Under John Calipari, Kentucky has been to the Elite Eight on seven occasions. The Cats are 4-3 in those games. In the four wins, the Cats went 27-50 from three-point range (54 percent). In the three losses, the Cats went 16-72 from three-point range (22.2 percent).
So far this season, the Cats are shooting 24.5 percent from three-point range, making them number 315 in the country through the first three games. That's not good.
Kentucky currently leads Utah Valley 54 to 47 with 11 minutes to go. UK is 1-10 from 3-point range. Utah Valley is 8-21. Now this is actually good news, because I don't think the Cats are going to shoot 10 percent from 3-point range for the year, and it's impressive that they are in the lead when they are down by 21 points on three's.
ReplyDeleteThank you. This is a good perspective, and it makes me feel better.
DeleteSo far, UK is 13/61 from 3-point range this year.
ReplyDeleteCats win 82-74. Cats shoot 1-12 from 3-point range. Utah Valley shoots 11-31 from 3-point range. That's a 30-point advantage for Utah Valley.
ReplyDeleteIn the game against Evansville, the Purple Aces went 9-30 on three's, while the Cats went 4-17. That was a 15-point advantage for Evansville.
If UK can only shoot 22 percent from 3-point range this year, they will struggle. But if they can get closer to their historic average of close to 35 percent, they could be really good. Just ask Michigan State.
ReplyDeleteFor that matter, UK would be undefeated if Hagans had been at full strength last week.
ReplyDeleteHere are my favorite UK teams under Calipari by year -- before they went into the tournament. Obviously, these ratings adjusted once I knew how they did:
ReplyDelete2012
2015
2010
2011
2017
2019
2016
2014
2018
2013
Right now I would put this year's team somewhere in the middle.
I'm still really happy that these guys beat Michigan State -- that win meant a lot to me. And Hagans is a favorite of mine because of what he did to UNC last year. And I actually think they're playing hard -- they just can't shoot.
ReplyDeleteKen Pom has now updated. He drops the Cats to number 6. They are 15th in the country in offensive efficiency, at 109.0. They are third in defensive efficiency, at 83.9.
ReplyDeleteThe Cats are shooting 21.3 percent from 3-point range, number 342 in the nation in that category. They are 25th in free-throw percentage, with 78.9 percent. Those are very strange numbers, and it will be surprising if they don't even out somewhat.
ReplyDeleteK-Pom has the Cats going 14-4 in the SEC, and 24-7 overall.
ReplyDeleteWell that's good now I know I can tune out for the season. See you next year and hope it's a better group of recruits.
ReplyDelete