Like many other fans, I have felt for a couple of weeks that this year's UK basketball squad is far superior to last year's version. I realize stats aren't the only way to evaluate a team's performance, but they may serve as validation for the opinion that this team is much better, both offensively and defensively, than the '07  'Cats. Which is why I thought it was time to perform a statistical comparison between the first 13 games of 2007 and the first 13 of 2008.  I have compiled both team and individual stats from each year, for the relevant time-frame.

Let's begin with a look at the individual players: Patrick Patterson, Perry Stevenson, Michael Porter, A.J. Stewart, Jodie Meeks, and Ramon Harris are the players who played meaningful minutes through the first 13 games of both last year, and this year. 

'07 Patterson - Minutes played - 437 (.51 points per minute),  PPG - 17.2,  FG - 88 of 144 (61.1%), FT - 47 of 62 (75.8%), Rebounds - 109 (8.4 pg, .25 rebounds per minute), Blocks - 19 (1.5 pg), Assists - 23 (1.8 pg), Steals - 16 (1.2 pg), Turnovers 33 - 2.5 pg).

'08 Patterson - Minutes played - 413 (.62 ppm), PPG - 19.6, FG - 103 of 144 (71.5%), FT - 49 of 63 (77.8%), Rebounds - 123 (9.5 pg, .29 rpm), Blocks - 29 (2.2 pg), Assists - 36 (2.8 pg), Steals - 10 (.77 pg), Turnovers -  22 (1.7 pg).

Improvements - Points per game (+2.4), FG% (+10.4), FT% (+2.0) Rebounds (+1.1 pg), Blocks (+.7 pg), Points per minute (+.11), Assists (+1.0 pg), Turnovers (- .8 pg)

Not quite as good - Steals (-.5 pg). 

'07 Stevenson - Minutes played - 206 (.26 ppm), PPG - 4.2, FG - 23 of 36 (63.9%), FT - 8 of 12 (75.0%), Rebounds - 47 (3.6 pg, .23 rpm), Blocks - 8 (.62 pg), Assists - 8 (.62 pg), Steals - 9 (.69 pg), Turnovers - 20 (1.5 pg).

'08 Stevenson - Minutes played - 326 (.29 ppm), PPG - 7.4, FG - 35 of 63 (55.6%), FT - 25 of 33 (75.8%), Rebounds - 83 (6.4 pg, .25 rpm), Blocks - 31 (2.4 pg), Assists - 19 (1.5 pg), Steals - 10 (.77 pg), Turnovers - 25 (1.9 pg).

Improvements - Points per game (+3.2 ppg), Rebounds (+2.8 pg), Blocks (+1.8 pg), Assists (+.88 pg).

Not quite as good - FG% (-8.3), Turnovers (+.4 pg).                             

'07 Porter - Minutes played - 265 (.13 ppm), PPG - 2.7, FG - 11 of 38 (28.9%), 3-Point FG - 9 of 21 (42.9%), FT - 4 of 4 (100%), Assists - 26 (2.0 pg, .10 apm), Steals - 13 (1.0 pg), Turnovers - 28 (2.2 pg).

'08 Porter - Minutes played - 273 (.12 ppm), PPG - 2.5, FG - 11 of 39 (28.2%), 3-Point FG - 6 of 27 (22.2%), FT - 4 of 5 (80%), Assists - 40 (3.1 pg, .15 apm), Steals - 10 (.77 pg), Turnovers - 29 (2.2 pg).

Improvement - Assists (+1.1 pg).

No quite as good - 3-Point FG% (-20.7).

'07 Stewart (11 games) - Minutes played - 132 (.27 ppm), PPG - 3.2, FG - 15 of 25 (60.0%), FT - 5 of 9 (55.6%), Rebounds - 28 (2.5 pg, .21 rpm), Blocks - 6 (.55 pg), Assists - 6 (.55 pg), Steals - 5 (.45 pg), Turnovers - 14 (1.3 pg).

'08 Stewart (11 games) - Minutes played - 70 (.47 ppm), PPG - 3.0, FG - 13 of 25 (52.0%), FT - 7 of 8 (87.5%), Rebounds - 15 (1.4 pg, .21 rpm), Blocks - 7 (.64 pg), Assists - 1 (.09 pg), Steals - 3 (.27 pg), Turnovers - 11 (1.0 pg).

Improvements - Points per minute (+.20), FT% (+31.9).

Not quite as good - FG% (-8.0), Rebounds (-1.1 pg). 

'07 Meeks (11 games) - Minutes played - 255 (.38 ppm), PPG - 8.8, FG - 27 of 88 (30.7%), 3-Point FG - 16 of 50 (32.0%), FT - 27 of 34 (79.4%),  Rebounds - 29 (2.6 pg, .11 rpm), Assists - 16 (1.6 pg, .06 apm), Steals - 6 (.50 pg), Turnovers - 12 (1.1 pg).

'08 Meeks (13 Games) - Minutes played - 425 (.74 ppm), PPG - 24.2, FG - 100 of 210 (47.6%), 3-Point FG - 46 of 110 (41.8%), FT - 69 of 78 (88.5%), Rebounds - 42 (3.2 pg, .10 rpm), Assists - 25 (1.9 pg, .06 apm), Steals - 20 (1.5 pg), Turnovers - 40 (3.1 pg). 

Obviously, Meeks being healthy is the difference between the '07 struggling player and the '08 great player. He's up across the board from last year, except for his turnovers; he's averaging 2 per game more than last year. 

'07 Harris (9 Games) - Minutes Played - 175 (.23 ppm), PPG - 4.4, FG - 14 of 29 (48.3%), 3-Point FG - 4 of 15 (26.7%), FT -8 of 13 (61.5%), Rebounds - 34 (3.8 pg, .19 rpm), Assists - 8 (.89 pg), Steals - 8 (.89 pg), Turnovers - 18 (2.0 pg).

'08 Harris (9 Games) - Minutes Played - 187 (.35 ppm), PPG - 7.2, FG - 24 of 38 (63.2%), 3-Point FG - 1 of 8 (12.5%), FT - 16 of 25 (64.0%), Rebounds - 23 (2.6 pg, .12 rpm), Assists - 11 (1.2 pg), Steals - 8 (.89 pg), Turnovers - 19 (2.1 pg).

Improvements - Points per game (+2.8), FG% (+14.9), FT% (+2.5).

Not quite as good - 3-Point FG% (-14.2), Rebounds (-1.2 pg).

UK AND OPPONENT STATISTICS THROUGH 13 GAMES

'07 UK - Record - 6 - 7, PPG - 72.4, FG - 332 of 689 (48.2%), 3-Point FG - 84 of 226 (37.2%), FT - 195 of 257 (75.9%), Rebound Differential - +2.2 pg, Offensive Rebound Differential - -2.1 pg, Assists - 182 (14.0 pg), Assist per made Basket - 54.8%, Turnovers - 226 (17.4 pg), Points off Turnovers - 13.3 pg, Blocks - 60 (4.6 pg), Steals - 99 (7.6 pg), Second-Chance Points - 10.1 pg.  

'08 UK - Record - 10 -3, PPG - 80.9, FG - 373 of 731 (51.0%), 3-Point FG - 70 of 216 (32.4%), FT - 236 of 302 (78.1%), Rebound Differential - +8.1 pg, Offensive Rebound Differential - -1.4 pg, Assists - 241 (18.5 pg), Assist per made Basket - 64.6%, Turnovers - 243 (18.7 pg), Points off Turnovers - 17.8 pg, Blocks - 102 (7.8 pg), Steals - 91 (7.0 pg), Second-Chance Points - 12.3 pg. 

Offensive Improvements - Well, the record is much better, as well as: PPG (+8.5), FG% (+2.8), FT% (+2.2), Rebound Differential (+5.9 pg), Offensive Rebound Differential (+.7), Assists (+4.5 pg), Assist made per basket% (+9.8), Points off Turnovers - (+4.5 pg), Blocks (+3.2 pg), Second-Chance Points (+2.2 pg).

Offensive Setbacks - Turnovers (+1.3 pg), Steals (-.6 pg). 

'07 Opponents - Record - 7 - 6, PPG - 65.3, FG - 258 of 689 (37.4%), 3-Point FG - 75 of 203 (36.9%), FT - 258 of 356 (72.5%), Rebound Differential - -2.2 pg, Offensive Rebound Differential - +2.1 pg, Assists - 144 (11.1 pg), Assist per made Basket - 55.8%, Turnovers - 197 (15.2 pg), Points off Turnovers - 19.5 pg, Blocks - 35 (2.7 pg), Steals - 97 (7.5 pg), Second-Chance Points - 9.9 pg. 

'08 Opponents - Record - 3 - 10, PPG - 65.5, 292 of 786 (37.2%), 3-Point FG - 83 of 252 (32.9%), FT - 184 of 268 (68.7%), Rebound Differential - -8.1 pg, Offensive Rebound Differential - +1.4 pg, Assists - 127 (9.8 pg), Assist per made Basket - 43.5%, Turnovers - 210 (16.2 pg), Points off Turnovers - 15.8 pg, Blocks - 32 (2.5 pg), Steals - 104 (8.0 pg), Second-Chance Points - 10.6 pg.

The similarity between this year and last years Points per Game Allowed (65.3 to 65.5), and Field Goal% Allowed (37.4 to 37.2) is amazing.

Defensive Improvements - 3-Point% (- 4.0), Rebound differential (-5.9), Offensive Rebound Differential (-.7), Assists (-1.3 pg), Assist per made Basket% (-12.3), Turnovers (+1.0 pg), Points off Turnovers (-3.7 pg).  There is also a tremendous positive difference in the area of Free Throws: In '07 UK was a - 99 in Free Throws taken.  In '08 UK is + 34 in the Free Throws taken department.

Defensive Setbacks - Steals (+.5 pg), Second-Chance Points (+.7 pg). 

As always, you are encouraged to share your comments and observations.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!.