Kentucky basketball, Mark Pope will put ‘aggressive’ offense on display — and plenty of 3s

LEXINGTON — A team’s style of play is dictated by a variety of factors.

Talent. Injuries. A coaching staff’s philosophy. And a multitude of other components that may vary by the day, month or season.

Of these, a staff’s core tenets is arguably the easiest — and logical — way to project how a squad will showcase when it hits the hardwood.

When it comes to Kentucky basketball under first-year coach Mark Pope, a look at his past provides a window into his future.

Last season at BYU, Pope’s team attempted 32 3-pointers per game (1,087 in 34 games), which ranked second among Division I teams. Only North Florida averaged more (33.2 per outing). BYU made its share of triples during the 2023-24 campaign, too: Its 11.1 makes per game ranked third nationally, behind North Florida (12) and Alabama (11.2).

The Cougars also ranked in the top 10 in the country last season in three other offensive categories, including assists per game (18.5; third), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.73; sixth) and bench points per game (33.5; fifth).

Just how heavily did BYU rely on shots beyond the arc?

The Cougars attempted more 3-pointers (1,087) than 2-pointers (1,068) last season.

Despite its bombs-away approach from the perimeter, BYU did so at a (somewhat) measured pace. Per KenPom, the Cougars’ adjusted tempo — the number of possessions a team has per 40 minutes, adjusted based on the opponent — of 69.2 tied for 84th in Division I. (For context: John Calipari’s final team at UK ranked 12th in that category at 73.9 possessions per 40 minutes). BYU didn’t operate at warp speed when it had the ball, either. Per KenPom, the Cougars’ average possession lasted 16.5 seconds — more than half of the 30-second shot clock; that figure tied for 56th nationally.

BYU regularly used a “five-out offense,” in which every offensive player on the floor begins a possession behind the 3-point line. And as much as the Cougars leaned on the 3, another key aspect of the five-out attack is the space it opens in the lane. If a…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kentucky-basketball-mark-pope-put-125107281.html

Author : The Courier Journal

Publish date : 2024-06-25 12:51:07

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