UK Wildcats Blog

Coach Calipari reflects on the 2009-10 UK basketball season

SEC Tournament Memories: UK vs. Auburn 1984

One of the most memorable SEC Tournament wins for the Kentucky Wildcats occurred on March 10, 1984. The 1983-84 Wildcats found themselves in the SEC Championship game against the Auburn Tigers and their star player, future Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley. Free throws at the end of the previous contest by Dicky Beal pushed the Cats into the finals with a 48-46 win over Alabama.

The game at Memorial Coliseum in Nashville had an intense tournament-like atmosphere and most of the 15,000 plus fans in attendance were Kentucky fans. The game was a nail biter throughout. The teams swapped the lead 17 times, 14 in the second half. The biggest lead either team enjoyed was four. The Wildcats had the ball with the game tied and 14 seconds left to play. On the inbounds play, the Wildcats got the ball into the hands of sophomore Kenny Walker. Once Walker had the ball,  he bounced in a jump shot from 15 feet to give the Wildcats a 51-49 wins and SEC Tournament Championship.

After Walker's shot went in, the Wildcats celebrated while the Auburn players stood in disbelief. In what is probably one of the most memorable moments in SEC Tournament history, Auburn's Charles Barkley was seen sitting under the basket in tears and complete shock at the outcome of the game. You could see the look of disappointment written all over his face and the image of him sitting on the court is one Kentucky fans who watched the game that day will never forget.

The 1983-84 Wildcats would go on to make a run to the Final Four, before losing a heartbreaker to Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas. In a memorable season for the Kentucky Basketball program, this win in the SEC Tournament was just one of the unforgettable moments from that great season.

UK Flashback: Kentucky vs. Georgia 1983

As the current UK basketball team readies itself for a game against the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at a Kentucky-Georgia game from long ago. This classic program cover is from the Kentucky vs. Georgia matchup at Rupp Arena on February 26, 1983. The cover features UK point guard Roger Harden. Kentucky took it to the Bulldogs on this night, winning the game by a score of 81-72

The 1983 Wildcats roster was packed with star power and included players like Jim Master, Melvin Turpin and freshman Kenny Walker. Other members of the 1982-83 Wildcats included Dirk Minnifield, Dicky Beal, Bret Bearup, Derrick Hord, Tom Heitz, Troy McKinley, Charles Hurt and Coach Joe B. Hall. The Georgia team at the time was led by junior Vern Fleming and were coached by Hugh Durham.

The Next Chapter in UK Basketball History Begins Tonight

The John Calipari era at Kentucky officially begins tonight. The 2009-10 Kentucky Wildcats will take to the court at Rupp Arena for an exhibition game against the Campbellsville Tigers. Though we have already seen the Cats on the court at Big Blue Madness and for the Blue White scrimmage on Wednesday, this will be the first time we get to see the 2009-10 Wildcats take on another team this season.

With the arrival of one of the greatest freshman classes in the history of the program, the return of potential Naismith Award winner Patrick Patteron and the arrival of new coach John Calipari, the Big Blue Nation is going crazy with anticipation for the season to begin. It is only an exhibition, but it signals the beginning of what fans hope will be another rise to the top of the college basketball world for the Kentucky Wildcats. It is definitely a great time to be a fan of the Kentucky Wildcats. The next chapter in its great history begins today.

Kentucky Big Blue Madness 2009

One of the most significant nights in the history of the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball program took place on Friday, October 16, 2009. That night, Big Blue Madness 2009 unfolded at Rupp Arena in front of one of the most enthusiastic and charged up crowds in the history of the event. The arrival of new Kentucky coach John Calipari has the fans of the Kentucky basketball program revitalized and ready to enjoy the season that is to come.

The excitement surrounding this 2009-10 edition of the Kentucky Wildcats is at a level that fans have not seen in quite some time. With the arrival of freshman like John Wall and the return of Patrick Patterson, 2009-10 should signal the return to the top of the college basketball world for the Kentucky Wildcats.

The excitement in Rupp Arena during the introductions of the players was the kind of thing that gives chills to a loyal Wildcats fan. You could feel the anticipation in the arena as the 2009-10 team was introduced. Loud cheers were heard for each player and the introduction reached a fever pitch when Coach Calipari took the stage. The 2009-10 version of Big Blue Madness will go down in history as one of the greatest events to ever take place in the history of Kentucky Basketball.

1990-91 Kentucky Wildcats

This classic Kentucky Wildcats team poster features the 1990-91 basketball team. The 1990-91 team featured several players who would go down in history as some of the most significant of all-time in the program.

The 1990-91 season marked the arrival of freshman sensation Jamal Mashburn. Mashburn would go on to become an All-American and would be the catalyst for the revival of the UK program back to national prominence.

This team also featured the future members of the "Unforgettables", John Pelphrey, Deron Feldhaus, Sean Woods and Richie Farmer. Those players would be forever cemented in UK history in the 1991-92 season with the memorable game against Duke for a trip to the Final Four. Those four players joined the Wildcats program at its darkest hour and went on to become Kentucky legends.

The 1990-91 Wildcats, coached by Rick Pitino, finished the season with a 22-6 record and earned the best record in the SEC. Due to the sanctions the school was under, they were not recognized as the SEC champs however. Notable members of the 1990-91 UK coaching staff included future UK head coach Tubby Smith and other future NCAA head coaches in Herb Sendek and BIlly Donovan. The 1990-91 Wildcats had key wins over Cincinnati, Kansas and Louisville.

The 1990-91 Kentucky team was the one that was to end up setting the table for the team's return to the NCAA tournament and the Final Four. In the years to follow, the program would go on to appearances in the FInal Four and ultimately the National Championship in 1996 and 1998. This 1990-91 team poured the foundation for what was to become the college basketball program that would dominate the decade of the 1990's.

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.

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 Basketball Poster 1976-77

The 1976-77 UK Wildcats basketball team was a squad loaded with legendary Wildcat names and a team that would set the stage for a National Championship run in 1978. This classic poster features the players from the team in a sketched illustration style from artist J.R. Martin.

The 1976-77 Kentucky Wildcats finished their season with a 26-4 record and were ranked 3rd in the final AP poll for the 1976-77 season. The Wildcats spent the entire season ranked in the top 10 and made it to the finals of the East Region in the NCAA tournament.

This Wildcats team featured many fan favorites. The players represented on the poster are Rick Robey, James Lee, Larry Johnson, Jack Givens, Tim Stephens, Merion Haskins, Jay Schidler, Mike Phillips, Truman Claytor, Dwayne Casey, LaVon Williams and coach Joe B. Hall.

1987-88 Kentucky Wildcats

This classic UK program cover is from Senior Day on March 2, 1988. The cover features the five seniors who were playing their last home game in a Kentucky uniform that year. The senior class for 1988 featured Ed Davender, Cedric Jenkins, Winston Bennett, Rob Lock and Richard "Master Blaster" Madison.

The 1987-88 season was the last great season the team would have before the events that followed in the 1988-89 season. This Wildcats team finished the season with a 25-5 record. The team won the SEC Tournament and entered the NCAA Tournament with a #2 seed. The team finished the season ranked 6th in the AP polls.

In addition to the five seniors who would be leaving after the season, the 1987-88 season was also the last for Rex Chapman. After the season was over, Chapman declared for the NBA draft and was picked by the Charlotte Hornets.