Watch the Tape: Vanderbilt Commodores

Never take winning for granted. It is no secret that the Vanderbilt Commodores are not very good. When looking at the KenPom rankings their spot at #201 is just one ahead of Marshall and 76 behind the next Southeastern Conference team (Missouri at #125). However, we’ve seen crazy results across college basketball all season long. #3 North Carolina lost at home to Clemson on Tuesday night. Alabama went to Vanderbilt a month ago and escaped with a three point win. Auburn won by 15 points and Tennessee won by 13 on their respective trips to Nashville. All of that is to say that it is okay to celebrate the #17 Kentucky Wildcats’ 109-77 win at Memorial Gymnasium. All wins are good wins, especially on the road in conference play.

Every Kentucky fan expected to beat Vanderbilt relatively easily on Tuesday night. However, putting up 109 points without two starters is not an easy feat. The ‘Cats scored 1.47 points per possession while shooting 15-26 from three-point range and placing six scorers in double-figures. Kentucky’s defense still allowed the most points the Commodores have scored since their 78-59 win over Alabama A&M on December 2nd, but the offense once again operated like the best unit in the country despite being short-handed.

Antonio Reeves led the way scoring 24 points while connecting on six of nine three-point attempts. Rob Dillingham finished with 20 points and 9 assists while making four of five shots from deep. Justin Edwards played arguably his best game as a Wildcat chipping in 17 points. Then, off of the bench, Jordan Burks, Aaron Bradshaw, and Zvonimir Ivisic added 13, 12, and 11 points respectively. It was yet another well-balanced night for the Wildcats’ offense as they moved up to fifth in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency.

As always, we’ve been hard at work inside of the KSR Film Room breaking down Kentucky’s latest contest. We saw some long-awaited adjustments when it came to guarding out-of-bounds under situations, but the defense still has a long way to go. Both the good and the bad will be addressed in our film breakdown. Then, we will highlight the continued offensive prowess with a special shoutout to Big Z and what he can bring to the table going forward. Let’s dive on in and take a closer look at Kentucky’s 109-77 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Positive Adjustments on the Defensive End

We all know the bar for defensive improvement is very low. That comes with the territory when you are outside of the Top 100 of KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency. However, a low bar for improvement also means that small steps forward should be easier to come by. We saw a few glimmers of that on Tuesday night in Nashville. Most notably, Kentucky went to a 2-3 Zone when guarding the Vanderbilt Commodores’ out-of-bounds under actions. There were certainly instances when it was clear that the Wildcats had spent time in the film room and had been yelled at for their defensive ineptitude. That was good to see. For now, we will celebrate the baby steps while still highlighting further room for improvement.

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There were rumors of Kentucky practicing some 2-3 Zone defense leading into Tuesday’s matchup with the Vanderbilt Commodores. While we didn’t get to see it for a traditional half court possession, Coach Calipari did turn to it twice in out-of-bounds underneath situations. With Ugonna Onyenso parked at the front of the rim and Adou Thiero in a better position on the ball it kept the ‘Cats from giving up easy layups. This still isn’t perfect, but it is at least better. Reed Sheppard is occupying a space with no opponent with 20 feet and Rob Dillingham got hung up on the screen for no good reason. However, the zone kept the Commodores from scoring directly at the rim which is a positive development.

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Here is another look at Kentucky’s out-of-bounds under 2-3 Zone defense. This possession even allowed for a hard trap in the corner which was good to see. Vanderbilt ended up getting to the free throw line, but it was an improvement from giving up a direct layup.

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Jordan Burks gave Kentucky some good minutes on Tuesday night. You can tell he is trying to earn playing time by doing the right things. His switch with Justin Edwards on the Iverson cut was maybe the most effective switch the Wildcats have executed this season. Then, he stays between #5 Manjon on the ball long enough for Edwards to slide over and steal the ball. Great defensive play that led to an easy transition layup.

Still Plenty of Defensive Breakdowns

Yes, there were some small glimmers of defensive hope in Nashville on Tuesday night. No, Kentucky’s issues are not fixed. There are still far too many breakdowns, missed assignments, and guys following the basketball around for no reason. In terms of a big picture change, the Wildcats need to start focusing on taking teams away from three-point range. The ‘Cats have allowed at least 11 three-pointers in three straight and four of their last five games. They need to force teams inside the arc and see if they can keep up by scoring two-point shots. Lean into being elite offensively and structure your defense around helping the offense. Let’s take a look at the film and critique some of Tuesday’s defensive breakdowns against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

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One of the benefits of going smaller and having Adou Thiero play the 4 is how switchable it makes you defensively. When he is involved in a ballscreen it really shouldn’t even need to be talked about or communicated, it should just be an automatic switch. That becomes even more true when guarding a guy like #12 Taylor who wants to pick-and-pop. It would have been a good idea to switch all of the ballscreens he set anyway. Letting him start the game with a wide open one like this is how he ends up shooting 5-8 from beyond the arc. Switch the ballscreen and take him away from three!

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This goes back to being on the same page in ballscreen coverage. Ugonna Onyenso is clearly in a position where he expects Rob Dillingham to force #5 Manjon to his right. However, Dillingham never influences the ball in either direction. In fact, he doesn’t even seem aware that the ballscreen is coming at all. There has to be better communication and recognition at the point of the screen. Then, Adou Thiero needs to stay tighter to #12 Taylor. This is where it would be good to see a change in philosophy from Kentucky defensively. Instead of tagging on the roll, Thiero should just stay with Taylor as he lifts to the perimeter. Even if it means that Vanderbilt gets a layup, we should trade that for a three. Have the mindset that the opponent can’t score enough two-point shots to keep up.

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Earlier we highlighted a very good defensive play made by Jordan Burks against the Vanderbilt Commodores. However, on the very next possession, he had a breakdown. He is trying to play hard, but this is one that simply needs to be shown in the film room and corrected. Burks is guarding #21 Kamateros who is primarily a catch-and-shoot threat. Right away that means you should be tighter to him. Then, you see #5 Manjon, who is 5’11”, driving on 7’2″ Zvonimir Ivisic. Why would you feel the need to go help? Stay on Kamateros and take him away from three. If Manjon makes a circus layup to score on Ivisic so be it. Take away three-point shots at the expense of two-point shots.

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Obviously Kentucky didn’t need the extra points at Memorial Gymnasium on Tuesday night. However, there will come a time when four points is the difference between winning and losing. If the Wildcats could have simply traded three points for two points in these last four clips it would make them a better defensive ball club. At this point in the game #12 Taylor had already made several three-point shots. Justin Edwards should not be going to tag on the roll off of him. If #2 Lubin scores on the roll we will live with that over giving up another three to Taylor. Again, take away three-point shots at the expense of two-point shots.

Highlighting the Offensive Execution

It is no secret that the Vanderbilt Commodores aren’t a very good basketball team. However, it was still impressive to see Kentucky score 109 points, 1.47 points per possession, while playing without two starters that average 24.3 points per game combined. The ‘Cats shot 15-26 from three-point range displayed incredible shot-making from all three levels throughout the game. Their spectacular performance improved their adjusted offensive efficiency to fifth nationally, per KenPom. The defense is going to have to improve, but Coach Calipari just might have the best offense in all of college basketball.

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Zvonimir Ivisic has a really good feel for the game offensively. He is super comfortable out on the perimeter and has proven to be a high IQ screener in his limited action as a Wildcat. There is nothing called or not set action here. This is just Kentucky’s base motion offense. Ivisic does a great job of flipping his screen and getting Rob Dillingham open for a pull-up three-point shot. That is really hard action to guard with both Dillingham and Ivisic being threats to shoot from deep.

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We’ve talked about Kentucky sometimes throwing the ball ahead too often or too willingly at times this season. This is a perfect example of what you can get by being the point guard and handling it up the floor. Rob Dillingham could have throw it ahead to Reed Sheppard and the ball would have been in the front court quicker. However, there would have been no advantage gained. Instead, Dillingham held onto the ball, allowed Aaron Bradshaw to complete his rim run, and that opened up Antonio Reeves on the wing for an open three. Obviously it is a great play from Dillingham and Reeves, but Bradshaw deserves a ton of credit for his effort on this possession.

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Zvonimir Ivisic has such incredible feel as a passer. He can visualize a man coming open well in advance and throws passes with excellent touch. Playing through him at the top of the key is really good offense for Kentucky. They get into their Princeton-like action on the three-man side and Rob Dillingham back cuts as he comes together with Justin Edwards on the wing. Ivisic whips a pass to Dillingham and essentially throws him open. Then, Edwards finishes his cut at the rim where Dillingham finds him for a layup. This is excellent all-around from the ‘Cats.