Kentucky's startling non-conference play statistic
After a heartbreaking loss to an unranked Notre Dame program on Saturday, some Kentucky fans are reflecting on the team’s recent non-conference record.
A caller into the KSR postgame show revealed a stunning statistic: since 2015, Kentucky’s non-conference record against Power 5 conference programs is just 17-`19.
That’s right–a losing record.
To refresh, the Power 5 conferences include the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, and the SEC. With the removal of the SEC, Kentucky has a losing record in this prestigious category.
When considering the teams in these conferences, the pain stings a little more. They include rivals Louisville, Duke, North Carolina, and Kansas. Yikes.
Kentucky has recorded at least one loss against each of these teams since 2015. Double yikes. UK has also suffered losses over the years to the likes of UCLA, Ohio State, Utah, and Georgia Tech. That doesn’t even include losses to non-Power 5 schools such as Seton Hall, Evansville, and Richmond.
Kentucky’s 2015 squad notoriously defeated multiple of these opponents, going 31-0 in the regular season.
In the same season, Kentucky defeated Kansas, Louisville, North Carolina, and Notre Dame before ultimately falling to Wisconsin in the Final Four.
All Kentucky fans can do is hope that maybe there’s a newfound Notre Dame curse for the ‘Cats, as this loss is suspiciously similar to 2020’s last-minute loss to the Fighting Irish.
Kentucky fell to Notre Dame 64-63 at Rupp Arena last season, with Olivier Sarr missing a jumper that would have sent the ‘Cats to victory.
After missing the tournament last year in an uncharacteristically–well, bad season, Kentucky fans are expecting more.
A loss to an unranked Notre Dame certainly doesn’t help in those expectations. Next weekend’s matchup against No. 21 Ohio State just became even more important.
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