91����

The �Cats Stats story starts in 2013, when math professor Tim Chartier partnered with three senior math students�Miles Abbett, Seth King and Ford Higgins�who pitched him on introducing analytics to the 91���� men�s basketball team.

�I mean, from a professor point of view, I have three students asking if they can do more math with me, so I was like, �Of course!�� Chartier said.

But Chartier knew it might be a tough sell to the team. So, he reached out to Wildcats Associate Head Coach Matt McKillop�then an assistant coach�and the two refined the students� work and finessed its introduction to the coaching staff. Head Coach Bob McKillop needed a bit longer to see the value of the data the students were producing. He�s fully on-board now, even if he doesn�t show it.

�He�s the kind of guy that will be like, �Ah, I don�t even want to think about analytics.� But then he�ll plan a practice, and it�ll be designed to emphasize certain things that we talked about,� Matt McKillop said.

Seven years later, �Cats Stats has exploded in size and reach: It now claims more than 80 students who work with a wide range of 91���әs teams, including baseball, soccer, volleyball and even swimming.

Follow  on Twitter.