Unfortunately, they just simply have better talent than Kentucky.

 

That is an understatement. I have a hard time swallowing that we can't play with the Indiana team.

I think it comes down to one thing, population.

 

KY--4,092,891

IN--6,159,068

Classification has not had any influence in Indiana winning on consistent basis. They were still beating Kentucky on a regular basis back when they had only one class. Unfortunately, they just simply have better talent than Kentucky.

 

Classed basketball is killing hoops in Indiana!!

Classification has not had any influence in Indiana winning on consistent basis. They were still beating Kentucky on a regular basis back when they had only one class. Unfortunately, they just simply have better talent than Kentucky.

 

 

Do you have a breakdown of the results over the last 25 years or so? I'm not doubting your word, but I'd like to see the actual results.

I believe the last time Kentucky won a boys' game in the series was in 2001. If that's true, Indiana is 32-10 since 1987. Prior to that, Kentucky had won five of the last six.

 

Kentucky and Indiana split for eight straight years, from 1991-98. Since then, Indiana is 17-1, I believe.

 

I've always felt that Indiana takes the series more seriously than Kentucky. I rarely, if ever, hear of a top-level Indiana kid blowing off the tryouts, and I've often had questions about the people that run Kentucky's side of the game.

 

As far as Indiana's recent dominance ... frankly, I think it's just a coincidence that Indiana's recent surge started when they went to four classes. Indiana has simply had a significant edge in talent recently, and I think Kentucky has also made some questionable coaching and personnel selections over the years.

and I think Kentucky has also made some questionable coaching and personnel selections over the years.

When you lose enough, everything comes into question.

When you lose enough, everything comes into question.

Well, it isn't just the losing ... in some recent years, I don't know that John Wooden could have won a game for Kentucky.

 

But there have been some questionable picks ...

I believe the last time Kentucky won a boys' game in the series was in 2001. If that's true, Indiana is 32-10 since 1987. Prior to that, Kentucky had won five of the last six.

 

Kentucky and Indiana split for eight straight years, from 1991-98. Since then, Indiana is 17-1, I believe.

 

I've always felt that Indiana takes the series more seriously than Kentucky. I rarely, if ever, hear of a top-level Indiana kid blowing off the tryouts, and I've often had questions about the people that run Kentucky's side of the game.

 

As far as Indiana's recent dominance ... frankly, I think it's just a coincidence that Indiana's recent surge started when they went to four classes. Indiana has simply had a significant edge in talent recently, and I think Kentucky has also made some questionable coaching and personnel selections over the years.

 

I'm pretty sure that KY split with IN when Lofton played in 2004; winning 89-81 in Owensboro behind Lofton's 41. IN won the rematch by three points when Lofton rolled his ankle in the 2nd period.

I'm pretty sure that KY split with IN when Lofton played in 2004; winning 89-81 in Owensboro behind Lofton's 41. IN won the rematch by three points when Lofton rolled his ankle in the 2nd period.

I didn't have the recent results in front of me, so I was going by memory.

 

In that case, Indiana leads 31-11 since 1987, and all of my other comments stand.

I didn't have the recent results in front of me, so I was going by memory.

 

In that case, Indiana leads 31-11 since 1987, and all of my other comments stand.

 

Aren't many graduating IN seniors also older than KY seniors due to different age/eligibility cutoff? That has to have some effect. Could be like college freshman playing against high schoolers.

I didn't have the recent results in front of me, so I was going by memory.

 

In that case, Indiana leads 31-11 since 1987, and all of my other comments stand.

 

 

Probably correct. I don't have the results in front of me either, but there are some Mason County folks that can recite chapter and verse the exploits of Mr. Lofton.

I think the following information sums up the reason for Indiana's success.

 

Rivals 150

 

2003

 

Indiana

 

#76 Kenneth Harris

#110 Justin Cage

 

Kentucky

 

None

 

2004

 

Indiana

 

#38 Robert Vaden

#77 AJ Ratliff

#80 James Hardy

#136 JR Angle

 

Kentucky

 

#146 Chris Lofton

 

2005

 

Indiana

 

#2 Josh McRoberts

#61 Dominic James

#79 Luke Zeller

 

Kentucky

 

#113 Jared Carter

 

2006

 

Indiana

 

#1 Greg Oden

#18 Mike Conley

#60 Jamil Tucker

#104 Luke Harangody

#122 Armon Bassett

#124 Tyrone Appleton

#130 Marquis Johnson

 

Kentucky

 

None

 

2007

 

Indiana

 

#2 Eric Gordon

#35 E'twain Moore

#41 JaJuan Johnson

#55 Jeff Teague

#71 Robbie Hummel

#72 Scott Martin

#85 Matt Howard

#142 Gary McGhee

 

Kentucky

 

None

Thanks for the listings, doesn't take much to guess the winners of those matchups.

I think the following information sums up the reason for Indiana's success.

 

Rivals 150

 

2003

 

Indiana

 

#76 Kenneth Harris

#110 Justin Cage

 

Kentucky

 

None

 

2004

 

Indiana

 

#38 Robert Vaden

#77 AJ Ratliff

#80 James Hardy

#136 JR Angle

 

Kentucky

 

#146 Chris Lofton

 

2005

 

Indiana

 

#2 Josh McRoberts

#61 Dominic James

#79 Luke Zeller

 

Kentucky

 

#113 Jared Carter

 

2006

 

Indiana

 

#1 Greg Oden

#18 Mike Conley

#60 Jamil Tucker

#104 Luke Harangody

#122 Armon Bassett

#124 Tyrone Appleton

#130 Marquis Johnson

 

Kentucky

 

None

 

2007

 

Indiana

 

#2 Eric Gordon

#35 E'twain Moore

#41 JaJuan Johnson

#55 Jeff Teague

#71 Robbie Hummel

#72 Scott Martin

#85 Matt Howard

#142 Gary McGhee

 

Kentucky

 

None

 

Good home work.:thumb: Sums it up.

Aren't many graduating IN seniors also older than KY seniors due to different age/eligibility cutoff? That has to have some effect. Could be like college freshman playing against high schoolers.

 

No.

 

Kentucky has plenty of 19-year-old seniors each year. Some of whom are closer to 20 than 19 when they graduate. The state by-laws and age have nothing to do with it.