UK One of the Nation's Most Improved Teams

[WMR]

UK One of the Nation’s Most Improved Teams

Based on victory totals from 2005 to 2006, Kentucky tied for the nation’s sixth-most improved football team in the nation.

Having gone from three wins in 2005 to eight victories in 2006, the Wildcats were +5 for the season. Wake Forest had the biggest improvement, moving from a 4-7 record in 2005 to 11-3 during the 2006 season. Here is a chart of the nation’s most improved teams, based on increased victories:


Team 2005 2006 Increase in wins
Wake Forest 4-7 11-3 +7
Arkansas 4-7 10-4 +6
Hawaii 5-7 11-3 +6
Rice 1-10 7-6 +6
San Jose St. 3-8 9-4 +6
Kentucky 3-8 8-5 +5
Brigham Young 6-6 11-2 +5
Kent State 1-10 6-6 +5
Ohio 4-7 9-5 +5
Oregon State 5-6 10-4 +5

Improvement Came Against Tough Schedule: Kentucky’s improvement in 2006 came against a schedule that was ranked as the nation’s 13th most difficult in the Sagarin Computer Ratings published in USA Today. All five teams that defeated Kentucky finished in the Sagarin Ratings top 25.

The five teams that defeated Kentucky – Louisville (12-1), Florida (13-1), South Carolina (8-5), LSU (11-2), and Tennessee (9-4) – had a combined record of 53-13. When you subtract the five games those teams played against each other, the opponents that defeated Kentucky had a combined record of 48-8 (.857).

Kentucky Played Eight Bowl Teams in 2006: Another indication of the strength of UK’s 2006 schedule was the fact that the Wildcats played eight teams that were in bowl games at the end of the season – Louisville, Florida, Central Michigan, South Carolina, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, and Clemson. Six of those eight teams won their bowl games, all but Tennessee and Clemson.

The Wildcats tied for 10th nationally for the most bowl teams played. Incredibly, national champion Florida survived a schedule that also saw them lead the nation with 11 opponents that advanced to bowl games. In addition, Boston College, Florida State, Maryland, Nebraska, South Carolina, Southern California, Stanford, and Texas had nine bowl opponents on their schedules.

Kentucky Finished No. 28 in Computer Ratings: Kentucky’s win over Clemson in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl helped the Wildcats jump to No. 28 in the final Sagarin Computer Ratings published by USA Today.

Kentucky did not make any of the final top-25 poll rankings, but the Wildcats did get one vote in both The Associated Press and the USA Today Coaches polls.

[George Foster]

Wow...that was a great post...if you are a UK fan

Next season will be a lot harder. We dropped Ole Miss and picked up the Razorbacks on the road. We need to beat Louisville at home to make up for that. I think that would be a easier game than the Razorbacks....pick your poison.

Odd number years we play Tenn and Florida at home which hurts us as well because these are very hard games to win and takes away 2 home games. Even number years are easier to win 7 games because of the 2 home games that are not against top 10 teams.

[Blimpie]

Wow...when I opened this thread, I thought it was going to be about the basketball team.

Really a great post to put things in perspective with the direction of the football program. When you think of it, UK has improved even more since the bowl victory over Clemson. That is, if you include the departure of a defensive coordinator who consistently had his squad ranked between # 115-118 in the nation each and every year.

Steve Brown is a good guy and I am excited to see what he will do with the defense next year. Brooks has had him by his side most everywhere he has gone during the last 10 years or so.

[jmac]

enjoy pics from Georgia game as well as Music City Bowl !!!!

[jmac]

Originally Posted by George Foster

Wow...that was a great post...if you are a UK fan

Next season will be a lot harder. We dropped Ole Miss and picked up the Razorbacks on the road. We need to beat Louisville at home to make up for that. I think that would be a easier game than the Razorbacks....pick your poison.

Odd number years we play Tenn and Florida at home which hurts us as well because these are very hard games to win and takes away 2 home games. Even number years are easier to win 7 games because of the 2 home games that are not against top 10 teams.

True ...however remember....LSU will be without Russell and Florida will be minus Leak as well as several more.
Then Louisville is certainly a "winnable" game and maybe UT could be our Georgia game if Florida and /or LSU isnt.
That obviously doesnt mean all wins but at least improves the odds slightly !

[macro]

Your post was certainly an eye-opener for me, WilyMo. I have been very critical of Rich Brooks and was unimpressed by the accomplishments of this year's team, at least until I read those numbers.

I said here a few weeks ago that a 4-win season was ahead for the Cats next year, mainly because of the tough schedule. But it appears that this past year's schedule was much tougher than I gave it credit for being.

I feel better about the football program than I did five minutes ago, but will remain a bit cynical until they prove that they can do it year after year. The occasional blips of success that the program has had for the past few decades are very unfulfilling.

[WMR]

I'm extraordinarily happy to see all of my friends.

[jmac]

Originally Posted by WilyMoROCKS

I'm extraordinarily happy to see all of my friends.

Likewise