By the Numbers: Kentucky Basketball through 11 games

Kentucky Basketball is riding high after a second straight dominant performance. With the players heading home for the holidays and the next game not until Wednesday (vs. Missouri), we have plenty of time to reflect on the season thus far. After poring over the stats through eleven games, here are some numbers that stand out to me.

Oscar Tshiebwe still leads the nation in rebounding

Coming into last night, Oscar Tshiebwe led the country in rebounding, but his 28 boards vs. Western Kentucky bumped his average up from 14.2 to 15.5. The next closest player in college basketball is Utah Valley’s Fardaws Aimaq with 13.7 rebounds per game. Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn, who almost joined Kentucky’s roster over the summer, is third at 12.1.

More categories Oscar is tops, or near the tops, in:

• 1st in nation in Total Rebounds (170)
• 1st in nation in Rebounds Per Game (15.5)
• 1st in nation in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (5.8)
• 1st in nation in “Win Score” (19.3)
  • Relative value of a player’s points, rebounds, steals, turnovers, and field goal attempts
• 2nd in nation in Defensive Rebounds Per Game (9.6)
• 2nd in the nation in Double Doubles (9)
• 7th in the nation in Field-Goal Percentage (64.9%)

Here’s another crazy stat. There have been three 10-point, 20-rebounds games by a Kentucky player in the last 25 seasons. Oscar has them all. Reminder: he’s only 11 games into his junior season.

Kentucky leads the nation in rebounding

Not surprisingly, Oscar’s hard work on the boards has the Cats atop the rebounding column as well. Kentucky ranks first in the country in rebounds per game with 44.5. Bowling Green is second at 44.2 and Arizona third at 43.8. The Cats also rank first in rebounding margin, averaging 17.1 more rebounds than their opponents.

Sahvir Wheeler is No. 2 in the nation in assists per game

Sahvir Wheeler no longer leads the country in assists per game. Saint Louis’ Yuri Collins holds that honor, with 7.92 dimes per game, but Wheeler isn’t far behind. His eight assists last night bumped his average up to 7.73. He had eight assists vs. North Carolina as well, which helped his average rebound from a two-assist performance vs. Notre Dame.

Kellan Grady No. 1 in the SEC in 3-point percentage

Kellan Grady‘s 47.54% from three this year. According to the NCAA’s stats (min. 35 attempts), that ranks first in the SEC and 15th nationally. In KenPom’s ratings, Grady is 24th nationally, 2nd in the SEC, in effective field goal percentage (67.7%), which factors in the extra value of a made three-pointer.

Comparing the Calipari Era

Here’s some perspective: through 11 games, Kentucky has already matched its win total from last year. As you might imagine, this team is better than the 2020-21 squad in every statistical category. The only column last year’s team leads in is blocks. Check out all of the numbers of all of Calipari’s teams through 11 games below.

Year	FG%	Opp. FG%	3-Pt. FG%	FT%	RPG	Assists	TOs	Blocks	Steals	Points	PPG	Record
2021-22	0.495	0.391	0.333	0.737	44.5	194	133	58	73	916	83.3	9-2
2020-21	0.420	0.410	0.303	0.704	38.7	126	164	70	72	750	68.2	4-7
2019-20	0.464	0.385	0.278	0.785	37.5	171	138	47	60	819	74.5	8-3
2018-19	0.491	0.428	0.366	0.748	39.8	164	161	62	70	926	84.6	9-2
2017-18	0.495	0.405	0.360	0.680	39.7	180	165	66	74	888	80.7	9-2
2016-17	0.490	0.398	0.342	0.686	43.3	219	125	78	78	1047	95.2	10-1
2015-16	0.471	0.399	0.297	0.674	40.7	152	141	68	74	862	78.4	9-2
2014-15	0.473	0.304	0.293	0.663	41.1	183	123	91	94	838	76.2	11-0
2013-14	0.475	0.372	0.326	0.670	44.3	138	149	85	47	885	80.5	8-3
2012-13	0.490	0.377	0.356	0.647	38.8	180	135	87	88	863	78.5	8-3
2011-12	0.496	0.343	0.375	0.682	41.6	162	137	107	88	900	81.8	10-1
2010-11	0.454	0.380	0.416	0.680	41.0	139	120	72	66	875	79.5	9-2
2009-10	0.498	0.385	0.400	0.683	42.3	174	184	89	79	893	81.2	11-0