What history tells us about Kentucky's 71-point exhibition win

Finding the balance of appreciating the absolute beatdown Kentucky put on Kentucky Wesleyan in its 71-point win to open exhibition play while also considering it is a Division II opponent in a game that doesn’t actually count is tough. You want to dream big believing the Wildcats have 12 legitimate contributors when Kerr Kriisa returns from injury, a group capable of throwing haymakers for 40 minutes with no sign of fatigue or drop-off in talent — 123 points per game with eight double-figure scorers being the norm. But you also wonder what happens when competition ramps up and they have to take on college basketball’s top contenders.

Is it sustainable? Can we actually take anything away from a win of that magnitude as it relates to the long-term success of this group?

Past exhibition results tell us there is a correlation between blowout wins with sky-high scoring totals and dominant teams.

Let’s start with this one, courtesy of our friend Corey Price of UK Athletics: Kentucky has made it to the Elite Eight or further all six times the Wildcats have scored at least 120 points in an exhibition game dating back to 1985. That’s a run that includes two national championships and four Final Fours.

• 1994-1995 (Elite Eight)
• 1995-1996 (National Champions)
• 2010-2011 (Final Four)
• 2011-2012 (National Champions)
• 2014-2015 (Final Four)
• 2016-2017 (Elite Eight)

It’s also the largest margin of victory in any game since November 6, 2016 when the Wildcats defeated Asbury by 93 points — a 156-63 demolition.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane while we’re it it, seeing where this win stacks up historically. The 71-point victory is actually third-largest ever against college competition — we’ll leave out a few outliers against China (71, 1982), Japan (68, 1978), Chile (63, 1972), the N.S.W. All Stars (56, 1974) and Tahiti (54, 1974) on the all-time list. The rest of the top 10 includes the following teams:

• 2016-17 (93, Asbury)
• 2011-12 (85, Morehouse)
• 2014-15 (69, Georgetown College)
• 2010-11 (68, Dillard)
• 2009-10 (65, Clarion)

Pretty strong company.

It’s like dominating in the NBA Summer League — something Reed Sheppard did plenty of back in July. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee long-term success in the pros, but there’s a greater sample size of those who thrive early in that setting going on to become great NBA players compared to those who stink figuring things out down the road. You’d rather them perform than struggle, no matter the stage or competition. The same applies here — remember how tedious Kentucky’s 56-38 exhibition win over Missouri Western State in 2022 felt in real time? That team flamed out with the reigning consensus National Player of the Year anchoring the frontcourt.

We’re not apologizing for a 71-point win over here.