Dunks and blocks lead Kentucky to big exhibition win

On3 imageby:Adam Luckett08/10/22

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John Calipari found a time machine and went back to some old-school tactics to build his current Kentucky team. That roster construction was on full display in the first game of the Bahamas tour.

In a 108-56 blowout win over the Dominican Republic, Kentucky flashed all of its length and explosive athleticism to overwhelm a team full of grown men. Calipari isn’t going with small ball or pace and space, but the Cats are long and have elite defensive potential.

That was all on display to start the preseason international run as we could have a vintage Calipari team that smothers teams on the defensive end and relies on supreme athleticism to get buckets on offense.

Let’s dive into the box score.

Winning at the rim

Last season, Kentucky lacked true rim protection and had issues scoring at the rim when the ball was not in Oscar Tshiebwe‘s hands. This year, some of the new additions should allow the Cats to play above the rim.

With multiple players contributing, Kentucky recorded 14 dunks and 10 blocks as Calipari’s team totally dominated the game in the paint. Freshman Adou Thiero was a surprise as his athleticism and wingspan popped on the defensive end with three blocks and two steals in limited playing time.

Perimeter shooting will likely be a worry for this team throughout the year, but Kentucky should be able to overwhelm most opponents on their schedule. That will be felt in the paint as this team can play above the rim on both ends.

Daimion Collins Show

Sophomore big Daimion Collins was a seldom used piece as a rookie. The former five-star recruit played just 7.4 minutes a game as the skinny big adjusted to the college game. The 6-9 forward is still skinny but is ready for a bigger role.

On Wednesday, Collins looks comfortable on the court as he splashed a jumper from the mid-range and finished off some explosive jams that got the biggest roars of the night from a strong Kentucky crowd.

Collins finished the exhibition game with a team-high in points (15), offensive rebounds (4), and plus/minus (40). The big looked a potential difference-maker that can give the Wildcats some more length in the frontcourt playing next to Tshiebwe.

Aggressive Cason Wallace

How Kentucky manages the lead guard situation will be one of the more interesting developments to follow when the season starts. Sahvir Wheeler enters the year as the clear top option at point guard, but the senior has a combo guard next to him that can do it all.

Cason Wallace was a top-10 recruiting win for Kentucky out of Texas, and the freshman looks the part at 6-4 and a solid 193 pounds. The rookie is a downhill creator who needs some work on his outside shooting. But his ability to be physical and make plays in the paint is what makes him such an intriguing prospect.

The freshman finished the game with 15 points on 13 field goal attempts in 25 minutes. The diaper dandy also recorded five rebounds and three assists. Wallace was able to get to his spots and was at his best when able to play with the ball in his hands.

Kentucky has a potential future freshman star in the backcourt. Can he play with Wheeler when the ball is not in his hands? Only time will tell, but Calipari has legitimate point guard depth this season.

Stats that stood out

— Oscar Tshiebwe is still Oscar Tshiebwe. The returning national player of the year finished with 17 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes. He’s still a college basketball superstar.

Chris Livingston was a surprising bright spot as the versatile forward showed a good-looking stroke from deep (3 three-point makes) and was aggressive on the glass (8 defensive rebounds). As Kentucky builds out different lineup combinations, the freshman will play a big role as he can play both the three and the four.

— Kentucky posted 1.48 points per trip on offense in 73 possessions. The Wildcats played a game with pace that included a low turnover rate (6.8%) and a high scoring rate (65.8%). With 11 made threes, this was an impressive offensive performance.

— The defense might have been better. Kentucky held the Dominican Republic to 0.77 points per possession and forced a high turnover rate (24.7%). The high ceiling of the Cats was flashed on that end all night long. The Wildcats have all the pieces to be a top-five defense in college basketball.

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2024-03-28