Editors’ note: The Total Impact Quotient is an elaborate ratings formula for players’ performance. It includes strong consideration of a player’s performance relative to the rest of the team. For more information, check out a complete introduction to the TIQ.
Last season’s Kentucky team generated lots of buzz with speed demon John Wall at point guard and DeMarcus Cousins, the Wildcats’ mercurial yet dominant big man, eating space in the paint.
Kentucky stormed through the regular season, torching a fairly weak SEC en route to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and Elite Eight appearance. This year’s team might be even better.
That seems hard to believe for a team that already has twice as many losses as last season’s Wildcats. But this year’s version is better in a few critical areas, especially overall team balance.
Wall and Cousins were phenomenal players, and their Total Impact Quotient for last season reflected that: Wall had a solid 9.7 points per 40 minutes TIQ rating while Cousins posted 20.4 points per 40 minutes. For guards, that makes Wall 56.5 percent more productive than average, while Cousins was 78.9 percent more productive than the average center.
But on the flip side, five of Kentucky’s nine players who averaged at least 10 minutes per game had a TIQ worse than the average player at their position. This year’s team has only one player like that: Brandon Knight.
Knight is a less proficient play maker than Wall was, averaging 3.7 assists per game. His predecessor dished out 6.5 assists per game last season. And compared to Knight, Wall was a kleptomaniac, tripling Knight’s steals average of 0.6 with 1.8 per game. But besides that, they’re nearly identical. And Knight’s supporting cast is more consistent and reliable.
As a team, Kentucky is actually better on offense this season, when applying Ken Pomeroy’s offensive efficiency rating. This year’s team is slightly worse on defense, but that’s primarily because the 2010-11 Wildcats aren’t forcing as many turnovers but are committing more fouls than last year’s team did. Kentucky remains an excellent defensive team and holds opponents to 32.9 percent shooting from three-point range and 41.1 percent from inside the arc — good for No. 5 in the country for the latter stat.
So with that in mind, Terrence Jones, Josh Harrelson, Doron Lamb, Knight and company might be poised to make an even deeper run this season: all the way to the Final Four.
Here are the latest ratings for the SEC, through games of Saturday Feb. 12. Players average at least about 10 minutes per game.
TIQ position averages and total number of SEC players at the position:
Centers: 12.4, 5 players
Forwards: 9.5, 51 players
Guards: 5.8, 57 players
TIQ = Total Impact Quotient
PD% = Position differential in % difference from average
| Top 2 centers | Team | TIQ | PD% | Minutes |
| Josh Harrelson | Kentucky | 15.6 | 25.8 | 619 |
| Brian Williams | Tennessee | 14.9 | 20.2 | 570 |
| Top 5 forwards | Team | TIQ | PD% | Minutes |
| JaMychal Green | Alabama | 16.1 | 69.5 | 573 |
| Delvon Johnson | Arkansas | 14.2 | 49.5 | 693 |
| Terrence Jones | Kentucky | 13.4 | 41.1 | 737 |
| Malik Cooke | South Carolina | 13.4 | 41.1 | 571 |
| Glenn Bryant | Arkansas | 13.2 | 38.9 | 323 |
| Top 5 guards | Team | TIQ | PD% | Minutes |
| Travis Leslie | Georgia | 12.7 | 119.0 | 740 |
| Frankie Sullivan | Auburn | 11.6 | 100.0 | 148 |
| Brian Bryant | Mississippi State | 11.4 | 96.6 | 459 |
| Dustin Ware | Georgia | 10.1 | 74.1 | 776 |
| Dee Bost | Mississippi State | 9.7 | 67.2 | 353 |
Player Rankings
| Position | Team/Player | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank |
| ALABAMA 2010-11 | ||||||
| F | Tony Mitchell | 12.2 | -0.6 | 737 | 28.4 | 8 |
| G | Trevor Releford | 8.4 | 0.2 | 727 | 44.8 | 8 |
| F | Chris Hines | 10.3 | -0.9 | 669 | 8.4 | 24 |
| G | Charvez Davis | 2.3 | 0.4 | 645 | -60.3 | 52 |
| F | JaMychal Green | 16.1 | 0.2 | 573 | 69.5 | 1 |
| G | Senario Hillman | 4.9 | -0.3 | 551 | -15.5 | 31 |
| G | Ben Eblen | 4.5 | -0.4 | 246 | -22.4 | 35 |
| G | Charles Hankerson Jr. | 3.7 | 0.1 | 187 | -36.2 | 44 |
| G | Andrew Steele | 8.7 | N/A | 181 | 50.0 | 7 |
| ARKANSAS 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Rotnei Clarke | 6.8 | 0.4 | 733 | 17.2 | 22 |
| F | Delvon Johnson | 14.2 | -0.6 | 693 | 49.5 | 2 |
| G | Julysses Nobles | 8.4 | 0.5 | 596 | 44.8 | 9 |
| G | Jeff Peterson | 3.4 | 0.0 | 545 | -41.4 | 48 |
| F | Marshawn Powell | 7.7 | 1.5 | 441 | -18.9 | 36 |
| G | Mardacus Wade | 4.8 | -0.7 | 424 | -17.2 | 33 |
| G | Marcus Britt | 5.6 | -0.5 | 391 | -3.4 | 26 |
| F | Glenn Bryant | 13.2 | 2.1 | 323 | 38.9 | 5 |
| F | Marvell Waithe | 11.5 | -2.7 | 243 | 21.1 | 14 |
| F | Michael Sanchez | 7.5 | N/A | 167 | -21.1 | 38 |
| G | Rickey Scott | 3.4 | -1.0 | 155 | -41.4 | 49 |
| F | Jemal Farmer | -1.0 | -0.6 | 141 | -110.5 | 51 |
| AUBURN 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| F | Earnest Ross | 12.4 | -0.6 | 767 | 30.5 | 7 |
| G | Josh Wallace | 8.3 | -1.3 | 657 | 43.1 | 10 |
| F | Kenny Gabriel | 9.9 | -1.3 | 636 | 4.2 | 26 |
| F | Allen Payne | 6.9 | 0.2 | 522 | -27.4 | 43 |
| F | Rob Chubb | 5.8 | -0.5 | 479 | -38.9 | 46 |
| G | Tony Neysmith | 4.9 | -0.7 | 375 | -15.5 | 32 |
| F | Josh Langford | 4.9 | -0.1 | 366 | -48.4 | 48 |
| F | Adrian Forbes | 7.1 | -1.2 | 314 | -25.3 | 42 |
| G | Andre Malone | 7.5 | 2.6 | 285 | 29.3 | 17 |
| G | Chris Denson | 4.0 | N/A | 210 | -31.0 | 43 |
| G | Frankie Sullivan | 11.6 | -0.2 | 148 | 100.0 | 2 |
| FLORIDA 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| F | Chandler Parsons | 11.7 | 0.5 | 837 | 23.2 | 12 |
| G | Erving Walker | 9.0 | 0.1 | 816 | 55.2 | 6 |
| G | Kenny Boynton | 1.2 | -0.7 | 809 | -79.3 | 55 |
| C | Vernon Macklin | 9.2 | -0.1 | 587 | -25.8 | 4 |
| F | Alex Tyus | 7.7 | -0.9 | 582 | -18.9 | 37 |
| F | Patric Young | 8.9 | -1.6 | 444 | -6.3 | 31 |
| G | Scottie Wilbekin | 7.0 | -0.7 | 423 | 20.7 | 19 |
| F | Erik Murphy | 10.4 | 0.7 | 260 | 9.5 | 22 |
| GEORGIA 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Dustin Ware | 10.1 | 0.3 | 776 | 74.1 | 4 |
| G | Gerald Robinson | 5.5 | -1.6 | 755 | -5.2 | 27 |
| G | Travis Leslie | 12.7 | -1.1 | 740 | 119.0 | 1 |
| F | Trey Thompkins | 9.7 | 0.3 | 648 | 2.1 | 29 |
| F | Jeremy Price | 10.1 | 0.9 | 545 | 6.3 | 25 |
| F | Chris Barnes | 8.3 | -1.4 | 406 | -12.6 | 34 |
| G | Sherrard Brantley | 1.5 | 0.2 | 322 | -74.1 | 54 |
| F | Marcus Thornton | 8.3 | 2.7 | 258 | -12.6 | 35 |
| F | Connor Nolte | 8.6 | 0.4 | 219 | -9.5 | 32 |
| KENTUCKY 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Brandon Knight | 5.4 | -0.2 | 840 | -6.9 | 28 |
| G | DeAndre Liggins | 6.8 | 0.1 | 776 | 17.2 | 23 |
| F | Terrence Jones | 13.4 | -0.4 | 737 | 41.1 | 3 |
| G | Darius Miller | 7.6 | -1.3 | 701 | 31.0 | 16 |
| G | Doron Lamb | 7.0 | -0.3 | 690 | 20.7 | 20 |
| C | Josh Harrelson | 15.6 | -0.3 | 619 | 25.8 | 1 |
| F | Eloy Vargas | 9.9 | -0.9 | 231 | 4.2 | 27 |
| LSU 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Andre Stinger | 6.8 | -0.2 | 776 | 17.2 | 24 |
| G | Aaron Dotson | 7.4 | -0.3 | 646 | 27.6 | 18 |
| F | Malcolm White | 8.6 | 0.3 | 607 | -9.5 | 33 |
| G | Ralston Turner | 3.7 | -0.5 | 594 | -36.2 | 45 |
| F | Matt Derenbecker | 4.4 | -0.6 | 537 | -53.7 | 49 |
| F | Garrett Green | 9.4 | 0.2 | 461 | -1.1 | 30 |
| F | Storm Warren | 10.4 | -0.1 | 440 | 9.5 | 23 |
| G | Chris Bass | 7.0 | -0.4 | 416 | 20.7 | 21 |
| F | Eddie Ludwig | 11.0 | 0.0 | 407 | 15.8 | 18 |
| MISSISSIPPI 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Chris Warren | 3.4 | -4.8 | 854 | -41.4 | 50 |
| G | Zach Graham | 4.3 | -3.5 | 746 | -25.9 | 38 |
| F | Terrance Henry | 5.8 | -4.1 | 677 | -38.9 | 47 |
| G | Nick Williams | 4.3 | -2.8 | 665 | -25.9 | 39 |
| F | Reginald Buckner | 11.9 | -2.4 | 554 | 25.3 | 10 |
| G | Trevor Gaskins | 4.2 | -2.4 | 490 | -27.6 | 40 |
| F | Steadman Short | 7.4 | -2.0 | 423 | -22.1 | 41 |
| G | Dundrecous Nelson | 0.3 | -4.0 | 327 | -94.8 | 57 |
| C | Demarco Cox | 7.4 | -1.2 | 213 | -40.3 | 5 |
| MISSISSIPPI STATE 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Riley Benock | 8.3 | -0.4 | 766 | 43.1 | 11 |
| F | Kodi Augustus | 10.7 | -2.1 | 752 | 12.6 | 19 |
| G | Ravern Johnson | 3.7 | 0.5 | 748 | -36.2 | 46 |
| G | Brian Bryant | 11.4 | -0.2 | 459 | 96.6 | 3 |
| G | Jalen Steele | 1.9 | 0.1 | 423 | -67.2 | 53 |
| G | Dee Bost | 9.7 | -2.6 | 353 | 67.2 | 5 |
| F | Wendell Lewis | 11.7 | 0.2 | 352 | 23.2 | 13 |
| F | Renardo Sidney | 10.5 | 1.2 | 303 | 10.5 | 21 |
| F | Elgin Bailey | 7.5 | -0.1 | 225 | -21.1 | 39 |
| G | Twany Beckham | 5.3 | 0.0 | 220 | -8.6 | 29 |
| SOUTH CAROLINA 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | Bruce Ellington | 3.3 | -1.4 | 720 | -43.1 | 51 |
| F | Sam Muldrow | 11.2 | -0.3 | 664 | 17.9 | 16 |
| F | Lakeem Jackson | 9.9 | 0.0 | 627 | 4.2 | 28 |
| F | Malik Cooke | 13.4 | 0.4 | 571 | 41.1 | 4 |
| G | Ramon Galloway | 3.5 | 1.2 | 562 | -39.7 | 47 |
| G | Brian Richardson | 4.5 | 0.1 | 483 | -22.4 | 36 |
| F | Damontre Harris | 11.3 | 0.0 | 318 | 18.9 | 15 |
| G | Eric Smith | 4.4 | -0.5 | 255 | -24.1 | 37 |
| F | Johndre Jefferson | 11.8 | -0.4 | 187 | 24.2 | 11 |
| G | Stephen Spinella | 4.1 | -0.2 | 164 | -29.3 | 42 |
| TENNESSEE 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| F | Tobias Harris | 11.1 | -0.4 | 707 | 16.8 | 17 |
| G | Scotty Hopson | 5.1 | 1.3 | 662 | -12.1 | 30 |
| G | Cameron Tatum | 7.7 | 0.5 | 647 | 32.8 | 15 |
| G | Melvin Goins | 7.9 | -1.3 | 638 | 36.2 | 14 |
| C | Brian Williams | 14.9 | 0.2 | 570 | 20.2 | 2 |
| F | John Fields | 12.5 | -0.2 | 342 | 31.6 | 6 |
| G | Trae Golden | 8.0 | -0.2 | 333 | 37.9 | 13 |
| G | Skylar McBee | 4.8 | 0.0 | 308 | -17.2 | 34 |
| F | Steven Pearl | 5.9 | -0.6 | 280 | -37.9 | 45 |
| G | Josh Bone | 4.2 | 1.6 | 241 | -27.6 | 41 |
| VANDERBILT 2010-11 | TIQ | +/- Last TIQ | Minutes | PD% | Position rank | |
| G | John Jenkins | 6.7 | 2.0 | 802 | 15.5 | 25 |
| G | Brad Tinsley | 8.2 | -0.2 | 778 | 41.4 | 12 |
| F | Jeffery Taylor | 6.9 | -0.1 | 728 | -27.4 | 44 |
| F | Lance Goulbourne | 12.1 | -1.5 | 561 | 27.4 | 9 |
| C | Festus Ezeli | 14.8 | -1.0 | 538 | 19.4 | 3 |
| F | Steve Tchiengang | 7.5 | -0.3 | 407 | -21.1 | 40 |
| F | Rod Odom | 4.2 | 0.6 | 400 | -55.8 | 50 |
| G | Kyle Fuller | 1.1 | 1.4 | 356 | -81.0 | 56 |
| F | Andre Walker | 10.6 | 0.5 | 192 | 11.6 | 20 |
