Men's Basketball

Meet the Opponent: Oakland Golden Grizzlies

Published

1 month ago

March 20, 2024

A closer look at the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, the Kentucky Wildcats' first round opponent in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Kirthmon F. Dozier / USA TODAY NETWORK

The brackets are set, and UK’s first-round opponent is the Horizon League champs, the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland University. Let’s be clear right away, Oakland is absolutely a formidable first-round opponent for UK. They have veteran players, a proven coach, absolute 3-point snipers, and a post (yes, he’s undersized) who is a double-double machine. Also of importance, they play a very unique defensive style that UK has not seen at all this season. Here’s everything BBN needs to know about the Golden Grizzlies

Oakland’s Offense

Oakland is a really solid offensive team. They have a couple of “lights out” 3-point shooters, they have a double-double post scorer, and some role players who execute the offensive scheme. But it all starts with senior 3-pt specialist Jack Gohlke. On the season, Gohlke is shooting 37% from 3-point territory, but he’s taken an INSANE amount of 3’s. Gohlke has attempted 327 3-point shots on the season, making 121 of them. His 121 made-3’s leads the nation. On the entire season, he has attempted 8 TOTAL shots INSIDE of the 3-pt line. His single-game high for 3-point shots attempted on the season is TWENTY against Northern Kentucky. Quick release, no conscience, great coming off screens, and honestly, you won’t see him take more than two dribbles.

The most important player is definitely Trey Townsend. His stat line from the Horizon Tournament championship was bonkers: Townsend had 38 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. He’s a really good overall basketball player. He’s undersized at 6’6, but don’t let that fool you. He has textbook footwork in the post, and he’s used to being undersized, so nothing new to him vs UK. He pivots, re-pivots, great shot-fake, has a complete turn-around/fade-away game, and gets to the FT-line (14-18 in tourney championship). I think good comparisons for him are Grant Williams from Tennessee and former Cat Trey Lyles. Townsend is NOT a threat from 3-pt land though.

The other player that’s definitely being discussed on UK’s scouting report for Oakland is senior guard Blake Lampman. This 6’3 guard averages 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists on the season. And yes, he’s another sniper from 3-point territory. Lampman and Gohlke combine for an average of 18 3-point attempts per game, combining to make 37% of those. By the numbers, the combo of Gohlke and Lampman actually combine for more 3-point attempts than Reeves, Rob, Reed, and DJ combined. Lampman is an elite FT shooter (95%), which hopefully won’t come in handy late in the game. He’s more of a driver and PG than Gohlke, but has a quick release from 3, and the confidence to go along with it.

Oakland on the Defensive End

Oakland’s unique defense could give the Cats trouble, at least early on. The “bread and butter” defense for Oakland right now is their 1-3-1 zone. The 1-3-1 is much rarer than a 2-3 zone or a 1-2-2 zone, you just don’t see it often. But Oakland’s 1-3-1 zone has matchup principles to it – it’s a unique zone and impossible to replicate in UK’s practice. There’s NOT a great deal of size to it – the biggest player is only 6’9 – but that’s why they use the matchup principles. One of the most underrated aspects of this zone: controlling the pace of the game. Oakland does NOT want a track meet, and their zone will help guarantee that. Opponents have to move the ball, have to shift the zone, and that takes time.

Based on the Oakland games I’ve studied, their zone doesn’t give up as many open looks as a 2-3 zone. UK WILL get some open looks, I’m not worried about that. But Oakland closes out hard to the 3-point line, which SHOULD create some shot-fake drives for the Cats. Ohio St, Milwaukee, and Fort Wayne all had success with lobs for dunks. If UK’s guards can penetrate the zone, it’ll collapse and leave Ugo/BigZ/Mitchell/Bradshaw open for dunks. I’m not a Vegas guru, but I’ll set the over/under on UK alley-oops at 4.5. The Cats can NOT settle for 3-point shots. They have to attack the zone. Look for ball movement, driving gaps, and finding open shooters or open 7-footers for dunks.

Final thoughts: This is a game Kentucky SHOULD win. The Cats have the size advantage, dynamic guards that can create and shoot, and enough weapons to score in bunches. Coach Cal may or may not use a press, but look for him to find ways to speed up the pace. I guarantee Oakland is going to try to limit possessions and slow down the game. But for a Kentucky team that really struggles to guard, there is most definitely reason for concern going up against the likes of Gohlke, Lampman and Townsend. Look for Reeves to chase Gohlke everywhere, Adou to matchup with Townsend and be a physical presence to limit him, and for the Cats to really push the pace in transition. GO CATS!

BB Recruiting

Top 25 Transfer Otega Oweh Commits to Kentucky

Published

17 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Tristan Pharis

Oklahoma Sooners transfer Otega Oweh has comitted to play basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats.

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Following Lamont Butler’s commitment to Kentucky on Friday, the Wildcats have received another commitment less than 24 hours later. This time Oklahoma transfer Otega Oweh, he announced on his social media.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by To God Be The Glory💕 (@otegaoweh)

This comes after Oweh visited Lexington earlier this week, with reports coming out that his recruitment could be wrapped up quickly after.

Oweh is a top 25 transfer according to 247Sports, 38th by EvanMiya, and 55th by ESPN. Listed at 6-5, 210 pounds, Oweh is a strong and physical guard. His strength and athleticism have been a strength dating back to high school, which allows him to impact the game defensively, and also to get to the rim and thrive in transition opportunities.

In two years at Oklahoma, the area that Oweh has significantly improved in has been his shooting. As a freshman, he shot just 25 percent from three, on just four attempts for the season, to 37.7 percent as a sophomore, making 20 of his 53 attempts. Most of that success comes from catch-and-shoot opportunities, where he rates in the 87th percentile. His ability to shoot off the dribble is the polar opposite, rating in just the 4th percentile.

Oweh is a two-way player with two years of eligibility remaining, while he will bring experience, there is still room for development with NBA upside. While he may not be a primary option, he’s certainly a player that can impact the game.

Oweh is now Kentucky’s third addition from the transfer portal and sixth player overall. A handful of top transfers are visiting, or currently visiting, Kentucky this weekend. The staff is hopeful a few join the roster.

BB Recruiting

REPORT: San Diego State Transfer Lamont Butler Commits to Kentucky

Published

2 days 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

3 days 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.