I was just looking again at the 2 box scores of these games with LSU and the difference between them is very telling.
Here's the one from January 5th.
http://www.ukathletics.com/page/team-stats_m-baskbl_stat-crew
And here's the one from March 5th.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/wayback/ft...-crew/KTY/m-baskbl/2015-2016_stats/uk0305.htm
There are some similarities, of course. Ulis and Murray played well in both games. Ulis actually scored more in Baton Rouge. He had 23 points on 7-16 shooting and made 2 threes. On Saturday, he finished with 14 points on 5-16 shooting and 1-5 from 3. Murray shot 9-17 in the first game and finished with 21. He finished with 22 on Saturday, going 4-8 from 3.
For LSU, Tim Quarterman played great in both games. He finished with 21 points on 9-15 from the field, including 2-4 from 3 down in Baton Rouge. His numbers were very similar Saturday, finishing with 23 on 9-16 from the field and 2-6 from 3. Ben Simmons numbers were very similar also. In that January game, Simmons scored 14 on 5-5 shooting and grabbed 10 boards, had 3 assists and 2 tos, 2 steals, and 1 block. On Saturday he was a little more productive, though not as efficient, finishing with 17 points on 5-12 shooting, 11 rebounds, 7 steals, 4 assists and 6 turnovers.
The big difference came in the post for both teams. For LSU, Victor Craig finished the first game with 15 points and 12 rebounds. In the second game, he only had 7 points and 3 rebounds. His game is directly related to UK's front-line play in both games. In the January game, Alex Poythress finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 5 fouls, and 3 turnovers. Saturday, Alex had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 to, and a steal. In Baton Rouge, Marcus Lee finished with 0 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers and 5 fouls while only playing 5 minutes. On Saturday, Lee had 12 points and 10 rebounds on 6-7 shooting. Skal Labissiere is the biggest difference of all. In game 1, Skal finished with 3 points and 2 rebounds, 1 to and 0 blocks. But on Saturday, Skal had 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 blocks, 2 assists, and 2 turnovers in 25 minutes. And on a related note, Ulis didn't score as well on Saturday, but his assists went from only 6 in Baton Rouge to 14 on Saturday.
We've all been saying it for a couple months now... with our great guard play, we don't have to get elite production from our frontcourt, just average production. Here's to hoping our big guys keep playing well. If they do, look out! I wouldn't want to be in a bracket with UK in March. It looks like this team is peaking at the right time.
Here's the one from January 5th.
http://www.ukathletics.com/page/team-stats_m-baskbl_stat-crew
And here's the one from March 5th.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/wayback/ft...-crew/KTY/m-baskbl/2015-2016_stats/uk0305.htm
There are some similarities, of course. Ulis and Murray played well in both games. Ulis actually scored more in Baton Rouge. He had 23 points on 7-16 shooting and made 2 threes. On Saturday, he finished with 14 points on 5-16 shooting and 1-5 from 3. Murray shot 9-17 in the first game and finished with 21. He finished with 22 on Saturday, going 4-8 from 3.
For LSU, Tim Quarterman played great in both games. He finished with 21 points on 9-15 from the field, including 2-4 from 3 down in Baton Rouge. His numbers were very similar Saturday, finishing with 23 on 9-16 from the field and 2-6 from 3. Ben Simmons numbers were very similar also. In that January game, Simmons scored 14 on 5-5 shooting and grabbed 10 boards, had 3 assists and 2 tos, 2 steals, and 1 block. On Saturday he was a little more productive, though not as efficient, finishing with 17 points on 5-12 shooting, 11 rebounds, 7 steals, 4 assists and 6 turnovers.
The big difference came in the post for both teams. For LSU, Victor Craig finished the first game with 15 points and 12 rebounds. In the second game, he only had 7 points and 3 rebounds. His game is directly related to UK's front-line play in both games. In the January game, Alex Poythress finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 5 fouls, and 3 turnovers. Saturday, Alex had 12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 to, and a steal. In Baton Rouge, Marcus Lee finished with 0 points, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers and 5 fouls while only playing 5 minutes. On Saturday, Lee had 12 points and 10 rebounds on 6-7 shooting. Skal Labissiere is the biggest difference of all. In game 1, Skal finished with 3 points and 2 rebounds, 1 to and 0 blocks. But on Saturday, Skal had 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 blocks, 2 assists, and 2 turnovers in 25 minutes. And on a related note, Ulis didn't score as well on Saturday, but his assists went from only 6 in Baton Rouge to 14 on Saturday.
We've all been saying it for a couple months now... with our great guard play, we don't have to get elite production from our frontcourt, just average production. Here's to hoping our big guys keep playing well. If they do, look out! I wouldn't want to be in a bracket with UK in March. It looks like this team is peaking at the right time.