Watch the Tape: Florida Gators

BRamseyKSR

Winning Southeastern Conference games on the road is really, really hard. It is even harder to beat a good team like the Florida Gators in a hostile environment like the O’Connell Center. Then, you consider that the Gators made eight three-point shots in the first half including two that banked in from the top of the key while Kentucky shot just 5-20 from deep and it becomes somewhat amazing that the Wildcats escaped Gainesville with a win. However, that is exactly what happened as #6 Kentucky moved to 11-2 with an 87-85 victory. It wasn’t easy, and certainly wasn’t always pretty, but a win is a win in conference play.

Kentucky trailed by as many as 11 points with 2:10 to play in the first half after Zyon Pullin banked in a contested three from 30-feet away as the shot clock expired. While the Gators shot 8-20 from deep in the first half, the Wildcats were just 1-10 from three-point range. Additionally, the ‘Cats had an uncharacteristic seven turnovers. However, water found its level in the second half. Kentucky connected on 4-10 shots from beyond the arc while the Gators were just 1-11. They also only turned it over twice in the second half to finish the game with nine total. Perhaps most importantly, the Wildcats neutralized Florida’s perceived advantage on the offensive glass. Then, down the stretch, the defense stepped up when it mattered most.

As usual, a balanced scoring attack led the ‘Cats to victory. Antonio Reeves scored a team-leading 19 points while DJ Wagner and Reed Sheppard each had 14 points. Tre Mitchell and Aaron Bradshaw added 12 and 10 points respectively while combining for 17 rebounds.

We’ve been hard at work in the KSR Film Room breaking down Kentucky’s conference win in Gainesville. Offensive execution remained an extremely high level, the defense went through its typical ups and downs, and then the Wildcats proved themselves as the better team by controlling the final three minutes of the game. You can’t ask for much more when playing a good team on the road than giving yourself a chance to win at the end. However, the best teams then convert on those opportunities. That is what Coach Calipari and the ‘Cats did on Saturday afternoon. Let’s take a closer look at how Kentucky got to 1-0 in the SEC with a win on the road over the Florida Gators.

Kentucky’s Offense is the Best in the Country

Saturday wasn’t Kentucky’s most efficient offensive performance. Their 45.6%, 25.0%, 71.4% shooting splits were each somewhat significantly below their season averages. However, they still managed to score 87 points in a game that was played at a blistering 82 possession pace. The Wildcats found success exploiting the Florida Gators propensity to switch and simply beat them around the corner at the point of the ballscreen several times. Whether it was scoring in transition, after a timeout or from out-of-bounds under, or executing a called half court set play the ‘Cats scored it consistently enough to earn a Quad 1 victory. The film, the analytics, and the results are all aligning to a point where you can say that Kentucky has the best offense in college basketball.

There were times when the Florida Gators switch the ballscreen and Kentucky was able to throw it inside to Tre Mitchell against a smaller defender. However, they were just as effective attacking off the edge at the point of the screen. The Gators weren’t really switching this one, but DJ Wagner’s aggressive drive made the big man play him. He turned the corner and got downhill for the creative finish. Wagner’s aggressiveness on Saturday was a game-changer.

When you need the game to slow down there is no better place to turn than Reed Sheppard and Tre Mitchell. Those two play with excellent pace and don’t get sped up by the defense. In both halves on Saturday the ‘Cats answered a Gators run by getting to a two-man game with Sheppard and Mitchell. Florida miscommunicated the switch which led to Mitchell getting all the way to the block. Then, he is under control, lifts the help defender with a shot fake, and finishes through contact. This really should have been an And-1.

Coming out of a timeout Coach Calipari dialed up a great action to get Antonio Reeves loose on the perimeter. Aaron Bradshaw sets the ballscreen and immediately runs into a downscreen for Reeves. The Florida Gators defender gets caught going up through so Reeves flares it. That lengthens the closeout and allows him to attack downhill. Ultimately, Kentucky’s leading scorer finishes an And-1 to tie the game.

Florida tried to keep the ball on a side, but DJ Wagner was just too quick and crafty with the ball. He beats #1 Clayton Jr. at the point of the screen and then has a head of steam attacking the drop coverage. Having that runway allowed Wagner to use his physicality and athleticism to play through the help defenders chest. Kentucky’s point guard came up big in the second half to lead the ‘Cats to a victory.

Defensive Highs and Lows

Kentucky’s defense was much better on Saturday than it’ll get credit for from most fans. Context is very important and you can’t just look at a box score to understand what happened on the floor. Yes, the Florida Gators scored 85 points. However, there were 82 possessions in the game. They also banked in two three-point shots in the first half. When it mattered most, the Wildcats stepped up and held Florida scoreless from the 3:10 mark down until there 30.5 seconds remaining. That ultimately won the game for Kentucky. There are still a lot of things to clean up though. Opponents get penetration too easily, guards help for no reason, and players get lost off of the ball. Overall though, things are trending up. Let’s take a closer look.

As a coach you can’t ask for more textbook execution of transition defense. Your point guard is always ultimately responsible for getting back and protecting the basket. DJ Wagner checks that box in this clip. Also, the most important tenant of transition defense is that you do not have a matchup. You can’t just run to “your man.” You protect the basket, you stop the ball, and then you matchup beginning with the next most dangerous guy. Wagner has the basket and ends up on the Florida Gator’s 5-man. That is okay. Over on the left wing, Tre Mitchell is matched up with #0 Pullin. That is okay. Ugonna Onyenso did a great job of not just running to “his man,” but instead closing out under control to a non-shooter in #4 Samuel. Great boxout by Wagner. Textbook defense!

Reed Sheppard does a lot of really, really good things for this team. He makes some excellent, high IQ plays on the defensive end of the floor. However, he still gets lost off of the ball far too often. This is about 25 seconds of really good team defense by the Wildcats. Then, #1 Clayton Jr. drives towards the baseline and Sheppard is caught starting at the ball while standing at the SEC logo for no reason. He doesn’t need to be worried about the drive and he isn’t really helping on anyone else either. Late in the shot clock, beginning with 8-10 seconds, you need to tighten up to your man. That is true whether or not you are guarding a shooter. Sheppard’s lack of concentration allowed a 3-14 three-point shooter to knock one in as the shot clock expired.

DJ Wagner is probably Kentucky’s best on-ball defender and Rob Dillingham makes some really disruptive plays on the ball as well. However, this was a full systems breakdown from both of them on this possession. First of all, Dillingham shouldn’t be helping this much on #4 Samuel. Tre Mitchell can guard him one-on-one when he is off of the block. However, if you are going to help then you better either steal the ball or foul trying. Then, when the ball gets kicked out, DJ Wagner makes a poor personnel decision to leave #1 Clayton Jr. to run at #0 Pullin. Just stunt and recover. Furthermore, Dillignham has to get himself back in the play with much more urgency. He stands and watches for far too long. That is a consistent problem.

A couple of games ago we talked about how Ugonna Onyenso is a good shot blocker, but he isn’t yet a good defender. He took a big step towards being considered a good defender on Saturday. Also, credit to Reed Sheppard for his closeout on the perimeter. He stunts hard at #11 Aberdeen, but recovers into the passing lane so he can’t kick it to #0 Pullin in the corner. That is a high IQ play. Then, Onyenso stays home when guarding non-shooter #4 Samuel, flips his hips on the drive, and makes him miss badly at the rim. The missed layup leads to a transition opportunity where Rob Dillingham finds Sheppard for a quick three.

Before the game we talked about urgency and effort being the key for Kentucky defensively. The Florida Gators don’t run a bunch of set plays so you simply have to guard the personnel. This possession showcases what high level urgency and effort looks like. Five players moving as a connected unit. Aggressive, yet under control closeouts. ‘Cats get fouled on the rebound attempt. Great work by DJ Wagner and Rob Dillingham specifically on this possession.

Championship Teams Close Out Games

When you go on the road, as a coach, you can’t ask for much more than to have a chance to win the game at the final media timeout. The Florida Gators are a good team, the O’Connell Center is a tough place to play, but the Wildcats gave themselves a chance to win the game in the final segment. It was a 76-74 game with 3:10 to play at that final media stoppage. From that point, Kentucky held the Gators scoreless until there were 30.5 seconds remaining while scoring 13 points themselves. It was nearly textbook execution, on both ends of the floor, to close out a great win on the road.

When you need it most it is hard to go wrong with leaning on your veterans. Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell are guys that have played a lot of road conference games in their career. The other three players on the floor in this clip had played a combined zero. Reeves and Mitchell get into a little two-man game and the ‘Cats leading scorer ties it with a tough runner. Notice how there is no hedge or help at all at the point of the handoff from Mitchell’s defender. The Florida Gators simply wouldn’t help off of him for fear of his shooting ability. That opened up a lot of driving lanes for the Wildcats especially in the second half.

Down the stretch Kentucky’s defense stepped up and won the game. They got stops when it mattered most. This possession featured a complete 30 seconds of team defense. DJ Wagner made a great play on the ball to deflect it into the backcourt and disrupt Florida’s timing. Then, he and Aaron Bradshaw corralled the side ballscreen. However, the possession ultimately was about Bradshaw hustling back towards the rim and swatting away the shot attempt to force a shot clock violation. Kentucky’s freshman center was excellent when it came to “winning time.”

We had to sprinkle in one teaching moment to the final section. Reed Sheppard’s senseless foul at he end of the game is the decision that fans will remember, but he got really lucky in this instance too. There is absolutely zero reason to help off of #0 Clayton Jr. when #4 Samuel has the ball in this position with Ugonna Onyenso squarely behind him. Clayton Jr. had already hit three three-point shots in the game and is a guy you really shouldn’t ever help off of. That is especially true in this situation. We aren’t worried about what Samuel is going to do in the post. It worked out here, but that lapse of discipline and concentration could get the Wildcats beat at some point.

Who would have thought it would be an Antonio Reeves defensive play to closeout the game? Yes, on the next possession he allowed the And-1, but his effort on the defensive end here pretty well sealed it for Kentucky. Reeves throws his foot out there to cut off the right hand drive and then gets his hands up to contest while forcing #0 Pullin to his left hand. By no means is Reeves thought of as a good defender for the Wildcats, but he came up with a big play in a big spot. Credit to the fifth year senior for locking in on the defensive end.