There have been 121 seasons of Kentucky basketball, dating back to its first season in 1902-1903. There have been twenty-two coaches in UK's rich history, but only seven in the last ninety-three years (Rupp 1930-1972; Hall 1972-1985; Sutton 1985-1989; Pitino 1989-1997; Smith 1997-2007; Gillispie 2007-2009; Calipari 2009-Present). Kentucky's winning percentage throughout its history is .759, good for first all-time, followed by North Carolina at .734. I began looking at the numbers to see where John Calipari's seasons compare with Kentucky's seasons and winning percentage historically. Here are nine Kentucky coaching factoids in hopes of #9 sooner than later:
1. There have been two undefeated seasons in Kentucky basketball history: 1953-54 (25-0), and 1911-12 (9-0). Neither team won an NCAA championship (there was no NCAA tournament in 1912).
2. The third and fourth best seasons in Kentucky basketball history, from a winning percentage standpoint, were 2014-15 (.974) and 2011-12 (.950), both teams coached by John Calipari.
3. The fifth best season was 1995-96 (.944), coached by Rick Pitino.
4. John Calipari has three top-20 seasons for UK. The only other coach with multiple top-20 seasons is Adolph Rupp, who had 12. Edwin Sweetland (1911-12), Rick Pitino (1995-96), Joe B. Hall (1977-78), George
Buchheit (1920-21), Tubby Smith (1997-98), each had one.
This is where things get interesting:
5. John Calipari has seven seasons below the historical UK standard of .759 (2015-16, 37-9; 2013-14, 29-11; 2017-18, 26-11; 2023-24, 23-10; 2022-23, 22-12; 2012-13, 21-12; 2020-21, 9-16). That's seven out of sixteen seasons. Tubby Smith had six out of his ten seasons at or below .759. Rick Pitino only had one, and it was his probation year (1989-90), and he went .500. Billy Gillispie, obviously, was below that threshold by a Texas mile for his two seasons. In forty-one seasons, Rupp finished below .759 only eleven times.
6. John Calipari's UK teams have finished the season ranked in the AP Top-25 ten out of sixteen seasons, probably eleven if UK is ranked in the final poll this year. Tubby Smith teams finished ranked in the Top-25 in eight of his ten seasons. Rick Pitino went seven for eight, with his lone "failure" being the probation season. Joe B. Hall went nine for thirteen.
7. John Calipari has five thirty-win seasons for UK, or 31% of the time. Rupp had four in forty-two years but won three championships out of those four seasons. Pitino had three in eight years, one championship. Tubby had two in ten years, one championship. Joe B. Hall had one, one championship. Eddie Sutton had one. Billy Gillispie had thirty beers before the NIT game.
8. Seven of UK's eight championships were thirty-win seasons. The only exception was Rupp's 1957-58 team that won only 23 games.
9. Only Rupp (1971-72) and Pitino (1997-98) ended their time at UK with a season winning percentage higher than .759.
Thoughts?
Source
1. There have been two undefeated seasons in Kentucky basketball history: 1953-54 (25-0), and 1911-12 (9-0). Neither team won an NCAA championship (there was no NCAA tournament in 1912).
2. The third and fourth best seasons in Kentucky basketball history, from a winning percentage standpoint, were 2014-15 (.974) and 2011-12 (.950), both teams coached by John Calipari.
3. The fifth best season was 1995-96 (.944), coached by Rick Pitino.
4. John Calipari has three top-20 seasons for UK. The only other coach with multiple top-20 seasons is Adolph Rupp, who had 12. Edwin Sweetland (1911-12), Rick Pitino (1995-96), Joe B. Hall (1977-78), George
Buchheit (1920-21), Tubby Smith (1997-98), each had one.
This is where things get interesting:
5. John Calipari has seven seasons below the historical UK standard of .759 (2015-16, 37-9; 2013-14, 29-11; 2017-18, 26-11; 2023-24, 23-10; 2022-23, 22-12; 2012-13, 21-12; 2020-21, 9-16). That's seven out of sixteen seasons. Tubby Smith had six out of his ten seasons at or below .759. Rick Pitino only had one, and it was his probation year (1989-90), and he went .500. Billy Gillispie, obviously, was below that threshold by a Texas mile for his two seasons. In forty-one seasons, Rupp finished below .759 only eleven times.
6. John Calipari's UK teams have finished the season ranked in the AP Top-25 ten out of sixteen seasons, probably eleven if UK is ranked in the final poll this year. Tubby Smith teams finished ranked in the Top-25 in eight of his ten seasons. Rick Pitino went seven for eight, with his lone "failure" being the probation season. Joe B. Hall went nine for thirteen.
7. John Calipari has five thirty-win seasons for UK, or 31% of the time. Rupp had four in forty-two years but won three championships out of those four seasons. Pitino had three in eight years, one championship. Tubby had two in ten years, one championship. Joe B. Hall had one, one championship. Eddie Sutton had one. Billy Gillispie had thirty beers before the NIT game.
8. Seven of UK's eight championships were thirty-win seasons. The only exception was Rupp's 1957-58 team that won only 23 games.
9. Only Rupp (1971-72) and Pitino (1997-98) ended their time at UK with a season winning percentage higher than .759.
Thoughts?
Source
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