Watch the Tape: Vanderbilt Commodores

Following Kentucky’s win at Mississippi State at the end of February, most of Big Blue Nation turned their attention to the regular season finale in Knoxville. It would have only been human nature for the Wildcats’ players to do the same. However, they had to take care of business at Rupp Arena before taking their shot at the rival Volunteers. Neither matchup was necessarily pretty, but the ‘Cats defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks and Vanderbilt Commodores to move to 22-8 overall an 12-5 in Southeastern Conference play. Winning four straight and six of their last seven games has it looking like Coach Calipari was right. This team is built for March.

Vanderbilt led 26-20 over midway through the first half and still lead by five points with under five minutes to play. However, that is when the ‘Cats shifted into high gear. As Kentucky’s offense has a tendency to do, they rattled off 20 points in just a tick over four minutes to take a 45-40 lead into the halftime break. Then, Rob Dillingham took over during a second half stretch as the Wildcats pulled away to beat the Commodores 93-77. Dillingham led the way with 23 points while Antonio Reeves chipped in his typical 20 points. D.J. Wagner and Justin Edwards each stayed hot from three-point range going a combined 5-9 from deep while adding 11 points and 10 points respectively. Reed Sheppard dished out 11 of Kentucky’s 27 assists on 37 made field goals.

As always, we’ve been hard at work inside of the KSR Film Room breaking down Kentucky’s latest contest. There is a lot left to play for on Saturday in Knoxville. A win most likely means a 2-seed in the SEC Tournament and possibly a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, a loss could mean playing on Thursday in Nashville. First though we must talk about Wednesday night at Rupp Arena. Some poor defensive habits made things hard early on, but they were mostly cleaned up going into the second half. Then, as always, the Wildcats’ offense took over and won the game. Let’s dive in and take a closer look at Kentucky’s 93-77 win on Senior Night over the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Poor Defensive Decision-Making Led to Frustrating First Half

In Nashville, Ezra Manjon and Tyrin Lawrence combined for 24 points and 11 assists. However, their success was mostly covered up by the fact that Kentucky dominated the Vanderbilt Commodores 109-77. This time around at Rupp Arena the ‘Cats didn’t seem to learn their lesson. Neither Manjon or Lawrence pose much of a threat from three-point range. That didn’t keep the Wildcats’ guards from chasing them around out near mid-court. The dynamic guard duo combined for 40 points and 9 assists which was enough to keep the Commodores in the game for most of the evening. There was no reason to be guarding those guys so far away from the basket.

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Running a clip from when Kareem Watkins was in the game isn’t totally fair, but the breakdown is just the same. There is no good reason for Ugonna Onyenso to be out this far. Kentucky could really help themselves defensively by simply planting their “rim protectors” at the rim. #2 Lubin isn’t much of a threat to shoot it, and #5 Manjon only wants to drive it at you. You are only making it harder on yourself by being out near the perimeter like that. Keep the 7-footers around the basket and try to limit the layups at the rim.

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When you are facing a team like the Vanderbilt Commodores, with guards like #5 Manjon and #0 Lawrence, you really need to focus on packing it in. That means you are aggressively into the gaps, giving ground off of the dribble, and focused on staying between the ball and the basket. Issue number one in this clip is Rob Dillingham being out beyond the arc and going over the ballscreen. Then, Zvonimir Ivisic number fully gets the ball stopped. Finally, Antonio Reeves needs to be all of the way into the gap. If they throw it to Manjon in the corner just closeout short and be ready for him to drive it.

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In this clip, not only is Reed Sheppard guarding #5 Manjon out at the half court logo, but he also goes over the top of the ballscreen. Unless you are guarding Stephen Curry or Damian Lilliard there is no real reason to go over a ballscreen set 35 feet from the basket. Aaron Bradshaw is all of the way out beyond the three-point line as well which allows Manjon to easily beat both defenders downhill to the paint. Manjon’s drive draws help and leads to a wide open corner three for #3 Lewis. All of this could have been avoided by not guarding the ball handler so far away from the basket.

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Kentucky made plenty of head-scratching decisions guarding on the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores. However, their issues extended away from the ball as well. #0 Lawrence is a 26.5% three-point shooter having one per game this season. There is no need to chase him on the perimeter like he is Antonio Reeves. That didn’t keep Reeves from fighting over the top of this staggered double action. Then, you have Ugonna Onyenso pulled out to the perimeter as well so he can’t help on the backscreen. If the Wildcats would have simply gone up through the staggered double, or had their 7-footer at the front of the rim, this dunk could have been avoided.

Second Half Defensive Adjustments

Going from giving up 40 points in the first half to 37 points in the second half doesn’t look like a major improvement on paper. However, the film would suggest that Kentucky made critical adjustments that made it much harder on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the final 20 minutes. D.J. Wagner, Rob Dillingham, and Reed Sheppard did a much better job on #5 Manjon in the second half. He was held to five points, one assist, and four turnovers. That is what happens when you simply stay between him and the basket. When you cut off the head of the snake, their offense isn’t nearly as effective. The Commodores shot just 37.8% from the field and 2-15 from deep after starting the game 53.1% from the field and 3-8 from three. Credit to Coach Calipari and the staff for making in-game adjustments.

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D.J. Wagner kept his feet inside of the three-point line and did a great job of walling off the baseline drive. Ugonna Onyenso provided good help defense on the spin move as well. Simply being in a better position led to #5 Manjon shooting a wild airball while falling down. Cut off the head of the snake by staying between him and the basket.

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In a perfect world, Reed Sheppard would really exaggerate backing up and staying between #5 Manjon and the basket. He should be all of the way around the elbow as opposed to out beyond the arc. However, he goes under the screens which makes up for being a bit too far out. Justin Edwards is in there to help clog things up and forces Manjon to pick up his dribble. Zvonimir Ivisic is there to contest his shot attempt as well. In the KSR Scouting Report we talked about forcing non-paint two-point shots. This is what that looks like. Manjon is a low-percentage finisher when shooting non-paint two-point shots.

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This was a great job at the beginning of the possession by Reed Sheppard. Look at how much ground he was giving up in order to stay between #5 Manjon and the basket. That is what it needed to look like all game long. Then, Sheppard is there to cut off the baseline drive. In a perfect world, Justin Edwards and Aaron Bradshaw would be all of the way over in the gap ready to bother the ball as Manjon spins back right. However, it still led to a non-paint two-point shot. Again, it is all about cutting off the head of the snake. The Vanderbilt Commodores really shut down offensively when Manjon can’t get into the paint consistently.

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Other than Reed Sheppard chasing #5 Manjon over top of the downscreen, this was about as perfectly executed as any defensive possession Kentucky had on Wednesday night. Sheppard hopped the handoff, Ugonna Onyenso was there to corral Manjon off of the dribble, and Rob Dillingham did a great job of clogging up the gap. Clog up the driving lanes, stay between the ball and the basket, and keep Manjon out of the paint. That should have been the goal all game long, but Kentucky did at least do a better job in the second half.

Best Offense in College Basketball

This has essentially been a recurring segment in every “Watch the Tape” breakdown this season. Over their last four outings, Kentucky is averaging 103 points per game. They continue to take care of the ball, shoot the three as well as anyone in the country, and have six or seven players capable of going for 20 points on a given night. The Wildcats absolutely are the most balanced, complete offense in all of college basketball. Then, you add in the explosiveness of Rob Dillingham and you have a group that really looks like they are built for the month of March.

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D.J. Wagner has shot 9-14 from three-point range in Kentucky’s last three games. We talk a lot about having guys who can make one three per game at 33% or better. Wagner is quickly approaching that benchmark. He is now up to 32.1% shooting on the season having made 27 three-pointers in 26 games. Adding him as yet another deep threat to an already potent lineup makes the ‘Cats that much more dangerous in March. Defenses won’t be able to collapse as aggressively on the drive, as the Vanderbilt Commodores did here on Reed Sheppard, if Wagner keep shooting like this.

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This simple, yet beautiful offense. Reed Sheppard attacks downhill off of the ballscreen, Rob Dillingham relocates and slides down the wing, and the freshman duo connect for an easy three points. This Wildcats’ offense can get on you in a hurry.

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We saw Kentucky score on the roll a couple of times on Wednesday night. Ugonna Onyenso got one early in the game, Aaron Bradshaw had a great finish in the second half, and Zvonimir Ivisic scored in the final minutes on the roll. However, the ‘Cats also turned it over when throwing it to their 7-footers a couple of times as well. Keeping the ball in the hands of the guards is typically best case scenario for this offense. However, that doesn’t mean the roll man can’t still positively impact the offense. In this clip you see Justin Edwards’ man tag on Ivisic’s roll. Reed Sheppard did a great job of reading the defense and whipped a perfect left-handed pass across the court to Edwards for a three.

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Reed Sheppard will get the press clippings, deservedly so, for his 11 assists on Wednesday night against the Vanderbilt Commodores. However, Kentucky’s other three guards also combined 14 assists. Rob Dillingham and D.J. Wagner each had five while Antonio Reeves had four. This is a great play by Reeves who is primarily thought of as a scorer. Sheppard isn’t going to miss many when he is this wide open.