Southern University
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Enrollment: 8,159
Founded: 1880/Relocated: 1914
Nickname: Jaguars
School Colors: Blue and Gold
Conference: Southwestern Athletic (SWAC)
Head Coach: Sean Woods
Career Record (162-203)
Alma Mater: Kentucky, 1992
Season Record: (3-5)
Nov 9 at Louisville L, 60-72
Nov 13 at Tulane W, 73-70
Nov 16 at Rice L, 63-81
Nov 19 at South Dakota L, 68-71
Nov 21 at Nebraska L, 59-82
Nov 23 Ecclesia College W, 109-53
Nov 28 at Tennessee State W, 82-80
Dec 4 at Akron L, 62-79
Game Info
Southern at Kentucky
Tuesday, Dec 7 at 7 p.m. EST
Radio: UK Sports Network
Television: SEC Network
Probable Starters
#5 Jayden Saddler G 6-1 195 Sr 10.0pts, 2.8reb, 4.0ast
#3 P.J. Byrd G 6-1 175 Jr 8.6pts, 3.1reb, 3.4ast, 42.9 3pt% (VCU transfer)
#35 Tyrone Lyons G/F 6-7 190 RS Jr 14.3pts, 4.5reb, 1.5ast, 57.9 3pt%
#0 Terrell Williams F 6-6 200 So 8.3pts, 3.1reb, 1.9ast
#12 Damien Sears F 6-7 245 RS Sr 5.4pts, 6.5reb
Key Reserves
#22 Brion Whitley G 6-4 200 RS Jr 13.5pts, 2.4reb, 40.4 3pt% (Murray St transfer)
#2 J'Quan Ewing F 6-9 195 RS Fr 5.3pts, 2.8reb
#4 Isaiah Rollins G 6-3 185 Sr 5.1pts, 2.3reb
#30 Brendon Brooks G 5-10 165 RS Sr 2.1pts, 1.0reb
Team Statistics
Points Per Game 72.0
Points allowed 73.5
Scoring Margin -1.5
Field Goal Pct .436
FG% Defense .464
3PT FG Pct .385
3PT FG% Defense .312
FT Pct .679
Rebounds Per Game 31.4
Rebounds allowed 37.8
Rebounds Margin -6.4
Assists Per Game 13.1
Turnovers Per Game 15.4
Turnovers forced 19.8
Turnovers Margin 4.4
Ast/TO Ratio 0.9
Steals Per Game 10.4
Blocks Per Game 2.6
KenPom Stats:
Offensive efficiency: 92.4 (#326 nationally)
Defensive efficiency: 104.0 (#236 nationally)
Best Numbers:
Defensive turnover %: 23.6% (#31 nationally)
3pt%: 39.2% (#23 nationally)
Steal %: 11.9% (#47 nationally)
Worst Numbers:
Free Throw Attempt per FG: 48.3% (#351 nationally)
2pt% defense: 58.7% (#347 nationally)
2pt% offense: 42.2% (#329 nationally)
Analysis: UK Alum and former UK “Unforgettable” Sean Woods brings his Southern University Jaguars to Rupp Arena on Tuesday night at 7pm for an SEC Network broadcast and the inaugural game of the “Unity Series” (which will be 5 games over 5 years) intended to bring attention to the missions of historically black colleges and universities. The Jaguars enter this game sporting a 3-5 record on the season and coming off a 17-pt loss at Akron on Saturday, which is their worst margin of defeat on the season. The biggest story line of the game is the return of Sean Woods, the former point guard of the Cats who made the shot before “the shot” by Laettner in that March 28, 1992 Elite 8 game and averaged 5.3 assists per game in his UK career, to Rupp Arena as a head coach. The game itself has much less fanfare because Southern is expected to lose big.
Looking at Woods’ player personnel, he has some guys who have performed pretty well, despite the 5 losses on the season. They are led in scoring by Tyrone Lyons, a 6-7 190lb RS Jr wing forward/guard, who is averaging 14.3pts and 4.5reb, and also shooting the three at a staggering 57.9%. He’s joined on the other wing by shooting guard and VCU transfer P.J. Byrd, a 6-1 175lb Junior who is averaging 8.6pts, 3.1reb, and 3.4ast while shooting an impressive 42.9% from 3pt land. The starting point guard here is Jayden Saddler, a 6-1 195lb Senior averaging 10.0 pts per game and leading the team with 4 assists per game. The team’s 2nd leading scorer comes off the bench and should be familiar to Murray St fans, it’s transfer Brion Whitley, a 6-4 200lb Redshirt Junior averaging 13.5pts, 2.4reb, and shooting 40.4 from 3pt range. He’s their instant offense from the bench when needed. He hasn’t started a game but averages more points per minute than anyone else on the team. In the frontcourt, the Jaguars don’t have much size. Their 2 starting forwards are 6-6 and 6-7. Terrell Williams starts at the power forward spot. He’s a 6-6 200lb Sophomore averaging 8.3 points and 3.1 rebounds. The guy who anchors the middle is Damien Sears, a 6-7 245lb RS Sr averaging 5.4pts and 6.5reb.
Southern’s greatest strength is their perimeter defense and their ability to force turnovers and steals. They have 83 steals on the season (UK has 48 in 1 fewer game) and they like ball pressure. I guess it shouldn’t be surprising to UK fans that Sean Woods’ team is known for pressuring the ball and getting steals since that was his game as well. They will also trap the ball at opportune times. Because of this, their 3pt defense is pretty good as well. The drawback to this is that when they can’t stay in front of their man, they give up a lot of drives to the goal and they foul a lot as well. They send people to the line very frequently, in fact, at one of the worst rates in the country. Their 2pt% defense is terrible, where they give up a staggering 58.7% on two point FGs. Offensively, their best weapon is the 3pt shot. They have several guys who can make them at a good clip. If you leave Lyons, he makes nearly 6 of 10. Whitley and Byrd are also good shooters. But they are not very good shooting 2’s at all, only making about 42% on 2pt field goals.
Southern may cause UK some trouble with their defense early in this game, so don’t be surprised if that happens. They played UofL to within 12 and actually had a lead in the 2nd half of that game. I’m sure Woods will have a wrinkle to throw at Wheeler. Don't expect these guys to quit if we take a big lead, either. If I were Calipari, I’d be telling my guys a few things for this game- on offense, drive the ball to the goal and finish through contact and go to the line- they don't defend the paint well. And defensively, don’t give up open threes- make them put it on the floor where they are much less effective. KenPom predicts UK 86 Southern 59. My Prediction: Kentucky 83 Southern 60
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Enrollment: 8,159
Founded: 1880/Relocated: 1914
Nickname: Jaguars
School Colors: Blue and Gold
Conference: Southwestern Athletic (SWAC)
Head Coach: Sean Woods
Career Record (162-203)
Alma Mater: Kentucky, 1992
Season Record: (3-5)
Nov 9 at Louisville L, 60-72
Nov 13 at Tulane W, 73-70
Nov 16 at Rice L, 63-81
Nov 19 at South Dakota L, 68-71
Nov 21 at Nebraska L, 59-82
Nov 23 Ecclesia College W, 109-53
Nov 28 at Tennessee State W, 82-80
Dec 4 at Akron L, 62-79
Game Info
Southern at Kentucky
Tuesday, Dec 7 at 7 p.m. EST
Radio: UK Sports Network
Television: SEC Network
Probable Starters
#5 Jayden Saddler G 6-1 195 Sr 10.0pts, 2.8reb, 4.0ast
#3 P.J. Byrd G 6-1 175 Jr 8.6pts, 3.1reb, 3.4ast, 42.9 3pt% (VCU transfer)
#35 Tyrone Lyons G/F 6-7 190 RS Jr 14.3pts, 4.5reb, 1.5ast, 57.9 3pt%
#0 Terrell Williams F 6-6 200 So 8.3pts, 3.1reb, 1.9ast
#12 Damien Sears F 6-7 245 RS Sr 5.4pts, 6.5reb
Key Reserves
#22 Brion Whitley G 6-4 200 RS Jr 13.5pts, 2.4reb, 40.4 3pt% (Murray St transfer)
#2 J'Quan Ewing F 6-9 195 RS Fr 5.3pts, 2.8reb
#4 Isaiah Rollins G 6-3 185 Sr 5.1pts, 2.3reb
#30 Brendon Brooks G 5-10 165 RS Sr 2.1pts, 1.0reb
Team Statistics
Points Per Game 72.0
Points allowed 73.5
Scoring Margin -1.5
Field Goal Pct .436
FG% Defense .464
3PT FG Pct .385
3PT FG% Defense .312
FT Pct .679
Rebounds Per Game 31.4
Rebounds allowed 37.8
Rebounds Margin -6.4
Assists Per Game 13.1
Turnovers Per Game 15.4
Turnovers forced 19.8
Turnovers Margin 4.4
Ast/TO Ratio 0.9
Steals Per Game 10.4
Blocks Per Game 2.6
KenPom Stats:
Offensive efficiency: 92.4 (#326 nationally)
Defensive efficiency: 104.0 (#236 nationally)
Best Numbers:
Defensive turnover %: 23.6% (#31 nationally)
3pt%: 39.2% (#23 nationally)
Steal %: 11.9% (#47 nationally)
Worst Numbers:
Free Throw Attempt per FG: 48.3% (#351 nationally)
2pt% defense: 58.7% (#347 nationally)
2pt% offense: 42.2% (#329 nationally)
Analysis: UK Alum and former UK “Unforgettable” Sean Woods brings his Southern University Jaguars to Rupp Arena on Tuesday night at 7pm for an SEC Network broadcast and the inaugural game of the “Unity Series” (which will be 5 games over 5 years) intended to bring attention to the missions of historically black colleges and universities. The Jaguars enter this game sporting a 3-5 record on the season and coming off a 17-pt loss at Akron on Saturday, which is their worst margin of defeat on the season. The biggest story line of the game is the return of Sean Woods, the former point guard of the Cats who made the shot before “the shot” by Laettner in that March 28, 1992 Elite 8 game and averaged 5.3 assists per game in his UK career, to Rupp Arena as a head coach. The game itself has much less fanfare because Southern is expected to lose big.
Looking at Woods’ player personnel, he has some guys who have performed pretty well, despite the 5 losses on the season. They are led in scoring by Tyrone Lyons, a 6-7 190lb RS Jr wing forward/guard, who is averaging 14.3pts and 4.5reb, and also shooting the three at a staggering 57.9%. He’s joined on the other wing by shooting guard and VCU transfer P.J. Byrd, a 6-1 175lb Junior who is averaging 8.6pts, 3.1reb, and 3.4ast while shooting an impressive 42.9% from 3pt land. The starting point guard here is Jayden Saddler, a 6-1 195lb Senior averaging 10.0 pts per game and leading the team with 4 assists per game. The team’s 2nd leading scorer comes off the bench and should be familiar to Murray St fans, it’s transfer Brion Whitley, a 6-4 200lb Redshirt Junior averaging 13.5pts, 2.4reb, and shooting 40.4 from 3pt range. He’s their instant offense from the bench when needed. He hasn’t started a game but averages more points per minute than anyone else on the team. In the frontcourt, the Jaguars don’t have much size. Their 2 starting forwards are 6-6 and 6-7. Terrell Williams starts at the power forward spot. He’s a 6-6 200lb Sophomore averaging 8.3 points and 3.1 rebounds. The guy who anchors the middle is Damien Sears, a 6-7 245lb RS Sr averaging 5.4pts and 6.5reb.
Southern’s greatest strength is their perimeter defense and their ability to force turnovers and steals. They have 83 steals on the season (UK has 48 in 1 fewer game) and they like ball pressure. I guess it shouldn’t be surprising to UK fans that Sean Woods’ team is known for pressuring the ball and getting steals since that was his game as well. They will also trap the ball at opportune times. Because of this, their 3pt defense is pretty good as well. The drawback to this is that when they can’t stay in front of their man, they give up a lot of drives to the goal and they foul a lot as well. They send people to the line very frequently, in fact, at one of the worst rates in the country. Their 2pt% defense is terrible, where they give up a staggering 58.7% on two point FGs. Offensively, their best weapon is the 3pt shot. They have several guys who can make them at a good clip. If you leave Lyons, he makes nearly 6 of 10. Whitley and Byrd are also good shooters. But they are not very good shooting 2’s at all, only making about 42% on 2pt field goals.
Southern may cause UK some trouble with their defense early in this game, so don’t be surprised if that happens. They played UofL to within 12 and actually had a lead in the 2nd half of that game. I’m sure Woods will have a wrinkle to throw at Wheeler. Don't expect these guys to quit if we take a big lead, either. If I were Calipari, I’d be telling my guys a few things for this game- on offense, drive the ball to the goal and finish through contact and go to the line- they don't defend the paint well. And defensively, don’t give up open threes- make them put it on the floor where they are much less effective. KenPom predicts UK 86 Southern 59. My Prediction: Kentucky 83 Southern 60
