In a dark, covered walkway leading to a stage at Rupp Arena, the newest crop of Kentucky basketball stars pace back and forth, hidden from the fans. Big Blue Madness is nearing its crescendo in Lexington, with this night marking the official start of practice for the Wildcats — and, for four freshmen, the beginning of their careers. Coach John Calipari wants to make sure they're prepared. “Have you seen it out there?” Calipari yells, hurrying down the corridor to catch up with his squad. No one speaks. “I'm serious,” Calipari says. “Have you guys seen it out there?” Center Willie Cauley-Stein peeks through a crevice in the tarp, turns toward his teammates and widens his eyes. “Whoa!” he says.
Walter Cornett, of Glendale, Kentucky, is the owner and operator of Walter's Wildcat World. He founded WildcatWorld.com in 1998 making it one of the oldest Kentucky basketball fan sites in operation today.
On This Day In UK Basketball History
- On March 19, 1966, Pat Riley joined the 1,000-point club. He did it in 54 games.
- On March 19, 1966, in one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, top-ranked UK, featuring “Rupp’s Runts,” loses in the NCAA Championship game, 72-65, to Texas Western.
- On March 19, 1989, in the wake of an NCAA investigation, Eddie Sutton resigns as UK basketball coach.