Cats Continue to Make Passes on Time and on Target

Kerr Kriisa had seven assists in Friday's win. (Les Nicholson Photo)

Jackson State coach Mo Williams had been in Rupp Arena before when he helped Alabama beat Kentucky. Friday night it wasn’t quite that way as the Wildcats routed his team 108-59.

Williams was complimentary of coach Mark Pope’s team but especially liked the unselfishness of the Wildcats.

“What sticks out to me the most is how they share the ball and how they move well without the ball getting out of transition,” said Williams. “They are long, they protect the rim. They will pack the paint type of defensive team where they want to keep the ball in front, contest jumpers and meet you at the rim, and they do a great job of it.

“They are a team that has a chance if they stay together. They continue to compete like they have and like they like they are doing. They have a great chance.”

Kentucky had assists on 29 of its 38 field goals. The Cats are averaging 21.8 assists per game and have an assist rate of 61.6 percent on made field goals this season.

“As a coach, you always preach [assists]. ‘Move the ball, get the ball hopping, move the defense with the pass, not the dribble.’ They do a great job of that,” Williams said. “One thing that stood out to me on tape, and obviously throughout the game watching it today, is how the ball does not stick.

“When we say stick — when someone passes the ball to someone — they hold it for a couple seconds trying to figure out what they have. They do a good job of getting out the ball and moving without the ball and actually making the right read. I think that is the most important thing you can have, pace in your offense. You can have moving offense, but if you don’t make the right read, it does not give you an advantage.

“They do a good job of getting off the ball and making the right read to the right person. They know who their shooters are. They get the ball. It is an old cliche that has been around the NBA for a long time — when you’re making a pass, it has to be on time, and it has to be on target. They do a good job of making good passes on time and on target.”