Player Ratings and Recap: 2 Kentucky vs 5 Duke 11/17

This year I am recapping games in a similar fashion that soccer matches are recapped. Following a game, each player receives a rating 1-10 based upon their performance. Over the course of time you can see how they are playing in stretches, and how the team overall is performing based upon the form of their players. I think this is an effective way to evaluate basketball games. Especially when, at the end of the season, it is not always the most talented team that wins, or the team that had the most victories during the season, but the team that is experiencing the greatest of run of form. 

This post will cover last night's clash between defending Champion Duke, and perennial contender, Kentucky. 

Player Ratings are weighted based on playing time when determining team ratings. 

This is going to be my last post till probably Friday. 

2 Kentucky 74 vs 5 Duke 63

Kentucky Wildcats

F Skal Labissiere: 4

Skal Labissiere, the 6'11 consensus top recruit in the nation, played only 13 minutes this game. He was in foul trouble throughout the game, picking up two fouls in the first eight minutes of the game, and sitting the remainder of the half. He then fouled out with five minutes remaining in the game. Labissiere scored seven points while on the court, shooting three for five from the field, he also grabbed two rebounds, but turned the ball over twice. Labissiere's seven points in just 13 minutes is actually a pretty good number; at that rate he would have scored 14 points in 26 minutes. He also scored 26 points in an earlier game for Kentucky, and has shot an impressive 73% from the field through three games. Labissiere looked overmatched against Duke's veteran forwards who were tenacious on the offensive boards. So, Kentucky went with more physical forwards in place of Labissiere this game, especially once Skal got into early foul trouble. Marshall Plumlee went on an O-rebound, and scoring surge early in the game, before Skal went to the bench, and slowed down once Skal came out.

F Marcus Lee: 7

Marcus Lee had a very good night for Kentucky. He scored ten points on 5-10 shooting, grabbing 10 rebounds, five on the offensive end, and also blocked two shots. Lee used his length and athleticism to great effect on both ends of the court, and between he and Poythress there was also a big going after a rebound, and a big running down the court to score quickly on the other end. Lee, like Skal found himself in foul trouble throughout the game, and he ended up fouling out a little ahead of the freshman. Luckily, Kentucky has good depth at the position. They will not want to make a habit of fouling out two of their bigs.

G Isaiah Briscoe: 7.5

Isaiah Briscoe looked impressive in this game agains the Blue Devils. He is one of three point guards in Kentucky's starting lineup, but although he could run the offense, he is the guard most likely to defer to the other two (Murray and Ulis). As a result, Briscoe took less shots than the other two guards, but he finished with a higher shooting percentage. He scored 12 points, on 5-8 shooting, making his only 3pt attempt. He showed his ability to catch and shoot, and showed he could get to the basket, and scored off of a nice crossover in the first half. Briscoe's greatest contribution to the team was his defense. He did a great job containing his man, and also picked up a pair of steals. Briscoe is not as flashy as Ulis or Murray, and may not get the headlines they receive, but he looks like a steady, well disciplined player who is just as important to Kentucky's success. He turned over the ball just once, and also only fouled once.

G Jamal Murray: 8

Murray looked like an explosive talent against Duke. Based on this game, I would be shocked if he isn't a top-five pick next summer. He looks to have everything you want in an NBA point guard prospect. Murray scored 16 points, but he took 17 shots to do it, making 7 of them. He did not always show restraint with his shot selection, and often looked only to get himself an opportunity on offense, rather than looking for teammates. He is a very skilled player, who showed excellent ability off the dribble, and made Grayson Allen look silly most of the game. He also was aggressive on the offensive boards, grabbing three, and five rebounds total, and dished five assists. He was also prone to make mistakes though, and turned the ball over three times. Murray also looked to have the tools on defense, doing a good job to hold Duke's guards, and grabbing a team high, four steals. Murray looked like the best NBA talent in this game, but he still has to improve his decision making.

G Henry Ulis: 8.5

Henry Ulis was the clear leader of this Wildcats team, and were at their best when he was running the team, with an occasional dynamic possession with Murray at the helm sprinkled in. He led the team scoring 18 points on 6 of 13 shooting, although he missed all four of his 3pt attempts, and is just 2 for 11 in the early going of the season from beyond the arc. Ulis also ended the game with six asssits, while not turning the ball over all game, despite being the primary ball handler for all 40 minutes of the game. He also played foul free. Ulis is also a good defender, despite being only 5'9, but it looked like Briscoe was a better man marker, and on the ball defender. Ulis does not have the same potential or electric style that Murray possesses, but he plays error free ball, and is a great team player.

F Alex Poythress: 5

Poythress played 30 minutes coming off of the bench. He played extended minutes in place of Skal and Lee who faced foul trouble, although Poythress ended the game with four fouls himself. Poythress was a solid contributor. He scored nine points, but on 3 for 10 shooting. He grabbed seven rebounds, and four on the offensive end, and also blocked a shot. Poythress' numbers are consistent with his averages, but there should be an uptick due to the minutes he played, and the number of shots he took. Poythress was most effective when playing alongside Lee. The two of them are big athletes, and gave Duke's formidable frontcourt the most trouble. Ultimately though, no Kentucky big was able to stop the duo of Plumlee and Jefferson, who combined for 12 offensive rebounds, and 28 points.

F Isaac Humphries: 6

Humphries played 12 solid minutes for Kentucky. He grabbed three rebounds, and blocked a pair of shots, while fouling once every four minutes, accumulating three in the game. Humphries did fine when called upon, but I'm sure Calipari would rather his three bigs not combine for 14 fouls, and play Humphries only a handful of minutes.

G Charles Matthews: N/A

Charles did not play enough to be rated. He is the reserve guard for Kentucky, but all three of the Wildcats' starters will average more than 30 minutes per game. Against Duke Ulis played 40 minutes, and Murray played 38. It may be tough for Matthews to find playing time.

F Derek Willis: N/A

Willis did not play enough to be rated this game. He came into the game often as a third forward, and will therefore likely share time with Matthews.

Team Rating: 6.70

Kentucky was a team I was skeptical about coming into this game. They lost seven of their top nine players from a year ago, and it can be argued that Duke had the better recruiting class this season. Well, not anymore. Jamal Murray played like an elite NBA prospect, and all three guards played really well. I still think they need to work Briscoe in more, maybe take three shots away from Murray and give them to Briscoe. The most impressive aspect of the backcourt though was their defense. The trio absolutely shut down Brandon Ingram and Grayson Allen who had been Duke's most impressive players. They also stole the ball eight times between them. The frontcourt wasn't great, but they did enough. Amile Jefferson and Marshall Plumlee got the best of them for much of the game, but unfortunately for Duke, Jefferson and Plumlee cannot defeat a top-five opponent on their own. Kentucky does need Skal Labissiere to be a more consistent player; he has scored double digit points just once this season in three games. He also needs to learn how to defend the interior. Kentucky ended up dominating Duke as it was not competitive in the second half. The question of this season may not become, which is greater: Kentucky's Backcourt, or North Carolina's Frontcourt?

Duke Blue Devils

C Marshall Plumlee: 8

Mason Plu...I'm sorry, Miles Plum...Sorry again...Marshall Plumlee scored Duke's first nine points. He finished the first half with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and five blocks, which is an extraordinary line. However, he only scored a single points, grabbed two rebounds, and blocked one additional shot in the second half. That is a massive drop off in production. Even though Plumlee disappeared in the second half he had the most production game of his career against Kentucky. 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 blocks, are more than any one should reasonably expect from the senior, and Amile Jefferson took over where Plumlee left off in the second half.

F Amile Jefferson: 8.5

Amile Jefferson was an absolute beast in the second half of this game, and is the only reason Duke was not completely embarrassed by the Wildcats. Jefferson scored 16 points, and grabbed fifteen rebounds. 8 of his 15 rebounds came on the offensive end, which is incredible, especially considering the players he is taking those from. Jefferson, and Plumlee as well, only picked up two fouls the entire game, and played solid defense as usual. Unfortunately, his best efforts could not propel the Blue Devils.

F Brandon Ingram: 1

We've seen the good, now here comes the ugly. Brandon Ingram was a top-five recruit coming into the season, but he did not shine in this early showcase game. He scored only four points, making just one of his six field goal attempts. He rebounded just one ball, and blocked one shot. Meanwhile, he turned the ball over four times, and also picked up four fouls. Yikes. I always saw Ingram as a raw prospect, but he had a really good start to the season scoring 15 and 21 points in Duke's first two games of the year. However, this game was a real stinker; he couldn't get anything going.

G Matt Jones: 7.5

Jones provided a small bright spot for Duke. He shot 5-11 for 16 points, which tied Amile Jefferson for most on the team, and made 50% of his 3pt attempts. Jones has been a playing really well this season. He is averaging 15 ppg, and shooting 57% from the field, and 56% from three. However, Jones is best as a second or third scorer.

G Grayson Allen: 2

Grayson Allen was the other big loser in this game. Allen had the world thinking he was a superstar after the National Title game last season, and scoring 26 points and 28 points in Duke's first two games this season. However, he was completely exposed against Kentucky. He shot just 2-11 from the field, and was 0 for 9 in the first half. He also looked dreadful defensively trying to cover Murray, foolishly dreadful. Finally, Allen finished the game with four turnovers and four assists. Allen at least made some progress in the second half going 2-2, and making a 3pt shot, ending the game with six points. But, it wasn't near the dynamic performance Duke needed to win. This doesn't mean Allen is a complete fraud. He could turn things around, and help Duke win some big games this year, but this is a really bad sign for the team.

G Derryck Thornton: 3.5

Thornton played more minutes this game than he did in either of the previous two games. That makes sense as he is Duke's only natural point guard, and they desperately needed one this game. However, Thorton had only mild success. He scored seven points on three of seven shooting, grabbed three rebounds, and had three assists. Thornton also played pretty good defense, better at least than Duke's other guards. However, he like others on Duke's team, committed four turnovers.

G Luke Kennard: 2

Luke Kennard came into his freshman season with the reputation of being an elite level shooter. However, Kennard shot 0 for five from the field, and missed all three of his 3pt attempts. Kennard will be counted on to be Duke's second or third scoring option at times this season, especially when either Allen, or Ingram, or both struggle. He had the opportunity to do so this game, but could not make a shot. He made two free throws, for two points, and also got two rebounds, on the plus side, he did not turnover the ball.

F Chase Jeter: N/A

Jeter only played four minutes, which isn't enough to assign him a rating. But, he looked completely lost when h was on the floor, and picked up three fouls in his short time on the court.

Team Rating: 5.45

Strong performances by role players Marshall Plumlee, Amile Jefferson, and Matt Jones salvaged this game, and prevented it from being a complete embarrassment. However, Duke needs their “stars” to play well if they are going to compete for another National Title. Brandon Ingram and Grayson Allen were rendered completely useless by Kentucky, and some of Duke's other young players, Luke Kennard and Derryck Thornton could not fill in for them. That said, I do not think that this loss means that Duke can not be a good team this year, or can not compete for a National Title at the end of the year. They lost a lot following last season, and you would have to expect some struggle as the team rebuilds and transitions. It will be interesting to see how Duke rebounds leading up to the ACC regular season. I think this game speaks more about how good Kentucky is than how hopeless Duke is.