What’s wrong with this Kentucky team? They “only” won by 10 points against the front-runner in the Big 12. They “only” won by 10 against one of the best and most physical mid-major teams in a day game in which they had been away from home for about a week. By now we have heard at length how Marquis Teague is not leading this team like the great point guards (Wall, Knight) before him. Twitter inevitably arose with chants of “overrated” during the first half of the Kansas game where UK struggled in its first true test. Even our own national overlords at Rush The Court questioned whether or not this team is more than a collection of highly talented individuals. Suspicions are high, as this team is under the microscope of critics looking for any little thing to nitpick.
For the record, this Kentucky team is fine. They are young, and will only get better as they come together through tough games in December. They may even lose a game or two throughout the season. But for my money, they are still the best team in the country.
That doesn’t mean the Wildcats are without faults. Turnovers are an issue, and have been mentioned with the shaky play of Teague at the helm. But improvement will come with time and experience, something Teague will get plenty of with big December games against UNC and Louisville. Interior defense has been somewhat of a concern as physical post players can take advantage of the lack of a true center in the middle of the Kentucky defense. Old Dominion’s 6’9″, 230-pound bruiser, Chris Cooper, showed what can happen when someone bodies up to Kentucky’s front line as he poured in 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Monarchs. But have you seen Kentucky’s 6’10” freak of nature, Anthony Davis? Give him time, folks. He will adjust to the physical nature of the college game. And then we’re all really in for a show.
But there is another aspect of Kentucky’s game that concerns me. I am always willing to give freshmen some time before being too critical. However, Kentucky’s sophomore power forward, Terrence Jones, shouldn’t need time. Remember him? The guy who passed up being an NBA lottery pick to win a National Championship at Kentucky. He’s the same player who scored 52 points in the Blue/White UK exhibition game. Jones was supposed to be the star of this Wildcats team, in spite of the vast talent amassed in Lexington. He has worked to improve his game this offseason, and looks to be a bigger and better version in 2011-12. It’s just that Kentucky hasn’t gotten him enough touches in the low post throughout the first four games of this season. Or perhaps the issue is that Jones hasn’t been active enough on the offensive end to demand the ball.
Jones scored less than 10 points in three regular season games last year (North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida). Thus far in 2011-12, he has failed to reach double figures in two of his first four games. Similarly, Jones failed to shoot at least 10 shots from the field last season in three games (Pennsylvania [3-6], Georgia [3-6], Tennessee [2-9]). This season, he has already matched that number, only reaching at least 10 field goal attempts in the Kansas game. Jones is far more efficient this year, improving his field goal percentage from 44.2% to 51.4%. Yet, his points per game are down from 15.7 last year to 11.0 this season.
This is admittedly nitpicky as Kentucky has the highest adjusted offensive efficiency in the country, according to kenpom.com. There is more talent in Lexington this year, so obviously there are fewer shots to go around. Jones was counted on to do significantly more of the scoring last year, as there weren’t as many scoring threats. John Calipari’s system has always favored guards as it is a perimeter oriented offense. Forwards typically get the ball high in pick and roll scenarios as Josh Harrellson perfected last year. However, Calipari has adjusted his offense in the past when the personnel suggests he do so. And so far this season the Kentucky offense has not schemed to isolate Jones in the low post as part of its offensive strategy.
It is not always the number of shots for Jones that concerns me, but where those shots were taken. In Jones’ most active game this year, he shot the ball 11 times against Kansas. Kentucky made a conscious effort to get him the ball in this game, but even here he steps out several times for jump shots. Observe the shot charts for the first and second halves of the game to see where Jones was scoring most of his points.
The Kansas game was Kentucky’s best effort at feeding him the ball. Calipari’s dribble drive motion offense primarily takes advantage of one-on-one situations on the perimeter. However, Kentucky’s biggest advantage might be with Jones isolated in the post. The Wildcats have failed to create this mismatch far too often in the early going this season. Calipari and the Cats need to re-work the strategy to get Terrence Jones isolated in the low post where he can perform his best work.