(updated through January 2017 meeting)
Kentucky and Kansas are most certainly among the top programs in college basketball history. UK is quite arguably #1 (as they own most lists other than national titles), while Kansas is probably about #3, 4 or 5 when you assess various criteria.
A brief comparison of some statistics...
WINS (through 2016 season):
1) KENTUCKY
2) KANSAS
3) NORTH CAROLINA
4) DUKE
5) TEMPLE
6) SYRACUSE
7) NOTRE DAME
8) UCLA
9) ST. JOHN'S
10) INDIANA
11) LOUISVILLE
WINNING PERCENTAGE (through 2016 season):
1) KENTUCKY
2) NORTH CAROLINA
3) KANSAS
4) DUKE
5) UCLA
6) SYRACUSE
7) LOUISVILLE
8) WESTERN KENTUCKY
9) ARIZONA
10) NOTRE DAME
11) ST. JOHN'S
12) ILLINOIS
13) VILLANOVA
14) UCONN
15) MURRAY STATE
16) TEMPLE
17) INDIANA
TOURNAMENT WINS (through 2016 season):
1) KENTUCKY - 123
2) NORTH CAROLINA - 117
3) DUKE - 107
4) UCLA - 104
5) KANSAS - 100
6) INDIANA - 75
7) LOUISVILLE - 66
CHAMPIONSHIPS (through 2016 season):
1) UCLA - 11
2) KENTUCKY - 8
t-3) NORTH CAROLINA - 5
t-3) INDIANA - 5
t-5) DUKE - 4
t-5) UCONN - 4
t-7) KANSAS - 3
t-7) LOUISVILLE - 3
FINAL FOURS (through 2016 season):
1) NORTH CAROLINA - 19
t-2) KENTUCKY - 17
t-2) UCLA - 17
4) DUKE - 16
5) KANSAS - 14
t-6) LOUISVILLE - 10
t-6) OHIO STATE - 10
8) MICHIGAN STATE - 9
9) INDIANA - 8
AVERAGE RANKINGS ON ALL ABOVE LISTS:
1) KENTUCKY - 1.4
2) NORTH CAROLINA - 2.2
t-3) UCLA - 4
t-3) DUKE - 4
5) KANSAS - 4.4
6) LOUISVILLE - 7.6
7) INDIANA - 9
What about head-to-head? Kentucky has gotten the best of the Jayhawks there, too.
22-8 overall (73.3%), which is the best mark the Wildcats own against any of the blue bloods.
The breakdown:
HOME GAMES: 7-2 (77.8%)
Rupp Arena: 4-2 (66.7%) - wins in 1976, 1978, 1980 and 1990...losses in 2005 and 2017
Memorial Coliseum: 3-0 (100%) - wins in 1950, 1969 and 1972
ROAD GAMES: 7-5 (58.3%)
"Phog" Allen Fieldhouse: 7-5 (58.3%) - wins in 1959, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1983...losses in 1973, 1985, 1989, 2006 and 2016
NEUTRAL SITES: 8-1 (88.9%)
Freedom Hall (Louisville): 3-0 (100%) - regular season wins in 1974, 1982 and 1984
Superdome (New Orleans): 2-0 (100%) - wins in 1999 NCAA Tournament Round of 32 and the 2012 NCAA Championship Game
United Center (Chicago): 1-1 (50%) - win in 1998 Great Eight regular season matchup, loss in 2007 NCAA Tournament Round of 32
Madison Square Garden (NYC): 1-0 (100%) - win in 2011 Champions Classic regular season matchup
Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis): 1-0 (100%) - win in 2014 Champions Classic regular season matchup
REGULAR SEASON OVERALL: 20-7
NCAA TOURNAMENT: 2-1
By coach?
Calipari: 3-2 (1-0 in NCAA Tournament)
Tubby: 2-3 (1-1 in NCAA Tournament)
Pitino: 1-1 (the one loss was by 55 in Lawrence)
Sutton: 0-1 (17-point loss in Lawrence)
Hall: 12-1 (amazing record!)
Rupp: 4-0
By opposing coach?
Bill Self: is 5-3 against UK (3-0 vs. Tubby, 2-3 vs. Cal)
Roy Williams: was 1-3 against UK (1-1 vs. Pitino, 0-2 vs. Tubby)
Larry Brown: was 1-2 against UK (0-2 vs. Hall, 1-0 vs. Sutton)
Ted Owens: was 1-12 against UK (0-2 vs. Rupp, 1-10 vs. Hall)
Dick Harp: was 0-1 against UK (1959 vs. Rupp)
Forrest "Phog" Allen: was 0-1 against UK (1950 vs. Rupp)
Friday, January 27, 2017
Head-to-head records of the college basketball "blue bloods"
(updated at the end of January 2017)
The top six programs in college basketball history are almost universally recognized among historians as: Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, Duke and Indiana. The first tier is clearly UK, UNC and UCLA, with the other three lagging a bit behind.
Here is a look at their head-to-head results, listed by winning percentage:
1) UNC .558 (177-140)
2) UK .553 (88-71)
3) IU .481 (51-55)
4) DUKE .466 (139-159)
5) UCLA .449 (31-38)
6) KU .361 (30-53)
The breakdown...
UK is:
32-25 against IU
22-8 against KU
15-23 against UNC
12-9 against Duke
7-6 against UCLA
UNC is:
134-108 against Duke
23-15 against UK
8-3 against UCLA
6-5 against KU
6-9 against IU
IU is:
25-32 against UK
9-6 against UNC
8-6 against Kansas
6-6 against UCLA
3-5 against Duke
Duke is:
108-134 against UNC
10-6 against UCLA
9-12 against UK
7-4 against KU
5-3 against IU
UCLA is:
10-7 against KU
6-6 against IU
6-10 against Duke
6-7 against UK
3-8 against UNC
KU is:
8-22 against UK
7-10 against UCLA
6-8 against IU
5-6 against UNC
4-7 against Duke
Notes:
- UNC has a winning record against everyone except IU (6-9)
- UK has a winning record against everyone except UNC (15-23)
- Obviously the most matchups in any series is UNC/Duke (242 games)
- Kansas has a losing record against every other blue blood
- UCLA's only winning record is against Kansas (10-7)
- UofL (probably the 7th best team all-time - although they rated above IU in my most recent analysis) has losing records against all the top six teams shown here. As of the end of January 2017, the Cardinals were 6-7 against Duke, 16-34 against UK, 8-10 against IU, 5-11 against UNC, 5-6 against Kansas, and 7-15 against UCLA. Total record = 47-83 (.362)
The top six programs in college basketball history are almost universally recognized among historians as: Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, Duke and Indiana. The first tier is clearly UK, UNC and UCLA, with the other three lagging a bit behind.
Here is a look at their head-to-head results, listed by winning percentage:
1) UNC .558 (177-140)
2) UK .553 (88-71)
3) IU .481 (51-55)
4) DUKE .466 (139-159)
5) UCLA .449 (31-38)
6) KU .361 (30-53)
The breakdown...
UK is:
32-25 against IU
22-8 against KU
15-23 against UNC
12-9 against Duke
7-6 against UCLA
UNC is:
134-108 against Duke
23-15 against UK
8-3 against UCLA
6-5 against KU
6-9 against IU
IU is:
25-32 against UK
9-6 against UNC
8-6 against Kansas
6-6 against UCLA
3-5 against Duke
Duke is:
108-134 against UNC
10-6 against UCLA
9-12 against UK
7-4 against KU
5-3 against IU
UCLA is:
10-7 against KU
6-6 against IU
6-10 against Duke
6-7 against UK
3-8 against UNC
KU is:
8-22 against UK
7-10 against UCLA
6-8 against IU
5-6 against UNC
4-7 against Duke
Notes:
- UNC has a winning record against everyone except IU (6-9)
- UK has a winning record against everyone except UNC (15-23)
- Obviously the most matchups in any series is UNC/Duke (242 games)
- Kansas has a losing record against every other blue blood
- UCLA's only winning record is against Kansas (10-7)
- UofL (probably the 7th best team all-time - although they rated above IU in my most recent analysis) has losing records against all the top six teams shown here. As of the end of January 2017, the Cardinals were 6-7 against Duke, 16-34 against UK, 8-10 against IU, 5-11 against UNC, 5-6 against Kansas, and 7-15 against UCLA. Total record = 47-83 (.362)
Monday, January 23, 2017
Kentucky basketball's history in the AP Poll
As all UK fans know, the Wildcats dominate in virtually every way (other than total titles...a distinction belonging to UCLA only because of one Sam Gilbert...but that's none of my business).
Let's check out some AP poll statistics, shall we? This poll didn't begin until 1949, so it eliminates a few of UK's best seasons (1945-48).
Most weeks at #1:
1) UCLA - 134
2) DUKE - 129
3) KENTUCKY - 124
4) NORTH CAROLINA - 110
5) KANSAS - 63
6) INDIANA - 54
7) CINCINNATI - 45
8) ARIZONA - 37
8) OHIO STATE - 37
10) UNLV - 32
Most weeks in top 5:
1) KENTUCKY - 453
2) NORTH CAROLINA - 426
3) DUKE - 381
4) KANSAS - 333
5) UCLA - 308
6) INDIANA - 179
7) ARIZONA - 143
8) OHIO STATE - 142
9) CINCINNATI - 126
10) LOUISVILLE - 125
Most weeks in top 10:
1) KENTUCKY - 674
2) NORTH CAROLINA - 654
3) DUKE - 636
4) KANSAS - 520
5) UCLA - 455
6) ARIZONA - 288
7) INDIANA - 282
8) LOUISVILLE - 281
9) SYRACUSE - 255
10) OHIO STATE - 225
10) ILLINOIS - 225
Most appearances in the AP Poll:
1) NORTH CAROLINA - 871
2) KENTUCKY - 856
3) DUKE - 767
4) KANSAS - 720
5) UCLA - 682
6) LOUISVILLE - 616
7) INDIANA - 554
8) SYRACUSE - 547
9) ARIZONA - 513
10) ILLINOIS - 445
If you weight each of these evenly...
1) KENTUCKY - 37 points
2) NORTH CAROLINA - 35 points
3) DUKE - 33 points
4) UCLA - 28 points
5) KANSAS - 27 points
6) INDIANA - 18 points
7) ARIZONA - 14 points
8) LOUISVILLE - 9 points
9) OHIO STATE - 7 points
10) CINCINNATI - 6 points
Let's check out some AP poll statistics, shall we? This poll didn't begin until 1949, so it eliminates a few of UK's best seasons (1945-48).
Most weeks at #1:
1) UCLA - 134
2) DUKE - 129
3) KENTUCKY - 124
4) NORTH CAROLINA - 110
5) KANSAS - 63
6) INDIANA - 54
7) CINCINNATI - 45
8) ARIZONA - 37
8) OHIO STATE - 37
10) UNLV - 32
Most weeks in top 5:
1) KENTUCKY - 453
2) NORTH CAROLINA - 426
3) DUKE - 381
4) KANSAS - 333
5) UCLA - 308
6) INDIANA - 179
7) ARIZONA - 143
8) OHIO STATE - 142
9) CINCINNATI - 126
10) LOUISVILLE - 125
Most weeks in top 10:
1) KENTUCKY - 674
2) NORTH CAROLINA - 654
3) DUKE - 636
4) KANSAS - 520
5) UCLA - 455
6) ARIZONA - 288
7) INDIANA - 282
8) LOUISVILLE - 281
9) SYRACUSE - 255
10) OHIO STATE - 225
10) ILLINOIS - 225
Most appearances in the AP Poll:
1) NORTH CAROLINA - 871
2) KENTUCKY - 856
3) DUKE - 767
4) KANSAS - 720
5) UCLA - 682
6) LOUISVILLE - 616
7) INDIANA - 554
8) SYRACUSE - 547
9) ARIZONA - 513
10) ILLINOIS - 445
If you weight each of these evenly...
1) KENTUCKY - 37 points
2) NORTH CAROLINA - 35 points
3) DUKE - 33 points
4) UCLA - 28 points
5) KANSAS - 27 points
6) INDIANA - 18 points
7) ARIZONA - 14 points
8) LOUISVILLE - 9 points
9) OHIO STATE - 7 points
10) CINCINNATI - 6 points
Sunday, January 22, 2017
All the 30-win seasons in Kentucky basketball history
Kentucky has the most wins in college basketball history. So it should come as no surprise that a number of individual teams have racked up quite a few victories in specific seasons - 30 or more, to be specific. There have been 14 seasons with 30+ wins in Kentucky history. How does that compare to other schools?
Duke (14): 1986, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015
Kansas (13): 1986, 1990, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
North Carolina (12): 1946, 1957, 1982, 1987, 1993, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016
UConn (9): 1990, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014
UCLA (8): 1964, 1967, 1972, 1973, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008
Louisville (8): 1980, 1983, 1986, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014
Syracuse (6): 1987, 1989, 2003, 2010, 2012, 2013
Arizona (6): 1988, 1998, 2005, 2011, 2014, 2015
Arkansas (5): 1978, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995
Oklahoma (5): 1985, 1988, 1989, 2002, 2009
Indiana (4): 1975, 1976, 1987, 1993
Georgetown (4): 1982, 1984, 1985, 2007
Wisconsin (4): 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015
Virginia (3): 1982, 2014, 2015
Michigan (3): 1989, 1993, 2013
Michigan State (3): 1999, 2000, 2009
Florida (3): 2006, 2007, 2014
Villanova (3): 2009, 2015, 2016
Wichita State (3): 2013, 2014, 2015
As you can see, many of these lists are "backloaded." Because teams like Duke (under Coach K), Kansas (under Bill Self) and UConn (under Jim Calhoun) have succeeded in an era when more games are played, they have piled up 30-win seasons.
One important note before we get to the UK list: a few of the best teams in UK history simply didn't play enough games to have a reasonable shot at topping the 30 mark. Teams like 1946 (28-2), 1950 (25-5), 1954 (25-0), 1955 (23-3), 1958 (23-6), 1959 (24-3), 1962 (23-3), 1966 (27-2), 1968 (22-5), 1969 (23-5), 1970 (26-2), 1975 (26-5), 1977 (26-4) stand out as examples. A big reason for the gap between 1951 and 1978 is that no SEC Tournament was held from 1952 through 1978. This eliminated as many as 4 additional games from the slate.
Which teams barely fell short? 1952, 1980, 1984, 1992, 2011 and 2014 were all 29-win seasons.
Here are the 14 Kentucky teams that have achieved this remarkable feat so far:
1946-1947: 34-3 28-2 in regular season (lost to Oklahoma A&M in Sugar Bowl, lost at DePaul). Won SEC regular season (11-0). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Tulane. Lost NIT Championship to Utah.
1947-1948: 36-3 (including 2-1 in Olympic Trials). 27-2 in regular season (lost at Temple and Notre Dame). Won SEC regular season (9-0). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Georgia Tech. Won National Championship over Baylor. Beat Louisville and Baylor in Olympic Trials, then lost to Phillips Oilers. Players from this team were major contributors to the Team USA's gold medal victory in the London Olympics.
1948-1949: 32-2 25-1 in regular season (lost to St. Louis in Sugar Bowl Championship). Won SEC regular season (13-0). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Tulane. Lost to Loyola (Chicago) in NIT. Won National Championship over Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State).
1950-1951: 32-2 25-1 in regular season (lost to St. Louis in Sugar Bowl). Won SEC regular season (14-0). Lost SEC Tournament Championship to Vanderbilt. Won National Championship over Kansas State.
1977-1978: 30-2 25-2 in regular season (lost at Alabama and LSU). Won SEC regular season (16-2). There was no SEC Tournament. Won National Championship as #1 seed over Duke.
1985-1986: 32-4 26-3 in regular season (lost at Kansas, Auburn and NC State). Won SEC regular season (17-1). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Alabama. Made Elite Eight as #1 seed, lost to LSU in their fourth meeting of the year (UK had won the first three).
1992-1993: 30-4 23-3 in regular season (lost at Vandy, Arkansas and Tennessee). Did NOT win SEC regular season (Vandy went 14-2). Won SEC Tournament Championship over LSU. Made Final Four as #1 seed, lost to Michigan.
1995-1996: 34-2 26-1 in regular season (lost to UMass in Great Eight, then won 25 in a row). Won SEC regular season (16-0). Lost SEC Tournament Championship to Mississippi State. Won National Championship as #1 seed over Syracuse.
1996-1997: 35-5 27-4 in regular season (lost twice to South Carolina, lost to Clemson in BCA Classic, lost at Ole Miss). Actually did NOT win SEC regular season because of loss to South Carolina on Senior Night. Did win SEC Tournament Championship, over Georgia. Lost National Championship Game as #1 seed to Arizona.
1997-1998: 35-4 26-4 in regular season (lost to Arizona in Maui, lost to Louisville, Ole Miss and Florida at Rupp). Undefeated in road games. Won SEC regular season (14-2). Won SEC Tournament Championship over South Carolina. Won National Championship as #1 seed over Utah.
2002-2003: 32-4 26-3 in regular season (lost to Virginia in Maui, lost at home to Michigan State, lost at Louisville...then went on a 26-game winning streak). Won SEC regular season (16-0). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Mississippi State. Made Elite Eight as #1 seed (lost to West Virginia).
2009-2010: 35-3 29-2 in regular season (lost at South Carolina and Tennessee). Won SEC regular season (14-2). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Mississippi State. Made Elite Eight as #1 seed (lost to West Virginia).
2011-2012: 38-2 30-1 in regular season (lost at Indiana). Undefeated SEC schedule (16-0). Lost to Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament Championship. Won National Championship as #1 seed over Kansas.
2014-2015: 38-1 Undefeated regular season (31-0). Won SEC regular season (18-0) and SEC Tournament. Made Final Four as #1 seed (lost to Wisconsin).
Will 2016-2017 be the next one on the list? They have an excellent shot. With 29, and the NCAA tournament on the way, it would be shocking for them NOT to make it.
Duke (14): 1986, 1991, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015
Kansas (13): 1986, 1990, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
North Carolina (12): 1946, 1957, 1982, 1987, 1993, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016
UConn (9): 1990, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014
UCLA (8): 1964, 1967, 1972, 1973, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008
Louisville (8): 1980, 1983, 1986, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014
Syracuse (6): 1987, 1989, 2003, 2010, 2012, 2013
Arizona (6): 1988, 1998, 2005, 2011, 2014, 2015
Arkansas (5): 1978, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995
Oklahoma (5): 1985, 1988, 1989, 2002, 2009
Indiana (4): 1975, 1976, 1987, 1993
Georgetown (4): 1982, 1984, 1985, 2007
Wisconsin (4): 2007, 2008, 2014, 2015
Virginia (3): 1982, 2014, 2015
Michigan (3): 1989, 1993, 2013
Michigan State (3): 1999, 2000, 2009
Florida (3): 2006, 2007, 2014
Villanova (3): 2009, 2015, 2016
Wichita State (3): 2013, 2014, 2015
As you can see, many of these lists are "backloaded." Because teams like Duke (under Coach K), Kansas (under Bill Self) and UConn (under Jim Calhoun) have succeeded in an era when more games are played, they have piled up 30-win seasons.
One important note before we get to the UK list: a few of the best teams in UK history simply didn't play enough games to have a reasonable shot at topping the 30 mark. Teams like 1946 (28-2), 1950 (25-5), 1954 (25-0), 1955 (23-3), 1958 (23-6), 1959 (24-3), 1962 (23-3), 1966 (27-2), 1968 (22-5), 1969 (23-5), 1970 (26-2), 1975 (26-5), 1977 (26-4) stand out as examples. A big reason for the gap between 1951 and 1978 is that no SEC Tournament was held from 1952 through 1978. This eliminated as many as 4 additional games from the slate.
Which teams barely fell short? 1952, 1980, 1984, 1992, 2011 and 2014 were all 29-win seasons.
Here are the 14 Kentucky teams that have achieved this remarkable feat so far:
1946-1947: 34-3 28-2 in regular season (lost to Oklahoma A&M in Sugar Bowl, lost at DePaul). Won SEC regular season (11-0). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Tulane. Lost NIT Championship to Utah.
1947-1948: 36-3 (including 2-1 in Olympic Trials). 27-2 in regular season (lost at Temple and Notre Dame). Won SEC regular season (9-0). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Georgia Tech. Won National Championship over Baylor. Beat Louisville and Baylor in Olympic Trials, then lost to Phillips Oilers. Players from this team were major contributors to the Team USA's gold medal victory in the London Olympics.
1948-1949: 32-2 25-1 in regular season (lost to St. Louis in Sugar Bowl Championship). Won SEC regular season (13-0). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Tulane. Lost to Loyola (Chicago) in NIT. Won National Championship over Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State).
1950-1951: 32-2 25-1 in regular season (lost to St. Louis in Sugar Bowl). Won SEC regular season (14-0). Lost SEC Tournament Championship to Vanderbilt. Won National Championship over Kansas State.
1977-1978: 30-2 25-2 in regular season (lost at Alabama and LSU). Won SEC regular season (16-2). There was no SEC Tournament. Won National Championship as #1 seed over Duke.
1985-1986: 32-4 26-3 in regular season (lost at Kansas, Auburn and NC State). Won SEC regular season (17-1). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Alabama. Made Elite Eight as #1 seed, lost to LSU in their fourth meeting of the year (UK had won the first three).
1992-1993: 30-4 23-3 in regular season (lost at Vandy, Arkansas and Tennessee). Did NOT win SEC regular season (Vandy went 14-2). Won SEC Tournament Championship over LSU. Made Final Four as #1 seed, lost to Michigan.
1995-1996: 34-2 26-1 in regular season (lost to UMass in Great Eight, then won 25 in a row). Won SEC regular season (16-0). Lost SEC Tournament Championship to Mississippi State. Won National Championship as #1 seed over Syracuse.
1996-1997: 35-5 27-4 in regular season (lost twice to South Carolina, lost to Clemson in BCA Classic, lost at Ole Miss). Actually did NOT win SEC regular season because of loss to South Carolina on Senior Night. Did win SEC Tournament Championship, over Georgia. Lost National Championship Game as #1 seed to Arizona.
1997-1998: 35-4 26-4 in regular season (lost to Arizona in Maui, lost to Louisville, Ole Miss and Florida at Rupp). Undefeated in road games. Won SEC regular season (14-2). Won SEC Tournament Championship over South Carolina. Won National Championship as #1 seed over Utah.
2002-2003: 32-4 26-3 in regular season (lost to Virginia in Maui, lost at home to Michigan State, lost at Louisville...then went on a 26-game winning streak). Won SEC regular season (16-0). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Mississippi State. Made Elite Eight as #1 seed (lost to West Virginia).
2009-2010: 35-3 29-2 in regular season (lost at South Carolina and Tennessee). Won SEC regular season (14-2). Won SEC Tournament Championship over Mississippi State. Made Elite Eight as #1 seed (lost to West Virginia).
2011-2012: 38-2 30-1 in regular season (lost at Indiana). Undefeated SEC schedule (16-0). Lost to Vanderbilt in SEC Tournament Championship. Won National Championship as #1 seed over Kansas.
2014-2015: 38-1 Undefeated regular season (31-0). Won SEC regular season (18-0) and SEC Tournament. Made Final Four as #1 seed (lost to Wisconsin).
Will 2016-2017 be the next one on the list? They have an excellent shot. With 29, and the NCAA tournament on the way, it would be shocking for them NOT to make it.
Kentucky basketball vs. Tennessee all-time (15 different arenas)
(updated through regular season matchups in 2017)
Big Orange has been Kentucky's biggest problem in the SEC. Sure, Florida has been a pain during the last two decades. But no league opponent has a winning percentage over 30 against the Cats, other than the Vols. They've been especially dangerous in Knoxville, of course, where UK has barely managed a winning record (see below).
UK's overall record is currently 153-69 against UT (68.9%). 69 wins is the most any team has against UK (followed by 47 for Vandy, 38 for Florida and 37 for Alabama). The 222 meetings are easily the most in any series UK has played (followed by 189 meetings with Vandy and 149 with Georgia).
Let's check out the breakdown.
Home games: 90-16 (84.9%)
Rupp Arena: 36-4 (90%) - only losses were in 1977, 1979, 1999 and 2006
Memorial Coliseum: 22-4 (84.6%) - losses were in 1960, 1963, 1967 and 1976
Alumni Gym: 23-2 (92%) - losses were in 1927 and 1939
Buell Armory Gym: 5-5 (50%) - losses were in 1917 (twice), 1920 (twice) and 1923
Woodland Auditorium: 4-1 (80%) - loss was in 1916
Road games: 52-49 (51.5%)
Thompson-Boling Arena: 16-13 (55.2%) - Games since 1988
Stokely Center: 5-16 (23.8%) - This was the ultimate house of horrors for UK basketball. From 1967 through 1987 (late Rupp years, Hall and then Sutton), the Cats just couldn't do anything in Knoxville. There were even two separate five-game road losing streaks in the series (1973-77 and 1979-83).
UT Armory Fieldhouse: 5-3 (62.5%) - Games between 1959 and 1966
Alumni Memorial Gymnasium: 17-7 (70.8%) - Games between 1933 and 1958
Jefferson Hall: 6-4 (60%) - Games between 1923 and 1932
Knoxville Central YMCA: 3-6 (33.3%) - Games between 1915 and 1920
Neutral sites: 11-4 (73.3%)
Bridgestone Arena (Nashville): 1-0 (100%) - 2010 SEC Tournament
Georgia Dome: 1-0 (100%) - 2005 SEC Tournament
Rupp Arena: 1-0 (100%) - 1993 SEC Tournament
Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center: 0-1 (0%) - 1979 SEC Tournament Championship
Jefferson County Armory (Louisville): 5-2 (71.4%) - lost 1941 and 1943 SEC Tournament Championships...won 1945 and 1950 SEC Tournament Championships...also won SEC Tournament games in 1948, 1949 and 1952
Alumni Memorial Gymnasium (Knoxville): 3-1 (75%) - lost in 1936 SEC Tournament...won 1937 SEC Tournament Championship...won 1939 SEC Tournament Championship...won in 1940 SEC Tournament
By type of game:
Regular season SEC home games: 73-9
Regular season SEC road games: 43-39
Regular season SEC neutral games: 0-0
Regular season SEC games overall: 116-48
Regular season non-SEC home games: 1-0 (1961 UKIT)
Regular season pre-SEC home games: 16-7
Regular season pre-SEC road games: 9-10
SEC Tournament: 11-4
By coach:
John Calipari (2010-present): 11-4 (7-0 at home, 3-4 in Knoxville, 1-0 SECT)
Billy Gillispie (2008-09): 3-1 (2-0 at home, 1-1 in Knoxville)
Tubby Smith (1998-2007): 15-6 (8-2 at home, 6-4 in Knoxville, 1-0 in SECT)
Rick Pitino (1990-97): 14-3 (8-0 at home, 5-3 in Knoxville, 1-0 in SECT)
Eddie Sutton (1986-89): 6-2 (4-0 at home, 2-2 in Knoxville)
Joe B. Hall (1973-85): 11-16 (10-3 at home, 1-12 in Knoxville, 0-1 in SECT)
Adolph Rupp (1931-72): 72-20 (37-4 at home, 27-13 in Knoxville, 8-3 in SECT)
John Mauer (1928-1930): 5-1 (3-0 at home, 2-1 in Knoxville)
Basil Hayden (1927): 0-2 (0-1 at home, 0-1 in Knoxville)
Ray Eklund (1926): 2-0 (1-0 at home, 1-0 in Knoxville)
Clarence Applegran (1925): 2-0 (1-0 at home, 1-0 in Knoxville)
George Buchheit (1920-24): 1-6 (0-3 at home, 1-3 in Knoxville)
Andrew Gill (1919): 1-1 (1-0 at home, 0-1 in Knoxville)
Stanley Boles (1918): 4-0 (2-0 at home, 2-0 in Knoxville)
William Tuttle (1917): 0-4 (0-2 at home, 0-2 in Knoxville)
James Park (1916): 0-1 (at home)
Alpha Brumage (1914-15): 4-2 (4-0 at home, 0-2 in Knoxville)
Edwin Sweetland (1910-12): 2-0 (at home)
By opposing coach:
Big Orange has been Kentucky's biggest problem in the SEC. Sure, Florida has been a pain during the last two decades. But no league opponent has a winning percentage over 30 against the Cats, other than the Vols. They've been especially dangerous in Knoxville, of course, where UK has barely managed a winning record (see below).
UK's overall record is currently 153-69 against UT (68.9%). 69 wins is the most any team has against UK (followed by 47 for Vandy, 38 for Florida and 37 for Alabama). The 222 meetings are easily the most in any series UK has played (followed by 189 meetings with Vandy and 149 with Georgia).
Let's check out the breakdown.
Home games: 90-16 (84.9%)
Rupp Arena: 36-4 (90%) - only losses were in 1977, 1979, 1999 and 2006
Memorial Coliseum: 22-4 (84.6%) - losses were in 1960, 1963, 1967 and 1976
Alumni Gym: 23-2 (92%) - losses were in 1927 and 1939
Buell Armory Gym: 5-5 (50%) - losses were in 1917 (twice), 1920 (twice) and 1923
Woodland Auditorium: 4-1 (80%) - loss was in 1916
Road games: 52-49 (51.5%)
Thompson-Boling Arena: 16-13 (55.2%) - Games since 1988
Stokely Center: 5-16 (23.8%) - This was the ultimate house of horrors for UK basketball. From 1967 through 1987 (late Rupp years, Hall and then Sutton), the Cats just couldn't do anything in Knoxville. There were even two separate five-game road losing streaks in the series (1973-77 and 1979-83).
UT Armory Fieldhouse: 5-3 (62.5%) - Games between 1959 and 1966
Alumni Memorial Gymnasium: 17-7 (70.8%) - Games between 1933 and 1958
Jefferson Hall: 6-4 (60%) - Games between 1923 and 1932
Knoxville Central YMCA: 3-6 (33.3%) - Games between 1915 and 1920
Neutral sites: 11-4 (73.3%)
Bridgestone Arena (Nashville): 1-0 (100%) - 2010 SEC Tournament
Georgia Dome: 1-0 (100%) - 2005 SEC Tournament
Rupp Arena: 1-0 (100%) - 1993 SEC Tournament
Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center: 0-1 (0%) - 1979 SEC Tournament Championship
Jefferson County Armory (Louisville): 5-2 (71.4%) - lost 1941 and 1943 SEC Tournament Championships...won 1945 and 1950 SEC Tournament Championships...also won SEC Tournament games in 1948, 1949 and 1952
Alumni Memorial Gymnasium (Knoxville): 3-1 (75%) - lost in 1936 SEC Tournament...won 1937 SEC Tournament Championship...won 1939 SEC Tournament Championship...won in 1940 SEC Tournament
By type of game:
Regular season SEC home games: 73-9
Regular season SEC road games: 43-39
Regular season SEC neutral games: 0-0
Regular season SEC games overall: 116-48
Regular season non-SEC home games: 1-0 (1961 UKIT)
Regular season pre-SEC home games: 16-7
Regular season pre-SEC road games: 9-10
SEC Tournament: 11-4
By coach:
John Calipari (2010-present): 11-4 (7-0 at home, 3-4 in Knoxville, 1-0 SECT)
Billy Gillispie (2008-09): 3-1 (2-0 at home, 1-1 in Knoxville)
Tubby Smith (1998-2007): 15-6 (8-2 at home, 6-4 in Knoxville, 1-0 in SECT)
Rick Pitino (1990-97): 14-3 (8-0 at home, 5-3 in Knoxville, 1-0 in SECT)
Eddie Sutton (1986-89): 6-2 (4-0 at home, 2-2 in Knoxville)
Joe B. Hall (1973-85): 11-16 (10-3 at home, 1-12 in Knoxville, 0-1 in SECT)
Adolph Rupp (1931-72): 72-20 (37-4 at home, 27-13 in Knoxville, 8-3 in SECT)
John Mauer (1928-1930): 5-1 (3-0 at home, 2-1 in Knoxville)
Basil Hayden (1927): 0-2 (0-1 at home, 0-1 in Knoxville)
Ray Eklund (1926): 2-0 (1-0 at home, 1-0 in Knoxville)
Clarence Applegran (1925): 2-0 (1-0 at home, 1-0 in Knoxville)
George Buchheit (1920-24): 1-6 (0-3 at home, 1-3 in Knoxville)
Andrew Gill (1919): 1-1 (1-0 at home, 0-1 in Knoxville)
Stanley Boles (1918): 4-0 (2-0 at home, 2-0 in Knoxville)
William Tuttle (1917): 0-4 (0-2 at home, 0-2 in Knoxville)
James Park (1916): 0-1 (at home)
Alpha Brumage (1914-15): 4-2 (4-0 at home, 0-2 in Knoxville)
Edwin Sweetland (1910-12): 2-0 (at home)
By opposing coach:
Rick Barnes: 2-2 against UK (Calipari)
Cuonzo Martin: 1-4 against UK (Calipari)
Bruce Pearl: 4-9 against UK (2-2 vs. Tubby, 1-3 vs. Billy G, 1-4 vs. Cal)
Buzz Peterson: 1-8 against UK (Tubby)
Jerry Green: 3-5 against UK (Tubby)
Kevin O'Neill: 0-6 against UK (Pitino)
Wade Houston: 3-8 against UK (Pitino)
Don DeVoe: 11-12 against UK (2-6 vs. Sutton, 9-6 vs. Hall)
Cliff Wettig: 0-2 against UK (Hall)
Ray Mears: 15-15 against UK (7-3 vs. Hall, 8-12 vs. Rupp)
John Sines: 1-6 against UK (Rupp)
Emmett Lowery: 1-25 against UK (Rupp)
John Mauer: 7-15 against UK (Rupp)
Blair Gullion: 3-5 against UK (Rupp)
W.H. Britton: 3-15 against UK (0-10 vs. Rupp, 1-5 vs. Mauer, 2-0 vs. Hayden)
M. Beal Banks: 3-4 against UK (0-2 vs. Eklund, 0-2 vs. Applegran, 3-0 vs. Buchheit)
John Bender: 7-1 against UK (3-1 vs. Buchheit, 4-0 vs. Tuttle)
R.H. Fitzgerald: 1-5 against UK (0-4 vs. Boles, 1-1 vs. Gill)
Zora Clevenger: 3-5 against UK (1-0 vs. Park, 2-4 vs. Brumage, 0-1 vs. Sweetland)
Solon Kipp: 0-1 against UK (Sweetland)
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Kentucky basketball vs. South Carolina all-time (9 different arenas)
(updated through 2017 regular season)
South Carolina. They have some memorably frustrating wins against UK (including two in the conference tournament against Tubby, Pitino's last game in blue at Rupp Arena, and the "Obama Curse" game in 2010). But like any other SEC team, their overall results against the Cats are less than inspiring.
UK's overall record is currently 51-11 against USC-East (82.3%). Let's check out the breakdown.
Home games: 27-2 (93.1%)
Rupp Arena: 24-2 (92.3%) - losses were 1997, 2009...two of the wins came before Carolina joined the SEC
Memorial Coliseum: 1-0 (100%) - the 1967 UKIT
Alumni Gym: 2-0 (100%) - games were in 1933 and 1941
Road games: 20-7 (74.1%)
Carolina Center / Colonial Center / Colonial Life Arena: 9-4 (69.2%) - losses were in 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014
Carolina Coliseum / Frank McGuire Arena: 11-2 (81.8%) - losses were in 1994, 1997...two of the wins were pre-SEC
Carolina Fieldhouse: 0-1 (0%) - game was in 1933
Neutral sites: 4-2 (57.1%)
Atlanta Municipal Auditorium: 1-0 (100%) - 1928 Southern Conference Tournament
Georgia Dome: 2-1 (67%) - 1998, 2002 and 2004 SEC Tournament
Gaylord Entertainment Center: 1-1 (50%) - 2001 and 2006 SEC Tournament
By type of game:
Regular season SEC home games: 22-2
Regular season SEC road games: 18-6
Regular season SEC neutral games: 0-0
Regular season SEC games overall: 39-8
Regular season pre-SEC home games: 5-0
Regular season pre-SEC road games: 2-1
SEC Tournament: 3-2
Southern Conference Tournament: 1-0
NCAA Tournament: N/A
By coach:
Calipari: 10-2
Billy G: 2-2
Tubby: 22-3
Pitino: 9-3
Sutton: 0-0
Hall: 4-0
Rupp: 3-1
Mauer: 1-0
South Carolina. They have some memorably frustrating wins against UK (including two in the conference tournament against Tubby, Pitino's last game in blue at Rupp Arena, and the "Obama Curse" game in 2010). But like any other SEC team, their overall results against the Cats are less than inspiring.
UK's overall record is currently 51-11 against USC-East (82.3%). Let's check out the breakdown.
Home games: 27-2 (93.1%)
Rupp Arena: 24-2 (92.3%) - losses were 1997, 2009...two of the wins came before Carolina joined the SEC
Memorial Coliseum: 1-0 (100%) - the 1967 UKIT
Alumni Gym: 2-0 (100%) - games were in 1933 and 1941
Road games: 20-7 (74.1%)
Carolina Center / Colonial Center / Colonial Life Arena: 9-4 (69.2%) - losses were in 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014
Carolina Coliseum / Frank McGuire Arena: 11-2 (81.8%) - losses were in 1994, 1997...two of the wins were pre-SEC
Carolina Fieldhouse: 0-1 (0%) - game was in 1933
Neutral sites: 4-2 (57.1%)
Atlanta Municipal Auditorium: 1-0 (100%) - 1928 Southern Conference Tournament
Georgia Dome: 2-1 (67%) - 1998, 2002 and 2004 SEC Tournament
Gaylord Entertainment Center: 1-1 (50%) - 2001 and 2006 SEC Tournament
By type of game:
Regular season SEC home games: 22-2
Regular season SEC road games: 18-6
Regular season SEC neutral games: 0-0
Regular season SEC games overall: 39-8
Regular season pre-SEC home games: 5-0
Regular season pre-SEC road games: 2-1
SEC Tournament: 3-2
Southern Conference Tournament: 1-0
NCAA Tournament: N/A
By coach:
Calipari: 10-2
Billy G: 2-2
Tubby: 22-3
Pitino: 9-3
Sutton: 0-0
Hall: 4-0
Rupp: 3-1
Mauer: 1-0
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Which SEC opponents have won the most at Rupp Arena?
(updated through first 8 home games of 2017 SEC season)
Few visiting teams escape Rupp Arena with a victory. UK has gone undefeated at home quite a number of times in their current confines, including:
Calipari:
2016
2015
2012
2011
2010
Tubby:
2005 (undefeated at home in SEC play, lost to KU)
2003 (undefeated at home in SEC play, lost to Michigan State)
2001 (undefeated at home in SEC play, lost to Penn State)
2000
Pitino:
1996
1993
1991
1990
Sutton:
1986
Hall:
1984
1982 (but did lose at Rupp in SEC Tournament)
1981
1978
But how have specific conference foes (and their coaches) fared?
Alabama: 5-23 in SEC regular season, 1-1 in SEC Tournament
2006 (Mark Gottfried vs. Tubby Smith) - won 68-64 (both were unranked)
2002 (Mark Gottfried vs. Tubby Smith) - won 64-61 (Bama was #14, UK was #8)
1989 (Wimp Sanderson vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 71-67 (both were unranked)
1987 (Wimp Sanderson vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 69-55 (UK was #9)
1980 (C.M. Newton vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 78-64 (UK was #4)
NOTE: They also won in 1982 SEC Championship in Rupp, and lost in 1986 SEC Championship.
Arkansas: 3-11 in SEC regular season, lost in 1993 SEC Tournament
2014 (Mike Anderson vs. John Calipari) - won 71-67 (OT) (UK was #17)
1994 (Nolan Richardson vs. Rick Pitino) - won 90-82 (Ark was #3, UK was #4)
1992 (Nolan Richardson vs. Rick Pitino) - won 105-88 (Ark was #9, UK was #8)
Auburn: 2-26 in SEC regular season, lost in 1982 SEC Tournament
1988 (Sonny Smith vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 53-52 (UK was #1)
1983 (Sonny Smith vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 75-67 (UK was #6)
Florida: 7-34 in SEC regular season
2014 (Billy Donovan vs. John Calipari) - won 69-59 (UF was #3, UK was #14)
2007 (Billy Donovan vs. Tubby Smith) - won 64-61 (UF was #1, UK was #20)
2006 (Billy Donovan vs. Tubby Smith) - won 79-64 (UF was #17, UK was unranked)
1998 (Billy Donovan vs. Tubby Smith) - won 86-78 (UK was #7)
1989 (Norman Sloan vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 59-53 (both were unranked)
1988 (Norman Sloan vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 58-56 (UK was #4)
1985 (Norman Sloan vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 67-55 (both were unranked)
Georgia: 4-35 in SEC regular season
2009 (Pete Herrmann vs. Billy Gillispie) - won 90-85 (both were unranked)
2004 (Dennis Felton vs. Tubby Smith) - won 65-57 (UK was #5)
2002 (Jim Harrick vs. Tubby Smith) - won 88-84 (UK was #8)
1985 (Hugh Durham vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 79-77 (UGA was #18, UK was unranked)
LSU: 5-24 in SEC regular season, 0-2 in SEC Tournament
2009 (Trent Johnson vs. Billy Gillispie) - won 73-70 (LSU was #18, UK was unranked)
1989 (Dale Brown vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 64-62 (both were unranked)
1987 (Dale Brown vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 76-41 (both were unranked)
1980 (Dale Brown vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 65-60 (LSU was #11, UK was #5)
1979 (Dale Brown vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 93-89 (UK was #9)
Mississippi: 1-27 in SEC regular season, 0-2 in SEC Tournament
1998 (Rob Evans vs. Tubby Smith) - won 73-64 (Miss was #18, UK was #7)
Mississippi State: 2-26 in SEC regular season
2009 (Rick Stansbury vs. Billy Gillispie) - won 66-57 (both were unranked)
1995 (Richard Williams vs. Rick Pitino) - won 76-71 (MSU was #23, UK was #4)
Missouri: 0-3 in SEC regular season
none
South Carolina: 2-22 in SEC regular season, 0-2 before joining SEC
2009 (Darrin Horn vs. Billy Gillispie) - won 78-77 (UK was #24)
1997 (Eddie Fogler vs. Rick Pitino) - won 72-66 (USC was #6, UK was #3)
Tennessee: 4-36 in SEC regular season, lost 101-40 in 1993 SEC Tournament
2006 (Bruce Pearl vs. Tubby Smith) - won 75-67 (UT was #11, UK was unranked)
1999 (Jerry Green vs. Tubby Smith) - won 47-46 (UK was #6)
1979 (Don DeVoe vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 66-55 (both were unranked)
1977 (Ray Mears vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 71-67 (OT) (UK was #2)
Texas A&M: 1-2 in SEC regular season, won at Rupp pre-SEC in 1978
2013 (Billy Kennedy vs. John Calipari) - won 83-71 (both were unranked)
Vanderbilt: 2-36 in SEC regular season
2007 (Kevin Stallings vs. Tubby Smith) - won 72-67 (UK was #25)
2006 (Kevin Stallings vs. Tubby Smith) - won 57-52 (both were unranked)
So, the teams with the most SEC regular season wins at Rupp:
1) Florida - 7
2) Alabama and LSU - 5
And the teams with the best winning percentage...
1) Texas A&M: 33% (1-2)
2) Arkansas: 21% (3-11)
3) Alabama: 18% (5-23)
And the most successful coaches?
1) Dale Brown. 4 wins (but 14 losses).
2) Billy Donovan. 4 wins (but 15 losses).
3) Norman Sloan. 3 wins (but 6 losses).
Few visiting teams escape Rupp Arena with a victory. UK has gone undefeated at home quite a number of times in their current confines, including:
Calipari:
2016
2015
2012
2011
2010
Tubby:
2005 (undefeated at home in SEC play, lost to KU)
2003 (undefeated at home in SEC play, lost to Michigan State)
2001 (undefeated at home in SEC play, lost to Penn State)
2000
Pitino:
1996
1993
1991
1990
Sutton:
1986
Hall:
1984
1982 (but did lose at Rupp in SEC Tournament)
1981
1978
But how have specific conference foes (and their coaches) fared?
Alabama: 5-23 in SEC regular season, 1-1 in SEC Tournament
2006 (Mark Gottfried vs. Tubby Smith) - won 68-64 (both were unranked)
2002 (Mark Gottfried vs. Tubby Smith) - won 64-61 (Bama was #14, UK was #8)
1989 (Wimp Sanderson vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 71-67 (both were unranked)
1987 (Wimp Sanderson vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 69-55 (UK was #9)
1980 (C.M. Newton vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 78-64 (UK was #4)
NOTE: They also won in 1982 SEC Championship in Rupp, and lost in 1986 SEC Championship.
Arkansas: 3-11 in SEC regular season, lost in 1993 SEC Tournament
2014 (Mike Anderson vs. John Calipari) - won 71-67 (OT) (UK was #17)
1994 (Nolan Richardson vs. Rick Pitino) - won 90-82 (Ark was #3, UK was #4)
1992 (Nolan Richardson vs. Rick Pitino) - won 105-88 (Ark was #9, UK was #8)
Auburn: 2-26 in SEC regular season, lost in 1982 SEC Tournament
1988 (Sonny Smith vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 53-52 (UK was #1)
1983 (Sonny Smith vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 75-67 (UK was #6)
Florida: 7-34 in SEC regular season
2014 (Billy Donovan vs. John Calipari) - won 69-59 (UF was #3, UK was #14)
2007 (Billy Donovan vs. Tubby Smith) - won 64-61 (UF was #1, UK was #20)
2006 (Billy Donovan vs. Tubby Smith) - won 79-64 (UF was #17, UK was unranked)
1998 (Billy Donovan vs. Tubby Smith) - won 86-78 (UK was #7)
1989 (Norman Sloan vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 59-53 (both were unranked)
1988 (Norman Sloan vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 58-56 (UK was #4)
1985 (Norman Sloan vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 67-55 (both were unranked)
Georgia: 4-35 in SEC regular season
2009 (Pete Herrmann vs. Billy Gillispie) - won 90-85 (both were unranked)
2004 (Dennis Felton vs. Tubby Smith) - won 65-57 (UK was #5)
2002 (Jim Harrick vs. Tubby Smith) - won 88-84 (UK was #8)
1985 (Hugh Durham vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 79-77 (UGA was #18, UK was unranked)
LSU: 5-24 in SEC regular season, 0-2 in SEC Tournament
2009 (Trent Johnson vs. Billy Gillispie) - won 73-70 (LSU was #18, UK was unranked)
1989 (Dale Brown vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 64-62 (both were unranked)
1987 (Dale Brown vs. Eddie Sutton) - won 76-41 (both were unranked)
1980 (Dale Brown vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 65-60 (LSU was #11, UK was #5)
1979 (Dale Brown vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 93-89 (UK was #9)
Mississippi: 1-27 in SEC regular season, 0-2 in SEC Tournament
1998 (Rob Evans vs. Tubby Smith) - won 73-64 (Miss was #18, UK was #7)
Mississippi State: 2-26 in SEC regular season
2009 (Rick Stansbury vs. Billy Gillispie) - won 66-57 (both were unranked)
1995 (Richard Williams vs. Rick Pitino) - won 76-71 (MSU was #23, UK was #4)
Missouri: 0-3 in SEC regular season
none
South Carolina: 2-22 in SEC regular season, 0-2 before joining SEC
2009 (Darrin Horn vs. Billy Gillispie) - won 78-77 (UK was #24)
1997 (Eddie Fogler vs. Rick Pitino) - won 72-66 (USC was #6, UK was #3)
Tennessee: 4-36 in SEC regular season, lost 101-40 in 1993 SEC Tournament
2006 (Bruce Pearl vs. Tubby Smith) - won 75-67 (UT was #11, UK was unranked)
1999 (Jerry Green vs. Tubby Smith) - won 47-46 (UK was #6)
1979 (Don DeVoe vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 66-55 (both were unranked)
1977 (Ray Mears vs. Joe B. Hall) - won 71-67 (OT) (UK was #2)
Texas A&M: 1-2 in SEC regular season, won at Rupp pre-SEC in 1978
2013 (Billy Kennedy vs. John Calipari) - won 83-71 (both were unranked)
Vanderbilt: 2-36 in SEC regular season
2007 (Kevin Stallings vs. Tubby Smith) - won 72-67 (UK was #25)
2006 (Kevin Stallings vs. Tubby Smith) - won 57-52 (both were unranked)
So, the teams with the most SEC regular season wins at Rupp:
1) Florida - 7
2) Alabama and LSU - 5
And the teams with the best winning percentage...
1) Texas A&M: 33% (1-2)
2) Arkansas: 21% (3-11)
3) Alabama: 18% (5-23)
And the most successful coaches?
1) Dale Brown. 4 wins (but 14 losses).
2) Billy Donovan. 4 wins (but 15 losses).
3) Norman Sloan. 3 wins (but 6 losses).
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Which UK coaches have been best on the road in the SEC?
(Updated through win at Georgia on 2/18/17)
The Southeastern Conference was formed in the 1932-33 season, shortly after Adolph Rupp became UK's head coach (his first year was 1930-31). Since that time, Kentucky has managed to dominate and demoralize the rest of the conference in basketball. That has resulted in an understandable hatred of our success, which in turn has resulted in hostile road environments. It's never easy to travel in the SEC...but which one of our coaches has had the most success?
Calipari in SEC road games:
Starkville - 100% (5-0)
Columbia, MO - 100% (2-0)
Auburn - 80% (4-1)
Oxford - 75% (3-1)
Athens - 67% (4-2)
Columbia, SC - 67% (4-2)
Nashville - 71% (5-2)
College Station - 67% (2-1)
Baton Rouge - 60% (3-2)
Tuscaloosa - 60% (3-2)
Gainesville - 50% (4-4)
Knoxville - 42% (3-4)
Fayetteville - 25% (1-3)
Cal's SEC road record by year:
2010: 6-2
2011: 2-6
2012: 8-0
2013: 4-5
2014: 5-4
2015: 9-0
2016: 4-5
2017: 5-2 so far
TOTAL: 43-24 (64.2%)
Billy Gillispie in SEC road games:
Athens - 100% (2-0)
Tuscaloosa - 100% (1-0)
Fayetteville - 100% (1-0)
Baton Rouge - 100% (1-0)
Auburn - 100% (1-0)
Knoxville - 50% (1-1)
Columbia SC - 50% (1-1)
Oxford - 0% (0-1)
Starkville - 0% (0-1)
Gainesville - 0% (0-2)
Nashville - 0% (0-2) - including a 41-point embarrassment his first year
Gillispie's SEC road record by year:
2008: 4-4
2009: 4-4
TOTAL: 8-8 (50%)
Tubby in SEC road games:
Columbia, SC - 90% (9-1)
Auburn - 80% (4-1)
Oxford - 80% (4-1)
Starkville - 80% (4-1)
Athens - 70% (7-3)
Knoxville - 60% (6-4)
Nashville - 60% (6-4)
Fayetteville - 60% (3-2)
Baton Rouge - 60% (3-2)
Gainesville - 40% (4-6)
Tuscaloosa - 40% (2-3)
Tubby's SEC road record by year:
1998: 8-0
1999: 4-4
2000: 4-4
2001: 4-4
2002: 4-4
2003: 8-0
2004: 6-2
2005: 6-2
2006: 5-3
2007: 3-5
TOTAL: 52-28 (65%)
Rick Pitino in SEC road games:
Auburn - 80% (4-1)
Gainesville - 75% (6-2)
Athens - 75% (6-2)
Columbia SC - 67% (4-2)
Knoxville - 62.5% (5-3)
Nashville - 62.5% (5-3)
Tuscaloosa - 60% (3-2)
Starkville - 60% (3-2)
Oxford - 50% (2-2)
Baton Rouge - 40% (2-3)
Fayetteville - 33% (1-2)
Pitino's SEC road record by year:
1990: 1-8
1991: 5-4
1992: 5-3
1993: 5-3
1994: 5-3
1995: 6-1 (also won vs. Ole Miss at The Pyramid)
1996: 8-0
1997: 6-2
TOTAL: 41-24 (63.1%)
Eddie Sutton in SEC road games:
Tuscaloosa - 75% (3-1)
Starkville - 75% (3-1)
Auburn - 50% (2-2)
Gainesville - 50% (2-2)
Baton Rouge - 50% (2-2)
Knoxville - 50% (2-2)
Oxford - 50% (2-2)
Nashville - 50% (2-2)
Athens - 33% (1-2) - also won 1 in Atlanta
Sutton's SEC road record by year:
1986: 8-1
1987: 4-5
1988: 5-3 (also won vs. Georgia at The Omni)
1989: 2-7
TOTAL: 19-16 (54.2%)
Joe B. Hall in SEC road games:
Gainesville - 77% (10-3)
Oxford - 77% (10-3)
Athens - 75% (9-3)
Starkville - 69% (9-4)
Nashville - 69% (9-4)
Auburn - 61.5% (8-5)
Baton Rouge - 46% (6-7) - but he lost 6 of his last 8
Tuscaloosa - 38.5% (5-8)
Knoxville - 8% (1-12) - by far the worst performance by any of our coaches against an SEC opponent
Joe B's SEC road record by year:
1973: 6-3
1974: 3-6
1975: 6-3
1976: 3-6
1977: 8-1
1978: 7-2
1979: 3-6
1980: 7-1 (also won vs. Georgia at The Omni)
1981: 6-3
1982: 4-5
1983: 5-4
1984: 5-4
1985: 4-5
TOTAL: 67-49 (57.8%)
Adolph Rupp in SEC road games:
Oxford - 100% (7-0) - also 3-0 at Jackson, 3-0 at Memphis
Sewanee - 100% (1-0)
Baton Rouge - 85% (11-2)
Athens - 79% (11-3) - also 3-0 at "neutral" Georgia sites
Starkville - 77% (10-3)
New Orleans - 77% (10-3)
Nashville - 72% (26-10) - but he was 7-7 in his last 14
Tuscaloosa - 70% (14-6)
Atlanta - 68% (15-7) - but he lost 6 of his last 10
Knoxville - 66% (25-13) - but he lost 6 of his last 10
Auburn - 64% (7-4)
Gainesville - 60% (9-6) - but he lost 5 of his last 6
Rupp's SEC road record by year:
1933: 2-0
1934: 5-0 (also won vs. Alabama at Birmingham)
1935: 4-0
1936: 1-2
1937: 1-3
1938: 2-0
1939: 2-0 (17-5 in '30s)
1940: 0-3
1941: 3-1
1942: 2-3
1943: 4-1
1944: N/A
1945: 1-1
1946: 3-0
1947: 5-0
1948: 5-0
1949: 4-0 (27-9 in '40s)
1950: 3-2
1951: 6-0
1952: 6-0
1953: N/A
1954: 4-0
1955: 5-1
1956: 3-1
1957: 4-2
1958: 3-1
1959: 4-2 (38-9 in '50s)
1960: 3-2
1961: 2-4
1962: 6-0
1963: 3-3
1964: 3-3
1965: 3-5
1966: 7-1
1967: 3-6
1968: 5-4
1969: 7-2 (42-30 in '60s)
1970: 8-1
1971: 7-2
1972: 5-4 (20-7 in '70s)
TOTAL: 144-60 (70.6%)
FINAL TALLY:
RUPP - 70.6%
TUBBY - 65%
CAL - 64.2%
PITINO - 63.1%
HALL - 57.8%
SUTTON - 54.2%
Here's a look at our results by decade in SEC road games...
1930s: 17-5 (77.3%)
1940s: 27-9 (75%)
1950s: 38-9 (80.9%)
1960s: 42-30 (58.3%)
1970s: 56-34 (62.2%)
1980s: 50-38 (56.8%)
1990s: 53-28 (65.4%)
2000s: 48-32 (60.0%)
2010s: 43-24 (64.2%)
The Southeastern Conference was formed in the 1932-33 season, shortly after Adolph Rupp became UK's head coach (his first year was 1930-31). Since that time, Kentucky has managed to dominate and demoralize the rest of the conference in basketball. That has resulted in an understandable hatred of our success, which in turn has resulted in hostile road environments. It's never easy to travel in the SEC...but which one of our coaches has had the most success?
Calipari in SEC road games:
Starkville - 100% (5-0)
Columbia, MO - 100% (2-0)
Auburn - 80% (4-1)
Oxford - 75% (3-1)
Athens - 67% (4-2)
Columbia, SC - 67% (4-2)
Nashville - 71% (5-2)
College Station - 67% (2-1)
Baton Rouge - 60% (3-2)
Tuscaloosa - 60% (3-2)
Gainesville - 50% (4-4)
Knoxville - 42% (3-4)
Fayetteville - 25% (1-3)
Cal's SEC road record by year:
2010: 6-2
2011: 2-6
2012: 8-0
2013: 4-5
2014: 5-4
2015: 9-0
2016: 4-5
2017: 5-2 so far
TOTAL: 43-24 (64.2%)
Billy Gillispie in SEC road games:
Athens - 100% (2-0)
Tuscaloosa - 100% (1-0)
Fayetteville - 100% (1-0)
Baton Rouge - 100% (1-0)
Auburn - 100% (1-0)
Knoxville - 50% (1-1)
Columbia SC - 50% (1-1)
Oxford - 0% (0-1)
Starkville - 0% (0-1)
Gainesville - 0% (0-2)
Nashville - 0% (0-2) - including a 41-point embarrassment his first year
Gillispie's SEC road record by year:
2008: 4-4
2009: 4-4
TOTAL: 8-8 (50%)
Tubby in SEC road games:
Columbia, SC - 90% (9-1)
Auburn - 80% (4-1)
Oxford - 80% (4-1)
Starkville - 80% (4-1)
Athens - 70% (7-3)
Knoxville - 60% (6-4)
Nashville - 60% (6-4)
Fayetteville - 60% (3-2)
Baton Rouge - 60% (3-2)
Gainesville - 40% (4-6)
Tuscaloosa - 40% (2-3)
Tubby's SEC road record by year:
1998: 8-0
1999: 4-4
2000: 4-4
2001: 4-4
2002: 4-4
2003: 8-0
2004: 6-2
2005: 6-2
2006: 5-3
2007: 3-5
TOTAL: 52-28 (65%)
Rick Pitino in SEC road games:
Auburn - 80% (4-1)
Gainesville - 75% (6-2)
Athens - 75% (6-2)
Columbia SC - 67% (4-2)
Knoxville - 62.5% (5-3)
Nashville - 62.5% (5-3)
Tuscaloosa - 60% (3-2)
Starkville - 60% (3-2)
Oxford - 50% (2-2)
Baton Rouge - 40% (2-3)
Fayetteville - 33% (1-2)
Pitino's SEC road record by year:
1990: 1-8
1991: 5-4
1992: 5-3
1993: 5-3
1994: 5-3
1995: 6-1 (also won vs. Ole Miss at The Pyramid)
1996: 8-0
1997: 6-2
TOTAL: 41-24 (63.1%)
Eddie Sutton in SEC road games:
Tuscaloosa - 75% (3-1)
Starkville - 75% (3-1)
Auburn - 50% (2-2)
Gainesville - 50% (2-2)
Baton Rouge - 50% (2-2)
Knoxville - 50% (2-2)
Oxford - 50% (2-2)
Nashville - 50% (2-2)
Athens - 33% (1-2) - also won 1 in Atlanta
Sutton's SEC road record by year:
1986: 8-1
1987: 4-5
1988: 5-3 (also won vs. Georgia at The Omni)
1989: 2-7
TOTAL: 19-16 (54.2%)
Joe B. Hall in SEC road games:
Gainesville - 77% (10-3)
Oxford - 77% (10-3)
Athens - 75% (9-3)
Starkville - 69% (9-4)
Nashville - 69% (9-4)
Auburn - 61.5% (8-5)
Baton Rouge - 46% (6-7) - but he lost 6 of his last 8
Tuscaloosa - 38.5% (5-8)
Knoxville - 8% (1-12) - by far the worst performance by any of our coaches against an SEC opponent
Joe B's SEC road record by year:
1973: 6-3
1974: 3-6
1975: 6-3
1976: 3-6
1977: 8-1
1978: 7-2
1979: 3-6
1980: 7-1 (also won vs. Georgia at The Omni)
1981: 6-3
1982: 4-5
1983: 5-4
1984: 5-4
1985: 4-5
TOTAL: 67-49 (57.8%)
Adolph Rupp in SEC road games:
Oxford - 100% (7-0) - also 3-0 at Jackson, 3-0 at Memphis
Sewanee - 100% (1-0)
Baton Rouge - 85% (11-2)
Athens - 79% (11-3) - also 3-0 at "neutral" Georgia sites
Starkville - 77% (10-3)
New Orleans - 77% (10-3)
Nashville - 72% (26-10) - but he was 7-7 in his last 14
Tuscaloosa - 70% (14-6)
Atlanta - 68% (15-7) - but he lost 6 of his last 10
Knoxville - 66% (25-13) - but he lost 6 of his last 10
Auburn - 64% (7-4)
Gainesville - 60% (9-6) - but he lost 5 of his last 6
Rupp's SEC road record by year:
1933: 2-0
1934: 5-0 (also won vs. Alabama at Birmingham)
1935: 4-0
1936: 1-2
1937: 1-3
1938: 2-0
1939: 2-0 (17-5 in '30s)
1940: 0-3
1941: 3-1
1942: 2-3
1943: 4-1
1944: N/A
1945: 1-1
1946: 3-0
1947: 5-0
1948: 5-0
1949: 4-0 (27-9 in '40s)
1950: 3-2
1951: 6-0
1952: 6-0
1953: N/A
1954: 4-0
1955: 5-1
1956: 3-1
1957: 4-2
1958: 3-1
1959: 4-2 (38-9 in '50s)
1960: 3-2
1961: 2-4
1962: 6-0
1963: 3-3
1964: 3-3
1965: 3-5
1966: 7-1
1967: 3-6
1968: 5-4
1969: 7-2 (42-30 in '60s)
1970: 8-1
1971: 7-2
1972: 5-4 (20-7 in '70s)
TOTAL: 144-60 (70.6%)
FINAL TALLY:
RUPP - 70.6%
TUBBY - 65%
CAL - 64.2%
PITINO - 63.1%
HALL - 57.8%
SUTTON - 54.2%
Here's a look at our results by decade in SEC road games...
1930s: 17-5 (77.3%)
1940s: 27-9 (75%)
1950s: 38-9 (80.9%)
1960s: 42-30 (58.3%)
1970s: 56-34 (62.2%)
1980s: 50-38 (56.8%)
1990s: 53-28 (65.4%)
2000s: 48-32 (60.0%)
2010s: 43-24 (64.2%)
Kentucky basketball vs. Mississippi State all-time (13 different arenas)
Bulldog basketball fans don't bring as many cowbells as the football fans do, but they certainly bring the hatred. Even so, they haven't been as successful as some other conference foes against Kentucky. Maybe that's why they hate us so much? Sorry!
UK's overall record is now 87-18 against MSU (82.9%). Let's check out the breakdown.
Home games: 44-4 (91.7%)
Rupp Arena: 26-2 (92.9%) - losses were 1995, 2009
Memorial Coliseum: 16-2 (88.9%) - losses were 1962, 1967
Alumni Gym: 2-0 (100%) - games were in 1939 and 1940
Road games: 34-12 (73.9%)
Humphrey Coliseum: 21-9 (70%) - last loss was in 2008
New Gymnasium: 13-3 (81.3%) - first road game was in 1951
Neutral sites: 9-2 (81.8%)
Jefferson County Armory (Louisville): 3-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Owensboro (KY) Sportscenter: 1-0 (100%) - SEC regular season
Alumni Memorial Gymnasium (Knoxville): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Atlanta Municipal Auditorium: 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
The Pyramid (Memphis): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Bridgestone Arena (Nashville): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Superdome (New Orleans): 1-1 (50%) - SEC Tournament
Georgia Dome (Atlanta): 0-1 (0%) - SEC Tournament
By type of game:
Regular season SEC home games: 44-4
Regular season SEC road games: 34-12
Regular season SEC neutral games: 1-0
Regular season SEC games overall: 79-16
Regular season pre-SEC home games: N/A
SEC Tournament: 8-2
NCAA Tournament: N/A
By coach:
Calipari: 10-0
Billy G: 0-2
Tubby: 10-2
Pitino: 8-4
Sutton: 7-1
Hall: 22-4
Rupp: 30-5
UK's overall record is now 87-18 against MSU (82.9%). Let's check out the breakdown.
Home games: 44-4 (91.7%)
Rupp Arena: 26-2 (92.9%) - losses were 1995, 2009
Memorial Coliseum: 16-2 (88.9%) - losses were 1962, 1967
Alumni Gym: 2-0 (100%) - games were in 1939 and 1940
Road games: 34-12 (73.9%)
Humphrey Coliseum: 21-9 (70%) - last loss was in 2008
New Gymnasium: 13-3 (81.3%) - first road game was in 1951
Neutral sites: 9-2 (81.8%)
Jefferson County Armory (Louisville): 3-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Owensboro (KY) Sportscenter: 1-0 (100%) - SEC regular season
Alumni Memorial Gymnasium (Knoxville): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Atlanta Municipal Auditorium: 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
The Pyramid (Memphis): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Bridgestone Arena (Nashville): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Superdome (New Orleans): 1-1 (50%) - SEC Tournament
Georgia Dome (Atlanta): 0-1 (0%) - SEC Tournament
By type of game:
Regular season SEC home games: 44-4
Regular season SEC road games: 34-12
Regular season SEC neutral games: 1-0
Regular season SEC games overall: 79-16
Regular season pre-SEC home games: N/A
SEC Tournament: 8-2
NCAA Tournament: N/A
By coach:
Calipari: 10-0
Billy G: 0-2
Tubby: 10-2
Pitino: 8-4
Sutton: 7-1
Hall: 22-4
Rupp: 30-5
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Kentucky basketball vs. Auburn all-time (17 different arenas)
Kentucky has been extremely successful against Auburn throughout the years, to put it mildly. The overall record is 91-18 (83.5%), second only to our marks against Ole Miss (89%) and Missouri (9-0). Let's check out the breakdown...
Home games: 45-2 (95.7%)
Rupp Arena: 25-2 (92.6%) - no losses at home since 1988
Memorial Coliseum: 18-0 (100%) - complete domination
Alumni Gym: 1-0 (100%)
Buell Armory Gym: 1-0 (100%)
Road games: 30-14 (68.2%)
Auburn Arena: 3-1 (75%) - lost in 2016
Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum: 24-9 (72.7%)
Auburn Sports Arena: 3-4 (42.9%)
Neutral sites: 16-2 (88.9%)
Garrett Coliseum (Montgomery, AL): 3-0 (100%) - regular season
Birmingham City Auditorium: 0-1 (0%) - regular season
Jefferson County Armory (Louisville): 5-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center: 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Rupp Arena: 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Memorial Gymnasium (Nashville): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
The Omni (Atlanta): 0-1 (0%) - SEC Tournament
Georgia Dome (Atlanta): 2-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
The Pyramid (Memphis): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Superdome (New Orleans): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
Bridgestone Arena (Nashville): 1-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament
By type of game:
Regular season SEC home games: 43-2
Regular season SEC road games: 30-14
Regular season SEC neutral games: 3-1
Regular season SEC games overall: 76-17
Regular season pre-SEC home games: 2-0
SEC Tournament: 13-1
By coach:
Calipari: 8-1
Billy G: 2-0
Tubby: 11-1
Pitino: 11-1
Sutton: 5-4
Hall: 23-6
Rupp: 29-5
Ecklund: 1-0
Buchheit: 1-0
Saturday, January 7, 2017
What SEC road sites have been most difficult for UK?
(Updated through road win at Georgia on 2/18/17)
It's no secret that UK has dominated the SEC in basketball. Especially in Lexington. Their combined home conference record against current league members? 520-54, a winning percentage of 90.6%. Ridiculous!
The road has, of course, been significantly tougher. But UK has still performed to an elite level in opposing conference venues. Let's rank the opponents from easiest to toughest.
UK's all-time record in conference regular season road games at:
1) Columbia MO (Missouri) - 100% (2-0)
2) Sewanee - 100% (1-0) - left SEC after 1940
3) New Orleans (Tulane) - 76.9% (10-3) - left SEC after 1966
4) Columbia SC (South Carolina) - 75% (18-6)
5) Starkville (MSU) - 73.3% (34-12)
6) Oxford (Ole Miss) - 73.6% (28-10)
7) Athens (UGA) - 72.7% (40-15)
8) Auburn - 68.2% (30-14)
8) Atlanta (Georgia Tech) - 68.2% (15-7) - left SEC after 1964
10) College Station (A&M) - 66.7% (2-1)
11) Nashville (Vandy) - 66.3% (53-27)
12) Baton Rouge (LSU) - 60.9% (28-18)
13) Tuscaloosa (Alabama) - 58.5% (31-22)
14) Gainesville (Florida) - 58.3% (35-25)
15) Knoxville (Tennessee) - 52.4% (43-39)
16) Fayetteville (Arkansas) - 46.2% (6-7)
TOTAL: 64.6% (376-206)
TOTAL AGAINST CURRENT MEMBERS: 64.1% (350-196)
These results probably don't seem very surprising. Fayetteville, Knoxville, Tuscaloosa, Gainesville, Baton Rouge and Nashville are exactly what you'd expect are the top tier of difficulty for the Cats. They've had some battles (and some nightmarish losses) in all of those locales.
Still - how crazy is it that only ONE league team even has a non-losing home record against UK? The perfectionist in me wants UK to ruin that mark, too!
What if we look at more recent history? Just the last TEN road games at these places?
Columbia, MO - 100% (2-0)
Auburn - 80% (8-2)
Starkville - 80% (8-2)
Athens - 70% (7-3)
Oxford - 70% (7-3)
Columbia, SC - 70% (7-3)
College Station - 67% (2-1)
Baton Rouge - 60% (6-4)
Tuscaloosa - 60% (6-4)
Fayetteville - 50% (5-5)
Nashville - 50% (5-5)
Gainesville - 40% (4-6)
Knoxville - 40% (4-6)
And just under Calipari?
Starkville - 100% (5-0)
Columbia, MO - 100% (2-0)
Auburn - 80% (4-1)
Oxford - 75% (3-1)
Nashville - 71% (5-2)
Athens - 67% (4-2)
Columbia, SC - 67% (4-2)
College Station - 67% (2-1)
Tuscaloosa - 60% (3-2)
Baton Rouge - 60% (3-2)
Gainesville - 50% (4-4)
Knoxville - 42% (3-4)
Fayetteville - 25% (1-3)
His total SEC road regular season mark is 43-24 (64.2%)
It's no secret that UK has dominated the SEC in basketball. Especially in Lexington. Their combined home conference record against current league members? 520-54, a winning percentage of 90.6%. Ridiculous!
The road has, of course, been significantly tougher. But UK has still performed to an elite level in opposing conference venues. Let's rank the opponents from easiest to toughest.
UK's all-time record in conference regular season road games at:
1) Columbia MO (Missouri) - 100% (2-0)
2) Sewanee - 100% (1-0) - left SEC after 1940
3) New Orleans (Tulane) - 76.9% (10-3) - left SEC after 1966
4) Columbia SC (South Carolina) - 75% (18-6)
5) Starkville (MSU) - 73.3% (34-12)
6) Oxford (Ole Miss) - 73.6% (28-10)
7) Athens (UGA) - 72.7% (40-15)
8) Auburn - 68.2% (30-14)
8) Atlanta (Georgia Tech) - 68.2% (15-7) - left SEC after 1964
10) College Station (A&M) - 66.7% (2-1)
11) Nashville (Vandy) - 66.3% (53-27)
12) Baton Rouge (LSU) - 60.9% (28-18)
13) Tuscaloosa (Alabama) - 58.5% (31-22)
14) Gainesville (Florida) - 58.3% (35-25)
15) Knoxville (Tennessee) - 52.4% (43-39)
16) Fayetteville (Arkansas) - 46.2% (6-7)
TOTAL: 64.6% (376-206)
TOTAL AGAINST CURRENT MEMBERS: 64.1% (350-196)
These results probably don't seem very surprising. Fayetteville, Knoxville, Tuscaloosa, Gainesville, Baton Rouge and Nashville are exactly what you'd expect are the top tier of difficulty for the Cats. They've had some battles (and some nightmarish losses) in all of those locales.
Still - how crazy is it that only ONE league team even has a non-losing home record against UK? The perfectionist in me wants UK to ruin that mark, too!
What if we look at more recent history? Just the last TEN road games at these places?
Columbia, MO - 100% (2-0)
Auburn - 80% (8-2)
Starkville - 80% (8-2)
Athens - 70% (7-3)
Oxford - 70% (7-3)
Columbia, SC - 70% (7-3)
College Station - 67% (2-1)
Baton Rouge - 60% (6-4)
Tuscaloosa - 60% (6-4)
Fayetteville - 50% (5-5)
Nashville - 50% (5-5)
Gainesville - 40% (4-6)
Knoxville - 40% (4-6)
And just under Calipari?
Starkville - 100% (5-0)
Columbia, MO - 100% (2-0)
Auburn - 80% (4-1)
Oxford - 75% (3-1)
Nashville - 71% (5-2)
Athens - 67% (4-2)
Columbia, SC - 67% (4-2)
College Station - 67% (2-1)
Tuscaloosa - 60% (3-2)
Baton Rouge - 60% (3-2)
Gainesville - 50% (4-4)
Knoxville - 42% (3-4)
Fayetteville - 25% (1-3)
His total SEC road regular season mark is 43-24 (64.2%)
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
What schools/countries have produced the top scorers in the NBA?
On this blog, I've devoted a lot of words and calculations to the consideration of which college programs are the "best" in NCAA history. I haven't included NBA products as part of those discussions, as I don't consider it relevant. Great teams can win without singular stars. UK has had some truly amazing players, especially under Cal, but they haven't relied on them.
So, let's look at the NBA's top 50 scoring list. As I've mentioned, UK isn't represented on the list. Who is?
1) HIGH SCHOOL (4)
3rd - KOBE BRYANT (33643)
8th - LeBRON JAMES (27602) - active
9th - MOSES MALONE (27409)
17th - KEVIN GARNETT (26071)
2) NORTH CAROLINA (4)
4th - MICHAEL JORDAN (32292)
24th - VINCE CARTER (24204) - active
41st - ANTAWN JAMISON (20042)
46th - WALTER DAVIS (19521)
3) HOUSTON (3)
10th - ELVIN HAYES (27313)
11th - HAKEEM OLAJUWON (26946)
30th - CLYDE DREXLER (22195)
4) UCLA (2)
1st - KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR (38387)
19th - REGGIE MILLER (25297)
5) KANSAS (2)
5th - WILT CHAMBERLAIN (31419)
16th - PAUL PIERCE (26361) - active
6) LSU (2)
7th - SHAQUILLE O'NEAL (28569)
35th - BOB PETTIT (20880)
7) GEORGETOWN (2)
21st - PATRICK EWING (24815)
23rd - ALLEN IVERSON (24368)
8) UCONN (2)
22nd - RAY ALLEN (24505)
45th - CLIFFORD ROBINSON (19591)
And the rest...
LOUISIANA TECH - KARL MALONE (2nd)
GERMANY - DIRK NOWITZKI (6th)
CINCINNATI - OSCAR ROBERTSON (12th)
GEORGIA - DOMINIQUE WILKINS (13th)
WAKE FOREST - TIM DUNCAN (14th)
OHIO STATE - JOHN HAVLICEK (15th)
SOUTH CAROLINA - ALEX ENGLISH (18th)
WEST VIRGINIA - JERRY WEST (20th)
AUBURN - CHARLES BARKLEY (25th)
CENTENARY - ROBERT PARISH (26th)
NOTRE DAME - ADRIAN DANTLEY (27th)
SEATTLE - ELGIN BAYLOR (28th)
SYRACUSE - CARMELO ANTHONY (29th)
OREGON STATE - GARY PAYTON (31st)
INDIANA STATE - LARRY BIRD (32nd)
MARSHALL - HAL GREER (33rd)
INDIANA - WALT BELLAMY (34th)
MARQUETTE - DWYANE WADE (36th) - active
NAVY - DAVID ROBINSON (37th)
EASTERN MICHIGAN - GEORGE GERVIN (38th)
KANSAS STATE - MITCH RICHMOND (39th)
UTAH - TOM CHAMBERS (40th)
GONZAGA - JOHN STOCKTON (42nd)
TENNESSEE - BERNARD KING (43rd)
SPAIN - PAU GASOL (44th) - active
DePAUL - TERRY CUMMINGS (47th)
ARKANSAS - JOE JOHNSON (48th)
ST. BONAVENTURE - BOB LANIER (49th)
ILLINOIS - EDDIE JOHNSON (50th)
So, let's look at the NBA's top 50 scoring list. As I've mentioned, UK isn't represented on the list. Who is?
1) HIGH SCHOOL (4)
3rd - KOBE BRYANT (33643)
8th - LeBRON JAMES (27602) - active
9th - MOSES MALONE (27409)
17th - KEVIN GARNETT (26071)
2) NORTH CAROLINA (4)
4th - MICHAEL JORDAN (32292)
24th - VINCE CARTER (24204) - active
41st - ANTAWN JAMISON (20042)
46th - WALTER DAVIS (19521)
3) HOUSTON (3)
10th - ELVIN HAYES (27313)
11th - HAKEEM OLAJUWON (26946)
30th - CLYDE DREXLER (22195)
4) UCLA (2)
1st - KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR (38387)
19th - REGGIE MILLER (25297)
5) KANSAS (2)
5th - WILT CHAMBERLAIN (31419)
16th - PAUL PIERCE (26361) - active
6) LSU (2)
7th - SHAQUILLE O'NEAL (28569)
35th - BOB PETTIT (20880)
7) GEORGETOWN (2)
21st - PATRICK EWING (24815)
23rd - ALLEN IVERSON (24368)
8) UCONN (2)
22nd - RAY ALLEN (24505)
45th - CLIFFORD ROBINSON (19591)
And the rest...
LOUISIANA TECH - KARL MALONE (2nd)
GERMANY - DIRK NOWITZKI (6th)
CINCINNATI - OSCAR ROBERTSON (12th)
GEORGIA - DOMINIQUE WILKINS (13th)
WAKE FOREST - TIM DUNCAN (14th)
OHIO STATE - JOHN HAVLICEK (15th)
SOUTH CAROLINA - ALEX ENGLISH (18th)
WEST VIRGINIA - JERRY WEST (20th)
AUBURN - CHARLES BARKLEY (25th)
CENTENARY - ROBERT PARISH (26th)
NOTRE DAME - ADRIAN DANTLEY (27th)
SEATTLE - ELGIN BAYLOR (28th)
SYRACUSE - CARMELO ANTHONY (29th)
OREGON STATE - GARY PAYTON (31st)
INDIANA STATE - LARRY BIRD (32nd)
MARSHALL - HAL GREER (33rd)
INDIANA - WALT BELLAMY (34th)
MARQUETTE - DWYANE WADE (36th) - active
NAVY - DAVID ROBINSON (37th)
EASTERN MICHIGAN - GEORGE GERVIN (38th)
KANSAS STATE - MITCH RICHMOND (39th)
UTAH - TOM CHAMBERS (40th)
GONZAGA - JOHN STOCKTON (42nd)
TENNESSEE - BERNARD KING (43rd)
SPAIN - PAU GASOL (44th) - active
DePAUL - TERRY CUMMINGS (47th)
ARKANSAS - JOE JOHNSON (48th)
ST. BONAVENTURE - BOB LANIER (49th)
ILLINOIS - EDDIE JOHNSON (50th)
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
(When) will UK ever get a player on the NBA's Top 50 all-time scoring list?
One might call it a statistical oddity. Arguably (and certainly in my opinion) the most successful college program of all time hasn't produced a single top-50 NBA scorer.
Sure, there were Louie Dampier (#1 in the ABA at 13276 points) and Dan Issel (#2 in the ABA at 12823). But none of the UK products have come anywhere close to the current threshhold for the NBA's top 50. The line right now is 19202 points (Eddie Johnson), but will soon eclipse 20K as some stars like Kevin Durant fly past that mark.
The #1 UK-produced scorer in NBA history? That would be, believe it or not, ANTOINE WALKER. He's #116 on the NBA list with 15647 points.
Others of note, who at least fall in the top 200:
#138 Dan Issel (14659 points in the NBA for an impressive combined total of 27482 which places him 11th on the NBA/ABA composite list)
#177 Cliff Hagan (13447 points in the NBA, 14870 combined placing him 142nd on the composite list)
What about other notable scorers and stars in UK history? Why couldn't anyone else make the top 50? Let's consider a few examples...
1) Jamal Mashburn? A prolific scorer (19.1 ppg) and legitimate NBA star, but injury-plagued. Retired at age 31 and finished with 11644 points. Healthy, I'm sure he would be in or near the top 50.
2) Tayshaun Prince? He was capable of shooting the lights out, but was often more of a solid role player in the NBA than a true star (never averaging more than 14.7 ppg in a season) and finished with 11272 points. I'm a firm believer that he could've put up bigger numbers, but a combination of coaches, teammates and his lack of offensive selfishness held him back in this regard.
3) Rex Chapman? Injuries here, too. He finished with 9731 points because he wasn't healthy enough to last.
4) Kevin Grevey? He was on pace for solid numbers (although I highly doubt he ever would have reached 19-20K), but also was derailed by injury in the early '80s. Finished with 7364 points.
5) Ron Mercer? This is one of the most mysterious examples. His career at the pro level seemed promising, but after the Chicago-to-Indiana trade, he fell off the table and was out of the league by age 28, with only 5892 career points.
6) Sam Bowie? Infamous for being drafted ahead of Jordan and then struggling through injuries to a total of only 5564 points.
7) Kenny Walker? "Sky" also had significant injuries and finished with 3128 points.
8) Jack Givens? One would have thought that the "Goose" (after putting up 41 in the 1978 title game) was destined for a solid pro career. Not so. 1040 total points.
What about hope for the future? With John Calipari putting a handful of guys into the league every single year, the NBA has taken on more of a UK flavor than it's ever had before. Will any of the recent draftees reach 20K? Here are the active players with hope...
1) DeMarcus Cousins - he's already at 9293 points and averaging 29 per game in his 7th season. Can he stay healthy and keep putting up these ridiculous numbers?
2) John Wall - 8339 points and, like Boogie, averaging a career-high (23 per game) in his 7th season.
3) Anthony Davis - 6380 points in only his 5th season, and also at a career-high (28 per game).
4) Karl-Anthony Towns - 2235 points in his 2nd season. The 2016 ROY has a bright future.
5) Devin Booker - 1683 points in his 2nd season. He's scoring, but not efficiently. 33% on threes after hitting 41% for the Cats is puzzling.
My prediction? With health coming into play, you never can tell...but I believe that at least one of the group of awesome big men (Cousins, Davis and Towns) will cross the 20,000 point barrier.
Sure, there were Louie Dampier (#1 in the ABA at 13276 points) and Dan Issel (#2 in the ABA at 12823). But none of the UK products have come anywhere close to the current threshhold for the NBA's top 50. The line right now is 19202 points (Eddie Johnson), but will soon eclipse 20K as some stars like Kevin Durant fly past that mark.
The #1 UK-produced scorer in NBA history? That would be, believe it or not, ANTOINE WALKER. He's #116 on the NBA list with 15647 points.
Others of note, who at least fall in the top 200:
#138 Dan Issel (14659 points in the NBA for an impressive combined total of 27482 which places him 11th on the NBA/ABA composite list)
#177 Cliff Hagan (13447 points in the NBA, 14870 combined placing him 142nd on the composite list)
What about other notable scorers and stars in UK history? Why couldn't anyone else make the top 50? Let's consider a few examples...
1) Jamal Mashburn? A prolific scorer (19.1 ppg) and legitimate NBA star, but injury-plagued. Retired at age 31 and finished with 11644 points. Healthy, I'm sure he would be in or near the top 50.
2) Tayshaun Prince? He was capable of shooting the lights out, but was often more of a solid role player in the NBA than a true star (never averaging more than 14.7 ppg in a season) and finished with 11272 points. I'm a firm believer that he could've put up bigger numbers, but a combination of coaches, teammates and his lack of offensive selfishness held him back in this regard.
3) Rex Chapman? Injuries here, too. He finished with 9731 points because he wasn't healthy enough to last.
4) Kevin Grevey? He was on pace for solid numbers (although I highly doubt he ever would have reached 19-20K), but also was derailed by injury in the early '80s. Finished with 7364 points.
5) Ron Mercer? This is one of the most mysterious examples. His career at the pro level seemed promising, but after the Chicago-to-Indiana trade, he fell off the table and was out of the league by age 28, with only 5892 career points.
6) Sam Bowie? Infamous for being drafted ahead of Jordan and then struggling through injuries to a total of only 5564 points.
7) Kenny Walker? "Sky" also had significant injuries and finished with 3128 points.
8) Jack Givens? One would have thought that the "Goose" (after putting up 41 in the 1978 title game) was destined for a solid pro career. Not so. 1040 total points.
What about hope for the future? With John Calipari putting a handful of guys into the league every single year, the NBA has taken on more of a UK flavor than it's ever had before. Will any of the recent draftees reach 20K? Here are the active players with hope...
1) DeMarcus Cousins - he's already at 9293 points and averaging 29 per game in his 7th season. Can he stay healthy and keep putting up these ridiculous numbers?
2) John Wall - 8339 points and, like Boogie, averaging a career-high (23 per game) in his 7th season.
3) Anthony Davis - 6380 points in only his 5th season, and also at a career-high (28 per game).
4) Karl-Anthony Towns - 2235 points in his 2nd season. The 2016 ROY has a bright future.
5) Devin Booker - 1683 points in his 2nd season. He's scoring, but not efficiently. 33% on threes after hitting 41% for the Cats is puzzling.
My prediction? With health coming into play, you never can tell...but I believe that at least one of the group of awesome big men (Cousins, Davis and Towns) will cross the 20,000 point barrier.
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