure and a bucket. The scoring drought is already approaching three minutes at this point and UK just missed a three-pointer. It is time to get a good shot. How about somebody run into a ballscreen? Maybe get to the Wheeler/Wallace ghost screen action? Instead, the ball barely ever gets inside the three-point line and Kentucky settles for another contested three-pointer. Dribble, dribble, pass. Dribble, dribble, pass. Needed something better here.

Obviously, the outcome here is a positive one. Sahvir Wheeler banks in a three-pointer and the Wildcats extend their lead to 67-61 against the LSU Tigers. However, getting to that point was ugly. There is no real screening action here. No cutting. No penetration. It is all just passing around the perimeter until the ball ends up in Sahvir Wheeler’s hands under 10 seconds once again. That is generally a losing proposition. Kentucky got bailed out this time, but that is not sustainable.

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Jacob Toppin already scored off of two different lobs in the second half at this point. Going back to it right here seems a little risky. Sahvir Wheeler simply is not very good at throwing that pass. The ball probably should have been in Cason Wallace’s hands to run this play. Also, Wheeler essentially breaks it off due to the ball pressure. Once the play is blown up and Wallace has the ball out top with eight seconds it should be AUTOMATIC that Oscar Tshiebwe sprints into a ballscreen. Instead, Wallace has to attack the right side with zero space thanks to Chris Livingston and Toppin. Poor execution leads to another wasted late-game possession.

This play made no sense live and certainly didn’t make any more sense on film. What is the point of running the staggered high ballscreens, which is a GREAT action for Kentucky, if you are going to have Sahvir Wheeler come off going to his right? Why not flip this play to the other side of the floor? That structure really bailed the LSU Tigers out to begin this possession. In the end, the ‘Cats wind up with another late shot clock situation where Wheeler has the ball in his hands. That can’t continue to happen so consistently.

The Good & Bad of Kentucky’s Performance Defensively

Kentucky’s defensive ceiling continues to be very high and there were some flashes of that against the LSU Tigers. However, the Wildcats also allowed Adam Miller and KJ Williams to shoot a combined 9-19 from beyond the arc. Guarding the three-point line will have to get cleaned up before playing Alabama on Saturday. Let’s take a look at both the positives and negatives from the defensive end of the floor.

Being aggressive defensively can cover up plenty of flaws. However, there is a time and a place for it which is also largely decided by opposing personnel. Late in the shot clock, the final 10 seconds, you should be in “tighten up” mode. This generally entails not helping, getting closer to your man, and switching the ballscreens. Chris Livingston‘s decision to help off of #44 Miller is simply reckless. He is a SHOOTER that you shouldn’t be helping off of regardless, but that is especially true with four seconds left on the shot clock. This is an easily correctable mistake.

With KJ Williams’ ability to pick-and-pop, the Wildcats probably should have come into the game against the LSU Tigers much more willing to switch the ballscreens. Especially a ballscreen essentially set downhill, with 11 seconds on the shot clock, and involving Chris Livingston/Oscar Tshiebwe, that needs to be an automatic switch. LSU had a hard time scoring when Kentucky kept a guy on a guy. Just too much room for Williams here. Switching would have taken him away from three.

This is an example of Kentucky’s defense at its absolute best. Chris Livingston chases #44 Miller off of the downscreen to take away the three. Sahvir Wheeler denies on the wing to force the catch out beyond the scoring area. Then, Wheeler and Oscar Tshiebwe switch the late clock ballscreen. Tshiebwe moves his feet well and ends up blocking #3 Hill at the rim to force a shot clock violation. All five defenders were super active on this possession guarding the Tigers.

On this possession, the Wildcats switch pretty much everything against the LSU Tigers and it completely takes them out of what they want to run. Wheeler and Tshiebwe switch the initial flat ballscreen. That cuts off #3 Hill’s drive and takes away #12 Williams on the pick-and-pop. Wheeler and Wallace switch the wing handoff. Tshiebwe and Collins do an EXCELLENT job switching the zoom action. All of the switching keeps a guy on a guy and keeps Kentucky between LSU and the basket. The end result is Collins blocking #3 Hill’s shot.