The 2011–12 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2011–12 college basketball season. The team's head coach was John Calipari, who was in his third season after taking the Wildcats to their first Final Four in thirteen seasons. The team won the 2012 NCAA Championship, bringing Kentucky its eighth title. The team's 38 wins broke a record shared by 5 teams for the most wins in NCAA men's Division I history.
Former Wildcats Josh Harrellson, Brandon Knight and DeAndre Liggins were all selected in the 2011 NBA Draft. Knight was taken No. 8 overall by the Detroit Pistons, Harrellson was selected No. 45 overall by the New Orleans Pelicans while the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Liggins at No. 53. The trio increased UK's total under John Calipari to 8 players selected in the Draft, including 6 in the first round.
For the third consecutive season the Wildcats boasted the No. 1 recruiting class. Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Marquis Teague, Kyle Wiltjer formed the four-member freshman class for the 2011-12 season.
Davis was the nation's consensus No. 1 overall playerKidd-Gilchrist was the nation's consensus No. 1 small forwardTeague was the nation's consensus No. 1 point guard, the fourth straight for John CalipariJon Hood and Ryan Harrow redshirted this season—Hood due to a torn ACL, and Harrow as a transfer from North Carolina State. Both were eligible for the 2012–13 college basketball season.Sam Malone missed much of the season to a torn ACL.NCAA Champions, 8th in school historySEC Regular Season ChampionsHall of Fame Tip-Off Classic Champions38 victories is the most in NCAA history15th Final Four appearance and 2nd in two years16–0 in SEC play19–0 at home3rd consecutive NCAA Tournament344 blocks is the most in NCAA single season historyAnthony Davis set NCAA Freshman block record with 186Most Points Scored: 108 vs. Marist, 11/11Highest Point Differential: 50 vs. Marist, 11/11Most Field Goals Made: 46 vs. Marist, 11/11Most Three Point Field Goals Made: 15 vs Georgia, 3/1Most Free Throws Made: 35 vs. Indiana, 3/23Most Rebounds: 57 vs. Louisville, 12/31Most Assists: 24 vs. Marist, 11/11Highest Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 5.0 vs. Portland, 11/26 (20 assists to 4 turnovers)Most Blocks: 18 vs. St. John's, 12/1Most Points: 28, Anthony Davis vs. Vanderbilt, 2/25Most Rebounds: 19, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist vs. Louisville 12/31Most Three-Point Field Goals Made: 5, Doron Lamb vs. Iowa State (3/17) and Darius Miller vs. Georgia (3/1)Most Assists: 10, Marquis Teague vs. Florida, 2/7Most Steals: 4, Anthony Davis vs. Alabama, 1/21Most Blocks: 9, Anthony Davis vs. South Carolina, 2/42012 National Player of the Year: Anthony Davis (AP, Naismith, Robertson, Rupp, TSN, Wooden)2012 SEC Player of the Year: Anthony Davis2012 Consensus All-Americans: Anthony Davis (First Team), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (Second Team)2012 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player: Anthony Davis2012 All-SEC: Anthony Davis (First Team), Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (First Team), Terrence Jones (Second Team), Doron Lamb (Second Team)2012 National Defensive Player of the Year: Anthony Davis (Driesell, NABC)2012 Pete Newell Big Man Award: Anthony Davis2012 SEC Freshman of the Year: Anthony Davis
