Scouting Kentucky State

[IL Wildcat]

Kentucky State Thorobreds
NCAA Div II, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Head Coach: Darnell Williams (1st Season, Assistant since 2012-13)

Last season's record: 9-18, 2-12 away from home

Schedule: This is their first game, first exhibition
11/6/15 at Kentucky, Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY, Game Time: 6:00 p.m. EST, TV: ESPNU

Probable Starters
#4 G Malcolm Smith 6-2 195 So (leading returning scorer 12.5 ppg, 40% from 3, 2nd in rebounding)
#15 F Johntae Alexander 6-4 205 Sr (4.2 ppg, 1.5reb)
#12 C Julius Barton 6-8 210 Jr (leading shot blocker 1.3 blk and rebounder 3.1 reb)
#3 G Tryston Ford 5-9 170 Sr (2nd leading returning scorer 7.1ppg last season)
#0 G Dorian Jordan 5-8 160 So (led team in assists last season with 4.4 apg)

Other Key Returnees
#22 G Quentin Henderson 5-9 175 Sr (4.1 ppg, 2.7 apg last season)
#31 G/F Michael Cross 6-3 195 Jr
#24 F Ivan Hooker 6-4 205 So
They have many other newcomers that I know very little about.

Key Stats from last season:
Point per game: 68.2
FG shooting: 42.1%
3FG shooting: 33.4%
FT shooting: 67.7%
Rebound margin: -2.2
Assists per game: 11.9
Turnovers per game: 14.6
A/TO ratio: 0.8
Steals: 6 per game
Blocks: 3.3 per game

Analysis: This is another game that shouldn't be much of a challenge for our Wildcats. There are obviously many things unknown about the approach of Coach Darnell Williams, but if he continues in the footsteps of his predecessor, they will play a bunch of guys. They did this last season. In fact, looking at their stats, 13 different guys started at least one game for KSU last season. Several of those guys are gone, including 4 of their top 7 players. 3 primary starters remain and several others who got minutes throughout the season, depending on the opponent.

The best returning player on the team is easily Malcolm Smith, the 6-2 195 Sophomore who was second in scoring on the team last season at 12.5 ppg. He can shoot the three pretty well at 40% and also can crash the boards a bit. From there, it's tough to find a great identity for this team. They have a couple spark plug type point guards who lead the team. The starter is Dorian Jordan, who is 5-8 160. He led the team in assists last year and is their floor leader. The other guy is Quentin Henderson, who is a 5-9 175 Sr. He may start tomorrow night instead of Johntae Alexander. The only reason I think Alexander may get the nod is because he has more size. Otherwise, they're gonna have to defend Poythress or Lee with a guy who stands 6-2. I suppose it may not make much difference.

They're not a very long team. They're not a great shooting team. This game will be dominated by UK from the opening tip. Kentucky State is a good program with a strong tradition in DII, but they are down right now, even by their own standards. They will likely try to slow the game down a bit. I'm not sure if Calipari will request "no zone" again, but if he doesn't, I expect that will be their approach. They will likely want to slow the game down if possible. Most of their games last season were played in the 60s.

Prediction: Kentucky 92 Kentucky State 48

 

[FlCATFan]

It would be great experience to see the Cats play against a zone this early. We might get a preview of how valuable those perimeter shooters are.

Thanks for the preview Il.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

This will be another game to work with to get our new guys used to playing college basketball. I would like to see Lee and Humphries get more minutes in the post. Let's be real. We all know what we're going to get out of Skal. That kid is going to be a beast. We are still wondering what we're going to get out of Lee and the big Aussie kid. Let's let the big Aussie log some minutes and see how this kid's conditioning is. I'm sure at this point of the season it won't be too great. It shouldn't be much of a game. The talent advantage we're going to have on Kentucky State is too big to overcome for those guys. I wanna see Briscoe do well in this game. I kind of know what we're going to get from Murray and Ullis.

 

[docholiday51]

Wow,2 starters that Ulis could post up,this could get bad

 

[Smashcat]

Wow,2 starters that Ulis could post up,this could get bad

Quite a test for Darnell Williams in his first game as a head coach.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

Cal will show mercy on them because they are a Kentucky school.
That said, Cats by 50.

 

[FlCATFan]

Watching the Gators play Palm Beach Atlantic on ESPN3. Looks as though the Gators have adopted the Cardinals Thug Ball under White. 10 team fouls in the first 11 minutes of the game.

 

[Poetax]

Cal will show mercy on them because they are a Kentucky school.
That said, Cats by 50.

One thing to remember these schools, Kentucky State and Kentucky Weslyan, all had their moments of great history.

 

[Katsure]

The season is officially here. Ill wildcat....your observations are appreciated by any true fan. Thanks for what you do....you never disappoint. Thorough, concise and always rife with information.

 

[IL Wildcat]

One thing to remember these schools, Kentucky State and Kentucky Weslyan, all had their moments of great history.

Yes this is true. Kentucky State has 3 national titles in its history. Though they are not competing at that high level now.

 

[Poetax]

Yes this is true. Kentucky State has 3 national titles in its history. Though they are not competing at that high level now.

Yeah both schools's ships have come and gone for sure.

 

[FFWhite]

Other than Ulis Otis a huge size advantage and they start two kids he matches up with,

 

[BBUK]

Dang...and here I was thinking of Mean Machine II.....They aren't an institution?

 

[IL Wildcat]

Dang...and here I was thinking of Mean Machine II.....They aren't an institution?

No, they've lost a bit since the early 70s my friend. This current team is picked 6th in the west divison of the SIAC.

 

[Dakota25]

I remember UK played them in the regular season around 13-15 years ago. That game was a tune up game for the Puke game which UK lost in OT. The Kentucky State game should have a similar result as UK won by around sixty but hopefully the Puke result will be different.

 

[BBUK]

Other than Ulis Otis a huge size advantage and they start two kids he matches up with,

OTIS!!!!!!!! A new one?

 

[IL Wildcat]

Other than Ulis Otis a huge size advantage and they start two kids he matches up with,

Yep, they have a 3rd guard who is also 5-9. Their guards are all very small. And none is as good as Ulis, not even close.

 

[Aike]

Tryston Ford will be fun to watch. He's a Danville High School product.

I went to high school with his mother, and played rec league on the same team with his father for several years. He's a nice player.

 

[jarms24]

Scouting reports on exhibition teams. This is why I love IL Wildcat's posts! Dude is true blue to the core. Starting to feel more like basketball season now.

 

[IL Wildcat]

Scouting reports on exhibition teams. This is why I love IL Wildcat's posts! Dude is true blue to the core. Starting to feel more like basketball season now.

Haha! I'm so ready for this season, it's driving me crazy! I love the makeup of this UK team. All the pieces are there.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

Scouting reports on exhibition teams. This is why I love IL Wildcat's posts! Dude is true blue to the core. Starting to feel more like basketball season now.

We all enjoy reading this dude's take on scouting reports from teams we are playing. He's good at it and let's hope he never quits with this.

 

[IL Wildcat]

Back to the top for game day.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Yeah, UK beat them like 118 to 63 in 2001 before that great UK/Duke game that we came up short in (and that Duke team won the natty title so no shame in that). I believe that was my first game at Rupp as a kid. It was an awesome game to see if you love a lot of scoring.

 

[deuces r wild]

Tyler and Dorian Jordan (Cincinnati product) are very familiar with each other. They started playing against each other in AAU around the age of 9. Actually Dorian used to get the best of Tyler early on, but Tyler is clearly on a different level now. Both kids are fun to watch and its a shame they are not 5 inches taller.

 

[Jkwo]

4 of the top 7 players gone from a team that went 9-18 last year in D2?

Jeez, if we don't score 100 I might worry a little.

 

[ORCAT]

You know it's basketball season when you see one of IL Wildcats scouting reports on here, love it!!!! Always look forward to these and very glad you are still doing them. Going to the game tonight and looking forward to seeing all the guards who fall more into my size range. Should be fun seeing how Murray and Briscoe do against them as well as Ulis looking them square in the eye.