As if winning 11 of 13 games since December was not enough to command attention, Kentucky did so by defying basketball logic.
UK's three-point shooting _ in terms of quality and quantity _ was much better on road games than in Rupp Arena during that span. Huh? Can there be a home-court disadvantage?
Here are the numbers: Since defeating Louisville on Dec. 28, Kentucky has made only 20 of 82 three-point shots in six home games. The 2-for-22 performance against Ole Miss almost has to be a bottoming out.
Meanwhile, Kentucky has made nearly half its three-point shots (40 of 81) in seven road games in that same time period.
That pattern has the attention of LSU, where Kentucky plays Tuesday night. In three losses in the last four games, LSU saw opponents made nearly 40% of their three-point shots (43 of 109).
Assistant coach Tony Barbee, who substituted for UK Coach John Calipari at Monday's news conference, found it difficult to explain how Kentucky is shooting three-pointers more accurately on the road.
"You got an answer for me?" he said. "Because I don't have one."
Then, Barbee added, "We probably spend as much time in our opponent's building as we do in our own."
So, he concluded, the usual home-court familiarity is not as big a factor in UK's favor as it might be for a team with an on-campus arena.
This led to an obvious follow-up question: Would UK wish to practice more in Rupp Arena, which is owned by the Lexington Center Corp.?
"I don't think it matters," Barbee said. "If you look at Coach Cal's won-loss record over the course of 10 years, it's hard to argue about the success in that arena."
In his 11 seasons as Kentucky coach, Calipari has a 181-10 record in Rupp Arena. That includes winning streaks of 54 (2010-13) and 42 (2014-17) games.
Barbee dismissed the shooting background in Rupp Arena as a factor. The baskets are out in the open with nothing nearby to provide perspective.
"I was a shooter," Barbee said "And when I hear those arguments from our guys, I say, that's the argument of a non-shooter."
Barbee pointed out that shooters must deal with many variables. Backgrounds. Rims tighter or looser.
"You can either shoot the ball or you can't," he said.
The stark difference between shooting at home and in road games has been widespread. Four of the five players who have shot the most three-pointers throughout the season and in Southeastern Conference games have made more attempts from the beyond the arc on the road since December. And each of the four has made a higher percentage of shots away from Rupp Arena in that span.
Here are the numbers:
Immanuel Quickley: 12-for-35 at home, 17-for-31 on the road.
Tyrese Maxey: 3-for-19 at home, 8-for-19 on the road.
Ashton Hagans: one of 9 at home, four of 14 on the road.
Johnny Juzang: one of eight at home, six of 10 on the road.
The exception is Nate Sestina, who has made three of seven three-point shots at home since December. In road games, he has made five of 14.
As it did with Barbee, this pattern puzzled Sestina.
"I don't know," he said when asked to explain. "I really don't have an answer for it. I actually have no idea."
Sestina suggested it might just be coincidence.
"Yeah," he said. "You might not have a good shooting game, and the next game, you might make every one."
Sestina, too, dismissed the shooting background in Rupp Arena as a factor. Although he did seem to suggest the road atmosphere can be inspiring.
"Students are behind the hoop, usually talking crap," he said. "You're able to talk to them a little bit."
Keion Brooks, who has taken only four three-point shots since December (he missed all four), suggested nothing more than happenstance explained UK's different shooting success home versus road.
"I just think that's the luck of the draw we've been getting," he said. "That's just the way the basketball's been bouncing for us. You know, we're getting the same looks (and) taking the same shots with the same confidence here as we have on the road. ...
"I would think eventually it would average itself out."
