Today at 4 p.m. on the SEC Network the #2 Kentucky Wildcats host the struggling Razorbacks of Arkansas at Rupp Arena. Arkansas is coached by ex-Wildcat and 1987 Kentucky Mr. Basketball (Paintsville High School) John Pelphrey. Here are some numbers and facts of interests headed into today’s game:
For John Pelphrey, being a former UK player isn’t a good sign for him as an opposing head coach playing against the Wildcats. Opposing head coaches, who played basketball at UK, have a combined 10-48 ( .172) record when coaching against Kentucky. C.M. Newton is the only former UK player to defeat the Wildcats as an opposing coach, 7 wins while coaching Alabama and 3 wins while coaching Vanderbilt.
A trio of UK freshman are threatening to break, and even destroy, various UK freshman single-season records. Here are some records in which Eric Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, and John Wall are on pace to break UK freshman single-season records (UK is guaranteed to play at least 33 games this season, so their on-pace season total will be based on 33 games at their current per game average):
Points
1. Rex Chapman (1986-1987) – 464 points
14. John Wall – 290 points (on pace for 546 points)
18. DeMarcus Cousins – 276 points (on pace for 506 points)
Rebounds
1. Chris Mills (1988-1989) – 277 rebounds
7. DeMarcus Cousins – 167 rebounds (on pace for 306 rebounds)
Assists
1. Dirk Minniefield (1979-1980) – 126 assists
3. John Wall – 117 assists (on pace for 220 assists)
Field Goals Made
1. Chris Mills (1988-1989) – 180 field goals made
17. DeMarcus Cousins – 101 field goals (on pace for 185 field goals made)
Free Throws Made
1. Dwight Anderson (1978-1979) – 131 free throws made
7. John Wall – 83 free throws made (on pace for 156 free throws made)
11. DeMarcus Cousins – 73 free throws made (on pace for 134 free throws made)
Free Throw Attempts
1. Dwight Anderson (1978-1979) – 181 free throw attempts
8. DeMarcus Cousins – 115 free throw attempts (on pace for 211 free throw attempts)
12. John Wall – 105 free throw attempts (on pace for 198 free throw attempts)
3 Point Field Goal Percentage
1. Eric Bledsoe – 47.1%
2. Myron Anthony (1997-1998) – 46.2%
This season’s freshman class is also on pace to score 1,524 points this season, which would break the current freshman class scoring record of 1,003 points set by the 1974-1975 freshman class.
UK’s Various Records vs. Arkansas
UK’s overall record vs. Arkansas: 23-7 (.767) (won last 9 meetings)
UK’s record vs. Arkansas at home: 9-2 (.818)
UK’s record vs. Arkansas at Rupp Arena: 7-2 (.778) (won last 7 meetings)
UK’s record vs. Arkansas when UK is ranked and Arkansas is unranked: 9-3 (.750)
Other Various Records
UK’s overall record playing on January 23rd: 12-6 (.667)
Largest crowd to attend a Kentucky/Arkansas game at Rupp Arena: 24,371 (February 23rd, 2008 Kentucky – 63 Arkansas – 58)
RPI Rankings (As Of 9:30 P.M. January 22nd)
Kentucky: 10th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 100th
Arkansas: 181st
Arkansas’s Strength Of Schedule: 55th
Pomeroy Ratings (As Of January 22nd)
Kentucky: 12th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 138th
Kentucky’s Non-Conference Strength Of Schedule: 203rd
Arkansas: 128th
Arkansas’s Strength Of Schedule: 205th
Arkansas’s Non-Conference Strength Of Schedule: 276th
Sagarin Ratings (As Of January 22nd)
Kentucky: 7th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 158th
Arkansas: 162nd
Arkansas’s Strength Of Schedule: 169th
Kentucky Individual Game Records vs. Arkansas
Points: 45, Jodie Meeks (2/14/2009)
Rebounds: 20, Jared Prickett (2/9/1994)
Assists: 11, Cliff Hawkins (2/18/2004)
Steals: 5, Wayne Turner (1/26/1997) Rajon Rondo (1/29/2006)
Blocks: 5, Perry Stevenson (2/14/2009)
Free Throws Made: 10, Tayshaun Prince (3/10/2001) Ramel Bradley (2/23/2008)
Field Goals Made: 17, Jodie Meeks (2/19/2009)
3 Point Field Goals Made: 7, Jodie Meeks (2/14/2009)
Arkansas Individual Game Records vs. UK
Points: 28, Corliss Williamson (1/29/1995)
Rebounds: 16, Corliss Williamson (3/12/1994)
Assists: 9, Cory Beck (2/9/1994) Kareem Reid (3/7/1999)
Steals: 5, Sunday Adebayo (2/11/1996) Jason Henry (2/14/2009)
Blocks: 4, Darnell Robinson (3/9/1996) Nick Davis (1/17/1998)
Free Throws Made: 12, Lee Mayberry (1/25/1992)
Field Goals Made: 10, Pat Bradley (1/17/1998) Joe Johnson (3/10/2001) Sonny Weems (2/23/2008)
3 Point Field Goals Made: 6, Pat Bradley (1/17/1998)
Kentucky In The Top 30 In Team Statistics
Assists Per Game: T-23rd (16.2)
Blocks Per Game: T-7th (7.2)
Field Goal Percentage Defense: 19th (38.5%)
Field Goal Percentage: 6th (50%)
Fouls Per Game: T-16th (15.3)
Rebound Margin: T-3rd (+9.8)
Scoring Margin: 8th (+16.8)
Scoring Offense: 12th (82.2)
Arkansas In The Bottom 30 In Team Statistics
3 Point Field Goal Percentage Defense: 312th (38.3%)
Kentucky Players In The Top 50 In Individual Statistics
Assists Per Game: John Wall, 3rd (6.9)
Field Goal Percentage: Patrick Patterson, 2nd (63%) DeMarcus Cousins, 40th (54.3%)
Rebounds Per Game: DeMarcus Cousins, T-39th (9.3)
Arkansas Players In The Top 50 In Individual Statistics
3 Point Field Goals Per Game: Rotnei Clarke, 1st (3.9)
3 Point Field Goal Percentage: Rotnei Clarke, 4th (49.3%)
Memorable Game
1978 Final Four – St. Louis, Missouri (Checkerdome) (Attendance: 18,271)
March 25th, 1978
#1 Kentucky – 64
#5 Arkansas – 59
The Wildcats faced off against the Razorbacks in the NCAA Tournament semifinals and prevailed behind the clutch play of Jack “Goose” Givens, who led the team with 23 points and 9 rebounds. James Lee was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 13 points. Arkansas had 3 players in double figures, with Ron Brewer scoring 16 points, Marvin Delph 15 points and 8 rebounds, and Sidney Moncrief 13 points. This game was significant because obviously the winner of the game advanced to the national championship game, but also because the head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks that season was none other than Eddie Sutton.
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