On Tuesday night, they were challenged by Georgia. It was a great game. The Bulldogs executed well and pulled out all the stops: weird defensive looks, inverted offensive spacing, 30-foot 3-pointers, you name it. And just when it looked as if that first loss might really happen, the Wildcats finished the game on a casual 16-2 run.
That outcome prompted ESPN Stats & Information's Lee Singer and Ryan Feldman to dig into Kentucky's "clutch" statistics, which they defined as the last five minutes of the second half or overtime with the score within five points. What they found was mind-blowing: In 42 clutch minutes this season, the Wildcats have outscored opponents by 30 points. They score 1.27 points per possession. They allow 0.85.
In the past five clutch-time situations alone (against Vanderbilt, Georgia, at LSU, at Florida and at Georgia) Kentucky has outscored opponents 36-9 -- a margin of 67.5 points per 40 minutes. The Wildcats also rebounded 71 percent of their misses on the offensive end and -- despite the defensive glass being one of their only real weaknesses -- 92 percent on the defensive end. In the final minute of close games, Kentucky has held opponents to 0-for-9 shooting.
ESPN.com
That outcome prompted ESPN Stats & Information's Lee Singer and Ryan Feldman to dig into Kentucky's "clutch" statistics, which they defined as the last five minutes of the second half or overtime with the score within five points. What they found was mind-blowing: In 42 clutch minutes this season, the Wildcats have outscored opponents by 30 points. They score 1.27 points per possession. They allow 0.85.
In the past five clutch-time situations alone (against Vanderbilt, Georgia, at LSU, at Florida and at Georgia) Kentucky has outscored opponents 36-9 -- a margin of 67.5 points per 40 minutes. The Wildcats also rebounded 71 percent of their misses on the offensive end and -- despite the defensive glass being one of their only real weaknesses -- 92 percent on the defensive end. In the final minute of close games, Kentucky has held opponents to 0-for-9 shooting.
ESPN.com