It might not have sunk in yet, but this Kentucky team was extremely special. Sure, they were unique in that they overachieved based on the players’ backgrounds, having been thrown together in a relative nanosecond by first-year coach Mark Pope, but that is only part of it. Statistically, they did things no other team in Kentucky history has done, especially in the scoring column.
They set a school record for most 3-point shots made and attempted in a single season, and Ansley Almonor became the first player to average 90/50/40. But perhaps most impressively, this is the first time in Kentucky’s rich basketball history that six different players averaged double figures in scoring.
- Otega Oweh: 16.2 ppg
- Jaxson Robinson: 13 ppg
- Koby Brea: 11.6 ppg
- Lamont Butler: 11.4 ppg
- Amari Williams: 10.9 ppg
- Andrew Carr: 10.3 ppg
The only other team to come close to this milestone was the 2012 championship team, but the sixth man that year, Darius Miller, averaged 9.9 points per game, coming up a fraction short of having six players reach double figures.
Somewhat counterintuitively, injuries likely played a part in Kentucky achieving this feat. Robinson, Butler, and Carr missed multiple games due to injury, opening the door for larger scoring outputs from the others when they were out.
I’m not sure the final results would have been different, but it would have been awesome to see what this team could have done if they were fully healthy all season.
Fantasy hypotheticals aside, having six players average double figures is an incredible accomplishment and symbolizes how much of a team they were. Most of the time, when March Madness turns into March Sadness, negative thoughts consume the brain, but the feeling of appreciation toward this group keeps ticking up every day, and stats like this are a reason why.
Then again, maybe Mark Pope’s relentless gratitude is rubbing off on me.
Want more Kentucky Transfer Portal Coverage? Join KSR+
KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades. Now, you can get even more coverage of the Cats with KSR+. In the middle of a busy transfer portal season for the Kentucky football program, now is the perfect time to join our online community. Subscribe now for premium articles, in-depth scouting reports, inside intel, bonus recruiting coverage, and access to KSBoard, our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe. Come join the club.
The post Epitomizing team, Kentucky set a school scoring record appeared first on On3.