Tonight at 9 p.m. on ESPN2, the #2 Kentucky Wildcats plan on getting revenge on those pesky South Carolina Gamecocks at Rupp Arena. On January 26th at the Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina ruined UK’s #1 AP Poll ranking and their unbeaten record with a 68-62 victory as Devan Downey scored 30 points. Since that game UK is 7-0 and South Carolina is 2-4. Here are some numbers and facts of interests headed into tonight’s game:
More Freshman Records In Jeopardy
Both DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall are within striking distance of the UK freshman scoring record, currently held by Rex Chapman, who scored 464 points in his freshman season of 1986-1987. John Wall is 27 points away from breaking the record and DeMarcus Cousins is 29 points away from breaking it.
DeMarcus Cousins is 5 rebounds away from breaking the UK freshman rebounding record, currently held by Chris Mills who had 277 rebounds in his freshman season of 1988-1989.
In a common theme, both DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall are close to breaking yet another UK freshman record, this time free throws made. The record is currently held by Dwight Anderson who made 131 free throws in his freshman season of 1978-1979. John Wall needs 3 made free throws to break the record while DeMarcus Cousins needs 9 made free throws to break the record.
Great One-Loss Starts In UK History
Going into the South Carolina game tonight, the Wildcats have a nearly spotless record of 26-1. Kentucky is currently tied for the 5th best start to a season before losing their 2nd game. Here are the other 5 seasons, with how they ended up the season:
1948-1949
- Started season 29-1
- Finished season 32-2
- #1 in final AP Poll
- NCAA Tournament National Champions
1995-1996
- Started season 28-1
- Finished season 34-2
- #2 in final AP and CNN/USA Today Polls
- NCAA Tournament National Champions
1965-1966
- Started season 27-1
- Finished season 27-2
- #2 in final AP and UPI Polls
- NCAA Tournament National Runner-Up
1950-1951
- Started season 27-1
- Finished season 32-2
- #1 in final AP and UPI Polls
- NCAA Tournament National Champions
1969-1970
- Started season 26-1
- Finished season 26-2
- #1 in final AP and UPI Polls
- NCAA Tournament Regional Finalist (Elite Eight)
Patrick Patterson In Select Company
Patrick Patterson has recently surpassed 1,400 career points and 700 career rebounds while at UK. He currently has 1,419 points and 714 rebounds. Patrick Patterson became the 10th player in UK history to compile both 1,400 career points and 700 career rebounds. Here are the other 9 players who accomplished that feat:
- Tayshaun Prince (1998-2002, 135 games): 1,775 points, 759 rebounds
- Jamal Mashburn (1990-1993, 98 games): 1,843 points, 760 rebounds
- Kenny Walker(1982-1986, 132 games): 2,080 points, 942 rebounds
- Melvin Turpin (1980-1984, 123 games): 1,509 points, 730 rebounds
- Jack Givens (1974-1978, 132 games): 2,038 points, 793 rebounds
- Dan Issel (1967-1970, 83 games): 2,138 points, 1,078 rebounds
- Cotton Nash (1961-1964, 78 games): 1,770 points, 962 rebounds
- Johnny Cox (1956-1959, 84 games): 1,461 points, 1,004 rebounds
- Cliff Hagan (1950-1954, 77 games): 1,475 points, 1,035 rebounds
John Wall In Select Company
John Wall surpassed 400 career points at Kentucky in his 24th game played at UK. John Wall became the 9th player in UK history to score 400 career points within the first 24 games played at Kentucky. Here are the other 8 players:
1. Cotton Nash (1961-1962) – 19 games
2. Mike Casey (1967-1968) – 20 games
3. Bill Spivey (1949-1950) – 22 games
4. Bob Burrow (1954-1955) – 22 games
5. Johnny Cox (1956-1957) – 22 games
6. Louie Dampier (1964-1965) – 23 games
7. Tom Payne (1970-1971) – 24 games
8. Kevin Grevey (1972-1973) – 24 games
A South Carolina Sweep?
With the Gamecocks’ victory against the Wildcats earlier in the season, they can accomplish something that hasn’t happened very often against Kentucky. There have only been 4 other occasions in which a ranked Kentucky team lost both regular season meetings to an unranked SEC opponent. Here are those other 4 occasions, with each team’s overall and SEC record in parentheses, going into the game:
Georgia, 2003-2004
- January 17th, 2004
- #5 Kentucky (11-1, 2-0) – 57 Georgia (8-5, 0-2) – 65 (Rupp Arena)
- February 14th, 2004
- #8 Kentucky (17-3, 7-2) – 68 Georgia (11-10, 3-7) – 74 (Stegeman Coliseum)
Tennessee, 1998-1999
- January 12th, 1999
- #6 Kentucky (14-3, 3-0) – 46 Tennessee (10-4, 2-1) – 47 (Rupp Arena)
- February 28th, 1999
- #13 Kentucky (22-7, 11-4) – 61 Tennessee (19-7, 11-4) – 68 (Thompson-Boling Arena)
Florida, 1987-1988
- January 20th, 1988
- #4 Kentucky (12-1, 5-1) – 56 Florida (12-4, 3-1) – 58 (Rupp Arena)
- February 20th, 1988
- #9 Kentucky (18-4, 10-4) – 76 Florida (18-8, 8-5) – 83 (Stephen C. O’Connell Center)
Georgia Tech, 1954-1955
- January 8th, 1955
- #1 Kentucky (7-0, 1-0) – 58 Georgia Tech (2-4, 0-0) – 59 (Memorial Coliseum)
- January 31st, 1955
- #1 Kentucky (12-1, 5-1) – 59 Georgia Tech (5-10, 3-5) – 65 (Heisman Gymnasium)
UK’s Various Records vs. South Carolina
UK’s overall record vs. South Carolina: 41-10 (.804) (lost last 3 meetings, 6-4 last 10 meetings)
UK’s record vs. South Carolina at home: 21-2 (.913)
UK’s record vs. South Carolina at Rupp Arena: 16-2 (.889) (lost last meeting, 9-1 last 10 meetings)
UK’s record vs. South Carolina when UK is ranked and South Carolina is unranked: 27-5 (.844) (lost last 2 meetings, 6-4 last 10 meetings)
UK’s record in their 2nd regular season meeting against South Carolina when they lose the 1st meeting: 0-2
Other Various Records
UK’s overall record playing on February 25th: 17-9 (.654)
UK’s record playing South Carolina on February 25th: 1-1
Largest crowd to attend a Kentucky/South Carolina game at Rupp Arena: 24,326 (March 2nd, 1997, #3 Kentucky – 66 #6 South Carolina – 72)
Smallest crowd to attend a Kentucky/South Carolina game at Rupp Arena: 21,232 (January 10th, 2001, Kentucky – 69 South Carolina – 63)
RPI Rankings (As Of 9:30 P.M. February 24th)
Kentucky: 3rd
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 40th
South Carolina: 80th
South Carolina’s Strength Of Schedule: 28th
Pomeroy Ratings (As Of February 23rd)
Kentucky: 7th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 65th
Kentucky’s Non-Conference Strength Of Schedule: 184th
South Carolina: 81st
South Carolina’s Strength Of Schedule: 37th
South Carolina’s Non-Conference Strength Of Schedule: 128th
Sagarin Ratings (As Of February 23rd)
Kentucky: 4th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 68th
South Carolina: 73rd
South Carolina’s Strength Of Schedule: 22nd
Kentucky In The Top 30 In Team Statistics
Blocks Per Game: T-5th (7.1)
Field Goal Percentage Defense: 6th (37.8%)
Field Goal Percentage: 20th (48%)
Rebounds Per Game: T-3rd (42.4)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: T-10th (15)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game: T-12th (27.3)
Rebound Margin: 1st (+9.8)
Scoring Margin: 6th (+15.1)
Scoring Offense: 10th (80.4)
South Carolina In The Top 30 In Team Statistics
Blocks Per Game: 12th (6.4)
Steals Per Game: 23rd (8.7)
Turnover Margin: 6th (+4.5)
South Carolina In The Bottom 30 In Team Statistics
Assists Per Game: T-324th (9.9)
Kentucky Players In The Top 50 In Individual Statistics
Assists Per Game: John Wall, 5th (6.3)
Field Goal Percentage: Patrick Patterson, 11th (57.4%) DeMarcus Cousins, 26th (54.5%)
Rebounds Per Game: DeMarcus Cousins, 19th (10.1)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: DeMarcus Cousins, T-5th (4.5) Patrick Patterson, T-32nd (3.5)
Points Per 40 Minutes: DeMarcus Cousins, 2nd (28.8)
Turnovers Per Game: John Wall, 11th (4) Eric Bledsoe, 48th (3.5)
South Carolina Players In The Top 50 In Individual Statistics
Blocks Per Game: Sam Muldrow, 10th (3.2)
Points Per Game: Devan Downey, 5th (22.7)
Points Per 40 Minutes: Devan Downey, 9th (27)
Steals Per Game: Devan Downey, T-2nd (2.9)
Turnover Per Game: Devan Downey, T-40th (3.5)
Kentucky Individual Game Records vs. South Carolina
Points: 35, Joe Crawford (3/5/2008)
Rebounds: 17, Jared Prickett (1/26/1994)
Assists: 12, Anthony Epps (2/1/1995) Allen Edwards (1/13/1998)
Steals: 5, Anthony Epps (2/1/1995)
Blocks: 4, Sam Bowie (12/10/1979) Jamaal Magloire (2/28/1998) Jamaal Magloire (2/5/2000) Perry Stevenson (1/31/2009)
Free Throws Made: 11, Rick Robey (12/12/1977) Jamaal Magloire (2/5/2000) Joe Crawford (3/5/2008)
Field Goals Made: 14, Jack Givens (12/13/1976) Jamal Mashburn (1/4/1992)
3 Point Field Goals Made: 6, Jeff Brassow (1/26/1994) Tony Delk (1/7/1995) Tony Delk (1/3/1996) Jeff Sheppard (2/28/1998) Patrick Sparks (2/18/2006)
South Carolina Individual Game Records vs. Kentucky
Points: 36, Tre’ Kelly (2/7/2007)
Rebounds: 14, Edmond Wilson (1/23/1993)
Assists: 9, Carey Rich (3/5/1994)
Steals: 5, Chris Leso (2/26/1992) Chuck Edison (1/15/2000) Chuck Edison (2/2/2002) Devan Downey (2/25/2009)
Blocks: 7, Sam Muldrow (2/25/2009)
Free Throws Made: 13, B.J. McKie (3/2/1997)
Field Goals Made: 13, Tre’ Kelly (2/7/2007)
3 Point Field Goals Made: 6, Chuck Edison (2/2/2002)
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