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For the uninitiated: Kenpom is the passion project of basketball superfan and certified stats guy Ken Pomeroy. His website, if you like basketball, is quite useful and fun to navigate. He’s also insanely accurate with his predictions based on how teams match up in certain areas and the things that will lead one team to victory.
I’ve been compiling these over at HammerAndRails.com for a long time and figured Georgia fans too deserve to better know the enemy.
Also, reminder that I am a Georgia grad and lifelong Dawg fan. How I got to Boilermaking is a long story, and yes, if the two teams played today, no question who I’m rooting for. Go Dawgs.
Enough preamble about my relationship with the state of Indiana, let’s get to better know the visiting Kentucky Wildcats.
I will be at the game this evening. Say hello to the 6’7” hipster looking guy with the mustache and the jawline that could cut granite.
University of Kentucky (12-2, 1-0 SEC) – Kenpom #19
Basic Information
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Type of School: Public Land-Grant Research University
Mascot: The Wildcat. Simple. Brave. Not Wyatt, not Willie, just The Wildcat.
Venue: Rupp Arena
Head Coach – Mark Pope
Seasons at Kentucky: 1
Kentucky Record: 12-2
Other Head Coaching Jobs: Utah Valley University, Brigham Young University
Overall Record: 199-110
Regular Season Conference Championships: 0
Conference Tournament Championships: 0
NCAA Appearances: 2 (BYU)
Final 4 Appearances: 0
Kenpom Style of Play
() = National Ranking per Kenpom
Offense
Adj. Efficiency: 123.6 (5)
Avg. Poss. Length: 15.6 (30)
Defense
Adj. Efficiency: 101.0 (90)
Avg. Poss. Length: 17.5 (195)
Tempo
Adj. Tempo: 71.6 (42)
Kenpom 4 Factors
() = National Ranking per Kenpom
Offense
Effective FG %: 56.6 (26)
Turnover %: 12.5 (1)
Off. Reb. %: 31.0 (157)
FTA/FGA: 34.0 (162)
Defense
Effective FG %: 47.3 (71)
Turnover %: 14.9 (318)
Off. Reb. %: 26.4 (48)
FTA/FGA: 27.4 (61)
Extremely Relevant Miscellaneous Stats:
Off. Steal %: 6.8 (2)
Def. Steal %: 9.7 (182)
Off. Non-Steal TO %: 5.7 (14)
Def. Non-Steal TO %: 5.2 (360)
I ask you to draw some of your own conclusions, but this is a team that plays fast, simply DOES NOT turn the ball over, yet doesn’t really create many turnovers. They tend to let opponents play their game and still win by out-talenting teams who challenge the Wildcats.
They’re elite defenders from three point land, but Georgia doesn’t live and die by the three. We play really well down low with a 27th-ranked 58% field goal percentage within the arc, and overall Kentucky is pretty middle of the road when it comes to interior defense. Their opponents are hitting 51% of their shots inside, ranked 183rd nationally.
Georgia needs to stay true to its game plan to upset the visiting Blue Bloods of Kentucky. We are currently at an estimated 45% chance of victory; the matchups aren’t undoable for our Bulldogs, but by the stats, this is yet another efficient, disciplined Wildcat team poised for a deep run in postseason play.
Let’s mess with ‘em a little bit.
I hope to see y’all at the game. GO DAWGS!