A test of UK weakness or a display of UK strength? Next game might offer both.
In terms of defending against three-point shooters, Kentucky is not so much going from the frying pan into the fire with Friday’s game against Tennessee State. Instead, it feels like the next bounce on a trampoline made of hot coals.
Tennessee State ranks fifth nationally with an average of 12.2 three-point baskets through five games. So here Kentucky goes again after VMI’s 19 three-pointers last weekend set a record for a UK opponent and then Winthrop made 13 of 28 on Wednesday.
Through five games, nearly half of Tennessee State’s shots have come from three-point distance: 162 of 337. That’s 48.1 percent.
“It’s a shot we want to take when it’s there,” first-year coach Penny Collins said Wednesday. “If it’s a good open look, we want our guys to shoot it with confidence.”
Guard Tripp Davis has made 14 of his 21 three-point shots. His 66.7-percent accuracy ranks sixth-best in the country. He made six of nine three-point shots in Tennessee State’s 80-77 loss at Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night.
When asked about Davis’ shooting ability, Collins said, “I think the proof is in those numbers right there. He’s a confident guy. He puts the work in. I’m not surprised in him getting the reward for putting in all the hard work.”
Davis is one of six Tennessee State players who have shot 36.7 percent or better from three-point range.
Going into the game against Winthrop on Wednesday, Kentucky ranked 345th nationally in three-point defense. Opponents had made 43.4 percent of their three-point shots. With Winthrop making nearly half its three-point shots, that accuracy improved to 44.1 percent. That’s a better percentage than opponents have shot from the field — counting two- and three-pointers — in any of John Calipari’s previous nine seasons as Kentucky coach.
Freshman Tyler Herro saw improvement in the Winthrop game. “I think our guards did a lot better today,” he said after the game. “Most of their threes were from ‘bigs’ trailing.”
Calipari noticed.
“We gave up eight threes to their centers, and our centers have their hands down and the guy just shoots the ball,” he said. “Or you just leave him and he shoots a three.”
Assistant coach Tony Barbee preached communication during halftime of the game against Winthrop, Herro said. “Most of the mishaps are because we’re not communicating.”
PJ Washington suggested it was too early to draw conclusions or sound alarms.
“We’ve got a lot of time to work on it,” he said. “I feel like once we get some practice and work on it, we’ll be fine. It just comes with having high hands (and) just knowing the personnel.”
Size advantage
Facing an opponent that shoots and makes a lot of three-pointers is not the only trend likely to continue Friday night. Tennessee State (2-3) will be at a distinct size disadvantage. The Tigers’ top five scorers are guards (none taller than 6-foot-4).
When asked about UK’s size, Collins said, “We’re going to pray the ball bounces our way more than it bounces their way. . . . It’s going to be tough to try to battle them on the boards.”
UK ranked third nationally in rebound margin — plus 19.8 — going into the Winthrop game. After out-rebounding Southern Illinois, North Dakota and VMI by 29, 30 and 21, respectively, the Cats won the boards 37-22 against Winthrop.
‘Penny’
The Tennessee State coach’s name is Brian Collins. His nickname comes from Penny Hardaway being one of his basketball heroes. When he grew up in Memphis and then Nashville, Collins regularly wore a Hardaway jersey.
At the time, a television commercial starred Hardaway and a doll dubbed “Little Penny.”
“So people in my neighborhood started calling me ‘Little Penny,’” Collins said. “It kind of stuck with me.”
The Tennessee State coach starred as a high school player in Nashville and then as a college player for Belmont.
‘History’
Collins and his wife named their son, History. He said the name comes from the title of a song by Jay Z.
“One of my favorite songs,” Collins said. “It’s about creating a legacy for yourself. And I thought that was a really cool song and a really cool concept. When my wife and I figured out we were having a son, I just kind of threw it out there. ‘We should name him History.’ And she liked it.”
History is 5 years old. “He’s playing basketball,” Collins said. “He’s a little lefty.”
Etc.
▪ Tennessee State’s leading scorer, guard Donte’ Fitzpatrick-Dorsey, is a transfer from Ole Miss. He is averaging 15 points per game.
▪ Courtney Lyle and Pat Bradley will call the game for the SEC Network.
Friday
Tennessee State at No. 10 Kentucky
When: 7 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: Tennessee State 2-3, Kentucky 4-1
Series: Kentucky leads 4-0
Last meeting: Kentucky won 102-58 on Dec. 22, 2008, in Lexington.