"Analytics Tells Us What To Do In the 2nd Half"

[Farsight Clone]

Was bored and listening to KSR today. Someone called in. She talked about how we keep on having terrible first half deficits.

She said she recalled Pope saying something like this last year, "We use the first half to determine how to play the second half with analytics."

It seems like analytics are telling our staff what to do without understanding the game. This can explain why BG was in more than JQ. Why Pope allows Lowe do iso a lot. I don't mind Lowe being iso, but it cant be every possession. When we did make our comeback, we scored off good passing.

Then the mind boggling thing of why Lowe doesn't start and comes in after 2 minutes of the game starting. "We ran into a wall, so analytics tells us to put Lowe back in."

In a specific example from the 2025 season, Pope’s analytics-driven style was discussed after the Kentucky vs. Indiana game: early in the season he leaned into data, deep rotations, lineup analytics, etc., but at halftime he shifted away from strict analytics in the second half, shortening the rotation and leaning into “feel” and it worked out. That pivot was framed as “from analytics to instinct”.

Why the hell can't he shift back into instinct? It's clear they don't know how to leverage analytics. Why so much weight on it? Nate Oats knows how to do it. He proved it in his post game comments.

It blows my mind of how bad it is when you understand basketball.

 

[MarvinHagler89]

He’s a professor with doctorate degree. Aka a nerd that doesn’t belong in a head coach position. If he wants to advise in sports regarding analytics, he needs to step down. His crap is getting old real quick.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

We are simply a very poorly coached team.

We don’t do anything well. We are not prepared to play. We don’t appear to be in good physical condition.

Players are not improving individually.

We have no identity on offense or defense.

Well, we do have one identity, we are viewed as soft.

Terrible lineups compounded by terrible substitution patterns.

We used to win the press conferences. We don’t even do that now.

And I'll add, we don't even compete most games and go as far as to quit some games.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Yeah I’m sorry but I don’t know what Pope was ever talking about there. Data analysis requires carefully examining a dataset, so i have no idea how the first half of a single game is a dataset to use for the second half. Probably some kind of weird coachspeak but it’s nonsensical

 

[wccat]

Analytics works if you are winning but at this point with all of the losses, everything should be on the table. First thing should be playing your best players. I agree with what I read over the weekend. Lowe and JQ need to play every minute they can. Shortening the rotation is a must. This is January and you have to go with your best players. Experimentation with lineup and rotation is OVER.

 

[MarvinHagler89]

Yeah I’m sorry but I don’t know what Pope was ever talking about there. Data analysis requires carefully examining a dataset, so i have no idea how the first half of a single game is a dataset to use for the second half. Probably some kind of weird coachspeak but it’s nonsensical

Exactly. When he talks about that he sounds like a bigger idiot than sounding smart.

 

[wccat]

Exactly. When he talks about that he sounds like a bigger idiot than sounding smart.

I agree 1000%. Oats summed up Kentucky basketball in very simple terms.

 

[AJBlue]

Was bored and listening to KSR today. Someone called in. She talked about how we keep on having terrible first half deficits.

She said she recalled Pope saying something like this last year, "We use the first half to determine how to play the second half with analytics."

It seems like analytics are telling our staff what to do without understanding the game. This can explain why BG was in more than JQ. Why Pope allows Lowe do iso a lot. I don't mind Lowe being iso, but it cant be every possession. When we did make our comeback, we scored off good passing.

Then the mind boggling thing of why Lowe doesn't start and comes in after 2 minutes of the game starting. "We ran into a wall, so analytics tells us to put Lowe back in."

In a specific example from the 2025 season, Pope’s analytics-driven style was discussed after the Kentucky vs. Indiana game: early in the season he leaned into data, deep rotations, lineup analytics, etc., but at halftime he shifted away from strict analytics in the second half, shortening the rotation and leaning into “feel” and it worked out. That pivot was framed as “from analytics to instinct”.

Why the hell can't he shift back into instinct? It's clear they don't know how to leverage analytics. Why so much weight on it? Nate Oats knows how to do it. He proved it in his post game comments.

It blows my mind of how bad it is when you understand basketball.

I triple dog guarantee you the analytics will go STRAIGHT through the roof if you coach these two things and these two things alone. Space the floor and move on offense, and extend the defense and take away the space for the other guys on defense. Throw in play with effort all the time and I GAURANTEE you everything instantly changes.

And I checked with AI and it said I was 51% chance of being right on that and 51% of being wrong, so nevemind.

 

[KyKevin]

I triple dog guarantee you the analytics will go STRAIGHT through the roof if you coach these two things and these two things alone. Space the floor and move on offense, and extend the defense and take away the space for the other guys on defense. Throw in play with effort all the time and I GAURANTEE you everything instantly changes.

And I checked with AI and it said I was 51% chance of being right on that and 51% of being wrong, so nevemind.

Can we get that guarantee in writing, and how many years is it good for

 

[rick64]

Analytics can be a useful tool, but come on. That can't be the key decision maker in how to play the game. Good grief!!!!

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

did he really say that? Why does there have to be a "shift" between analytics and instinct? they are both resources you use when coaching. you don't say "aight i'm going all analytics this half, then next half all instinct". lol. it's not a binary choice.

reporters need to start asking Pope follow-up questions asking him to explain exactly what he means. his comments do not match the on-court product. he just says stuff.

 

[Farsight Clone]

did he really say that? Why does there have to be a "shift" between analytics and instinct? they are both resources you use when coaching. you don't say "aight i'm going all analytics this half, then next half all instinct". lol. it's not a binary choice.

reporters need to start asking Pope follow-up questions asking him to explain exactly what he means. his comments do not match the on-court product. he just says stuff.

Yeah after the Indiana game. Analytics should be complementary, not primary decision makes or either or.

 

[chroix]

Coach's analytics are dog ****. Smear it however you want, they ******* stink.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

Coach's analytics are dog ****. Smear it however you want, they ******* stink.

The only “analytics” that matter today is that we are 1-5 against good teams.

 

[Zuma75]

All I know is they usually play a lot better in the second half. The problem has been the first half, the starts. Not just this year, it was last year too. Gonzaga (in Seattle) comes to mind as the most obvious example, but not the only one.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Analytics can be a useful tool, but come on. That can't be the key decision maker in how to play the game. Good grief!!!!

the way Oats explained it in his postgame is how the vast majority of coaches use analytics.
The analytics said we pass well. Oats' eyes told him different. So he watched a bunch of game film and turns out we pad our stats against bad teams. Doesn't mean the numbers saying we pass well were wrong.

 

[I’m The Village Idiot]

the way Oats explained it in his postgame is how the vast majority of coaches use analytics.
The analytics said we pass well. Oats' eyes told him different. So he watched a bunch of game film and turns out we pad our stats against bad teams. Doesn't mean the numbers saying we pass well were wrong.

Sure would be nice if we could just find where both coaches were doing the post-game and switch the logos on the wall behind them

 

[bnewt]

Analytics can be a useful tool, but come on. That can't be the key decision maker in how to play the game. Good grief!!!!

exactly
the coach has to have some "feel" for the game & what is going on
If they are just going to use #'s & stats, then get rid of Pope's million $ salary & buy an iPad to tell the players what to do

 

[bnewt]

the way Oats explained it in his postgame is how the vast majority of coaches use analytics.
The analytics said we pass well. Oats' eyes told him different. So he watched a bunch of game film and turns out we pad our stats against bad teams. Doesn't mean the numbers saying we pass well were wrong.

that is the difference of being an actual "coach" and some one in the coach's position.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

i think Pope just throws analytics out there the same way Cal would talk about Bennies. As a defense for questionable coaching decisions that the fans rightfully call out
"trust me, i'm Mr. Smart Coach, i know analytics, you just couldn't possibly understand"

no i don't understand. please tell us your approach to analytics because i'm dying to know what analytics told you to LEAVE ALABAMA OPEN FROM THE 3 POINT LINE THE WHOLE FIRST HALF

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

that is the difference of being an actual "coach" and some one in the coach's position.

Nate Oats is a ball coach.
Mark Pope plays one on TV.

 

[CELTICAT]

Strange to me that someone that came up under both Pitino and Bird would decide to be entirely reactive from the bench. Say what you will about Cal and his inability to adjust mid-game, he (along with every other great UK coach) had a gameplan/scheme that forced the other team to deal with what we were doing and not the other way around.

 

[theBlues]

You don't have to have the brain of Albert Einstein to understand basketball strategy. For instance, there are only about seven main ways of dealing with a pick and roll on defense(by my count) and each one of the seven is relatively simple. You also do not have to be a genius to know that, for a team like Alabama who wants to shoot threes as a first option, not hedging or doubling or switching and going under screens is the absoloute worst strategy of the seven.

 

[20MRoster]

The second half stuff is overrated and desperate deflection attempts. Teams let off the throttle when up 20. The record is what it is.

Also you guys gotta stop with this "Pope is a genius" stuff. He does NOT have a doctorate, and is clearly not a smart person when it comes to basketball. BYU was better before him, and is better after him. If he was such a genius, you'd think he could beat an 11 seed. He is certainly above average intelligence but is not some mastermind.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

The second half stuff is overrated and desperate deflection attempts. Teams let off the throttle when up 20. The record is what it is.

Also you guys gotta stop with this "Pope is a genius" stuff. He does NOT have a doctorate, and is clearly not a smart person when it comes to basketball. BYU was better before him, and is better after him. If he was such a genius, you'd think he could beat an 11 seed. He is certainly above average intelligence but is not some mastermind.

I think it was after the Gonzaga game. Brandon Ramsay had the take that "maybe Mark Pope is actually too smart for this job" which is just mindblowing to me.

 

[Catlogic1552]

Whatever analytics tells Pope how to play, the opposing coach will immediately adjust, Pope will not, and we lose.

 

[Coach777]

He’s a professor with doctorate degree. Aka a nerd that doesn’t belong in a head coach position. If he wants to advise in sports regarding analytics, he needs to step down. His crap is getting old real quick.

Unfortunately, it appears lack of common sense is the issue.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Blaming things on analytics is just the wildest thing lol.

We just simply don't have the horses this season to be anywhere near contending. It's not that hard to see.

Also I would love to see the analtyics used that suggested BG over JQ. Are you sure it's that and not just the fact that JQ is coming off major injury and they are limiting his mins still? That seems way more plausible.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

Also the second half thing is no more than teams getting up so big and taking their foot off the gas pedal. It's a natural tendency and all teams do this.

 

[UKortho]

Blaming things on analytics is just the wildest thing lol.

We just simply don't have the horses this season to be anywhere near contending. It's not that hard to see.

Also I would love to see the analtyics used that suggested BG over JQ. Are you sure it's that and not just the fact that JQ is coming off major injury and they are limiting his mins still? That seems way more plausible.

I believe “analytics” are used as an excuse from a coach that is in over his head.

 

[TFCat11]

He’s a professor with doctorate degree. Aka a nerd that doesn’t belong in a head coach position. If he wants to advise in sports regarding analytics, he needs to step down. His crap is getting old real quick.

Sorry, but who are you talking about? I read the OP, but didn’t see any mention of a professor with a PhD?

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Coach's analytics are dog ****. Smear it however you want, they ******* stink.

FR he talks like the game takes place on a spreadsheet.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

the way Oats explained it in his postgame is how the vast majority of coaches use analytics.
The analytics said we pass well. Oats' eyes told him different. So he watched a bunch of game film and turns out we pad our stats against bad teams. Doesn't mean the numbers saying we pass well were wrong.

Exactly what most of us said all year. I don’t care what our rank in anything is. We hit 15 3’s, rebound, and pad stats against little sisters of the poor. We can barely score or defend against real teams. UNC is massively over rated IMHO and we couldn’t score for 12 minutes of game time. That is beyond coaching malpractice. I want to see our rank in all stats in the games we are 1-5 against. Those are the stats of our real team.

 

[MarvinHagler89]

Sorry, but who are you talking about? I read the OP, but didn’t see any mention of a professor with a PhD?

I’m talking about our coach who has a doctorate and has a stupid coaching philosophy of analytics.

 

[AJBlue]

Exactly what most of said all year. I don’t care what our rank in anything is. We hit 15 3’s, rebound, and pad stats against little sisters of the poor. We can barely score or defend against real teams. UNC is massively over rated IMHO and we couldn’t score for 12 minutes of game time. That is beyond coaching malpractice. I want to see our rank in all stats in the games we are 1-5 against. Those are the stats of our real team.

And thats all simply because the resistance is greater against better teams with better athletes etc. Weaker teams give us room to move, better teams take that away and when they do we're competely lost. Same thing on the other end. Better teams space the floor and drive by us to score and setup looks from the outside. Lesser teams are eaiser for us to keep in front of us.

Some of that is personell, but a lot of it is scheme and lack of coaching to counter that. The one thing we have are rim protectors so you'd think we would have extended the defense well outsite the three point line against Bama and run them to the rim. But we did the opposite.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Exactly what most of said all year. I don’t care what our rank in anything is. We hit 15 3’s, rebound, and pad stats against little sisters of the poor. We can barely score or defend against real teams. UNC is massively over rated IMHO and we couldn’t score for 12 minutes of game time. That is beyond coaching malpractice. I want to see our rank in all stats in the games we are 1-5 against. Those are the stats of our real team.

Hmm. Gives me an idea.

 

[Cats192]

I have to defend analytics here. Analytics aren't the problem. We can't play defense. We can't play offense. We don't rebound at a high level most of the time. We struggle dribbling and passing far too often. We don't make shots. I'm not sure there's 1 thing this team consistently does well.

Analytics don't matter when you can't even do the most basic things.

I honestly think Analytics suggest to take away the 3 point shot from Alabama. I think analytics tell you NOT to go under the screen, especially after they've made several 3's already.

Nate Oats does a lot with analytics. They aren't holding him back. Mark Pope is just doing a terrible job of coaching.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

I have to defend analytics here. Analytics aren't the problem. We can't play defense. We can't play offense. We don't rebound at a high level most of the time. We struggle dribbling and passing far too often. We don't make shots. I'm not sure there's 1 thing this team consistently does well.

Analytics don't matter when you can't even do the most basic things.

I honestly think Analytics suggest to take away the 3 point shot from Alabama. I think analytics tell you NOT to go under the screen, especially after they've made several 3's already.

Nate Oats does a lot with analytics. They aren't holding him back. Mark Pope is just doing a terrible job of coaching.

you are 100% correct

 

[lookinfor8]

We are simply a very poorly coached team.

We don’t do anything well. We are not prepared to play. We don’t appear to be in good physical condition.

Players are not improving individually.

We have no identity on offense or defense.

Well, we do have one identity, we are viewed as soft.

Terrible lineups compounded by terrible substitution patterns.

We used to win the press conferences. We don’t even do that now.

And I'll add, we don't even compete most games and go as far as to quit some games.

 

[lookinfor8]

We are simply a very poorly coached team.

We don’t do anything well. We are not prepared to play. We don’t appear to be in good physical condition.

Players are not improving individually.

We have no identity on offense or defense.

Well, we do have one identity, we are viewed as soft.

Terrible lineups compounded by terrible substitution patterns.

We used to win the press conferences. We don’t even do that now.

And I'll add, we don't even compete most games and go as far as to quit some games.

Dont think much more could be said as this is spot on