Tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN, there will be a super SEC showdown at Rupp Arena in Lexingt..."/> Tonight at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN, there will be a super SEC showdown at Rupp Arena in Lexingt..."/>
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Inside The Numbers: Florida Gators

By Corey Price

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Yet Another Ranked vs. Ranked Matchup With Florida

Tonight will be the 19th time in school history that Kentucky will face Florida with both teams ranked in the AP Poll heading into the game. Here’s how that stacks up with Kentucky’s other SEC opponents:

Most Ranked vs. Ranked Matchups Amongst SEC Opponents In Kentucky History (Record In Parentheses)

  • 19, Vanderbilt (16-3)
  • 19, Alabama (14-5)
  • 19, Florida (14-4)
  • 17, Tennessee (11-6)
  • 12, LSU (7-5)
  • 10, Arkansas (6-4)
  • 8, Mississippi State (4-4)
  • 7, Auburn (6-1)
  • 7, Georgia (6-1)
  • 6, South Carolina (4-2)
  • 3, Ole Miss (2-1)
  • 2, Georgia Tech (0-2)
  • 1, Tulane (1-0)

Kentucky Struggles With Florida Post-Probation

Since the end of Kentucky’s most recent stint on probation, the Wildcats haven’t exactly dominated Florida. Here’s how their record against the Gators stacks up against other SEC opponents in that same time span:

Kentucky’s Worst Wining Percentage vs. SEC Opponents Since The Start Of The 1991-1992 Season (Excluding Missouri And Texas A&M)

  • .677, Arkansas (21-10)
  • .686, Florida (35-16)
  • .750, Alabama (21-7)
  • .755, Vanderbilt (37-12)
  • .771, Tennessee (37-11)
  • .786, LSU (22-6)
  • .787, Georgia (37-10)
  • .793, Mississippi State (23-6)
  • .813, South Carolina (39-9)
  • .828, Ole Miss (24-5)
  • .964, Auburn (27-1)

Billy Donovan In Rarefied Air Amongst Coaches

Tonight will be the 41st time that Billy Donovan will be the head coach of an opposing team playing Kentucky. Billy is one of just three men to be an opposing head coach in at least 40 games against Kentucky. Here’s the short list:

Opposing Head Coaches That Have Coached Against Kentucky At Least 40 Times

  • 51 games, Dale Brown (LSU, 1973-1997) (18-33 overall record, 16-24 through the first 40 games)
  • 42 games, C. M. Newton (Alabama and Vanderbilt, 1969-1989) (10-32 overall record, 8-32 through the first 40 games)
  • 41 games, Billy Donovan (Marshall and Florida, 1994-Present) (14-26 record through the first 40 games)

Is Kentucky Still A Final Four Team Based On Their Own History?

The Wildcats have a 19-5 record heading into tonight’s game against Florida, their 25th game of the season. Here’s how Kentucky’s past 15 Final Four teams fared through their first 25 games of the season:

Kentucky Final Four Teams Through Their First 25 Games

  • 24-1 (2011-2012)
  • 24-1 (1995-1996)
  • 24-1 (1965-1966)
  • 24-1 (1950-1951)
  • 24-1 (1948-1949)
  • 23-2 (1977-1978)
  • 23-2 (1947-1948)
  • 22-3 (1997-1998)
  • 22-3 (1996-1997)
  • 22-3 (1992-1993)
  • 21-4 (1983-1984)
  • 21-4 (1974-1975)
  • 19-6 (1957-1958)
  • 19-6 (1941-1942)
  • 18-7 (2010-2011)

No Close Wins For Kentucky So Far

Kentucky has a 19-5 record so far this season, and all of their 19 wins have been decided by at least 5 points. If the Wildcats were to have their next win decided by at least 5 points, they would join a short list of past teams in school history to have at least their first 20 wins of the season decided by at least 5 points. Here’s that list:

Most Consecutive 5+ Point Wins To Start A Season In School History

34 (1995-1996)

32 (1946-1947)

27 (1945-1946)

25 (1996-1997)

25 (1953-1954)

21 (1950-1951)

21 (1932-1933)

20 (2010-2011)

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