By the Numbers: Kentucky Basketball through 7 games

MrsTylerKSR

Due to illnesses, minor injuries, and mostly weak competition, it was hard to get a read on this Kentucky Basketball team in the month of November; however, with the Cats finally approaching full strength and the schedule getting tougher, we’re about to find out a lot more. Bizarre sample size aside, I combed the game notes for some stats and trends through seven games. Here’s what I found.

Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky still lead the nation in rebounding

Big O’s 16.0 rebounds per game average is tops in the country, ahead of Utah Valley’s Fardaws Aimaq (14.8) and Utah State’s Justin Bean (12.5). Tshiebwe also leads the nation in offensive rebounding percentage (28.6%) and double-doubles (six). Oscar jokes about wanting to average 22 rebounds per game, but he has a shot at breaking the Kentucky single-season record, 17.7 rebounds per game, set by Bob Burrow in the 1954-55 season. In the Calipari Era, only two Cats have averaged double-figure rebounds in a season: Anthony Davis (2012) and Julius Randle (2014) at 10.4 per game each.

It’s a seldom-used metric, but Oscar is No. 2 in the country in “Win Score,” which indicates the relative value of a player’s points, rebounds, steals, turnovers, and field goal attempts. His value of 18.57 trails Utah State’s Justin Bean and ranks ahead of Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn (15.5) and Iowa’s Keegan Murray (15.44).

Thanks to Oscar, the Cats are tops in the country in rebounding too, with an average of 46.6 per game and a rebounding margin of +19.4 per game. The best rebounding margin of the Calipari Era? Plus-9.4 in 2013-14 and 2018-19. Kentucky has outrebounded all of its opponents — including Duke — by at least nine boards. Again, the schedule’s about to get a lot tougher so we’ll keep an eye out to see how those numbers change.

Sahvir Wheeler still leads the nation in assists

Wheeler’s 8.7 assists per game rank first in the country ahead of California Baptist’s Taran Armstrong (8.0) and Morehead State’s Ta’lon Cooper (7.2). His 8.7 average is ahead of Tyler Ulis’ 7.03 average when he set Kentucky’s single-season assists record with 246 in the 2015-16 season.

Top 15 in Offensive Efficiency

Kentucky is No. 15 in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency per KenPom at 113.0, or 113 points scored per 100 possessions. From the SEC, only Alabama is higher, at 114.2. On defense, Kentucky ranks 29th, at 91.7, or 91.7 points allowed per 100 possessions.

Scoring Breakdown

How is Kentucky getting its buckets? Here’s a chart breaking down this season’s scoring thus far:

If you’re curious, Daimion Collins leads the teams in dunks with 12, followed by Oscar with 8. Want more numbers? Here are the combined stats through seven games:

What a difference a year makes

Kentucky is 6-1 through seven games this season. Last season at the same time, they were 1-6 coming off the loss to Louisville. This isn’t surprising, but when you look at the numbers, the Cats are better in every single statistical category.

Year	FG%	Opp. FG%	3-Pt. FG%	FT%	RPG	Assists	TOs	Blocks	Steals	Points	PPG	Record
2021-22	0.483	0.383	0.331	0.778	46.6	120	88	36	48	585	83.6	6-1
2020-21	0.414	0.411	0.250	0.662	39.1	75	111	35	41	454	64.9	1-6