ESPN’s Myron Medcalf and Jeff Borzello gave some thoughts on what we learned about Kentucky during this weekend win at Auburn.
Medcalf focused on Kentucky’s recent improvement on the defensive end, noting that better defense would give the Wildcats a better outlook in March.
Borzello said the Cats might have found something Saturday with the duo of Ugonna Onyenso and Adou Thiero in the paint.
Here is an excerpt:
No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats 70, No. 13 Auburn Tigers 59
Myron Medcalf: Just a few weeks before Selection Sunday during the 2014-15 season, Notre Dame was second in adjusted offensive efficiency and 151st — not a typo — in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom. That squad made a run to the Elite Eight, where it lost to Kentucky on Andrew Harrison’s free throws with six seconds to play. The Fighting Irish never became an elite defensive team to extend that run. Kentucky faces a similar challenge. But this week, the Wildcats (102nd in adjusted defensive efficiency entering Saturday) have shown they can improve before the 68-team bracket is set next month.
They held Ole Miss to just 88 points per 100 possessions on Tuesday. And during the first half on Saturday, they limited the Tigers to just 28% of their attempts. The same Tigers that had scored at least 80 points in 17 previous games. Kentucky has played with more defensive energy in recent days. If it can make that effort consistently down the stretch, it could change its postseason fortune.
Jeff Borzello: Kentucky might have found something on Saturday with the power forward-center duo of Adou Thiero and Ugonna Onyenso. Thiero gives the Wildcats a different level of physicality and energy at the 4, especially in up-and-down games against deep, athletic teams like Auburn. He went for 14 and 8 against the Tigers.
Onyenso is someone to watch moving forward. The arrival of Aaron Bradshaw and the midseason addition of Zvonimir Ivisic seemed like it might relegate Onyenso to the bench, but he’s started the past six games and his ability on the defensive end gives John Calipari a rim protector. He had 10 blocks to go with eight points against Ole Miss and seven points, 11 boards and two blocks against Auburn. He also didn’t allow the Tigers to dominate the paint. This duo might change when Tre Mitchell returns, but it’s working for now.
Joe Lunardi’s bracket impact: Kentucky gained more than Auburn lost in terms of bracket impact. The Wildcats move up a full line (5-seed, No. 20 overall) thanks to a near wire-to-wire road victory. The Tigers came in with a good bit more cushion in terms of seeding and will retain the No. 4 seed they received in the NCAA’s Saturday reveal. Looking ahead, though, it’s not inconceivable these two rivals could trade places between now and Selection Sunday.
