Now that we have a fairly decent understanding of the style of play this Mark Pope squad will have, and the players executing that style, I thought it would absolutely be time to peek into the Kentucky Basketball record book and see which records might be sweating this season. I found five in particular that I think will be worth watching and, no surprise, several of them involve the three-point line:
1. SEASON SINGLE THREE-POINTERS INDIVIDUAL
JODIE MEEKS, 117, 2008-09
This is just a simple math equation here. Jodie Meeks hit 117 threes in 36 games that year, or an average of 3.25 per game. Koby Brea currently has 12 threes made in 3 games, or an average of 4 per game. The reality is this record is largely gonna depend on the number of games played. Kentucky could play as many as 40 games should they make the national championship and SEC Tournament final. If UK could get past the 36 games that Meeks played that season, I think this record is attainable for Brea. It should be noted Brea is shooting at an unsustainable 75% from behind the arc too. So he either will have to continue to shoot at that clip OR shoot more threes per game than he currently does. Meeks took 8 attempts per game in 2009; Brea is shooting a little over 5 right now.
2. TEAM THREE-POINT ATTEMPTS IN A SEASON
1991-92, 888 ATTEMPTS
Again, just a math equation here. The Unforgettables took 888 threes in 36 games played, a total of 24.6 per game. Through three games, this team has taken 28.3 per game. So they are already on pace to crush this record. But it also requires playing enough games too. Blow a game at the SEC Quarterfinals or don’t make the second weekend, and it becomes out of reach.
3. INDIVIDUAL THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE IN A SEASON
CAMERON MILLS, 53.16%, 1996-97
Kentucky has three guys currently above the 50% mark in Brea, Oweh, and Carr. To qualify for this record you have to take at least 50 attempts, which Brea and Oweh will comfortably hit. Whether Carr gets 50 attempts will be up in the air. But these guys certainly seem like sharpshooters and the amount of threats Kentucky has on the perimeter tells me they will get open shots most of the year.
4. 1ST YEAR COACHING WINS
35, JOHN CALIPARI (2009-10), TUBBY SMITH (1997-98)
It’s okay to dream, right? Could Mark Pope win 36 games in his first season as coach? I would say this would be a long shot but follow along with me here. Let’s say Pope only loses to Gonzaga in the non-conference, goes 16-2 in conference, and wins the SEC Tournament. And then makes the NCAA Championship game. Even if UK loses that game, that would be a 36-4 season.
5. FEWEST TURNOVERS IN A SEASON
349, 2020-21 (FULL SEASON: 351, 2023-24)
The shortened COVID season technically holds the record for the fewest turnovers in a season but they only played 25 games. For a full season, last year’s squad hold the record with 351 total in 33 games. That averages out to 10.6 a game. This year the Cats have only turned the ball over 32 times in three games. Now one awkward aspect of this stat is it actually benefits you to play FEWER games. But even still, this squad seems to protect the ball at an elite rate. If they end up playing 37-40 games this year, it might be too hard to keep under that 350 number. But I don’t think it’s impossible with the experienced ball handlers this team has.
