By the numbers: It’s not just Kentucky basketball’s offense that needs work

By John Clay

Updated December 31, 2022 8:36 AM

Preview: Kentucky basketball vs. Louisville

Click below to read more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s preview coverage ahead of Saturday’s Kentucky-Louisville men’s basketball game scheduled for a noon tip-off in Rupp Arena.

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While Kentucky struggled with its half-court offense in the Wildcats’ 89-75 loss at Missouri, UK’s defense had its own problems in the SEC opener.

In fact, if you go by points per possession, Kentucky’s defensive effort Wednesday was one of the five worst since John Calipari became coach.

Here are the five:

That 88-58 loss in Knoxville during the 2012-13 season came one game after the Wildcats lost center Nerlens Noel to a torn ACL at Florida.

The 83-71 loss to Texas A&M, which ranks No. 2 on the list, also came during the 2012-13 season in which the Wildcats failed to make the NCAA Tournament and were bounced by Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT.

Now let’s look at Kentucky opponents’ field goal percentage and points per possession averages to-date this season.

Missouri’s D’Moi Hodge, top, dunks the ball over Kentucky’s Sahvir Wheeler during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won 89-75.(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) L.G. Patterson AP

Two opponents (Gonzaga and Florida A&M) have shot better than 50 percent against the Wildcats this season. Four opponents shot better than the Cats last season. Two did so in 2020-21. Four did so in 2019-20.

Now here’s a look at teams that have scored 89-or-more points against Kentucky in the Calipari era.

Through Wednesday night’s games, Kentucky was ranked 13th in adjusted overall efficiency by kenpom. The Cats rank 25th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 20th in adjusted defensive efficiency.

(The Cats are 40th in the updated NET rankings, dropping from No. 32 after the loss at Mizzou.)

Kentucky is 193rd in three-point percentage defense at 33.9 percent. Here is how opponents have shot the three against the Cats this season.

Here’s how opponents have shot the three-pointer against UK this season.

Last but not least, here is Kentucky’s results and schedule through Wednesday’s game.

This story was originally published December 29, 2022 at 2:53 PM.

John Clay

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-472-4218

John Clay is a sports columnist for the Lexington Herald-Leader. A native of Central Kentucky, he covered UK football from 1987 until being named sports columnist in 2000. He has covered 20 Final Fours and 42 consecutive Kentucky Derbys. Support my work with a digital subscription