UK Wildcats Blog

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.

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.

1983-84 Kentucky Team Poster

This classic UK team poster was created for the 1983-84 UK basketball season. The 1983-84 Kentucky Wildcats basketball team was one of the most beloved teams in UK history. Dubbed the "Twin Towers" with two 7 footers on the team in Sam Bowie and Melvin Turpin, this team spent the entire season with National Championship dreams in its future. This team also featured freshman star and future NBA Slam Dunk Champion Kenny Walker. That UK team finished the season 29-5, finishing off with a stunning performance against Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas in the Final Four that still stands out in the minds of UK fans as one of the toughest losses ever.

The players featured in this classic poster include Jim Master, Troy McKinley, Roger Harden, Winston Bennett, James Blackmon, Paul Andrews, Tom Heitz, Brett Bearup, Dicky Beal, along with Turpin, Bowie and Walker. The poster also features the Kentucky coaches for the 1983-84 season, Joe B. Hall, Leonard Hamilton, Jim Hatfield and Lake Kelly along with trainer Walt McCombs and the legendary Mr. Wildcat Bill Keightley.

Kentucky Basketball has had a long tradition of putting out team posters each year, and back in the 80's this was the type you would find. The illustration features Coach Joe B. Hall and the Twin Towers of Bowie and Turpin. In the background you see the image of Rupp Arena and the Seattle Kingdome, site of the Final Four that year, along with the rest of the members of the Wildcats team and coaching staff. This classic UK team poster brings back many great memories of one of the greatest teams in school history.