Men's Basketball

Morning After: Kentucky vs. Arkansas

Published

5 years ago

February 27, 2019

Kentucky is playing like one of the best teams in the country, but Tuesday night was a different story. In a game where Kentucky grabbed more defensive rebounds than the opponent had rebounds, one wouldn’t expect for the game to be particularly close. However, with a 9 P.M. ET tipoff, the Cats came out very sluggish and sloppy and Kentucky got down as much as 15 early in the second half. The Wildcats were able to fight back with the help of the Big Blue Nation at Rupp Arena and win a game they probably didn’t deserve to win.

This team wanted this game and fought back and won with heart and toughness. A gritty win is still a win, let’s take a closer look at how the Cats clawed back and completed their biggest comeback of the season.

Herro of the Night

Tyler Herro may have played one of the most offensively efficient games in
Kentucky basketball history against Arkansas. Herro finished the game with 29 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Herro singlehandedly kept Kentucky in the game after an atrocious first half and was a primary reason that they won.

With PJ the focus of the Arkansas defense, Herro was able to provide all of
his offensive production and more. Herro didn’t play great defense for the
first 25 min of the game but you can’t really complain when he is shooting 90%from the field and providing 42% of the team’s points.

Herro definitely didn’t lack confidence on Tuesday night, telling the world “I’m a bucket” as he sealed the game with two free throws.

https://twitter.com/barstooltweetss/status/1100613174355734528

Turnovers. Turnovers. Turnovers.

The story of the first half was the sloppy play of the Cats and their turnovers. Kentucky looked like they had never played against a zone before Tuesday. At the end of the first half, Kentucky had 12 turnovers, while Arkansas had just 1, which resulted in an 11-point deficit. In my game preview, I noted that Arkansas is one of the best teams in the country in getting steals but most of Kentucky’s turnovers were just from poor decision
making.

The first half was a wake-up call to the Cats as they only turned the ball over 3 times and forced six Razorback turnovers in the second half. Kentucky’s second-half execution allowed for a much more efficient offense, as the Cats were able to outscore Arkansas 42-27 while shooting 54.6% from the field.

Second Half Defense

Kentucky played a very lackluster first half on the defensive end, giving up 37 points to a not-so-good Arkansas team. However, in the second half, it was clear that Kentucky came out and took pride in their defense.

In the second half, the Cats held Arkansas to just 29 points in the second half and at one point only gave up 14 points in 13 minutes. Kentucky’s cranked u intensity and pressure forced the Razorbacks into two shot clock violations and a 31% clip from the field.

Arkansas guard Isaiah Joe, was defended by Tyler Herro and lit it up in the first half with 16 points, including 3 threes. In the second half, the UK coaching staff made an adjustment and put Ashton Hagans on Joe and was held to just three points (a late three-pointer). At one point, Hagans even refusing to come out for a breather. It seems like ELITE perimeter defender Ashton Hagans is back and is a very promising sign going forward.

When locked in, this Kentucky team is just special to watch on defense and is something they really take pride in.

Big Nick Energy

With Reid Travis out it is no secret that the Cats need Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery to embrace the opportunity and contribute as much as they can. While EJ struggled, Nick provided a lot in the second half.

Nick Richards was BIG on Tuesday night, with 7 points, 15 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Richards had the toughest match-up of the night dealing with Arkansas big and All-SEC talent, Daniel Gafford. Outside of a few plays, Richards was able to keep Gafford in check and really challenge him, as he finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds both below his season
averages.

Calipari sees Nick Richards’ potential, and he has something that you can’t teach, size. Although Richards still has his moments, he is starting to put it together and is capable of offering things Reid Travis can’t. Richards still needs to improve on his hands made of rock, but he is showing promise of what he can be next year.

The game definitely didn’t go expected and showed room for improvement, but it also showed some bright spots. This team is special and is capable of winning in a variety of ways with different guys. On Saturday we will see what this team really is without Reid Travis in a physical game against Tennessee in Knoxville.

BB Recruiting

REPORT: San Diego State Transfer Lamont Butler Commits to Kentucky

Published

9 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Tristan Pharis

San Diego State transfer Lamont Butler has committed to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Amidst anxiety from many of the Big Blue Nation, the Kentucky basketball program has added another player to the roster. On Friday Lamont Butler, a consensus top-60 transfer from San Diego State, committed to Kentucky, reported by On3.

Kentucky has been in contact with Butler since he entered the portal earlier this week. On Friday morning, four members of the Kentucky staff took a visit to Las Vegas, which we know now was to see Butler. It was enough to secure his commitment.

Coming out of a high school as a three-star prospect, Butler has been a true case of development. In four seasons with San Diego State, he improved his numbers year after year. As a three-year starter for the Aztecs, Butler averaged 7.7 points (41.2% FG), 2.6 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. He also received Mountain West All-Defense honors three straight seasons, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award this past year.

Butler was a star for the San Diego State team that made it to the National Championship game in 2023, even hitting the buzzer-beater to send them to the title game. He will provide Kentucky with proven experience and the knowledge of what it takes to win.

As his defensive accolades show, Butler makes his biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball. However, he plays well within a system and is a really good passer for a guard who plays primarily off the ball, with a 21 percent assist rate. He also grades fairly well analytically on spot-up shots and in pick-and-roll situations as the ball handler.

With Butler on the roster, there are still many spots to fill, especially some spots for “dudes”. Fortunately, many big names are expected to be in Lexington this weekend for the visit.

BB Recruiting

Kentucky to Host Multiple Top Transfers This Weekend

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats are hosting multiple top transfers this weekend for visits, looking to add to their roster.

With the deadline for players to enter the portal coming up on May 1st, Kentucky nearly has all their options on the table. Now two weeks since taking the job, Mark Pope has expressed interest in nearly two dozen names and has been keying in on some top names in the portal.

As of writing this article, top 25 transfer Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), is currently on a visit to Lexington, with three more players set to visit this weekend. There’s a good chance that some of those visits turn into commitments.

Let’s take a look at those names.

Deivon Smith – Guard, Utah

Physicals: 6’0, 173 lbs
Stats: 13.3 PPG, 7.1 APG, 6.3 RPG, 46.% FG, 40.8% 3P
Ranking: 10th (Evan Miya), 38rd (247Sports)

Kentucky has had just three players record a triple-double in program history. Deivon Smith recorded five triple-doubles this past season alone, the second-most all-time for a single season in NCAA history.

While undersized, he is one of the best all-around guards in the country, as his numbers show. It’s still early, but Kentucky getting the first visit is significant. St. John’s and Texas Tech have also been mentioned here.

Andrej Stojaković – Guard, Stanford

Physicals: 6’7, 190 lbs
Stats: 7.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 40.9% FG, 32.7% 3P
Ranking: 183rd (Evan Miya), 51st (247Sports)

Stojakovic is the son of former NBA All-Star, Peja Stojakovic. A familiar name for Kentucky fans from his high school recruitment. Stojakovic is a terrific shooter, and a top-25 recruit in the 2023 class.

On Thursday, Stojakovic cut his list to just three schools: California, UNC, and Kentucky. As a West Coast product, California was a school that showed interest when he was in high school, and so did Mark Pope when he was at BYU. Pope has made Stojakovic a priority, he could seal the deal this weekend.

Aidan Mahaney – Guard, Saint Mary’s

Physicals: 6-3, 180 lbs
Stats: 13.9 PPG, 2.6 APG, 38.6% FG, 35.5% 3P
Ranking: 96th (Evan Miya), 14th (247Sports)

One of the best guards in the portal. As a lead guard for Saint Mary’s, he displayed a good sense of playing under control, setting himself up and others. That said, his numbers were rather inefficient as the primary scoring option for the Gaels and shooting more than half of his shots from three. There are concerns about his playing against bigger guards.

Mahaney visited UConn Thursday and it looks to be a race between Creighton, Virginia, UConn, and Kentucky.

Andrew Carr – Forward, Wake Forest

Physicals: 6-11, 230 lbs
Stats: 13.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 52.6% FG, 37.1% 3P
Ranking: 33rd (Evan Miya), Not Listed (247Sports)

A near 7-footer who is efficient and can stretch the floor, shooting over 37 percent from three, is a player that Mark Pope would love to add to his roster. That describes Andrew Carr who has played two years at each Delaware and Wake Forest and is looking to go elsewhere for his last season of eligibility.

Carr is coming off a visit to Texas Tech and will visit Villanova after he visits Lexington this weekend.

Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Hiring Top Assistant Coach Alvin Brooks III from Baylor

Published

3 days ago

April 24, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Kentucky may not have been able to pull Scott Drew away from Baylor, but they were able to pull Alvin Brooks III, one of the best assistant coaches in the country. First reported by CBS Sports on Wednesday morning, Brooks has accepted an associate head coach position at Kentucky, the same role in which he had at Baylor.

NEWS: Top Baylor assistant Alvin Brooks III is leaving the Bears to join Mark Pope's staff at Kentucky, sources tell @CBSSports. He spent the past eight years under Scott Drew and will be associate HC @ UK. Brooks is highly respected in the profession. It's a major coup for Pope.— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 24, 2024

Brooks comes to Kentucky with a great reputation as a recruiter, helping Baylor bring in some elite talent over the last couple of seasons, most notably, McDonald’s All-Americans VJ Edgecombe (2024), Ja’Kobe Walter (2023), and Keyonte George (2022).

Just 44 years old, Brooks has two decades of coaching experience. Before his time at Baylor he also had stops at Kansas State (2012-16), Sam Houston State (2010-12), Bradley (2007-10), Midland (2006-07), and Arkansas-Fort Smith (2004-06).

Brooks spoke with Kentucky Insider earlier this month about Kentucky’s hire of Mark Pope, as someone who competed against him at BYU. He spoke highly of the hire, specifically of his Xs and Os, and saw “no negatives”.

Interestingly, he will not be the first Alvin Brooks to be a part of the Kentucky Basketball program as his father was the Director of Operations from 2007-09 under Billy Gillispie. Brooks joins an assembled staff of Cody Fueger, Jason Hart, and Mark Fox, leaving just one assistant spot remaining which likely won’t come soon.

That said, the concern with Pope was his recruiting ability. With Hart and now Brooks, he has addressed that concern and has added two of the best recruiters in the country.