LEXINGTON — When Kentucky basketball and coach Orlando "Tubby" Smith congregated to start ramping up for the 2005-06 season, the roster on hand was unlike any in the program's rich history.

It was a matter of size.

For the first time, the Wildcats had a team featuring three players standing 7 feet or taller: 7-foot-1 Lukasz Obrzut, 7-2 Jared Carter and 7-3 Shagari Alleyne. That team's height was unmatched by all Kentucky teams that preceded and followed.

Until this season, that is. Coach John Calipari and the 2023-24 Wildcats have a 7-foot trio of their own in Ugonna Onyenso (7 foot), Aaron Bradshaw (7-1) and Zvonimir Ivišić (7-2).

How has this season's towering triumvirate fared versus the one that suited up for UK nearly two decades ago?

Here's a breakdown after Kentucky's 93-77 victory over Vanderbilt on Wednesday night, with one game remaining in the regular season (Saturday at Tennessee).

Breaking down 2005-06 Kentucky Wildcats and their big men

Record: 22-13 (9-7 SEC)

Shagari Alleyne's stats: 43 points, 29 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 15 blocks in 22 games; per-game averages of 2.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.2 assists.

Jared Carter's stats: 19 points, 24 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals and 10 blocks in 17 games; per-game averages of 1.1 points and 1.4 rebounds.

Lukasz Obrzut's stats: 61 points, 56 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 11 blocks in 31 games; per-game averages of 2.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.2 assists.

Analysis: Alleyne, who remains the tallest UK player ever, primarily was a reserve in 2005-06, as he started five times in 22 appearances. In his best outing, he came off the bench to post career highs in points (16), assists (three) and field goals made (six) to go along with six rebounds in a 73-46 win over Georgia State in Atlanta. Carter, a freshman, never started a game that season, playing in 17 contests off the bench; his top performances came in nonconference play, with five points versus West Virginia, five rebounds against Kansas and three blocks versus Central Florida. Obrzut was by far the biggest contributor of the three, starting 16 times in 31 games. But he never notched a double-figure point total — that season or any other he spent as a four-year Wildcat (2003-04 through 2006-07). His best showing in that department came during the 2005-06 season, when he had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting in a victory over High Point. One of Obrzut's most memorable games at UK came that season against then-No. 4 Louisville, when he pulled down a game- and personal-best nine rebounds in a 73-61 upset at Rupp Arena.

As a team, success was fleeting in 2005-06.

While Kentucky earned the aforementioned win over a top-five Louisville squad and also recorded victories over ranked West Virginia and Tennessee squads, UK suffered lopsided losses to fellow blue bloods Indiana and Kansas and also fell at home to North Carolina. The Wildcats' 13 losses were their most in a season since Rick Pitino's 14-14 debut campaign in 1989-90, while their 9-7 mark in SEC games was their worst since an 8-10 record in Eddie Sutton's final season in 1988-89.

Kentucky's 2005-06 season came to a close in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, bowing out to top-seeded UConn.

Breaking down 2023-24 Kentucky Wildcats and their big men

Record: 22-8 (12-5 SEC)

Aaron Bradshaw's stats: 124 points, 83 rebounds, 7 assists, 8 steals and 17 blocked shots in 23 games; per-game averages of 5.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.3 assists.

Zvonimir Ivišić's stats: 73 points, 42 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 16 blocked shots in 12 games; per-game averages of 6.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists.

Ugonna Onyenso's stats: 80 points, 101 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 steals and 55 blocks in 21 games; per-game averages of 3.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.2 assists

Analysis: Bradshaw and Onyenso began this season sidelined by foot injuries. Ivišić couldn't play until receiving NCAA clearance. But all three have made the most of their time on the floor once they had the opportunity. In his second game as a collegian, Bradshaw posted a double-double against Penn. Onyenso had eight blocks versus Florida, only to better that with a Rupp Arena-record-tying 10 rejections against Ole Miss. And Ivišić authored one of the most magical debuts in recent memory, with 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, three blocks and two steals in only 16 minutes against Georgia. That's not to mention blocking a shot on his first possession in the game, dishing a behind-the-back pass for a 3 and nailing the first four shots he attempted.

This trio still has time to pad their stats and accomplish more teamwide success with the SEC and NCAA tournaments looming.

Final takeaway on Kentucky basketball's 7-foot trios

Alleyne, Carter and Obrzut failed to find much of a footing in Lexington during their college careers. Alleyne transferred after the 2005-06 season, eventually enrolling at Manhattan. Carter started one game in four seasons. And while Obrzut appeared in 123 contests in his four years at UK, he was more rotational piece than superstar, never averaging more than 10 minutes per game in a season.

Bradshaw, Ivišić and Onyenso, on the other hand, all have had crucial roles at various junctures in 2023-24, playing time often dictated by matchups and how well each one is playing. And with more high-profile contests on the horizon, there is ample opportunity for the trio to continue building a legacy — individually and as a team.

One thing is certain: Statistically, this season's 7-foot triad stands head and shoulders above the group from 2005-06.

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball: How trio of 7-footers compares with the past