Is this the craziest opening weekend ever? Is the South the craziest region ever? Would UK's path be the easiest ever?

QUESTION 1 - The 2018 NCAA Tournament has been madness, even by March standards.  But is it the craziest opening weekend ever?  I took a look at every bracket since 1985 (when it expanded to 64 teams) and compared.

This year, a total of 9 of the 16 top-4 seeds have lost.
1 Virginia
1 Xavier
2 Cincinnati
2 UNC
3 Tennessee
3 Michigan State
4 Arizona
4 Wichita State
4 Auburn

But it isn't the first time.  9 top-4 seeds also went down in:
1986
1990
2000 (including two #1 seeds, like this year)

And 8 of them went down in:
1987
1999
2005
2010

However, given the fact that the number 1 OVERALL seed lost this year (and in the first round, to a 16), I'll give this year the nod as the new craziest opening weekend.

* * * * *

QUESTION 2 - Is the 2018 South Region Dumpster Fire the most absurd bracket quadrant ever?

If you add up the total seed numbers remaining, here is the list of craziest Sweet 16 regions:

34 (1+10+11+12) in 2011 Southwest Region) - #11 VCU advanced to the Final Four by playing a 10 and 1 seed, but lost in a national semifinal.

34 (1+7+12+14 in 1986 East Region) - #1 Duke advanced to the Final Four by playing a 12 and 7 seed, but lost in the title game.

32 (5+7+9+11 in 2018 South Region) - Results to be determined.

31 (1+7+11+12 in 2001 South Region) - #1 Michigan State advanced to the Final Four by playing a 12 and 11 seed, but lost in a national semifinal game.

31 (1+7+11+12 in 1990 West Region) - #1 UNLV advanced to the Final Four by playing a 12 and 11 seed, and then won the tournament.

30 (2+6+9+13 in 2013 West Region) - #9 Wichita State advanced to the Final Four by playing a 13 and 2 seed, but lost in a national semifinal game.

This year's South doesn't have the highest total...but there are two HUGE things in its favor in this argument:

- lack of ANY top 4 seeds (which has never happened before) 

- UMBC over Virginia, obviously

So, yes, I would say this is the craziest region ever (so far).  It's a shame UMBC couldn't take down Kansas State to really cement this year in history, but I think we'll always remember the 2018 South.  Bring on Atlanta!

* * * * *

QUESTION 3 - Would UK's path to a Final Four be the easiest ever? 

In the region seed total list above, you can see a few of the unexpectedly "easy" paths faced by certain regional winners in past years.  

Here is the all-time list (since 1985) of worst seed totals faced to reach the Final Four (eventual champions in red):

1991 #1 UNC - 47 (16, 9, 12, 10)

1990 #1 UNLV - 47 (16, 8, 12, 11)

2008 #1 Kansas - 46 (16, 8, 12, 10)

1993 #1 Michigan - 44 (16, 9, 12, 7)

1999 #1 Duke - 43 (16, 9, 12, 6)

1990 #4 Arkansas - 43 (13, 12, 8, 10)

1986 #1 Duke - 43 (16, 8, 12, 7)

1999 #1 Michigan State - 41 (16, 9, 13, 3)

2014 #1 Florida - 40 (16, 9, 4, 11)

2008 #1 UCLA - 40 (16, 9, 12, 3)

2005 #1 Illinois - 40 (16, 9, 12, 3)

1999 #1 UConn - 40 (16, 9, 5, 10)

1994 #1 Arkansas - 40 (16, 9, 12, 3)

2017 #1 Gonzaga - 39 (16, 8, 4, 11)

1987 #1 Indiana - 39 (16, 8, 5, 10)

1987 #1 UNLV - 39 (16, 9, 12, 2)

2013 #1 Louisville - 38 (16, 8, 12, 2)

2015 #2 Kansas - 37 (15, 10, 11, 1)

2010 #2 WVU - 37 (15, 10, 11, 1)

2016 #1 UNC - 36 (16, 9, 5, 6)

2002 #5 Indiana - 36 (12, 13, 1, 10)

2001 #3 Maryland - 36 (14, 11, 10, 1)

1997 #1 UNC - 36 (16, 9, 5, 6)

1997 #4 Arizona - 36 (13, 12, 1, 10)

(note: the lowest possible totals for each seed are 30 for a 1 seed, 26 for a 2 seed, 23 for a 3 seed, 21 for a 4 seed, 19 for a 5 seed, 17 for a 6 seed, 16 for a 7 seed, 16 for an 8 seed, 15 for a 9 seed, 13 for a 10 seed, 12 for an 11 seed, 12 for a 12 seed, 12 for a 13 seed, 12 for a 14 seed, 13 for a 15 seed, and 15 for a 16 seed).

If Kentucky makes the Final Four, it will have faced either:

12+13+9+7 = 41 (tied for 8th easiest path ever)

or

12+13+9+11 = 45 (4th easiest path ever)

So, it would be high on the list (not #1)...but with UNC appearing three times, Duke twice, Kansas twice, Indiana twice, UNLV twice, and Arkansas twice on the list above (zero appearances for UK - its highest/easiest total for any of its eight Final Fours in the era was 32), it's about time UK got some of that luck.  

Check out the chalk-lined roads they've faced to hang these eight Final Four banners since 1985:

1993 #1 UK = 32 (lowest possible = 30)

1996 #1 UK = 31 (lowest possible = 30)

1997 #1 UK = 30 (lowest possible = 30)

1998 #2 UK = 32 (lowest possible = 26)

2011 #4 UK = 21 (lowest possible = 21)

2012 #1 UK = 31 (lowest possible = 30)

2014 #8 UK = 16 (lowest possible = 16)

2015 #1 UK = 32 (lowest possible = 30)

Even in 1998, UK just faced a 10 (instead of a 7) and a 6 (instead of a 3) to account for the difference.

So, in summary...my answers to the questions posed are yes, yes and no.

* * * * *

Kentucky basketball vs. Georgia all-time (26 different coaches, 20 different arenas)

(Updated through regular season matchups in 2017)

Georgia has been a bit of a strange opponent for the Wildcats in basketball.  They seem so difficult at times (even putting up quite a fight in Rupp), but their overall results Kentucky are easily the worst of any of the longtime "SEC East" foes.  Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Florida have all given UK much more consistent trouble.  That is NOT to say that we look forward to any trip to Athens.  It's always a physical battle.

Let's get to the numbers...

Kentucky is 123-26 overall against Georgia (82.6%).  Their only better marks against SEC opponents?  Missouri (100%), Ole Miss (89%), Auburn (83.6%), and MSU (82.9%).

The only opponents UK has played more than 149 games against?  Tennessee (222) and Vanderbilt (189).

Kentucky is 60-5 at home vs. Georgia (92.3%)

Rupp Arena: 35-4 (89.7%) - the only losses were in 1985, 2002, 2004 and 2009

Memorial Coliseum: 19-0 (100%)

Alumni Gymnasium: 6-0 (100%)

Buell Armory Gym: 0-1 (0%) - loss was in 1923

Kentucky is 42-17 on the road at Georgia (71.2%)

Stegeman Coliseum (since 1965): 35-14 (71.4%) - longest winning streak there is 7, longest losing streak is 3

Woodruff Hall (1926-1964): 7-2 (77.8%) - losses were in 1931 and 1950

Moss Auditorium (1925): 0-1 (0%)

Kentucky is 21-4 at neutral sites vs. Georgia (84%)

Jefferson County Armory (Louisville): 5-0 (100%) - SEC Tournament wins in 1943, 1944, and 1950, plus regular season wins in 1952 and 1956

Georgia Dome (Atlanta): 2-0 (100%) - 2004 and 2014 SEC Tournament games

The Omni (Atlanta): 2-0 (100%) - two regular season neutral site games in 1979 and 1988

The Pyramid (Memphis): 1-0 (100%) - 1997 SEC Tournament Title game

Bridgestone Arena (Nashville): 1-0 (100%) - 2016 SEC Tournament

Memorial Gymnasium (Nashville): 1-0 (100%) - 1984 SEC Tournament

Alumni Memorial Gymnasium (Knoxville): 1-0 (100%) - 1940 SEC Tournament Championship

Owensboro Sportscenter: 1-0 (100%) - 1954 regular season game

Municipal Auditorium (Columbus, Georgia): 1-0 (100%) - 1960 regular season

Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Baton Rouge): 1-0 (100%) - 1988 SEC Tournament Championship (vacated)

Alexander Memorial Coliseum (Atlanta): 2-1 (66.7%) - regular season wins in 1958 and 1962, and the "Tornado game" loss in the 2008 SEC Tournament

Atlanta Municipal Auditorium: 3-2 (60%) - won 1921 SIAA Tournament Championship, lost in 1925 Southern Conference Tournament, won in 1926 Southern Conference Tournament, won in 1928 Southern Conference Tournament, lost in 1929 Southern Conference Tournament

Freedom Hall: 0-1 (0%) - lost in December 1986 under Sutton

By type of game:

SEC regular season home: 59-4

SEC regular season road: 40-15

SEC regular season neutral: 8-1

SEC regular season overall: 106-20

Pre-SEC regular season home: 1-1

Pre-SEC regular season road: 2-2

Regular season overall: 109-23

SEC Tournament: 10-1

Southern Conference Tournament: 2-2

SIAA Conference Tournament: 1-0

Postseason overall: 13-3

By UK coach:

John Calipari: 13-2 (7-0 home, 4-2 road, 2-0 SECT)

Billy Gillispie: 3-2 (1-1 home, 2-0 road, 0-1 SECT)

Tubby Smith: 16-5 (8-2 home, 7-3 road, 1-0 SECT)

Rick Pitino: 15-2 (8-0 home, 6-2 road, 1-0 SECT)

Eddie Sutton: 6-3 (3-0 home, 1-2 road, 1-1 neutral, 1-0 SECT)

Joe B. Hall: 23-4 (12-1 home, 9-3 road, 1-0 neutral, 1-0 SECT)

Adolph Rupp: 41-4 (20-0 home, 11-4 road, 6-0 neutral, 4-0 SECT)

John Mauer: 3-1 (1-0 home, 1-0 road, 1-1 SoCon Tournament)

Ray Eklund (1926): 2-0 (1-0 road, 1-0 SoCon Tournament)

Clarence Applegran (1925): 0-2 (0-1 road, 0-1 SoCon Tournament)

George Buchheit (1921, 1923): 1-1 (0-1 home, 1-0 SIAA Tournament)

By opposing coach:

Mark Fox (since 2010): 2-13 against Kentucky (all against Calipari)

Pete Herrmann (interim '09): 1-0 against Kentucky (vs. Billy G)

Dennis Felton (2004-09): 4-9 against Kentucky (3-6 vs. Tubby, 1-3 vs. Billy G)

Jim Harrick (2000-03): 2-6 against Kentucky (all against Tubby)

Ron Jirsa (1998-99): 0-4 against Kentucky (all against Tubby)

Tubby Smith (1996-97): 0-5 against Kentucky (all against Pitino)

Hugh Durham (1979-95): 8-28 against Kentucky (2-10 vs. Pitino, 3-6 vs. Sutton, 3-12 vs. Hall)

John Guthrie (1974-78): 1-9 against Kentucky (all against Hall)

Ken Rosemond (1966-73): 2-14 against Kentucky (0-2 vs. Hall, 2-12 vs. Rupp)

Red Lawson (1952-65): 0-15 against Kentucky (all against Rupp)

Jim Whatley (1949-51): 0-4 against Kentucky (all against Rupp)

Ralph Jordan (1946-49): 0-4 against Kentucky (all against Rupp)

Elmer Lampe (1940-45): 0-7 against Kentucky (all against Rupp)

Harry Mehre (1931): 1-0 against Kentucky (vs. Rupp)

Herman Stegeman (1921-30): 4-6 against Kentucky (1-1 vs. Buchheit, 2-0 vs. Applegran, 0-2 vs. Eklund, 1-3 vs. Mauer)

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)

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

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

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)