Today at noon on CBS the #2 Kentucky Wildcats renew their hated rivalry once again with the #19 Tennessee Volunteers, this time at Thompson-Boling Arena down in Knoxville. The Wildcats are riding an 8 game win streak since their only loss of the season on January 26th. The Volunteers lost their last game against Florida down in Gainesville and are 5-5 since January 23rd. Kentucky won this season’s previous meeting against Tennessee 73-62 at Rupp Arena. With a win over the Volunteers the Wildcats would at least clinch a share of their 44th SEC Championship, just one more sign of UK’s complete dominance in conference play over the years. Here are some numbers and facts of interests headed into today’s game:
SEC Champs
As described above, Kentucky is within striking distance of their 44th SEC Championship. To put that into perspective, Louisiana State has the 2nd most SEC Championships and they only have 10. Also, the rest of the SEC combined has a total of 46 SEC Championships (includes 1 SEC Championship by Georgia Tech in 1938). Here is a breakdown of UK’s previous 43 SEC Championships:
By Decade
1930’s: 4 (First: 1933 Last: 1939)
1940’s: 8 (First: 1940 Last: 1949)
1950’s: 7 (First: 1950 Last: 1958)
1960’s: 5 (First: 1962 Last: 1969)
1970’s: 7 (First: 1970 Last: 1978)
1980’s: 5 (First: 1980 Last: 1986)
1990’s: 3 (First: 1995 Last: 1998)
2000’s: 4 (First: 2000 Last: 2005)
By Coach
Adolph Rupp: 27 (First: 1933 Last: 1972)
Joe B. Hall: 8 (First: 1973 Last: 1984)
Eddie Sutton: 1 (1986)
Rick Pitino: 2 (First: 1995 Last: 1996)
Tubby Smith: 5 (First: 1998 Last: 2005)
Most Consecutive SEC Championships: 11 (1944-1955, Didn’t Play In 1953)
Longest Drought Between SEC Championships: 9 years (1986, 1995)
Freshman Scoring Record In Jeopardy
Probably the most coveted of all UK freshman records, the scoring record, is likely to be broken, possibly twice, today against the Volunteers. Kentucky native and legend Rex Chapman currently holds the record with 464 points scored in the 1986-1987 season. DeMarcus Cousins sits currently at 455 points and needs 10 points to break the record. John Wall has scored 450 points so far this season and needs 15 points to break the record. Ironically, Rex Chapman played in 29 games in his freshman season of 1986-1987 and today’s game will be the 29th game of the season, although John Wall has only played in 27 of the first 28 games.
DeMarcus Cousins: Double-Double Machine
DeMarcus Cousins recorded his 17th double-double of the season Thursday night against South Carolina. That currently puts him 6th on the UK single season double-doubles list. Here are the top 5 single season double-doubles in UK history:
1. Dan Issel (1969-1970): 26 double-doubles (28 games played)
2. Dan Issel (1968-1969): 22 double-doubles (28 games played)
3. Jim Andrews (1972-1973): 21 double-doubles (28 games played)
4. Jim Andrews (1971-1972): 19 double-doubles (28 games played)
5. Cotton Nash (1961-1962): 18 double-doubles (26 games played)
DeMarcus Cousins In More Select Company
DeMarcus Cousins has amassed 455 points, 284 rebounds, and 46 blocks so far in his freshman season. Only 2 other players in UK history have compiled at least 450 points, 280 rebounds, and 45 blocks in a single season. And ironically, 1 of the 2 players to do it is one of DeMarcus Cousins’ teammates. Here are the other 2 players to do it, compared to Cousins’ current stats:
DeMarcus Cousins (2009-2010, 28 games played): 455 points (16.3 PPG), 284 rebounds (10.1 RPG), 46 blocks (1.6 BPG)
Patrick Patterson (2008-2009, 34 games played): 609 points (17.9 PPG), 316 rebounds (9.3 RPG), 70 blocks (2.1 BPG)
Nazr Mohammed (1997-1998, 39 games played): 468 points (12 PPG), 282 rebounds (7.2 RPG), 75 blocks (1.9 BPG)
Making SEC Road History
Today’s game will mark the 100th game that UK has played against Tennessee on their home court. This will be the first school in which UK has played 100 games on an opponent’s home court. But, Tennessee has been the toughest place to play for UK in their SEC history. Here are the 5 worst winning percentages for UK at their SEC opponents’ home courts:
1. Tennessee: .535 (53-46)
2. Alabama: .571 (28-21)
3. Arkansas: .600 (6-4)
4. Florida: .604 (32-21)
5. Louisiana State: .636 (28-16)
UK’s Various Records vs. Tennessee
UK’s overall record vs. Tennessee: 143-65 (.688) (won last 3 meetings, 7-3 last 10 meetings)
UK’s record vs. Tennessee on the road: 53-46 (.535)
UK’s record vs. Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena: 13-9 (.591) (won last meeting, 6-4 last 10 meetings)
UK’s record vs. Tennessee when both Kentucky and Tennessee are ranked: 10-5 (.667) (won last 2 meetings, 6-4 last 10 meetings)
Other Various Records
UK’s overall record playing on February 27th: 23-9 (.719)
UK’s record playing Tennessee on February 27th: 3-3 (.500)
Largest crowd to attend a Kentucky/Tennessee game at Thompson-Boling Arena: 24,464 (January 21st, 1989 Kentucky – 66 #17 Tennessee – 65)
Smallest crowd to attend a Kentucky/Tennessee game at Thompson-Boling Arena: 16,183 (January 25th, 2005 #7 Kentucky – 84 Tennessee – 62)
RPI Rankings (As Of 9:30 P.M. February 26th)
Kentucky: 3rd
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 48th
Tennessee: 20th
Tennessee’s Strength Of Schedule: 25th
Pomeroy Ratings (As Of February 25th)
Kentucky: 7th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 68th
Kentucky’s Non-Conference Strength Of Schedule: 190th
Tennessee: 32nd
Tennessee’s Strength Of Schedule: 38th
Tennessee’s Non-Conference Strength Of Schedule: 123rd
Sagarin Ratings (As Of February 26th)
Kentucky: 4th
Kentucky’s Strength Of Schedule: 71st
Tennessee: 23rd
Tennessee’s Strength Of Schedule: 46th
Kentucky In The Top 30 In Team Statistics (As Of February 25th)
Blocks Per Game: 5th (7.1)
Field Goal Percentage Defense: 9th (37.8%)
Field Goal Percentage: 16th (48%)
Rebounds Per Game: 3rd (42.5)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: T-10th (15)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game: T-9th (27.5)
Rebound Margin: 1st (+10)
Scoring Margin: 6th (+15.3)
Scoring Offense: 10th (80.5)
Tennessee In The Top 30 In Team Statistics (As Of February 25th)
Field Goal Percentage Defense: 27th (39.5%)
3 Point Field Goal Percentage Defense: 22nd (29.9%)
Turnover Margin: 11th (+4.1)
Kentucky Players In The Top 50 In Individual Statistics (As Of February 25th)
Assists Per Game: John Wall, 6th (6.2)
Field Goal Percentage: Patrick Patterson, 10th (58.5%) DeMarcus Cousins, 26th (54.5
%)
Rebounds Per Game: DeMarcus Cousins, T-19th (10.2)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game: DeMarcus Cousins, 7th (4.5) Patrick Patterson, 40th (3.5)
Points Per 40 Minutes: DeMarcus Cousins, 2nd (28.5)
Turnovers Per Game: John Wall, 10th (4) Eric Bledsoe, T-48th (3.4)
Tennessee Players In The Top 50 In Individual Statistics (As Of February 25th)
Assist-To-Turnover Ratio: Bobby Maze, 48th (2.24 to 1)
Kentucky Individual Game Records vs. Tennessee
Points: 54, Jodie Meeks (1/13/2009) (most ever by a UK player)
Rebounds: 28, Mike Phillips (1/10/1976)
Assists: 12, Roger Harden (2/28/1985)
Steals: 7, Jared Prickett (3/12/1993)
Blocks: 5, John Pelphrey (1/20/1990) Nazr Mohammed (2/11/1998)
Free Throws Made: 14, Winston Bennett (1/25/1986) Jodie Meeks (1/13/2009)
Field Goals Made: 18, Melvin Turpin (1/31/1983)
3 Point Field Goals Made: 10, Jodie Meeks (1/13/2009) (most ever by a UK player)
Tennessee Individual Game Records vs. Kentucky
Points: 43, Ernie Grunfeld (1/10/1976)
Rebounds: 20, Gene Tormohlen (3/2/1957) Bernard King (2/15/1975)
Assists: 12, Johnny Darden (3/5/1977 and 2/15/1978)
Steals: 5, Brandon Wharton (1/24/1998 and 2/28/1999)
Blocks: 4, Marcus Haislip (2/6/2002)
Free Throws Made: 15, Allan Houston (1/21/1992)
Field Goals Made: 16, Ernie Grunfeld (1/10/1976)
3 Point Field Goals Made: 7, Vincent Yarbrough (2/19/2002) Chris Lofton (2/7/2006)
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans