A Jailhawk stat to watch.

[MdWIldcat55]

The last two games - a loss to unranked UCF and a ref bailout at home against TCU -- the Lawrence Facility for Women Abusers has had 18 Turnovers in each.

To put that in context, Kentucky had 8 against Florida, and are averaging 9.6 for the season.

Before last night's game Kansas ranked 219 among D-1 programs in turnovers. Kentucky was tied for 15.

The worst team in the country for turnovers - Stephen F Austin - averages 17.9, so 18 in back-to-back games is not good. Even in that November UK-KU game -- a first big game for Kentucky's three freshman guards and playing without an inside presence -- the Cats had 8 TOs to 15 for Kansas. That's fairly close to each teams' average at the halfway point of the regular season, which suggests teams don't change that much.

Yes, it is just one stat, and there are lots of ways to put it in context. But it is the kind of thing you look back on when a team flops in March and you are trying to figure out why. [For one example, TOs and steals were the two stats that #16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson dominated in beating #1 seed Purdue in the 2023 tournament. It wasn't 3-point shooting or even overall offensive efficiency. It was turnovers and steals.]

 

[BlueBomb]

Me like stats.

 

[Wonky]

KU is meh this year. Would have whipped their ass if not shorthanded. Their fans know they dodged a bullet (typical for them) but we’ll see who is left standing in early April.

 

[cats2010]

KU is meh this year. Would have whipped their ass if not shorthanded. Their fans know they dodged a bullet (typical for them) but we’ll see who is left standing in early April.

Not necessarily sure we were short handed. We didn’t have Bradshaw or UGO but it’s debateable if we played better before they were available.

 

[RMorris33]

If Bradshaw played in that game I think we beat Kansas. No way Dickinson gets 27 and 21 against one of our bigs. It also didn't help that Wagner and Edwards went a combined 1-18 and Reeves was 7-25. I don't see that happening again if we get a rematch in March

 

[WildcatNC]

Feels like Kansas was as good as they can get early. Aren't getting better and teams are scouting them and prepping better now with tape.

Meanwhile we and some others continue to improve and get better.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Feels like Kansas was as good as they can get early. Aren't getting better and teams are scouting them and prepping better now with tape.

Meanwhile we and some others continue to improve and get better.

Exactly what I said going in. KU in March is basically what they were in November. UK, however, has the highest ceiling in the country.

 

[Creed Bratton]

It still ticks me off for TCU. The refs going back and calling that BS flagrant 1 was a joke. Then they swallowed their whistle the next play when Dickinson pushed off the defender on the lob.

 

[Bluegrass79]

Well thinking Houston and Kansas lose 5 or 6 makes me smile

 

[Fancatstik]

KU is a very slow and not that athletic. When I have watched there games every team they play looks faster then them. I’m not even sure they are a top 20 team.

 

[CatOfDaVille]

If Bradshaw played in that game I think we beat Kansas. No way Dickinson gets 27 and 21 against one of our bigs. It also didn't help that Wagner and Edwards went a combined 1-18 and Reeves was 7-25. I don't see that happening again if we get a rematch in March

Reeves took 25 shots in that game?!?!

Nobody on this team should have over 20 shots in any game.

 

[RMorris33]

Reeves took 25 shots in that game?!?!

Nobody on this team should have over 20 shots in any game.

Agreed. I would've liked to see him in the 12-15 FGA range in that game but our freshmen were struggling and not nearly as confident as they are now. Also Rob and Reed only played 16 minutes instead of their usual 25. That KU game was an outlier

 

[rabbitTown]

KU had 14 TOs when we played them (to our 8). They had a 16 pt lead earlier in that game after being behind 0-5 to start!
They were counting on Arterio Morris to play and Timberlake to be relevant. They aren't set up this year for any consistency like they traditionally have been. We're going to pad that All-time Wins lead..

 

[Sejonesy]

Kansas has 4 players and absolutely no bench. Wish we could have played them at full strength. They will be an early out in the tourney this year. No depth and as OP said, turn the ball over a ton.