Is Kentucky getting ready to start shaking things up?
This is typically the time of year where John Calipari starts adjusting a few things. What might we see in the coming weeks? Plus, a look at Bellarmine
My first reaction to the John Calipari’s comment that the Wildcats have been practicing zone was basically this:
I don’t have any reason to think John Calipari is lying, but I am highly skeptical UK will shift to zone defense. A season is usually about 2,500 possessions long; Per Synergy, the last time UK played more than 100 possessions in zone all season was 2018 (443 possessions). However, I do believe Kentucky’s coaching staff is looking at possible adjustments to get the team playing at a higher level.
Over the past few seasons, early December has been the time when Kentucky starts to change its rotation patterns. Last season, Bryce Hopkins and Damion Collins fell out of the rotation. In prior years, players like Cam’ron Fletcher, Kahlil Whitney, Nate Setina, and Quade Green have either moved out of the starting lineup or entirely out of the rotation, and Ashton Hagans made his first start as a freshman on Dec 8. Last season, Kentucky tightened their rotation to focus on their most productive core and reaped rewards. I have some ideas about how they might do that this season….
Last season’s Wildcats also began to define player’s roles more tightly in December, specifically by not allowing poor outside shooters to take so many of their threes. Take a look at how UK’s 3 point shooting improved largely because their 3 best shooters took a larger share of the team’s threes:
That simple adjustment turned the offense up a notch…is there an opportunity to do something similar this season?
Plus, I offer a preview of the Bellarmine game and explain why tonight’s game may be the perfect time to try out a more significant lineup adjustment. All that, for my premium subscribers in today’s article.
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