Unbreakable Kentucky basketball records? These marks will be hard to top

LEXINGTON — A program as successful as Kentucky — more wins than any team in college basketball history, eight national championships, 17 Final Fours and 61 NCAA Tournament appearances — is bound to have its share of awe-inspiring records.

But which ones are most likely to stand the test of time?

Below, we offer a handful of marks — from program records, coaching superlatives and individual excellence — that are unlikely to be broken.

Kentucky basketball program records

Longest home-court winning streak: 129 games

From 1943 to 1955, Kentucky played 129 home games. It hosted foes at Alumni Gymnasium. It moved to Memorial Coliseum. The constant: UK won. And won. And won. Its 129-game win streak at home, which ended against Georgia Tech, remains the longest in NCAA history. At any level (Divisions I, II and III). Men or women.

The closest any program has come to matching UK is the Amherst women. The Division III program ripped off 121 straight home victories from 2009 to 2016.

Recently, the closest a Division I men’s program has gotten to Kentucky’s unparalleled run is Gonzaga, which had a 76-game home streak snapped last year.

Of UK’s many, many records, this one might be the safest.

Kentucky basketball coaching records

Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp talks to his team during a game against Notre Dame at Louisville’s Freedom Hall on Dec. 29, 1964.

Adolph Rupp’s 876 overall victories

Adolph Rupp, the legendary “Baron of the Bluegrass,” won 876 games over 41 seasons. John Calipari, the second-winningest coach in program history, didn’t even reach half that, ending his time at UK with 410 victories.

To put Rupp’s win total into perspective, new coach Mark Pope could post 20 consecutive 40-0 seasons … and he’d still need nearly two more 40-0 campaigns to surpass Rupp.

Adolph Rupp’s SEC titles tally: 40

Rupp captured 27 regular-season SEC championships, winning 23 outright and sharing four. He also led the Wildcats to 13 conference tournament crowns before the event was…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/unbreakable-kentucky-basketball-records-marks-091539004.html

Author : The Courier Journal

Publish date : 2024-07-08 09:15:39

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