Scouting Report: High Point Panthers

Welcome home, Coach Tubby Smith. There is a basketball game against the High Point Panthers, but today is about so much more than that. Today, Kentucky commemorates one of the all-time great coaches in the rafters. More importantly, Kentucky will today honor one of the all-time great humans. Big Blue Nation is lucky to have had our time with Tubby Smith. We will now be forever reminded of Coach Smith when entering Rupp Arena.

As for the actual competition taking place, the Panthers shouldn’t cause the Wildcats any problems. High Point has really struggled offensively this season and are among the worst teams nationally when it comes to rebounding. That is a tough combination when it comes to playing Kentucky.

With a quick turnaround from Wednesday’s conference game, today’s scouting report is admittedly pared down quite a bit from our typical deep dives. However, we still have a personnel breakdown as well as looks at the High Point Panthers offense and defense. Let’s dive on in and get to know a little more about Coach Tubby Smith’s squad.

Personnel

Starters

#1 John-Michael Wright: 6’0″ 186 lbs, Junior Guard

20.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 4.1 apg

Best player. Aggressive scoring guard. Shooter! No 3’s! Need to be tight to him at all times to take away the 3’s. Will shoot them off of the dribble while coming down the floor. Need to pick him up early. Get over the ballscreens and handoffs. Chase off of downscreens and flares. Tighten up as the ball comes towards you. Absolutely no help off of him. Shooting a better percentage from 3 than 2. Need to make him put it on the floor and drive it. Contest everything. More shots than points for him.

#5 Bryant Randleman: 6’3″ 190 lbs, Junior Guard

7.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.9 apg

Lefty. Non-shooter from the perimeter. Closeout short to stay between him and the basket. Do not need to guard him beyond the 3-point line. Not looking to shoot 3’s. NO LEFT HAND DRIVES!!! He wants to attacks closeouts driving it left. Stay between him and the basket. He will shoot the pull-up jumper, especially when driving it right. Need to give the pull-ups a hard contest. Hop under the ballscreens and handoffs. Help off of him when he doesn’t have it. No left hand drives. No layups.

#3 Jaden House: 6’3″ 201 lbs, Sophomore Guard

11.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 apg

Good shooter. No catch-and-shoot 3’s! Need to be there to take away the catch-and-shoot 3’s. Good right hand driver. Once you takeaway the initial catch-and-shoot you need to bounce back and guard against the right hand drive. Not thinking about passing as he drives. You can come help and take it off of him. Get over the ballscreens and handoffs. Chase him off of downscreens and flares. No catch-and-shoot 3’s.

#55 Zack Austin: 6’5″ 201 lbs, Redshirt Freshman Forward

14.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.7 apg

Athletic, undersized 4-man. Long and athletic. Willing shooter. Need to be there to contest the catch-and-shoot 3’s. Be willing to switch when he ballscreens to take away the pick-and-pop 3’s. Tighten up as the ball is driven towards you. Right hand, left shoulder around the basket. Always getting back to his right hand to finish. Make him score over you. Excellent offensive rebounder. BOX OUT!!!

#10 Emmanuel Izunabor: 6’8″ 217 lbs, Junior Forward/Center

5.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.6 apg

Athletic post. Right hand, left shoulder in the post. Be physical with him and get him off of the block. His percentages will go down the further out you make him catch it. Take away the quick spin to the baseline and then be physical on his left shoulder. Make him score with you between him and the basket. Bad free throw shooter. Foul if you are beat. No And-1’s. Good offensive rebounder. Box out!

Bench

#4 Alex Holt: 6’8″ 245 lbs, Sophomore Forward

4.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.7 apg

Backup forward. Big and physical. Right hand, left shoulder in the post. Make him score with you between him and the basket. Be physical and get him off of the block. Looking for deep post catches. Active on the offensive glass. Box out!

#23 Brock Williams: 5’10” 171 lbs, Freshman Guard

3.0 ppg, 0.4 apg, 1.0 apg

Non-shooter. Go under the ballscreens and handoffs. Closeout short to stay between him and the basket. Aggressive right hand driver. No right hand drives! Stay between him and the basket. Give a hard contest to the pull-up jumpers. No layups for him.

#22 Rob Peterson III: 6’4″ 190 lbs, Senior Forward

2.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.2 apg

Plays really hard off of the bench. Non-shooter. Closeout short to stay between him and the basket. Right hand driver. No right hand drives. Very good offensive rebounder. Crashes the glass hard. Box out!!!

#12 Bryson Childress: 5’8″ 150 lbs, Sophomore Guard

2.7 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 0.6 apg

Shooter!!! No 3’s! 24 of 25 shots have been 3’s. Need to be there on the catch to take away the catch-and-shoot 3’s. Get over the ballscreens and handoffs. Chase him off of downscreens and flares. Be tight at all times. Tighten up as the ball is driven towards you. No help off of him. No 3’s!!!

High Point Panthers Offense

High Point is 277th nationally in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency. Due to their lack of size they are very poor from 2-point range finishing just 44.8% of their 2’s. They are also one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the country. We should be able to put the clamps on the Panthers this afternoon.

Most of their offensive production comes from #1 John-Michael Wright. His playmaking ability creates a vast majority of their offense. He is a very good player that will hold his own on the Rupp Arena floor. Containing him and making him work hard for everything he gets will be the key. Pressure him for 40 minutes and take him away from three. More shots than points for him.

High Point Panthers Defense

On the defensive end, the High Point Panthers will be exposed due to all-around lack of size. This is a game that we should dominate around the basket and on the boards. The Panthers are one of the worst defensive rebounding teams in the country which should be music to Oscar Tshiebwe’s ears. We need to be aggressive off of the dribble and be in attack mode at all times. This game will be won at the rim.

Keys to the Game

• Contain #1 John-Michael Wright. Taking him away from 3 and contesting all jumpers will make it hard for the Panthers to score. More shots than points for him.
• Dominate the glass. This is a game that will be won at the rim. Our strength versus their weakness on the boards. Need to have a significant advantage on the glass.
• Aggressively drive the basketball. Once again, this game will be won at the rim. We should need to take a lot of jump shots this afternoon. Attack the rim and finish.
• Play in transition. High Point has struggled defensively in transition and that is where we excel. Get stops and then play fast. Look to attack the rim in transition.