Kerr Kriisa is a potent 3-point shooter but also an underrated playmaker for teammates. (UK Athletics Photo)
Evan Miyakawa analyzes all types of college basketball statistics— his analytics website is EvanMiya.com — to find interesting trends about players and teams.
He thinks perhaps the most underrated player on Kentucky coach Mark Pope’s first roster could be West Virginia transfer Kerr Kriisa.
“He can be a bit of a polarizing player. When he transferred from Arizona to West Virginia last year he was one of the highest rated offensive players in the portal,” Miyakawa said. “West Virginia was not very good last year but he improved in every category.”
He started 23 games — he was ruled ineligible for nine games due to benefits he received at Arizona — and averaged 11 points, 4.7 assists and almost 33 minutes per game. He also shot 42 percent from 3-point range.
“Defensively he’s not as strong as some other players Kentucky got in the portal but I had him with the highest offensive grade of any player Kentucky brought in,” Miyakawa said. “The data suggests he is lethal from 3 (he has made 237 3-pointers in his career) but he also did a good job supporting other teammates.
“I have him rated at the third best overall transfer Kentucky got this season. I think Kriisa is a much better player than what a lot of people give him credit for. At Arizona and at West Virginia he was able to really stretch the floor, make a lot of 3-pointers and be a productive playmaker for teammates. “
12 Responses
There is the challenge. Kriisa, Brea, and Perry all shoot the 3 at over 40%, so do you start them with Williams and Carr? That leaves Butler, Robinson, Oweh in bench roles…but will they be happy with that. I see Almonor being Carr’s backup and Garrison being Williams backup and you still have Chandler and Noah to consider. This is the situation that lead Calipari to go to the platoon system, even before Poythress got hurt. That almost resulted in a perfect season, but everyone forgot the weak link on the team…The FRAUD! That also proved to be a negative when it came to recruiting the next 3 seasons…nobody wanted to be platooned!
The difference for this team is the strongest link on the team is Mark Pope. He is an X & O and analytic guru. The first thing he will establish is that this team is all about playing for Kentucky and winning championships., even above obvious NBA aspirations with some. Then the 12 players will fill whatever role is the most beneficial to achieve winning a championship.
Williams, Robinson, Butler, Brea, and Carr will most likely be one year players. Of the others, some may test the NBA waters, a couple may even transfer, but I see the rest coming back for another year. That would give us a solld base for year 2, especially if Pope signs Johnson and Moreno…which would almost give Pope the same overabundance of talent again.
Almonor, Kriisa, and Garrison would most likely depart after year 2. That would still leave Perry, Chandler, Noah, and Johnson and Moreno if they sign for year 3…and who knows, Perry could be good enough to leave by then too. Pope is an active recruiter. If he can avoid the negativity of the platoon label, he should be able to bring in the talent to keep us relevant for years to come.
As bad as the lifetime contract for The FRAUD was, hiring Mark Pope saved Barnhart’s skin. Kentucky basketball is in good hands for years to come.
Barry, I agree with what you are saying except on one point. The difference is the attitude of the players Pope is looking for as opposed to the ones Calipari brought in. Pope has basically stated that he will not sign a player he thinks is selfish or has that self-seeking mentality. Players that are team oriented are not as concerned about minutes as they are winning. From what I have read, that is Pope’s design for winning basketball. If he is successful in picking those types of players, he might not have a platoon system, but everyone will get some minutes. Those minutes will be based on how you are performing in each game. One game, player "A" might get 30 minutes, the next game he might get 10, but it is based on how you are playing each game. Calipari never really did that, because he never wanted more than 7 or 8 players and he wanted the rest to be practice players only.
Pope’s style, if successful, should not hurt his recruiting in the future because of the type of player he searching for.
Barry, you are correct when you said that Cal’s platoon season hurt his recruiting
for several years. No high school player with hopes of playing in the NBA, (All 5 star
one and done high schoolers dream of it) are not interested in attending a university
and being platooned. They want as much playing time as possible.
Many valid points and comments by Barry, Old Fan, Larry, Mike, Gerald & Larry V acknowledging Gerald.
Thanks!
UK is not a “typical” college team, and under Pope the uniqueness with excel!
No other team will have so many players with experience, success, solid improvement in their career to date and so many with a TEAM FIRST mentality.
The bench will only be permanent for any players who decide to be selfish, and I don’t think Pope recruited players who will not adapt to TEAM FIRST. Players have seen something unique & special about Pope.
UK will be exciting to watch and a vibrant team in high gear for 40 minutes. He will find minutes for any player who is willing to play hard & play together.
200 minutes. So many combinations that are not traditional but can produce a winner !
2 @ 25 = 50
3 @ 20 = 60
4 @ 15 = 60
3 @ 10 = 30
8 @ 20 = 160
4 @ 10 = 40
4 @ 25 = 100
4 @ 15 = 60
4 @ 10 = 40
5 @ 20 = 100
3 @ 15 = 45
5 @ 10 = 50
10 @ 18 = 180
2 @ 10 = 20
8 @ 20 = 160
4 @ 10 = 40
I don’t see Perry or Brea starting. I don’t know how you see that either. Brea was a senior on a fair team shooting about 50% a clip from 3 and still didn’t average 12ppg. His defense is terrible. He is someone you take off the bench when the opposing team gets tired and he lights them up for a couple of 3s. Brea is very slow. He’s great on offense but he might be the worst player on the team in defense. Also Perry will definitely not start. Who is he going to start over Butler? Kriisa? No way. Butler will be the starting PG the 2 will either be Kriisa or Oweh. The 3 will be Robinson. The 4 will be Carr and the 5 is a toss up between Williams and Garrison. With Garrison having the higher ceiling and more athletic. With Williams being the better passer. Let me ask you this why in the world do you think Perry will start over a guy who’s in his 5th year of college basketball, has been successful in college basketball, and was a top 100 transfer in college basketball. What people are forgetting is Pope destroyed the transfer Portal. We have all 4* transfers. In College not high school. Except for Alomonor* he was a 2* and I bet he’s on a another level than Noah and they will play the same position 3/4. This isn’t a knock on any player. We have a great team. One thing people are forgetting and that’s these recruits Pope has gotten from high school are ranked much lower than Calaparis freshman. Even Chandler who was in the 30-40 range. Is lower than your average Calapari recruit. Perry is going to be a great player but give him some time. If he hit 1,000 free throws in a row in practice it’s still just practice. All I heard from I insiders last year is that Justin Edwards was going to average 20. He can light up the 3s or take you off the dribble and dunk on you. I seen none of that. Don’t be let down when the season starts. Remember Justin Edwards was ranked #2 in high school. Perry is ranked 70-100 depending on what service you look at. He is going to be great his sophomore year. He is going to be one of the best in college his junior year. Give him some time. He won’t be competing for time with 5th year guys. This is the last year for the 5th year college guys.
Alomonor and Kriisa are in their last year of basketball my friend. Oweh Garrison Chandler Perry and Noah and will all be back next year. Unless Garrison has a great year and goes pro. That will be a great nucleus to run with. If he starts with 4 or 5 players you can pick and choose more in the portal.
You both make some very interesting and good points. I can’t wait for BB season to get launched, but we are all going to have our patience tested. Can’t wait for FB season to get started either but not sure I am feeling the hype many are expressing. With league getting stronger and many of our "should/could beats" getting stronger last few years, I am wondering if the Stoops Train hasn’t peaked.
This will be the year for the Stoops train to bust loose or get side railed. Our defense should be strong. I can’t see many teams scoring more than 21 against it. The question is can we score 24? Our league is better. I think this season could end up anywhere from 8-4 to 4-8. Stoops has always had a tendency to play not to lose. This will be the year that he needs to play to win.
I agree that our D should be capable of carrying the team, but you have to worry about key injuries bc of our usual lack of depth, but I do believe we have a little more depth this year. I would love to see 8 wins this year but have reconciled to try and be content with 7-5. I think 8 wins will be our Top moving forward for reasons given earlier. We have got to find a way to beat UT and get this monkey off our backs. They have always had better talent but our better overall coaching has kept us in it except for the recent L’s where we were the better team but the snake continues to rear ugly head.
So happy we have a professional Forum available with THE SPORTS EDGE. Only place you can actually read abut Sports , especially about the Cats. Cal was only about getting his picks to the NBA not winning for UK. Therefo his kids were me me me. not the name on the front.I still believe in the platoon system. get the right mind frame kids who can Ball there is no reason to not win more games than anyone. and as far as playing time. 10/12 good players are going to be on National tv everygame. and even with patoon they all are getting contributing minutes. and getting attention. who would not want to be a player who wins ships every year or at least contending. Cal played 7 players only n insulted the others.
FACT. how many ships did UK win with his selfish philosophy. ? 1
Sad. Pope actually runs plays Cal never did
HOPE FOR POPE
Thank you Gerald
My apology. This got posted the wrong place so I’m reposting
Many valid points and comments by Barry, Old Fan, Larry, Mike, Gerald & Larry V acknowledging Gerald.
Thanks!
UK is not a “typical” college team, and under Pope the uniqueness with excel!
No other team will have so many players with experience, success, solid improvement in their career to date and so many with a TEAM FIRST mentality.
The bench will only be permanent for any players who decide to be selfish, and I don’t think Pope recruited players who will not adapt to TEAM FIRST. Players have seen something unique & special about Pope.
UK will be exciting to watch and a vibrant team in high gear for 40 minutes. He will find minutes for any player who is willing to play hard & play together.
200 minutes. So many combinations that are not traditional but can produce a winner !
2 @ 25 = 50
3 @ 20 = 60
4 @ 15 = 60
3 @ 10 = 30
8 @ 20 = 160
4 @ 10 = 40
4 @ 25 = 100
4 @ 15 = 60
4 @ 10 = 40
5 @ 20 = 100
3 @ 15 = 45
5 @ 10 = 50
10 @ 18 = 180
2 @ 10 = 20
8 @ 20 = 160
4 @ 10 = 40