More 3-point history for UK basketball

One might argue that it all started with "Pitino's Bombinos."  Rick's early teams were obsessed with shooting beyond the arc.  And while UK's use of long-range shots has waxed and waned over the years, it has certainly remained a fixture in Big Blue culture.  We love the three.  So it's unsurprising that the 'Cats would manage to leave another scratch in the record books by becoming the first team to hit a three in 1000 consecutive games.  Truth be told, UNLV's streak started earlier.  But once UK got going (and kept having successful seasons which allowed for more games played), they eventually passed everyone else.

How about some UK 3-point history?

PLAYERS

Most threes in a career:
TONY DELK - 283
KEITH BOGANS - 254
TAYSHAUN PRINCE - 204

Most threes in a season:
JODIE MEEKS (08-09) - 117
JAMAL MURRAY (15-16) - 113
TRAVIS FORD (92-93) - 101
(Malik Monk could make this list)

Most threes in a game:
JODIE MEEKS (1/13/09 at Tennesee) - 10
TONY DELK (1/20/96 vs. TCU) - 9
JODIE MEEKS (12/20/08 vs. Appalachian State) - 9
(we all remember Delk's 7 makes against Syracuse in '96)

Best 3P% (at least 100 made) in a career:
DORON LAMB - 47.5%
TRAVIS FORD - 44.5%
JAMAL MURRAY - 40.8%
(both Malik Monk and Derek Willis could make this list)

Best 3P% (at least 50 made) in a season:
TRAVIS FORD (92-93) - 52.9%
DORON LAMB (10-11) - 48.6%
DORON LAMB (11-12) - 46.6%
(Cameron Mills made 53.2% in a season but only made 42 shots)

TEAMS

Most threes made in a season:
1992-93: 340
1991-92: 317
1993-94: 301
1996-97: 287
2010-11: 281
1989-90: 281
1994-95: 276
1995-96: 266
2005-06: 265
1997-98: 250

Best 3P% in a season:
2010-11: 39.7%
1995-96: 39.7%
1992-93: 39.4%
2011-12: 37.8%
1994-95: 37.5%
1986-87: 37.2%
2007-08: 36.9%
1996-97: 36.9%
1997-98: 36.7%
2015-16: 36.6%

GAMES / MOMENTS

There are too many to count, but here are some that stand out for me, in chronological order.

4/1/96: Tony Delk falling into his own bench and getting mobbed by his teammates after being fouled on his SEVENTH made three of the National Championship game against Syracuse, about midway through the second half.

3/22/98: Cameron Mills made his only three of the game a big one, putting UK in the lead after trailing Duke by 17 midway through the second half.  This was Elite 8 revenge for the Cats.

12/8/01: Tayshaun Prince scored the first 15 points of the game for Kentucky on 5 consecutive threes, the last just BARELY inside the UK logo at midcourt, to send a message to North Carolina.  He ended up with 31 points and 7 made threes in a 20-point blowout.

3/27/05: Patrick Sparks made a frantic, buzzer-beating three against Michigan State to force overtime in a classic Elite 8 game.  Not only did the shot barely fall in after hanging on the rim forever, but it had to be reviewed for several minutes because it was unclear whether Sparks was behind the line.  It's sad that this memorable shot didn't lead to victory.  UK wasted opportunities in the first OT and then ran out of gas in the second.

1/13/09: In a forgettable season, Jodie Meeks saving the day at Tennessee with a MAMMOTH 54-point performance, including 10 threes, will never be forgotten.

3/30/14: Aaron Harrison made a three with 2.3 seconds left to beat Michigan and send 8-seed Kentucky to the Final Four.  Then...

4/5/14: Aaron Harrison does it AGAIN.  He hits one with 5.7 seconds left, bringing UK from down 2 to up 1, defeating Wisconsin and sending them to the National Championship game.  We won't talk about what happened there.

12/18/16: In an early-season heavyweight showdown, another UK star victimized UNC.  This time it was freshman Malik Monk, scoring 47 and hitting 8 of 12 threes, including one to tie with 1:15 left and another to go ahead with 0:17 left.  Wow.  Final score: 103-100.

2012 Kentucky Wildcats - Records and Accolades

This post is meant simply to list the most important accomplishments of this incredibly special team.  I'll be adding to it.



TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS


NATIONAL CHAMPIONS (our 8th title, won by five different coaches)


FINISHED #1 IN BOTH MAJOR POLLS (stayed #1 the final 8 weeks of the season)


PERFECT 16-0 IN SEC (only third time in history - all by UK)

CONTINUED NATION'S LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAK (currently 52 games)


WON 24 CONSECUTIVE GAMES


NCAA RECORD FOR TEAM BLOCKED SHOTS (335 in a single season)



INDIVIDUAL HONORS


ANTHONY DAVIS - NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR (our first ever AP, Naismith or Wooden winner)

ANTHONY DAVIS - FINAL FOUR MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER

MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST - NCAA TOURNAMENT SOUTH REGION MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER

ANTHONY DAVIS - SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR


ANTHONY DAVIS, MICHAEL KIDD-GILCHRIST - ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM




INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

ANTHONY DAVIS - NCAA FRESHMAN RECORD FOR BLOCKED SHOTS (186 - also our new single-season school record)

ANTHONY DAVIS - UK FRESHMAN RECORD FOR REBOUNDS (415)


DARIUS MILLER, TERRENCE JONES, DORON LAMB - ALL JOINED 1000-POINT CLUB

DARIUS MILLER - MOST GAMES PLAYED IN UK HISTORY (152 in his career)

Updates on Miller, Davis, Jones, Lamb in UK career rankings

Here are a number of statistical categories where current Wildcats are climbing the career rankings - some in just their first year on the team.  Along with the current ranking, I also listed where they will likely finish this season in the rankings.

Blocks:
Anthony Davis - 10th - likely to finish 5th
Terrence Jones - 14th - likely to finish 11th
Darius Miller - 18th


Scoring:
Darius Miller - 46th (one of 58 in the 1000-point club) - likely to finish 38th
Terrence Jones - 70th - likely to reach 1000 points and finish 55th
Doron Lamb - 74th - likely to finish 64th


Rebounds:
Terrence Jones - 47th - likely to finish 30th


Assists:
Darius Miller - 29th - likely to finish 23rd


Steals: 
Darius Miller - 29th - likely to finish 27th
Terrence Jones - 43rd - likely to finish 39th


Made 3's:
Darius Miller - 10th
Doron Lamb - 21st - likely to finish 18th