Kam Williams (3) is one of the players Mark Pope is counting on to hit 3-point shots this season. (UK Athletics Photo)
The early perception about coach Mark Pope’s second Kentucky team was that it would not be able to make 3-point shots as accurately as what his first team did.
However, even with Koby Brea, one of the nation’s best 3-point shooters, the Cats took only about 25 3’s per game, well below the 30 to 35 attempts Pope was hoping his team would take.
The Kentucky coach has consistently praised his team’s outside shooting since June and indicated at SEC Media Days this week that he expected UK to take more 3-pointers this season than it did last year.
“It matters to us. It’s important. I think we’re closer to playing it because we want to get more possessions in the game. We’re fighting two battles right now analytically,” Pope said.
“One of the things that we found interesting in our research this summer is that top teams defensively actually extend out the defensive possession longer, almost eight seconds, universally for top 10, top 20 teams. We’re trying to extend out this game on our defensive side of the ball and make it faster and more aggressive on the offensive side of the ball.”That philosophy is what Pope hopes will allow his team to get off more 3-pointers this year despite the rugged schedule the Cats face.
“I think we’re going to be capable of having more pace in this game. It’s always going to be more important how we play. The way we fundamentally approach this game is all about gravity,” Pope said. “Everything we think about in this game is how do we treat gravity.
“You achieve gravity with space, great cutting, smart cutting, intelligent cutting, where you bring bodies together, then you create vacuums. The 3-point shot is part of that.”
While Kentucky didn’t take as many 3-pointers as Pope was hoping it would last season, it did still set a school record for made 3-pointers.
“Listen, there’s nobody in the world more proud that last year’s team made more 3’s than any team in the history of Kentucky basketball,” Pope said at SEC Media Days. “I would like to run that back times two this year. I think we have a group that can do it.
“This group might not have come in with the reputation of being as prolific 3-point shooters as some of the guys we brought in last year. The progress they made every single week during the summer was remarkable. We have some guys that are shooting the ball at such an elite level right now, it’s pretty inspiring. We will continue to push that number as high as we can.”
8 Responses
The Blue/White game is where it should start. Pope should demand that each team take a minimum of 40 threes tonight. Do so to prove that it can be done, see what the make percentage is, and who is taking + making them. This means uptempo play, quicker shots, and better rebounding for second chance shots. It will also be good practice for our 3 point defense.
I like your “see who takes + makes” those 3’s, Barry 👍
Noah should be taking at least 10 three’s per game but may be left in the bench much like last season.
Last season, quick passing was phenomenal the first 5 to 7 games & then it kept dropping off because some players preferred not to pass. That early season passing was a key to getting many good shots with a quick open view from 3.
Will players stick with the amazing TEAM 1st concept (which Pope & his assistants rapidly developed last season) or will there be a tendency to pass less & less after some players feel they have earned their right to minutes so it’s ok to begin to keep the ball more often instead of passing.
There was a slow drifting away from TEAM 1st week after week, following those early games with incredible passing with a TEAM 1st mentality.
Follow the A:TO ratio as the weeks go by and see who maintains 100% TEAM 1st mentality and who decides they are too important to give the ball up to a teammate. It’s the difference in a S16 team and a FF team – depending what becomes the natural way to play by doing it over and over.
Disagree? Don’t read my comments. But don’t print childish nonsense because you don’t know me personally. Thanks! I read a lot of posts and never comment – and try to avoid any personal conflict with someone I don’t even know even if I disagree 🙂
If Noah takes 10 threes a game.. We're going to win a lot.
if he takes 10, I think he makes 4 Wildwest
I watched the other night and was generally unimpressed by the 3 point threat with 3 exceptions. I think Noah is in a zone of his own, and Andrija Jelavić is a shooter from the arc. I also think Chandler's game is vastly improved from even how he finished last season, and I thought his 3 point shot was reliable.
Those 3 should have a green light to take the shot when open, and as Little Baron so often points out, some offense designed to free up Noah for open looks is essential. Why not run an offense that does that for all shooters when on the floor?
No one else on this team should have the green light to take the 3 unless there is some other compelling reason that the shot must occur, like an expiring shot clock.
Chandler was on the uptick at the end of last season. I posted not too long ago that we need Lowe healthy. Tonight he hurt his shoulder. Now all of a sudden we're not too deep.
I have total confidence that number 5 can handle the job, and then some.
Here we go again. Our starting point guard gets hurt in a scrimmage. Better for it to happen now than in February. I see Johnson taking this spot with Aberdeen getting the backup spot. Chandler didn't show me anything tonight, maybe his game will come around as the season progresses.
Oweh starts at the 2, but he is still shaking off the rust from his toe injury. Noah would be a quick sub here, especially early on as Oweh finds his groove again. Noah is the best shooter on the team and his defense has improved too.
Dioubate starts at the 3 for his rebounding, defense, and toughness. He won't need to be a volume scorer and will get his points on putbacks and from the foulline. This lets Williams ease into his role here. Williams shooting could blossom by SEC play.
Jelavic is the starting 4 guy. His height, defense, rebounding, and the ability to take and make 3s will be huge. Potter will provide adequate backup until Quaintance is ready.
Garrison will start the 5 spot, but Moreno will more than hold his own as a backup. Quaintance can provide backup support at the 4 and 5 spots when he is ready.
Are we ready to take on Purdue next Friday? Hell no, but it will be a good wakeup call game for them to see what they need to work on. The Georgetown game will give them the chance to make a better showing and build some confidence. The Nichols and Valparaiso games should have us ready to go the Yum Center and take care of business. It will be a battle for sure but will show them they are ready for big games on the road.
Who knows how long Lowe will be out? Hopefully it was just a stinger that will get worked out in a couple of weeks. If it is more serious, we have the depth to cover it. I hate it for Lowe, but Kentucky seems to have an injury bug. This team is solid, even with this injury. Imagine how good they will be when both Quaintance and Lowe come back. This still leaves Chandler and Hawthorne as injury reserves. Hopefully, we won't need them. This team is built to win it all. I think they have a great chance to do so.
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