Tonight at 6 p.m. on ESPN, the #2 Kentucky Wildcats battle the #17 Vanderbilt Commodores in historical Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville with 1st place in the SEC East on the line. Both schools are coming off road trips to the state of Mississippi, with the Wildcats defeating the Mississippi State Bulldogs 81-75 in overtime on Tuesday and the Commodores beat the Ole Miss Rebels 82-78 on Thursday. UK is coming into the game on a 6 game winning streak while Vanderbilt has won 3 games in a row. Here are some numbers and facts of interest headed into tonight’s game:
More Freshman Records In Jeopardy
With DeMarcus Cousins’ 8 free throw attempts against Mississippi State, he set the UK freshman record for free throw attempts in a season, he currently has 184 free throw attempts on the season. The record was previously held by Dwight Anderson who had 181 free throw attempts in his freshman season of 1978-1979.
DeMarcus Cousins is also 10 rebounds away from breaking the UK freshman record for rebounds in a season. He currently has 268 rebounds on the season and the record is currently held by Chris Mills who had 277 rebounds in his freshman season of 1988-1989.
John Wall is 9 free throws made away from breaking the UK freshman record for made free throws in a season. He currently has 123 made free throws on the season and the record is currently held by Dwight Anderson who made 131 free throws in his freshman season of 1978-1979.
Memorial Gymnasium: What A History
Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium is definitely one of the most unique home court advantages in all of college basketball. With the layout of the seats, the raised floor, and the team’s benches on opposite ends of the court, it is extremely tough to go into Nashville and leave the Music City with a victory. Here are some various records involving UK and their SEC opponents’ home courts:
Most Games Played At A SEC Opponent’s Home Court
1. Memorial Gymnasium, Vanderbilt (1954-Present): 56 games played
2. Stegeman Coliseum, Georgia (1965-Present): 43 games played
3. Tad Smith Coliseum, Mississippi (1966-Present): 34 games played
4. Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum, Auburn (1969-Present): 33 games played
5. Coleman Coliseum, Alabama (1969-Present): 32 games played
Most Games Won At A SEC Opponent’s Home Court
1. Memorial Gymnasium, Vanderbilt (1954-Present): 33 wins
2. Stegeman Coliseum, Georgia (1965-Present): 31 wins
3. Tad Smith Coliseum, Mississippi (1966-Present): 25 wins
4. Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum, Auburn (1969-Present): 24 wins
5. Alumni Memorial Gymnasium, Tennessee (1933-1958): 21 wins
Most Games Lost At A SEC Opponent’s Home Court
1. Memorial Gymnasium, Vanderbilt (1954-Present): 23 losses
2. Stokely Center, Tennessee (1959-1987): 19 losses
3. Coleman Coliseum, Alabama (1969-Present): 15 losses
4. Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Louisiana State (1972-Present): 15 losses
5. Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Florida (1981-Present): 13 losses
Longest Win Streak At A SEC Opponent’s Home Court
1. 11 wins, Heisman Gymnasium, Georgia Tech (January 20th, 1941 to January 21st, 1952)
2. 10 wins, McCarthy Gymnasium, Mississippi State (February 19th, 1966 to March 8th, 1975)
3. 8 wins, Memorial Gymnasium, Vanderbilt (February 19th, 1994 to February 17th, 2001)
4. 8 wins, Memorial Gymnasium, Vanderbilt (February 15th, 1980 to January 21st, 1987)
UK currently has a 4 game losing streak to Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium, with their last win against the Commodores in Nashville coming on February 5th, 2005. If Kentucky lost tonight if would match their longest losing streak ever at a SEC opponent’s home court. Here are the 5 game losing streaks that Kentucky has had:
1. 5 losses, Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Florida (March 6th, 2005 to March 7th, 2009)
2. 5 losses, Stokely Center, Tennessee (February 17th, 1979 to January 31st, 1983)
3. 5 losses, Stokely Center, Tennessee (January 20th, 1973 to March 5th, 1977)
UK’s Various Records vs. Vanderbilt
UK’s overall record vs. Vanderbilt: 132-43 (.754) (won last meeting, 4-6 last 10 meetings)
UK’s record vs. Vanderbilt on the road: 51-26 (.662)
UK’s record vs. Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium: 33-23 (.589) (lost last 4 meetings, 4-6 last 10 meetings)
UK’s record vs. Vanderbilt when both UK and Vanderbilt are ranked: 14-2 (.875) (won last 9 meetings, 9-1 last 10 meetings)
UK’s record in their 2nd meeting against Vanderbilt in a season when UK defeats Vanderbilt in the 1st meeting of the season: 50-11 (.820) (lost last 2 meetings, 6-4 last 10 meetings)
Other Various Records
UK’s overall record playing on February 20th: 17-9 (.654)
UK’s record playing Vanderbilt on February 20th: 7-2 (.778) (lost last meeting)
Largest crowd to attend a Kentucky/Vanderbilt game at Memorial Gymnasium: 16,100 (January 22nd, 1973 Kentucky – 75 #18 Vanderbilt – 76)
Smallest crowd to attend a Kentucky/Vanderbilt game at Memorial Gymnasium: 4,500 (January 5th, 1960 #13 Kentucky – 76 Vanderbilt – 59)
RPI Rankings (As Of 9:30 P.M. February 19th)
Kentucky: 4th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 49th
Vanderbilt: 12th
Vanderbilt’s Strength Of Schedule: 21st
Pomeroy Ratings (As Of February 18th)
Kentucky: 8th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 76th
Kentucky’s Non-Conference Strength Of Schedule: 186th
Vanderbilt: 26th
Vanderbilt’s Strength Of Schedule: 22nd
Vanderbilt’s Non-Conference Strength Of Schedule: 101st
Sagarin Ratings (As Of February 18th)
Kentucky: 4th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 80th
Vanderbilt: 14th
Vanderbilt’s Strength Of Schedule: 35th
Kentucky In The Top 30 In Team Statistics (As Of February 18th)
Assists Per Game: 30th (15.6)
Blocks Per Game: 5th (7.2)
Field Goal Percentage Defense: 10th (38%)
Field Goal Percentage: 14th (48.4%)
Rebounds Per Game: 3rd (42.6)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: T-9th (15.2)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game: T-11th (27.4)
Rebound Margin: 1st (+10.3)
Scoring Margin: 6th (+15.6)
Scoring Offense: 7th (81.3)
Vanderbilt In The Top 30 In Team Statistics (As Of February 18th)
Blocks Per Game: 20th (5.6)
Field Goal Percentage: 15th (48.4%)
Scoring Offense: 26th (78.6)
Kentucky Players In The Top 50 In Individual Statistics (As Of February 18th)
Assists Per Game: John Wall, 3rd (6.5)
Field Goal Percentage: Patrick Patterson, 14th (57.7%) DeMarcus Cousins, 25th (54.5%)
Rebounds Per Game: DeMarcus Cousins, 16th (10.3)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: DeMarcus Cousins, T-5th (4.6) Patrick Patterson, T-38th (3.5)
Points Per 40 Minutes: DeMarcus Cousins, 2nd (28.8)
Turnovers Per Game: John Wall, 10th (4) Eric Bledsoe, T-43rd (3.5)
Vanderbilt Players In The Top 50 In Individual Statistics (As Of February 18th)
Points Per 40 Minutes: A.J. Ogilvy, 40th (24.1)
Kentucky Individual Game Records vs. Vanderbilt
Points: 42, Louie Dampier (2/2/1966)
Rebounds: 22, Dan Issel (1/6/1968)
Assists: 10, Dirk Minniefield (1/23/1982) Anthony Epps (2/22/1997)
Steals: 6, Jamal Mashburn (1/15/1992)
Blocks: 9, Sam Bowie (2/21/1981)
Free Throws Made: 17, Cotton Nash (1/8/1962)
Field Goals Made: 18, Louie Dampier (2/2/1966) Dan Issel (3/1/1969)
3 Point Field Goals Made: 6, Derrick Miller (2/7/1990) Travis Ford (1/13/1993) Tony Delk (1/21/1995) Desmond Allison (1/22/2000) Rashaad Carruth (2/27/2002)
Vanderbilt Individual Game Records vs. Kentucky
Points: 41, Clyde Lee (1/5/1965)
Rebounds: 25, Clyde Lee (1/6/1964)
Assists: 14, Billy McCaffrey (1/13/1993)
Steals: 5, Tommy Springer (1/19/1980)
Blocks: 5, A.J. Ogilvy (1/12/2008)
Free Throws Made: 16, Alvin Rochelle (1/28/1956)
Field Goals Made: 16, Clyde Lee (2/16/1965)
3 Point Field Goals Made: 6, Barry Booker (12/31/1987) Scott Draud (1/27/1988) Barry Goheen (1/7/1989) Brendan Plavich (2/27/2002)
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