Several weird stats from the Kentucky vs. Western Kentucky basketball game

Kentucky’s win over Western Kentucky wasn’t the prettiest, and fans weren’t thrilled with the performance. But digging into the numbers reveals just how unique the victory was. Despite shooting struggles, the Wildcats dominated, earning a 19-point win in Rupp Arena, 87-68.

Historic stats to consider

Corey Price, a Kentucky basketball tweet fanatic, pointed out several fascinating tidbits about this game:

• This was Kentucky’s largest margin of victory in a game where they shot under 41% total, under 28% from three, and under 70% at the free-throw line since 2004. On December 8, 2004 the Cats dismantled Morehead State. That game, a 31-point win saw similar shooting woes (39.4% FG, 16.7% 3PT, 66.7% FT).
• Kentucky has now recorded at least five wins by 19 or more points in their first six games of the season for the first time since the 2016-17 season. That is odd considering the teams Cal usually scheduled to start the year.
• The game featured the most combined free-throw attempts in a Rupp Arena game since January 5, 2008, when Kentucky and Louisville combined for 73 attempts. Last night’s total was 71. It was definitely a foul fest.
• Kentucky’s streak of consecutive games with at least 10 made three-pointers came to an end at five games, which tied a school record.

Finding Positives in the Win

Though fans might have been frustrated with the inconsistency, Kentucky showcased resilience. Their defense held Western Kentucky to just 30.3% shooting in the first half, helping the Wildcats build a comfortable lead despite their offensive struggles. Each time Western made a run to cut the lead, the Cats kept pushing it back up.

Offensively, Andrew Carr and Otega Oweh made critical plays down the stretch to seal the win. Kentucky converted just enough free throws to keep the game out of reach. But it has to be better from the line going forward, even making 5 more puts the game in a totally different light.

Looking Ahead

While this wasn’t the polished performance fans hoped for, it’s clear the Wildcats can win even when they’re not at their best.

That grit could prove vital as the season progresses. For now, Big Blue Nation can celebrate another double-digit win and look forward to the team finding more consistency.