Ranking the top 10 individual seasons, post-probation.

[Son_Of_Saul]

What's your list look like? Here's mine:

#1. 1993 Jamal Mashburn: 21ppg, 8.4rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg; 49%; 37%; 67%.
#2. 1992 Jamal Mashburn: 21ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg; 57%; 44%; 71%.
#3. 2012 Anthony Davis: 14.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 4.7bpg, 1.4spg; 62%; 15%; 71%.
#4. 2010 John Wall: 16.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 6.5apg, 1.8spg; 51%; 33%; 75%.
#5. 1996 Tony Delk: 17.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.8apg, 1.9spg; 49%; 44%; 80%.
#6. 1996 Antoine Walker: 15.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.7spg; 46%; 19%; 63%.
#7. 1997 Ron Mercer: 18.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.4apg, 1.7spg; 49%; 35%; 78%.
#8. 2009 Jodie Meeks: 23.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.8apg, 1.3spg; 46%; 41%; 90%. *
#9. 2024 Antonio Reeves: 20.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.6apg, 0.7spg; 56%; 45%; 86%. *
#10. 2022 Oscar Tschiebwe: 17.4ppg, 15.1rpg, 1.1apg, 1.8spg; 61%; 0%; 69%. *

Honorable mentions: 2017 Malik Monk; 2016 Jamal Murray; 2002 Tayshaun Prince; 1995 Tony Delk; 2003 Keith Bogans; 2010 DeMarcus Cousins; 2016 Tyler Ulis.


* I just can't put Meeks, Reeves, and Oscar ahead of the guys ranked #1-7. For one, their teams didn't even advance past the first weekend in those seasons with Kentucky. Meeks' team didn't make the tourney at all. Reeves' 2024 team got bounced in the first round. Oscar's 2022 team also got bounced in the first weekend.

Meanwhile, Mashburn made at least the Elite Eight in both of the seasons on this list, only falling in OT twice to some of the most legendary teams in college basketball history (1992 Duke and 1993 Michigan); Delk won it all in his season, as did Walker. Mercer almost single-handedly led his team within an OT of a title. Wall turned UK from an NIT team into a 35 win team in one season, and almost made the Final Four as a freshman. Davis obviously won it all.


Thoughts?

 

[BC_Wader]

Hard to refute any of that. You pretty much summed it up. I'd be reaching big time to try and find someone to add to that list.

 

[chroix]

AD had the year of years. Love Mash but I’m putting AD up top.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

AD had the year of years. Love Mash but I’m putting AD up top.

I can understand that, but part of my rationale was asking the question: what would Mashburn have done on the 2012 team, and what would AD have done on the 1992 and 1993 teams?

I simply don't think the '92 or '93 teams would have been as good if AD was their main weapon, as opposed to Mashburn; and I think the 2012 still wins it all with Mashburn instead of AD. Just go small with Jones as your 5 and Mashburn as your 4. That team would have been impossible to defend with Miller, MKG, Lamb, and Teague as your other four pieces.

Mashburn's real issue was never having a legitimate second option. Ford was a great player, but he was one-dimensional. Rhodes and Delk weren't ready in '93, and the Unforgettables didn't have an NBA player.

 

[BC_Wader]

I can understand that, but part of my rationale was asking the question: what would Mashburn have done on the 2012 team, and what would AD have done on the 1992 and 1993 teams?

I simply don't think the '92 or '93 teams would have been as good if AD was their main weapon, as opposed to Mashburn; and I think the 2012 still wins it all with Mashburn instead of AD. Just go small with Jones as your 5 and Mashburn as your 4. That team would have been impossible to defend with Miller, MKG, Lamb, and Teague as your other four pieces.

Mashburn's real issue was never having a legitimate second option. Ford was a great player, but he was one-dimensional. Rhodes and Delk weren't ready in '93, and the Unforgettables didn't have an NBA player.

Who would've been our Center in 2012? Eloy Vargas? Unless we go smaller but then we'd miss the D of Anthony Davis. He's THE main reason we won it all.

 

[dlh331]

What's your list look like? Here's mine:

#1. 1993 Jamal Mashburn: 21ppg, 8.4rpg, 3.6apg, 1.5spg; 49%; 37%; 67%.
#2. 1992 Jamal Mashburn: 21ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.4apg, 1.8spg; 57%; 44%; 71%.
#3. 2012 Anthony Davis: 14.2ppg, 10.4rpg, 4.7bpg, 1.4spg; 62%; 15%; 71%.
#4. 2010 John Wall: 16.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 6.5apg, 1.8spg; 51%; 33%; 75%.
#5. 1996 Tony Delk: 17.8ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.8apg, 1.9spg; 49%; 44%; 80%.
#6. 1996 Antoine Walker: 15.2ppg, 8.4rpg, 2.9apg, 1.7spg; 46%; 19%; 63%.
#7. 1997 Ron Mercer: 18.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.4apg, 1.7spg; 49%; 35%; 78%.
#8. 2009 Jodie Meeks: 23.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 1.8apg, 1.3spg; 46%; 41%; 90%. *
#9. 2024 Antonio Reeves: 20.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 1.6apg, 0.7spg; 56%; 45%; 86%. *
#10. 2022 Oscar Tschiebwe: 17.4ppg, 15.1rpg, 1.1apg, 1.8spg; 61%; 0%; 69%. *

Honorable mentions: 2017 Malik Monk; 2016 Jamal Murray; 2002 Tayshaun Prince; 1995 Tony Delk; 2003 Keith Bogans; 2010 DeMarcus Cousins; 2016 Tyler Ulis.


* I just can't put Meeks, Reeves, and Oscar ahead of the guys ranked #1-7. For one, their teams didn't even advance past the first weekend in those seasons with Kentucky. Meeks' team didn't make the tourney at all. Reeves' 2024 team got bounced in the first round. Oscar's 2022 team also got bounced in the first weekend.

Meanwhile, Mashburn made at least the Elite Eight in both of the seasons on this list, only falling in OT twice to some of the most legendary teams in college basketball history (1992 Duke and 1993 Michigan); Delk won it all in his season, as did Walker. Mercer almost single-handedly led his team within an OT of a title. Wall turned UK from an NIT team into a 35 win team in one season, and almost made the Final Four as a freshman. Davis obviously won it all.


Thoughts?

Nice list; I think 1993 Travis Ford is there somewhere:
13.6 ppg
4.9 apg
52.7% FG
52.9% From 3 on 101 makes
88.1% FT
(very close to UK's only 50/40/90 player ever)
SECT MVP
Regional MVP
1st team All-SEC
In UK's incredible tournament runs in the SECT/NCAAT Ford was 29/50 for 58% from 3!!

Very interesting topic!!

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Who would've been our Center in 2012? Eloy Vargas? Unless we go smaller but then we'd miss the D of Anthony Davis. He's THE main reason we won it all.

Jones 6'9"
Mashburn 6'8"
MKG 6'7"
Lamb 6'2"
Teague 6'2"

Jones is not much of a downgrade from what Rodney Dent provided in 1993, and Mashburn would have upgrades at shooting guard and small forward. Ford gets a leg on Teague for sure, at least offensively.

 

[Princecal]

Tough crowd when our first unanimous player of the year season barely cracks the list. But Wall and Davis should've gotten that as well, and lack of postseason success really dampens that. But, Oscar did average something crazy like 30 and 20 in the postseason so I try to not hold those losses against him.

 

[BC_Wader]

Tough crowd when our first unanimous player of the year season barely cracks the list. But Wall and Davis should've gotten that as well, and lack of postseason success really dampens that. But, Oscar did average something crazy like 30 and 20 in the postseason so I try to not hold those losses against him.

Yeah @Son_Of_Saul listed Oscar. Dude was an absolute beast and the best college rebounder these eyes ever saw but his teams here were limted. Mainly due to coaching.

 

[Cleatortoises]

Pat pat sparks.
L's down.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

I can understand that, but part of my rationale was asking the question: what would Mashburn have done on the 2012 team, and what would AD have done on the 1992 and 1993 teams?

I simply don't think the '92 or '93 teams would have been as good if AD was their main weapon, as opposed to Mashburn; and I think the 2012 still wins it all with Mashburn instead of AD. Just go small with Jones as your 5 and Mashburn as your 4. That team would have been impossible to defend with Miller, MKG, Lamb, and Teague as your other four pieces.

Mashburn's real issue was never having a legitimate second option. Ford was a great player, but he was one-dimensional. Rhodes and Delk weren't ready in '93, and the Unforgettables didn't have an NBA player.

Not a fair comparison. Davis was a freshmen and mashburn in 92 and 93 had some experience already. Maybe if we get to put 2nd year nba player AD on 93 UK it would be a more apt comparison.

 

[Aike]

Would give consideration to KAT in 2015, Randle in 2014, Nerlens in 2013, Knight in 2011.

I think it’s tough to include KAT because that team was so deep, but his advanced metrics were fantastic.

Randle carried us to a Title game.

Nerlens wa uniquely dominant, imo.

Everything ran through Knight in 2011, and he hit a couple of daggers in route to the FF.

 

[HagginHall1999]

AD had the year of years. Love Mash but I’m putting AD up top.

Agree. Mashburn is my favorite UK player of all time. If I'm honest with myself though, he fouled out in both games which may have cost us at least one title. Not blaming him...just saying he wasn't on the court for the the biggest moments and that is a tough pill to swallow. I cannot put either of his seasons above Davis.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Not a fair comparison. Davis was a freshmen and mashburn in 92 and 93 had some experience already. Maybe if we get to put 2nd year nba player AD on 93 UK it would be a more apt comparison.

It's absolutely fair since the criteria of the thread was "best individual seasons at UK." You want to talk comparison by age? That's a good topic, but it's a different argument altogether.

Both Davis and Mashburn have an argument for best individual seasons, but I think Davis struggles to mirror Mashburn's success if they reversed rosters.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Tough crowd when our first unanimous player of the year season barely cracks the list. But Wall and Davis should've gotten that as well, and lack of postseason success really dampens that. But, Oscar did average something crazy like 30 and 20 in the postseason so I try to not hold those losses against him.

If you could have the 2022 version of Oscar, are you taking him over the versions of guys who are ahead of him on that last? I could see a case for taking him over Reeves, but that's about it. If I'm building a team around any one of those players versions, Oscar is not making my top 5. Outside of rebounding and bully ball, he didn't offer much else. Limited defense. Limited passing. Limited shooting. He's right where he needs to be on the list.

 

[klambert6]

I think with a little more time and distance Reed's year last year would be HM at least. Save the two turds in the tournaments, that was a high level season.

The destruction of the Vols in TB the last game of the season was the cherry on top.

 

[BlueSince92]

I’d slide Derek Anderson in there, probably ahead of Ron Mercer since he was more efficient from both inside and outside. And I’d move them both ahead of both Delk and Walker, who were both insanely good but I don’t think quite as good individually as either. Otherwise I second everything you have.

 

[Princecal]

If you could have the 2022 version of Oscar, are you taking him over the versions of guys who are ahead of him on that last? I could see a case for taking him over Reeves, but that's about it. If I'm building a team around any one of those players versions, Oscar is not making my top 5. Outside of rebounding and bully ball, he didn't offer much else. Limited defense. Limited passing. Limited shooting. He's right where he needs to be on the list.

He actually had a nice mid range jumper. Just pointing out that the only unanimous poy we EVER had is barely top 10 when that's the bad years of Cal is insane to think about