What happened to Tubby's defense?
Tubby Smith's teams have always been known as defensive teams that will lock you down in the half court. Defense is where Tubby's had success, and he's often been criticized for his teams' lack of offense. Now, his Kentucky teams are struggling on the defensive side too, and it is the real reason why UK has had two disappointing seasons.
From the 2002-03 season to the 2004-05 season Kentucky went 87-15. These were Tubby's recruits playing under Tubby's system. Those teams allowed the opposition to shoot at least 50% just 8 times. Kentucky still managed to go 6-2 in those 8 games. In the past 2 seasons Kentucky is 44-25. UK has allowed the opposition to shoot at least 50% 14 times, and has just a 3-11 record in those games.
While most of the fans point to the offense for UK's recent struggles, it's the defense that has fallen the most. This year's team was actually the best shooting UK teams since the 2002-03 team and the 5th best in Tubby's 10 years at UK. It was also the 4th best 3 point shooting team since Tubby's been here.
This year's team, however, had just the 7th best defensive field goal percentage and the 6th best defensive 3pt percentage. Last year's team had the worst defensive field goal percentage since Tubby has been at UK. The last 2 season's have ended with the opponent shooting at least 50% in Kentucky's final game of the tournament. UConn shot 50% on 2's, 30.8% on 3's last year, and Kansas shot 56.6% on 2's, 62.5% on 3's this year. UK just has no way of stopping these powerful offensive teams.
The offense isn't great by any stretch of the imagination, but it is often good enough to win games like it used to. The players are just as athletic as they have been since Tubby's been here, but they aren't buying into the defensive system. While so many people want Tubby to get somebody to fix the offense, it might not make much difference until the defense is fixed.
From the 2002-03 season to the 2004-05 season Kentucky went 87-15. These were Tubby's recruits playing under Tubby's system. Those teams allowed the opposition to shoot at least 50% just 8 times. Kentucky still managed to go 6-2 in those 8 games. In the past 2 seasons Kentucky is 44-25. UK has allowed the opposition to shoot at least 50% 14 times, and has just a 3-11 record in those games.
While most of the fans point to the offense for UK's recent struggles, it's the defense that has fallen the most. This year's team was actually the best shooting UK teams since the 2002-03 team and the 5th best in Tubby's 10 years at UK. It was also the 4th best 3 point shooting team since Tubby's been here.
This year's team, however, had just the 7th best defensive field goal percentage and the 6th best defensive 3pt percentage. Last year's team had the worst defensive field goal percentage since Tubby has been at UK. The last 2 season's have ended with the opponent shooting at least 50% in Kentucky's final game of the tournament. UConn shot 50% on 2's, 30.8% on 3's last year, and Kansas shot 56.6% on 2's, 62.5% on 3's this year. UK just has no way of stopping these powerful offensive teams.
The offense isn't great by any stretch of the imagination, but it is often good enough to win games like it used to. The players are just as athletic as they have been since Tubby's been here, but they aren't buying into the defensive system. While so many people want Tubby to get somebody to fix the offense, it might not make much difference until the defense is fixed.
posted by Josh at 1:22 AM
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