UK Wildcats Blog

1984-85 Kentucky Wildcats

This classic Kentucky basketball yearbook was from the 1984-85 preseason. The cover features head coach Joe B. Hall passing the ball on to the next generation of UK basketball stars in junior Kenny Walker and sophomore Winston Bennett. The Wildcats were coming off of a Final Four season and had graduated one of the most talented senior classes in the school's history. The 1984-85 season signaled the torch being passed from that class to the new stars of the Kentucky program.

The 1984-85 Kentucky Wildcats struggled to keep up with the successful pace of the previous year's team. The team finished the season with an 18-13 record. Notable wins during the 1984-85 season included those over then #11 Kansas and #17 N.C. State.

The 1984-85 Wildcats earned a #12 seed in the NCAA tournament. The team won two games in the NCAA Tournament and eventually lost to St. John's in the NCAA West Semifinals. The game against St. John's would end up becoming the last for legendary coach Joe B. Hall, who retired at the end of the season.

This core group of talent would go on to shine in the 1985-86 season, going 32-4 under new head coach Eddie Sutton. Walker would go on to become a First Team All-American and eventual NBA first round draftee. Bennet would become a first team All-SEC player as well. This classic UK basketball yearbook provides a great look back at these players, the uniform styles of the day and the final season of coach Joe B. Hall.

UK Classic Player Profile: Keith Bogans

One of the most beloved players from the Tubby Smith era at the University of Kentucky was Keith Bogans. Bogans was a member of the UK basketball program from 1999-2003. Keith was a major contributor to the Wildcats program throughout his entire career. Bogans had an instant impact on the Wildcats and was a member of the All-SEC Freshman team for the 1999-00 season.

In his sophomore season, Bogans was named to the All-SEC Second Team and was a member of the All-SEC Tournament team. Bogans submitted his name for consideration in the NBA draft after his junior season but chose to withdraw and return to Kentucky for his senior season. In that senior season of 2002-03, Bogans was honored as a 3rd team All-American, was voted the SEC Player of the Year, first Team All-SEC and was the SEC Tournament MVP. Bogans career was capped off with a 32-4 record in that 2002-03 season, one of the best seasons in the Tubby Smith era.

Bogans was picked in the second round of the 2003 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 43rd pick. Bogans has had a solid NBA career with several teams, including the Bucks, Magic, Bobcats and Rockets. Bogans recently signed a contract with the 4-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs for the 2009-10 season.

Great Performances: Jack Givens 1978

There have been many legendary performances by Kentucky Wildcats players throughout the history of Kentucky basketball. One of the greatest individual performances in Wildcat history occurred on March 27, 1978. The Kentucky Wildcats were taking on the Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA Championship game.

UK forward Jack "Goose" Givens was about to put the finishing touch on his All-American career at the University of Kentucky. The Wildcats entered the National Championship game after a win over Arkansas in the Final Four. The Wildcats were looking to capture their first National Championship in 20 years.

Once the game began, it was clear that something special was about to take place on the court that day. Givens came out on fire and started to score at will against the Blue Devils. Givens would go on to score 41 points against the Blue Devils, leading Kentucky to a 94-88 victory and their fifth NCAA National Championship. Givens was honored as the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding player for the 1978 tournament. Givens' outstanding performance on the court in St. Louis that night continues to shine as one of the greatest and most important individual performance in the history of Kentucky Wildcats basketball.

In case you were too young to remember this game, or want to see these great moments again, here is a video with highlights from Givens' memorable performance.

UK in the NBA: Tayshaun Prince

Another former Kentucky Wildcat who has had an extremely productive career in the NBA is Tayshaun Prince. Prince was part of the Wildcat family from 1998-2002. Prince had an outstanding career in a Kentucky uniform. He was voted the SEC Player of the Year in his junior season and was named to the All-SEC team in his junior and senior seasons. Prince's most memorable performance came in a 79-59 victory over North Carolina. Prince came out blistering the nets with three pointer after three pointer, including one from a few steps past half court. Prince finished that game with 31 points and 11 rebounds.

After his senior season for Kentucky, Prince was drafted 23rd in the first round by the Detroit Pistons. Prince found himself in a great position with one of the best teams in the NBA at the time. In Prince's first season, he struggled to crack the Pistons rotation and played in only 42 of the team's 82 games. WIth the arrival on new coach Larry Brown, Prince saw his playing time and production increase dramatically in his second season with the Pistons.

One of the most memorable moments in Prince's career came in the second game of the 2004 Eastern Conference FInals against the Indiana Pacers. Reggie Miller was headed to a wide open layup when Prince came from out of nowhere to make an incredible block on Miller's shot. The block was claimed by the Pistons and effectively ended the game and secured a Pistons win. Prince also played incredible defense on the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals, helping the Pistons win the 2004 NBA Championship.

Tayshaun Prince has gone on to become one of the best defenders in the NBA and has become a vital part of the Detroit Pistons team. Prince has continued to average nearly 14 points a game each season in his Detroit Pistons career. In addition to his successes in the NBA with the Pistons, Prince was also a member of the 2008 USA Basketball "Redeem Team" that brought the gold medal back to the USA in the Beijing Olympic Games.

Tayshaun Prince returns to Lexington

On Friday night, September 18th, former Kentucky Wildcats star Tayshaun Prince returned to Lexington to launch the Locker Program at the Griffin Gate Marriott. The Locker Program is associated with the Athletes United Foundation and was created to help Central Kentucky children and families in need. The Locker Program will be placed into several Central Kentucky schools and will encourage students to bring in items to help families and kids who are less fortunate. The program supports those families in need and also allows students to experience to rewarding feeling that comes with giving.

It was great to see Tayshaun return to Lexington to put his name and efforts behind such a great cause. Tayshaun spent a few minutes talking with those in attendance about how much being a Kentucky Wildcat has meant to him and how excited he was to return to Lexington to get the Locker Program going. The emcee for the event was former Wildcat Cameron Mills. Also in attendance at the event were former Wildcats basketball star Kyle Macy and former Kentucky and Cincinnati Bengals football star Doug Pelfrey. Coach John Calipari was scheduled to attend the event but was called away to make sure he took care of some recruiting business, with a high profile recruit in town for the UK/UL football game, which Cameron Mills pointed out was the task that he was brought to Lexington to complete.

The event featured a great silent auction, loaded with unique autographed items from many players and coaches throughout UK basketball history. There was also a special Tayshaun Prince themed art print that was available for auction that was created by this site's editor, Kentucky artist Jim Ransdell. It was a great night with one of the most beloved Wildcats of all-time and gave everyone in attendance a great feeling seeing Tayshaun return to Lexington to invest his time and effort back into the Lexington and Central Kentucky community.

UK Classic Player Profile: Cameron Mills

Cameron Mills came to the Wildcats program with a great family history at Kentucky. His father, Terry Mills, played for the Wildcats from 1968-1971. Cameron's career with the Kentucky basketball program began with the 1994-95 season. Mills wore the same uniform #21 that his father wore as a Wildcat. During Cameron's sophomore season, he came off the bench on one of the greatest teams ever assembled and helped that great 1995-96 Wildcats team bring home a National Championship.

In Cameron's junior season with the Wildcats, his playing time and production increased, making him a vital part of that team that went to the National Championship game in Coach Rick Pitino's final season. Mills' senior season saw him become an even more vital part of the Wildcats game plan and his three point shooting and on-court smarts helped lead that team to Kentucky's second National Championship in three years.

Mills smile, personality, and on-court contributions made him a very popular Wildcats player. Mills' example off the court has also gone a long way to securing his place in the hearts of Wildcats fans. Cameron is well known for his dedication to his Christian faith and continues to make an impact on the people around him with Cameron Mills Ministries. Mills will long be remembered as a Wildcats legend with two National Championship rings and as person who made an impact on the community and those around him as well.

Midnight Madness!

One of the greatest times of the year for University of Kentucky basketball fans is the start of a new season. A new season brings high expectations, new players and an anticipation about what lies ahead. No college basketball team embraces this moment better than the University of Kentucky.

The University of Kentucky practically invented the concept of Midnight Madness. In order to get on the practice court at the first moment allowed by NCAA, Kentucky began holding a practice each year one minute after midnight. Fans would camp outside Memorial Coliseum before the event in order to get a ticket inside. Each year the new Wildcats team would take the court at midnight before the most loyal of the loyal UK fans. The program cover featured here is from the Midnight Madness before the 1987-88 season, from October 14, 1987.

Midnight Madness has become part of the fabric of being a UK basketball fan. As the event has grown in scope and production it outgrew the confines of Memorial Coliseum and is now held at Rupp Arena. What other team in the country could fill a 23,000 seat arena for Midnight Madness? The event, now called Big Blue Madness, no longer has to be held at midnight, but still packs the same enthusiasm and excitement.

This season's Big Blue Madness should be a special event. The anticipation for the 2009-10 season and the arrival of new coach John Calipari has UK fans counting down the days until practice can begin. The tradition of Midnight Madness will always be a true University of Kentucky basketball tradition and fans will continue to pack the event each year to get a first look at the new edition of their Big Blue heroes.

UK Basketball History: The Next Chapter

The next chapter in the history of University of Kentucky basketball is about to be written. The arrival of new head coach John Calipari signals the beginning of a new era in Kentucky basketball. The entire Wildcat Nation is counting down the days to the return of basketball season in anticipation of the new attitude that Coach Calipari will bring to the team. The recent release of this Athlon Sports College Basketball Preview points to the impact that John Calipari will have on the 2009-10 basketball season and beyond.

Kentucky basketball has come full circle over the last few seasons and the future looks bright. The cycle that the team has gone through is very similar to the previous up and down cycle that the program went through in the 1970's, 80's and 90's.

Coach Joe B. Hall brought home the National Championship to Kentucky in 1978, after 20 years had passed since the team's last title in 1958. Joe B. Hall led his Wildcats teams to many successful seasons and few that did not live up to expectations as well. After a great but up-and-down coaching career at UK, Coach Hall hung up the clipboard and retired as coach of the Kentucky team.

UK fans were hopeful that their new coach would lead the team to a new level of success. Kentucky chose Eddie Sutton as their next head coach and optimism was high around the program. After a 32-4 season in 1985-86, things went quickly downhill. An 18-11 record in 1986-87 was extremely disappointing and was only the beginning of the troubles that would face the Eddie Sutton led Kentucky program. Sutton took the UK program to a new low and ended up being forced out as UK coach, leaving the program in disarray.

Though the program had fallen on hard times, a new coach for the 1989-90 season gave UK fans hope for the future. The new coach was a flashy, slick talking salesman from the East Coast who was known for his coaching prowess and his ability to look good in an expensive suit on the sidelines. Rick Pitino came to Wildcats with a successful track record, energetic personality and an extreme amount of optimism for the future of UK basketball. Pitino not only returned the Wildcats to national prominence, but led the team to 3 Final Fours and to a National Championship in 1996. After an appearance in the National Championship game in 1997, Pitino left the Wildcats to coach the Boston Celtics in the NBA.

This is when the cycle of UK coaching seems to have reset itself and history began to repeat a bit. The coach chosen to replace Pitino was a highly respected coach and individual. That coach was Orlando "Tubby" Smith. Smith was a great choice to replace Pitino, but had a much different personality and demeanor than his predecessor. Smith was a soft spoken gentleman who had very high moral and ethical standards. Smith quickly captured the hearts of Kentucky fans winning a National Championship in his first season. The Tubby Smith era somewhat mirrored the Joe B. Hall era. Smith coached some of the most beloved Wildcat teams of all-time, just like Joe B. Hall but also had similar up-and-down success like Hall as well. After a great career as the coach at Kentucky, Smith left to coach at Minnesota after the 2006-07 season.

Fans had high hopes for Tubby's replacement, just like those that fans had when Eddie Sutton replaced Hall in the 1980's. New coach Billy Gillisipie had fans hopeful that he would expand on the success of Coach Smith and lead the Wildcats to the next level again. After only two seasons and a trip to the NIT, Gillispie was fired as coach, and much like Sutton, left the program in a bit of a mess, though not quite the mess that Sutton had left behind.

Fast forward to today. Again the Kentucky program finds itself with a new sense of enthusiasm and optimism with the arrival of John Calipari. Calipari comes to the Wildcats with a great track record of success and winning basketball on his resume. Much like Pitino of the 1990's, Calipari also brings with him the charismatic personality and confidence that has Kentucky fans in a frenzy of anticipation for the new season. Kentucky again finds itself with a high profile, confident coach at the helm with the goal of returning the Kentucky basketball program to National Championship status.

The Kentucky program has seen its coaching situation come full cirle twice now and the current coach has fans ready for a great 2009-10 season and beyond. This will be a great year in the history of Kentucky basketball. Every UK fan hopes that Calipari will inject the program with the same energy and success that the arrival of Rick Pitino did in 1989. It is the hope of all UK fans that the Calipari led Wildcats will hang several more Championship banners to go along with the seven they already have.

The next chapter in UK basketball history is about to be written.

1984: Dicky Beal Day

The 1983-84 season for the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team was one of the most memorable seasons in the program's rich history. The senior class from that season still holds a special place in the hearts of Wildcat fans. The seniors from that team were Sam Bowie, Melvin Turpin, Tom Heitz, Jim Master and Dicky Beal.

Being a native of Northern Kentucky, Dicky Beal was a very popular figure in that area. It was not that often that a player from Northern Kentucky was able to make a big impact at UK, and the fans in that area were extremely proud of their hometown Wildcat. After the 1983-84 season had been completed, an event was planned to honor the UK career of Dicky Beal.

The event was held at Holmes High School in Covington where Dicky was a high school basketball star. The event  was created to spotlight Beal and the other UK seniors form the 1983-84 team. In addition to the game with the UK seniors, Beal was also going to be honored by the city by having a street named after him. All five of the UK seniors were in attendance to play in the game and to sign autographs for fans.

In these never before published photos, you can see Beal and fellow seniors Tom Heitz, Jim Master, Melvin Turpin and Sam Bowie signing autographs for the many UK fans who were in attendance that day. The photos are a great look back at the classic uniform style worn by the team that year. They are also a great historic reminder of one of the lesser known events in the history of Kentucky basketball and one of the favorite senior classes of all-time.

(click on images for a larger view, these images are copyrighted)

UK Classic Player Profile: Basil Hayden

Basil Hayden was Kentucky’s first All-American in basketball, earning the honor in 1921. Hayden transferred from Transylvania to the University of Kentucky where he also ran track.

Basil Hayden was UK's leading scorer as a sophomore in 1919-20, averaging10.8 points per game. He averaged 9.6 points as a junior for the Wildcats. Basil suffered a knee injury while high-jumping for the Wildcats before the 1922 basketball season, but still managed to average 5 points per game in his senior season.

The Wildcats were 28-14 in the three years that  Hayden played at the University of Kentucky. Hayden was captain of the 1921 team that defeated Georgia in the finals of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship in Atlanta. That win was Kentucky's first significant basketball championship.

Hayden also coached the Kentucky basketball team for the 1926-27 season and led the Wildcats to one of their only losing records ever at 3-13. It would not be until the 1988-89 season that the Wildcats would have another losing season.  Basil Hayden lived to the age of 103 before passing away in 2003.