After a blowout win over Eastern Illinois and a tough road loss to Louisville, what do the advanced analytics really say about this Kentucky team? The computers have spoken, and the consensus is that the Cats are a consensus Top 15 team with an elite offense.
However, one metric reveals the one glaring flaw that led to the Louisville loss and could derail the season if it isn't fixed.
Here’s a full breakdown of where Kentucky stands in nearly every major analytic service.
Where Kentucky basketball stands in every major analytic
KenPom (top 15)
- Houston
- Duke
- Gonzaga
- Kentucky
- Purdue
- Illinois
- Connecticut
- Iowa St.
- Louisville
- Florida
- Arizona
- Vanderbilt
- Tennessee
- Michigan
- Texas Tech
Analysis: This is the most bullish rating. KenPom has Kentucky at #4 in the nation. This is built on an elite #8 adjusted offense and a #9 adjusted defense. According to KenPom, this is one of the most balanced teams in America.
Bart Torvik (T-Rank) (top 15)
- Houston
- Duke
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Louisville
- Connecticut
- Purdue
- Gonzaga
- Florida
- Arizona
- Kentucky
- St. John's
- Vanderbilt
- Iowa St.
- Tennessee
Analysis: Torvik is high on the Cats, but less so than KenPom. He ranks UK #11 overall, with the #18 offense and #12 defense. However, T-Rank highlights the team's massive, glaring flaw: Turnover Percentage. The Cats are turning it over on 15.9% of their possessions, which ranks 109th—a bad sign for a Pope offense.
ESPN's FPI (top 10)
- Duke
- Houston
- Gonzaga
- Louisville
- Arizona
- Iowa St.
- Kentucky
- UConn
- Florida
- Indiana
Analysis: ESPN's FPI agrees with KenPom on UK's elite status, ranking them #7 nationally. FPI projects the Cats to finish 22.5-8.5 (12-6 in the SEC). It also notes they have the 11th-hardest strength of schedule and gives them a 38% chance to win the SEC.
EvanMiya (top 10)
- Duke
- Houston
- Purdue
- Gonzaga
- Connecticut
- Iowa State
- Arizona
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Kentucky
Analysis: EvanMiya has the Cats at #10. The Net Rating (+23.9) is a combination of a great offense (13.3 O-Rate) and a good defense (10.5 D-Rate).
Haslametrics (Top 10 Offense)
- Duke
- Houston
- UConn
- Kentucky
- BYU
- Iowa State
- Gonzaga
- Arizona
- Wisconsin
- Saint Mary's
Analysis: Haslametrics ranks Kentucky's offense as the 4th most efficient in the nation, praising their high field goal percentage (49.78%) and their ability to score at the rim (68.15% on "Near-Proximity" attempts).
Conclusion: The computers agree: Kentucky is a Top 15 team with a Top 10-level offense. But Torvik's turnover data confirms what we saw against Louisville: this team's one glaring weakness is taking care of the ball.
Clean that up and the Cats could be on their way to a real special season. Mess around and keep turning it over, well that strength of schedule means it will be a long season.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion