Case Study: Defining the Kentucky Standard: What the Data Actually Shows Since 1985

Do you believe there is a difference between a program’s “standard” and its “ceiling”?


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Im The Village Idiot

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IMG_0270.jpeg
Was requested four days ago. Don’t know why it took them so long to update it. Also, they emailed me saying it won’t work with the apostrophe. So this is now my name.
 
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TotheMoon88

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LOL at the OP changing his name back after he got caught with an ID that CLEARLY played both sides and now he's trying to play the "what are you talking about" game. No telling how many aliases this lowlife has. What an immature sleaze ball.
You ever been told you got a few screws loose?
 
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Goingfor9

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So actual hard numbers, facts, are meaningless compared to your 'feels'? That's not unreasonable at all.
Those aren’t hard numbers the numbers that include outlier seasons. Like you know the losing cal season and our near death penalty status after the Eddie Sutton debacle. I mean this guy started at 1985 so he includes the two worst seasons in 100 years.. and Eddie Sutton’s last season losing record that was the first losing season for UK in almost 60 years. No one talks about that, but that’s gotta be some kind of record. Nevertheless, you go and determine the standard with our two worst seasons in the last 100 and you leave out everything else. No good data is when you drop the outliers. You know picking 1985 was a random choice. So no hard numbers. They’re cherry picked. They exclude a national championship that was 17 years before these numbers. Instead of the 78 title the Eddie Sutton tenure is included. It’s not real numbers to include the probation years or the covid year where there were zero fans and we had a losing seasons. Those weren’t normal situations Eddie sudden probation near death penalty and a season where there were no fans. A good analyst would definitely drop that from their data set. So no those are not hard numbers. You guys are insufferable in your pursuit to brainwash people into thinking these are normal times for UK basketball. Young millennials and Gen Z just keep looking at things that justifies our losing. The justifies what you’ve grown up with what you’re seeing. If you’re gonna arbitrarily pick a time how about picking 1992 start the 91-92 season. You can’t include freaking probation years where we were precluded from even qualifying for the tournament. And drop the COVID year for better yet drop all the seasons after cal got his lifetime contract. See what it looks like then.. because like I said, this is cherry picking so do it right and drop these outlier bad seasons that aren’t in the stratosphere of Kentucky standard.
 

Im The Village Idiot

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Those aren’t hard numbers the numbers that include outlier seasons. Like you know the losing cal season and our near death penalty status after the Eddie Sutton debacle. I mean this guy started at 1985 so he includes the two worst seasons in 100 years.. and Eddie Sutton’s last season losing record that was the first losing season for UK in almost 60 years. No one talks about that, but that’s gotta be some kind of record. Nevertheless, you go and determine the standard with our two worst seasons in the last 100 and you leave out everything else. No good data is when you drop the outliers. You know picking 1985 was a random choice. So no hard numbers. They’re cherry picked. They exclude a national championship that was 17 years before these numbers. Instead of the 78 title the Eddie Sutton tenure is included. It’s not real numbers to include the probation years or the covid year where there were zero fans and we had a losing seasons. Those weren’t normal situations Eddie sudden probation near death penalty and a season where there were no fans. A good analyst would definitely drop that from their data set. So no those are not hard numbers. You guys are insufferable in your pursuit to brainwash people into thinking these are normal times for UK basketball. Young millennials and Gen Z just keep looking at things that justifies our losing. The justifies what you’ve grown up with what you’re seeing. If you’re gonna arbitrarily pick a time how about picking 1992 start the 91-92 season. You can’t include freaking probation years where we were precluded from even qualifying for the tournament. And drop the COVID year for better yet drop all the seasons after cal got his lifetime contract. See what it looks like then.. because like I said, this is cherry picking so do it right and drop these outlier bad seasons that aren’t in the stratosphere of Kentucky standard.
I didn’t read all that but your last sentence makes no sense. You’re simultaneously calling out my post for “cherry picking” while also asking me to remove “outlier seasons”.
 
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GACatsFan7

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Dec 21, 2022
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Those aren’t hard numbers the numbers that include outlier seasons. Like you know the losing cal season and our near death penalty status after the Eddie Sutton debacle. I mean this guy started at 1985 so he includes the two worst seasons in 100 years.. and Eddie Sutton’s last season losing record that was the first losing season for UK in almost 60 years. No one talks about that, but that’s gotta be some kind of record. Nevertheless, you go and determine the standard with our two worst seasons in the last 100 and you leave out everything else. No good data is when you drop the outliers. You know picking 1985 was a random choice. So no hard numbers. They’re cherry picked. They exclude a national championship that was 17 years before these numbers. Instead of the 78 title the Eddie Sutton tenure is included. It’s not real numbers to include the probation years or the covid year where there were zero fans and we had a losing seasons. Those weren’t normal situations Eddie sudden probation near death penalty and a season where there were no fans. A good analyst would definitely drop that from their data set. So no those are not hard numbers. You guys are insufferable in your pursuit to brainwash people into thinking these are normal times for UK basketball. Young millennials and Gen Z just keep looking at things that justifies our losing. The justifies what you’ve grown up with what you’re seeing. If you’re gonna arbitrarily pick a time how about picking 1992 start the 91-92 season. You can’t include freaking probation years where we were precluded from even qualifying for the tournament. And drop the COVID year for better yet drop all the seasons after cal got his lifetime contract. See what it looks like then.. because like I said, this is cherry picking so do it right and drop these outlier bad seasons that aren’t in the stratosphere of Kentucky standard.
No one is reading this.
 

Goingfor9

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Jan 27, 2003
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So actual hard numbers, facts, are meaningless compared to your 'feels'? That's not unreasonable at all.
He leaves a lot out. What about sec titles and sec tourney titles? Meaningless? When’s the last time we won one of those? No Dude, the stats are cherry picked. If you’re gonna do it right, you’re gonna start 91-92 season when we could actually play in the tournament and you would remove the outlier Covid season. It’s not about hard numbers. It’s about honest numbers.. and we couldn’t play basketball for a couple years we couldn’t recruit. A lot of guys don’t remember that because you weren’t born then so you think you’re just in a cherry pick the number you’re just gonna pick the number 1985. But you don’t know how the program knows dived right after 1985 couldn’t even recruit.. so no those aren’t hard numbers. And this clown making the number this has two freaking accounts, man how can you argue on behalf of a person like this?? nevertheless you have to take out the Covid years and and the probation years. Really you’ve gotta start 91-92 if you honestly want to take account of the modern era. You guys don’t like the outcome of that because it doesn’t fit your narrative to defend Mark Pope at all costs. Even at the cost of destroying our program.. even from 91 until now taking out the Covid season. Billy Clyde Gillespie. Two years of an awful hire unacceptable hire with a quick fire right away. He wasn’t much worse than pope to this point.. he brought in better talent than mark. And if not, here you weren’t getting in with 13, losses, 14 losses, much more difficult to make the tournament because of the weakness of the SEC. Now, the SEC strong, so you could get in with 14 losses which let’s discuss that. Winning percentage. 75%. The average popes a like at 65%. Like I said, this guy cherry picked numbers. And anyone with multiple accounts posting simultaneously there is something wrong with that person. Sociopath /borderline. It’s abnormal and makes me wonder whether you in a Kentucky fan. Stick with him and his cherry picked numbers. I remember when there was a movement to get rid of Tubby 10 loss Tubby what they called him. Big blue nation there were a lot of people that wanted Tubby out and they’re justification was 10 loss Tubby.. will we call pope now? 13 loss pope? That’s our standard give me a break man this guy averages 13 losses per season. He has like the 75th best rec recruiting class coming in. 45th best transfer ranking. And we just had a Mass Exodus of guys who couldn’t get out of Lexington fast enough.
 
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DudahUK

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Kentucky’s historical “standard” since 1985 is not championships—it is roughly a top-4 seed and a Sweet 16 program, with frequent Elite Eight appearances.

We often use the phrase “Kentucky standard” when referring to expectations for the men’s basketball program, both in the regular season and postseason. This study asks whether that standard can be defined objectively.

To do so, we evaluate Kentucky’s historical performance using three statistical measures: the average (mean), the median (most representative outcome), and the mode (most common outcome).

For the regular season, NCAA tournament seed serves as a single-number summary of performance. For the postseason, tournament advancement is used. Each is converted into a point system to allow for consistent comparison across seasons.

Analysis begins in 1985, since that is the year the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams.

This study examines whether the ‘Kentucky standard’ can be defined objectively based on sustained historical performance rather than peak achievements or fan expectations.

*DISCLAIMER*
Conditions from one season to the next are not always perfectly comparable, and seeds and tournament results are inherently volatile.


REGULAR SEASON

0 points = Missed Tournament
1 pt = 12 seed
2 pts = 11 seed
3 pts = 10 seed
4 pts = 9 seed
5 pts = 8 seed
6 pts = 7 seed
7 pts = 6 seed
8 pts = 5 seed
9 pts = 4 seed
10 pts = 3 seed
11 pts = 2 seed
12 pts = 1 seed


POSTSEASON

0 pts = Missed Tournament
1 pt = Lost in Round of 64
2 pts = Lost in Round of 32
3 pts = Lost in Sweet 16
4 pts = Lost in Elite Eight
5 pts = Lost in Final Four
6 pts = National Runner-Up
7 pts = National Champions


2026

Regular Season = 7 seed (6 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 32 (2 pts)



2025

Regular Season = 3 Seed (10 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Sweet 16 (3 pts)



2024

Regular Season = 3 Seed (10 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 64 (1pt)



2023

Regular Season = 6 Seed (7 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 32 (2 pts)



2022

Regular Season = 2 Seed (11 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 64 (1pt)



2021

Regular Season = Missed Tournament (0 points)
Postseason = Missed Tournament (0 points)



2020

Regular Season = 4 Seed* (Bracket Matrix) (9 pts)
Postseason = Cancelled



2019

Regular Season = 2 Seed (11 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Elite Eight (4 pts)



2018

Regular Season = 5 Seed (8 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Sweet 16 (3 pts)



2017

Regular Season = 2 Seed (11 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Elite Eight (4 pts)



2016

Regular Season = 4 Seed (9 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 32 (2 pts)



2015

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Final Four (5 pts)



2014

Regular Season = 8 Seed (5 pts)
Postseason = National Runner-up (6 pts)



2013

Regular Season = Missed Tournament (0 points)
Postseason = Missed Tournament (0 points)



2012

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = National Champions (7 pts)



2011

Regular Season = 4 Seed (9 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Final Four (5 pts)



2010

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Elite Eight (4 pts)



2009

Regular Season = Missed Tournament (0 points)
Postseason = Missed Tournament (0 points)



2008

Regular Season = 11 Seed (2 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 64 (1pt)



2007

Regular Season = 8 Seed (5 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 32 (2 pts)



2006

Regular Season = 8 Seed (5 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 32 (2 pts)



2005

Regular Season = 2 Seed (11 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Elite Eight (4 pts)



2004

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 32 (2 pts)



2003

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Elite Eight (4 pts)



2002

Regular Season = 4 Seed (9 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Sweet 16 (3 pts)



2001

Regular Season = 2 Seed (11 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Sweet 16 (3 pts)



2000

Regular Season = 5 Seed (8 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 32 (2 pts)



1999

Regular Season = 3 Seed (10 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Elite Eight (4 pts)



1998

Regular Season = 2 Seed (11 pts)
Postseason = National Champions (7 pts)



1997

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = National Runner-up (6 pts)



1996

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = National Champions (7 pts)



1995

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Elite Eight (4 pts)



1994

Regular Season = 3 Seed (10 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 32 (2 pts)



1993

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Final Four (5 pts)



1992

Regular Season = 2 Seed (11 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Elite Eight (4 pts)



1991

Regular Season = Ineligible
Postseason = Ineligible



1990

Regular Season = Ineligible
Postseason = Ineligible



1989

Regular Season = Ineligible
Postseason = Ineligible



1988

Regular Season = 2 Seed (11 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Sweet 16* (Voided by NCAA)



1987

Regular Season = 8 Seed (5 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Round of 64 (1pt)



1986

Regular Season = 1 Seed (12 pts)
Postseason = Lost in Elite Eight (4 pts)



1985

Regular Season = 12 Seed (1 pt)
Postseason = Lost in Sweet 16 (3 pts)



*DISCLAIMER*
To maintain consistency, the primary dataset excludes:

• Pre-1985 seasons (pre-64-team tournament)
• Vacated seasons (e.g., 1988)
• Probation/ineligible seasons (1989–1991)
• 2020 postseason (cancelled)

The 2021 season is included as a full NCAA season under uniform conditions.





PRIMARY DATASET (by points)

Regular Season: (0, 0, 0, 1, 2, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 11, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12, 12)

Postseason: (0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7)


MEAN/AVERAGE REGULAR SEASON: Between a 4 and 5 seed (8.48 points, slightly closer to a 5 seed)

MEDIAN REGULAR SEASON: 3 Seed (10 pts)

MODE REGULAR SEASON: 1 Seed (12 pts)



MEAN/AVERAGE POSTSEASON: Sweet 16 (3.22 pts)

MEDIAN POSTSEASON: Sweet 16 (3 pts)

MODE POSTSEASON: Elite Eight (4 pts)



View attachment 1236660
*Please note that only one season of the Hall era occurred during the 64-team era, so this data should not be interpreted to represent his body of work as a coach.



PRIMARY DATASET CONCLUSION

Since tournament expansion in 1985, the average season for Kentucky basketball, excluding the 2020 season and probation/vacated years, is between a 4 and 5 seed (slightly closer to a 5 seed) with a Sweet 16 finish.

Since tournament expansion in 1985, the typical Kentucky season can be defined in three layers:
  • Average (Mean Outcome):
    ~4–5 seed and a Sweet 16 finish
  • Most Representative (Median Outcome):
    3 seed and a Sweet 16 finish
  • Most Common Peak (Mode Outcome):
    1 seed and an Elite Eight finish
Taken together, these results demonstrate that the Kentucky standard is not defined by championships or Final Fours, but by consistent top-tier seeding and regular advancement to the second weekend.

Kentucky consistently performs at a national title–contender level entering the tournament (as reflected by its 1-seed mode), but most often finishes at the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight level rather than the Final Four.

The gap between a 1-seed mode and an Elite Eight mode suggests that while Kentucky frequently performs at an elite level in the regular season, its postseason results are more variable and less dominant than its seeding would predict.

The following clarification helps contextualize these findings within the broader discussion of expectations.

Defining the Kentucky Standard (Clarification)

When discussing the “Kentucky standard,” it is important to distinguish between ceiling and standard.

Championships and Final Fours represent the ceiling of a program—its best possible outcomes—not its typical level of performance.

A program’s standard should be defined as its most representative level of sustained performance, best captured by its median and average outcomes.

The data since 1985 shows:

• Median season: 3 seed, Sweet 16

• Average season: ~5 seed (between a 4 and 5 seed, slightly closer to a 5), Sweet 16

• Most common peak: 1 seed, Elite Eight


View attachment 1236659



View attachment 1236658



View attachment 1236662



View attachment 1236661



If Final Fours or championships were truly the standard, they would appear as the median or most frequent outcome. They do not.

Therefore, the Kentucky standard is best defined as:

Consistent top-tier seeding and regular advancement to the second weekend, with periodic deep runs beyond that point.

Seasons should only be considered below standard when they fall meaningfully short of this baseline—not simply because they do not reach the program’s ceiling.

Expecting championships every year reflects Kentucky’s ambition—but not its historical reality.
No way am I reading all that but that’s an impressive amount of research brother. Jesus. Even busted out some graphs. Impressed.
 

JAC71

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Jun 28, 2015
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All I know is being a top 4 seed and being mentioned as a final four contender most years is my standard….if you have to try and defend Pope then you know the answer and he’s not it
 
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mhs1964

Senior
Feb 8, 2018
511
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Depends on your definition. I’d absolutely say yes. It’s at minimum average by Kentucky standards, but people have different definitions. That’s why I gave my definition and my framework in the study. In no way should my view on the matter be used to say someone else, using a different definition is wrong.

Anyone using my methodology and definitions though would come to the conclusion that, yes, Pope’s first year was better than average.
I feel this work shows the often inflated expectations of our fanbase. I agree with the number that shows pope’s first year was above average. And that team was the most pleasing to watch in years. I’ve said it before that NIL will not be our friend so don’t know where are headed. I was disappointed in our most recent season but all coaches have head scratchers. For those as old as myself Rupp’s 66-67 team was a head scratcher when it went to the title game the previous year and returned Dampier and Riley and went 13-13. The players just didn’t fit or just missing that one piece? This study encompasses the most recent 40 years and I feel represents reality. Thanks for the work you did. I am concerned with our recruiting and portal problems currently.
 

ftp000

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Mar 26, 2009
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He leaves a lot out. What about sec titles and sec tourney titles? Meaningless? When’s the last time we won one of those? No Dude, the stats are cherry picked. If you’re gonna do it right, you’re gonna start 91-92 season when we could actually play in the tournament and you would remove the outlier Covid season. It’s not about hard numbers. It’s about honest numbers.. and we couldn’t play basketball for a couple years we couldn’t recruit. A lot of guys don’t remember that because you weren’t born then so you think you’re just in a cherry pick the number you’re just gonna pick the number 1985. But you don’t know how the program knows dived right after 1985 couldn’t even recruit.. so no those aren’t hard numbers. And this clown making the number this has two freaking accounts, man how can you argue on behalf of a person like this?? nevertheless you have to take out the Covid years and and the probation years. Really you’ve gotta start 91-92 if you honestly want to take account of the modern era. You guys don’t like the outcome of that because it doesn’t fit your narrative to defend Mark Pope at all costs. Even at the cost of destroying our program.. even from 91 until now taking out the Covid season. Billy Clyde Gillespie. Two years of an awful hire unacceptable hire with a quick fire right away. He wasn’t much worse than pope to this point.. he brought in better talent than mark. And if not, here you weren’t getting in with 13, losses, 14 losses, much more difficult to make the tournament because of the weakness of the SEC. Now, the SEC strong, so you could get in with 14 losses which let’s discuss that. Winning percentage. 75%. The average popes a like at 65%. Like I said, this guy cherry picked numbers. And anyone with multiple accounts posting simultaneously there is something wrong with that person. Sociopath /borderline. It’s abnormal and makes me wonder whether you in a Kentucky fan. Stick with him and his cherry picked numbers. I remember when there was a movement to get rid of Tubby 10 loss Tubby what they called him. Big blue nation there were a lot of people that wanted Tubby out and they’re justification was 10 loss Tubby.. will we call pope now? 13 loss pope? That’s our standard give me a break man this guy averages 13 losses per season. He has like the 75th best rec recruiting class coming in. 45th best transfer ranking. And we just had a Mass Exodus of guys who couldn’t get out of Lexington fast enough.
Does he have multiple accounts? Or did he change the name on the account? When I first read the OP it was posted by Blacksheep. Now it shows Village Idiot. Can you edit that after posting? Or did it change when he changed his name?
Other than that, you accuse him of cherry picking, then describe how it should have cherry picked.
1985 wasn't random. He explained it.
 

megablue

Heisman
Oct 2, 2012
16,495
17,172
113
The thread's author presents good data and a great idea for discussion. Thank you!
I agree. His taking the time to do the research, compile his results and share them here is GREATLY APPRECIATED !! I'm not sure what conclusions I have reached yet, but I do want to say that I think the SEC has become deeper and far more competitive, just as college basketball has overall. There is more talent spread across a wider spectrum of teams now, I think.
 
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MegaBlue05

Heisman
Mar 8, 2014
11,156
22,700
66
Appreciate the analysis. Very informative and I agree with its findings.

In the modern era, Kentucky basketball is consistently above average (Sweet 16, 3 seed average), occasionally elite (3 titles) and occasionally terrible (3 missed tournaments) and misbehaved once (ineligible for 3 years).

Historically, whole body of work considered, we are the best program of all time. But as the Rupp era becomes ancient history with each passing year, we have some work to do in this era.
 

Im The Village Idiot

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Sep 7, 2025
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Does he have multiple accounts? Or did he change the name on the account? When I first read the OP it was posted by Blacksheep. Now it shows Village Idiot. Can you edit that after posting? Or did it change when he changed his name?
Other than that, you accuse him of cherry picking, then describe how it should have cherry picked.
1985 wasn't random. He explained it.
It changed when my name change went through. Was requested four days ago. I told everyone exactly what I was going to try to do:

Delete “I’m The Village Idiot” because I couldn’t upgrade to KSR+ and I got tired of switching between accounts since I mostly post on phone.

So I decided to only use “Black Sheep ITVI”, my KSR+ account going forward but would try to request “I’m The Village Idiot” back after the termination went through for my RR account. They emailed me back that I can’t have the apostrophe, so they changed it to “Im The Village Idiot” instead.

Shouldn’t need to be explained lol
 

UKCowboys

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Oct 14, 2019
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Those aren’t hard numbers the numbers that include outlier seasons. Like you know the losing cal season and our near death penalty status after the Eddie Sutton debacle. I mean this guy started at 1985 so he includes the two worst seasons in 100 years.. and Eddie Sutton’s last season losing record that was the first losing season for UK in almost 60 years. No one talks about that, but that’s gotta be some kind of record. Nevertheless, you go and determine the standard with our two worst seasons in the last 100 and you leave out everything else. No good data is when you drop the outliers. You know picking 1985 was a random choice. So no hard numbers. They’re cherry picked. They exclude a national championship that was 17 years before these numbers. Instead of the 78 title the Eddie Sutton tenure is included. It’s not real numbers to include the probation years or the covid year where there were zero fans and we had a losing seasons. Those weren’t normal situations Eddie sudden probation near death penalty and a season where there were no fans. A good analyst would definitely drop that from their data set. So no those are not hard numbers. You guys are insufferable in your pursuit to brainwash people into thinking these are normal times for UK basketball. Young millennials and Gen Z just keep looking at things that justifies our losing. The justifies what you’ve grown up with what you’re seeing. If you’re gonna arbitrarily pick a time how about picking 1992 start the 91-92 season. You can’t include freaking probation years where we were precluded from even qualifying for the tournament. And drop the COVID year for better yet drop all the seasons after cal got his lifetime contract. See what it looks like then.. because like I said, this is cherry picking so do it right and drop these outlier bad seasons that aren’t in the stratosphere of Kentucky standard.
You dont like 85? Go back to 79 then, the year after we won it i. 78. Thats 3 Championships in 47 years my guy. Now you can spin it and outlier it all you want to, but those are the numbers fella.
 

JAC71

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Jun 28, 2015
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Can we just make the change so we can win number nine with a sixth different coach… no other team can say this and that’s what makes Kentucky special
 

UKCowboys

All-American
Oct 14, 2019
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Now, the fair side of the argument AGAINST Pope....regular season losses, for sure.

Rupp 4.5 losses per season(hard to include as it was a different game)
Hall 5.7
Sutton 5.5
Pitino 6.3
Smith 7.3
Gillespie 13.5
Cal 8.2
Pope 13

Now, do you factor in no roster starting year one and three significant injuries last year? I think thats fair, but its still a bottom line business
 
Mar 16, 2022
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Appreciate the analysis. Very informative and I agree with its findings.

In the modern era, Kentucky basketball is consistently above average (Sweet 16, 3 seed average), occasionally elite (3 titles) and occasionally terrible (3 missed tournaments) and misbehaved once (ineligible for 3 years).

Historically, whole body of work considered, we are the best program of all time. But as the Rupp era becomes ancient history with each passing year, we have some work to do in this era.
The Rupp era is completely different than today. During his time most SEC basketball teams weren’t even trying to compete. During Rupp’s 42 years , FL,AUB, GA and Ole Miss each Averaged 1 win a decade against UK. Plus integration has added so many more players to the game. I feel it is impossible to compare today’s game to the Rupp era.
 

Im The Village Idiot

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Now, the fair side of the argument AGAINST Pope....regular season losses, for sure.

Rupp 4.5 losses per season(hard to include as it was a different game)
Hall 5.7
Sutton 5.5
Pitino 6.3
Smith 7.3
Gillespie 13.5
Cal 8.2
Pope 13

Now, do you factor in no roster starting year one and three significant injuries last year? I think thats fair, but its still a bottom line business
I’m not a fan of comparing wins/losses without context.

28-6
35-4
27-9
32-2

Rank those teams.
 

RedwoodHigh

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Nov 18, 2025
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Comparing the pre NIL Hall - Tubby - Pitino era to today’s College Free Agency 19 yr old $millionaire era is ridiculous. DJ Waggner was driving a ROLLS & many Ky players bought houses . The Duke Contract with Amazon & the tougher schedules including the SEC with Texas & Oklahoma make winning 25 games much harder.Throw in injuries & 5th year seniors make a 25 win season the equivalent of a 30 win season just a decade ago.
Not defending anyone but IT IS WHAT IT IS.
Pope will be our coach for at least 2 more years.
 

Im The Village Idiot

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It doesn't matter how many hundreds of words you attempt to qualify it. It's ridiculous premise on it's face and isn't justifiable.
Sounds like you’re just using a different definition of “standard”. No big deal. I have multiple definitions as well and I think most fans do.

We usually mean something different when we say “the standard” versus saying something is “not up to Kentucky standards.” I’m more dealing with the second definition here.

Either way, thanks for reading and agreeing to disagree is fine by me. 👍
 

Im The Village Idiot

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Sep 7, 2025
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Comparing the pre NIL Hall - Tubby - Pitino era to today’s College Free Agency 19 yr old $millionaire era is ridiculous. DJ Waggner was driving a ROLLS & many Ky players bought houses . The Duke Contract with Amazon & the tougher schedules including the SEC with Texas & Oklahoma make winning 25 games much harder.Throw in injuries & 5th year seniors make a 25 win season the equivalent of a 30 win season just a decade ago.
Not defending anyone but IT IS WHAT IT IS.
Pope will be our coach for at least 2 more years.
I don’t agree with all of that but thanks for reading. Also, Rupp specifically paid players. I think it’s fair to consider that when we think about the past as well
 

JAC71

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I feel this work shows the often inflated expectations of our fanbase. I agree with the number that shows pope’s first year was above average. And that team was the most pleasing to watch in years. I’ve said it before that NIL will not be our friend so don’t know where are headed. I was disappointed in our most recent season but all coaches have head scratchers. For those as old as myself Rupp’s 66-67 team was a head scratcher when it went to the title game the previous year and returned Dampier and Riley and went 13-13. The players just didn’t fit or just missing that one piece? This study encompasses the most recent 40 years and I feel represents reality. Thanks for the work you did. I am concerned with our recruiting and portal problems currently.
When Pope was hired and we the fans celebrated at Rupp, the administration rattled off a bunch of statistics that shows why we have such high expectations… The national media knows it also which is why they are attacking Pope…. He said he knows the assignment for a reason
 

Im The Village Idiot

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Win/Losses its 32-2, 35-4, 28-6, 27-9. I am a bottom line guy, so how far we go in the NCAAT always trumps SEC/SECT, reg season records
Blind records…rank those teams?

It was:

2005 Kentucky, 2 Seed, E8 (28-6)
1998 Kentucky, 2 Seed, NC (35-4)
2016 Kentucky, 4 Seed, R32 (27-9)
2026 Miami OH, 11 Seed, R64 (32-2)

Record is important but without context, it’s just numbers. That’s why you don’t see me put much stock in raw W/L, it’s more about full body of work.
 

UKCowboys

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Blind records…rank those teams?

It was:

2005 Kentucky, 2 Seed, E8 (28-6)
1998 Kentucky, 2 Seed, NC (35-4)
2016 Kentucky, 4 Seed, R32 (27-9)
2026 Miami OH, 11 Seed, R64 (32-2)

Record is important but without context, it’s just numbers. That’s why you don’t see me put much stock in raw W/L, it’s more about full body of work.
I knew who the teams were lol, but if you are going to pull that card then you have to do it for the entire original post you made.
Additionally, IF you add perspective, then last season for Pope, losing two starters and facing the toughest schedule in school history can't possibly be viewed as a failure. You can't have it both ways
 

Im The Village Idiot

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I knew who the teams were lol, but if you are going to pull that card then you have to do it for the entire original post you made.
Additionally, IF you add perspective, then last season for Pope, losing two starters and facing the toughest schedule in school history can't possibly be viewed as a failure. You can't have it both ways
My post had nothing to do with pure W/L records, Cowboy. That’s the point. I’m explaining why that WAS NOT part of the methodology. Two teams’ records mean nothing if you aren’t comparing who they played, who they beat, etc. My original post used seed line because that metric compares full body of work in a quantifiable way.
 
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megablue

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Now, the fair side of the argument AGAINST Pope....regular season losses, for sure.

Rupp 4.5 losses per season(hard to include as it was a different game)
Hall 5.7
Sutton 5.5
Pitino 6.3
Smith 7.3
Gillespie 13.5
Cal 8.2
Pope 13

Now, do you factor in no roster starting year one and three significant injuries last year? I think thats fair, but its still a bottom line business
Losses per season is an interesting metric ... Thanks.
 

Im The Village Idiot

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Additionally, IF you add perspective, then last season for Pope, losing two starters and facing the toughest schedule in school history can't possibly be viewed as a failure. You can't have it both ways
Sure, you can absolutely have both. I 100% account for injuries. I do not know one way or the other how the year would have turned out had we been healthy. I’ll even go as far as to remind that we were not healthy for even one game last year. That’s a reason I’m still thinking Pope will prove his detractors wrong.

That said, we can’t call last year anything but a failure. Calling it anything else is IMO problematic. It was below UK standards. He will have this year to prove, as I hope he will, that last year was mostly because of injuries. Many people dispute that notion btw, Cowboy. Many do not think injuries were the reason. Pope has year three to tell the story.

If he succeeds, people will look back at year two and say it probably was due to injuries.

If he fails, people will look back at year two and say it was due to roster construction and management. And he will be fired.
 

mhs1964

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Sure, you can absolutely have both. I 100% account for injuries. I do not know one way or the other how the year would have turned out had we been healthy. I’ll even go as far as to remind that we were not healthy for even one game last year. That’s a reason I’m still thinking Pope will prove his detractors wrong.

That said, we can’t call last year anything but a failure. Calling it anything else is IMO problematic. It was below UK standards. He will have this year to prove, as I hope he will, that last year was mostly because of injuries. Many people dispute that notion btw, Cowboy. Many do not think injuries were the reason. Pope has year three to tell the story.

If he succeeds, people will look back at year two and say it probably was due to injuries.

If he fails, people will look back at year two and say it was due to roster construction and management. And he will be fired.
I would love to know how many schools lost point guards to dislocated shoulders eventually requiring surgery. It’s freakish but I view it as a sign that the game has been allowed to become too physical.
 

LarryLegend9

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I think there’s a segment of people that support the coach NO MATTER WHAT and a segment of people who oppose the coach NO MATTER WHAT. I’m neither. I’m pro-Pope in the sense that I want him to succeed. But I’m not going to whitewash anything.

Also, I can be wrong…A LOT. I said Pope was a B+ recruiter. Does it make sense to hold that view now? After another offseason and more sample size? No! I’m not going to continue to say it to appease my own ego or anyone who wanted that to be the correct opinion. I’m not here for the likes, I’m here for the facts — and that’s not for everyone.
You’re one of the most honest on the board. Except when you said Paul Calhoun was one of the best at debating. That guy was a complete jerk to people over Stoops and he’s starting to get as bad for Pope.
 

Im The Village Idiot

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You’re one of the most honest on the board. Except when you said Paul Calhoun was one of the best at debating. That guy was a complete jerk to people over Stoops and he’s starting to get as bad for Pope.
I haven’t seen anything like that from him. I also didn’t frequent football board much. Don’t think my kind was very welcome there. Thanks for the compliment though 🙏
 
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UKCowboys

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Sure, you can absolutely have both. I 100% account for injuries. I do not know one way or the other how the year would have turned out had we been healthy. I’ll even go as far as to remind that we were not healthy for even one game last year. That’s a reason I’m still thinking Pope will prove his detractors wrong.

That said, we can’t call last year anything but a failure. Calling it anything else is IMO problematic. It was below UK standards. He will have this year to prove, as I hope he will, that last year was mostly because of injuries. Many people dispute that notion btw, Cowboy. Many do not think injuries were the reason. Pope has year three to tell the story.

If he succeeds, people will look back at year two and say it probably was due to injuries.

If he fails, people will look back at year two and say it was due to roster construction and management. And he will be fired.
I mean, thats fine. But Rick went 14-14 year one before 22-6 year two. If that team lost Sean Woods and Jamal Mashburn for the season and Jeff Brassow for half the season, what is our record that season? 18-10? 17-11? So are you firing Rick after year two?
 
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