Team Data
Points per game: 68
Points allowed: 65.3
Scoring margin: +2.7 FG percentage: .469
FG allowed: .394
3PT percentage: .368
3PT allowed: .324
3PT-to-FG attempts: .312
FT percentage: .734
FT totals: 460/627
Rebound margin: +1.1
Turnover margin: +1.2
Assist-to-turnover ratio: 0.8:1
Assist-to-FG ratio: 0.54:1
The Players
Starters
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
1 Ramel Bradley
(6-2, 191 lb., SR) 34.6 mpg 16.0 ppg, 3.4 apg .828 FT .433 FG
Comment: His leadership in the second half of the season has been vital to the Wildcats' recovery; wants to have the ball in his hands.
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
2 Joe Crawford
(6-5, 207 lb., SR) 33.1 mpg 17.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg .464 FG .353 3PT
Comment: Good scorer whose career has been up and down, but has made the most of his stretch run.
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
3 Ramon Harris
(6-6, 212 lb., SO) 21.7 mpg 4.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg .507 FG .600 FT
Comment: Late recruit who joined the Wildcats in the middle of last season and contributed little; he's now getting major minutes as a starter.
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
4 Derrick Jasper
(6-8, 209 lb., SO) 28.0 mpg 4.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg .516 3PT .391 FT
Comment: Despite the gaudy 3-point percentage, is still not the most confident deep shooter, but his entire game is growing with the additional minutes of late.
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
5 Mark Coury
(6-8, 238 lb., SO) 11.1 mpg 2.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg .441 FG .529 FT
Comment: Has been a starter all season, but doesn't contribute much; Stevenson is now getting most of the minutes in the post.
Rotation
Pos. Player Min. Basics Good Bad
F/C Perry Stevenson
(6-9, 201 lb., SO) 23.6 mpg 5.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg .577 FG 1.4 tpg
Comment: Athletic and a good shot blocker; the extra minutes of late have fueled his confidence, and the offense has followed.
G Michael Porter
(6-2, 190 lb., SO) 15.7 mpg 2.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg .433 3PT .313 FG
Comment: Does almost nothing offensively inside the arc.
F A.J. Stewart
(6-8, 207 lb., FR) 9.1 mpg 2.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg .588 FG .462 FT
Comment: His limited time is spent right around the rim.
Complete roster | Team statistics
Season notes
High point For the first time since December of 2005, Kentucky beat a top five team when the Wildcats knocked off Tennessee on Jan. 22. It might also have been the game when the Kentucky players finally began to understand how to play the kind of defense Gillespie demands.
Lowlight In one of the most difficult seasons in recent memory, the low points were many. Even with losses to Gardner-Webb and San Diego at Rupp, perhaps the worst night was Feb. 12 at Vanderbilt. Although Kentucky had beaten the Commodores earlier, they got ambushed in Nashville, falling by 41.
Most Revealing Moment Kentucky's resilience was tested when star freshman forward Patrick Patterson went down with a stress fracture in his left ankle. The undermanned Wildcats, playing for the first time without their best player, hung tough against Tennessee and led much of the way before falling, 63-60.
Did You Know? Gillespie has won coach of the year five straight seasons. In 2004 he received the honor in the WAC while at UTEP, and the Big 12 recognized him three straight seasons for his work at Texas A&M before he shared the SEC honor with Bruce Pearl this year.
Scouting report
Offensive Preference Especially since losing Meeks and Patterson, Kentucky prefers to slow the pace and eat up the shot clock. Despite the talents of Bradley and Crawford, the Wildcats do need to limit possessions. The high pick-and-roll has been an effective go-to play.
Defensive Philosophy Gillespie would like to dig in and pressure more, but with the short bench he's taking a more conservative approach -- stay in front and don't get beat.
Secret Strength Most Kentucky teams aren't this deficient in talent, but few (the 1992 Rick Pitino-coached club does come to mind) have played with as much heart and pride once the SEC season began.
Achilles' Heel With the injuries and transfer of Alex Legion, Gillespie has almost no bench. Essentially this is a six-man rotation. The Wildcats have made it work since Patterson's season ended, but it might catch up to them.
Will Lose When ... They are forced to play too fast or too physical. Near season's end Kentucky did a good job of imposing its will on opponents, but the Wildcats need to slow the tempo or they will be in trouble. And none of the big men are especially rugged.
Famous Last Words No one could have imagined that after a 7-9 start that included some unthinkable home losses, the Wildcats would be here. Even after losing its best player, Kentucky won two of three to finish the regular season. This team probably won't get far, but the turnaround was impressive.
Tournament History
64-team era
NCAA appearances: 20
Seed average: 3.5
Highest seed: 1
Lowest seed: 12
Biggest upset: 1985 vs. No 4 UNLV
Most upsetting: 1986 vs. No. 11 LSU
Overall
NCAA appearances: 49
All-time record: 100-44 (.694)
Best finish: 1996, 1998, NCAA Champions
Coach's NCAA record: Billy Gillispie (3-3, .500)
