How much must Kentucky basketball improve defensively? We crunched the numbers.
After No. 10-ranked Kentucky’s 94-91 loss to Florida on Wednesday night at Rupp Arena, the Cats were ranked 75th in adjusted defensive efficiency by Ken Pomeroy.
On Saturday, the Wildcats will try to rebound when fifth-ranked Tennessee visits Rupp Arena. The Volunteers are ranked No. 2 by kenpom in adjusted defensive efficiency.
We did a little research. We wanted to know what were kenpom’s defensive efficiency rankings of the last 20 teams to make the Final Four (2018-2023)?
Here’s what we found:
▪ Just one of those Final Four teams ended up with a defensive ranking higher than 49. That was Miami at No. 99 last season.
▪ No team that reached the national championship game had a defensive ranking higher than 35.
▪ No team that won the title had a defensive ranking higher than 22.
Here’s the breakdown, with the national champion listed first, followed by the national runner-up:
Final Four 2023
- Connecticut - 7
- San Diego State - 4
- Florida Atlantic - 34
- Miami - 99
Final Four 2022
- Kansas - 17
- North Carolina - 35
- Villanova -23
- Duke -49
Final Four 2021
- Baylor - 22
- Gonzaga - 11
- Houston - 9
- UCLA - 46
Final Four 2019
- Virginia - 5
- Texas Tech - 1
- Auburn - 36
- Michigan State - 9
Final Four 2018
- Villanova - 11
- Michigan - 3
- Kansas - 47
- Loyola Chicago - 17
Here are the adjusted defensive efficiency rankings for Calipari’s teams at Kentucky
- 2024 - 75
- 2023 - 68
- 2022 - 36
- 2021 - 35
- 2020 - 52
- 2019 - 8
- 2018 - 22
- 2017 - 7
- 2016 - 39
- 2015 - 1
- 2014 - 32
- 2013 - 88
- 2012 - 7
- 2011 - 16
- 2010 - 6
