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The first Kentucky Wildcats to go 25-0 were no slouches, either

The only other team in Kentucky’s regal history to stand 25-0 in a season was Adolph Rupp’s 1953-54 Wildcats.
Lou Tsioropoulos (16), Cliff Hagan (6), Frank Ramsey (30), Phil Grawemeyer (44), and Bill Evans (42) pictured with Madge Barnett

Lou Tsioropoulos (16), Cliff Hagan (6), Frank Ramsey (30), Phil Grawemeyer (44), and Bill Evans (42) pictured with Madge Barnett

Their roster stocked with future NBA players, the Kentucky Wildcats started the year 25-0. They obliterated big-time programs in non-league play by obscene margins. One of their most hard-earned wins came against LSU.

John Calipari’s 2014-15 Cats? After UK beat South Carolina Saturday in Rupp Arena to go 25-0, the answer is yes.

Yet the above description also applies to Adolph Rupp’s 1953-54 Wildcats — the only other team in UK’s regal history to stand 25-0 in a season.

Led by seniors Cliff Hagan (24 ppg), Frank Ramsey (19.6) and Lou Tsioropoulos (14.5), the ’53-54 Cats were a juggernaut. Kentucky’s average margin of victory for the season was 27.12 points a game. Only two teams, Xavier (six points) and LSU (seven), played the Cats within single digits.

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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 8, 1949, Kentucky ends the year ranked No. 1 in the first season of the Associated Press basketball poll.

 

On March 8, 1976, Jack Givens keys a late rally as UK outlasts Mississippi State, 94-93 in overtime, in the last game played at Memorial Coliseum.  The final UK regular season game ever in the venerable Memorial Coliseum seemed headed for a crushing letdown. Kentucky trailed Mississippi State 84-77 with 1:23 left in regulation. Lifted by a crowd of 12,200, the Cats fiercely rallied, and, with eight seconds left, Jack Givens buried a short jumper to force overtime.

 

On March 8, 1984, Melvin Turpin scored 42 points against Georgia in the 1984 SEC Tournament. The 42 - his 42nd came on the game's last shot — established a new scoring record for the SEC Tournament.  Turpin's 18 field goals also made him No. 1 in the SEC tournament annals.

 

On March 8, 2025, Kentucky defeats No. 15 Missouri, 91-83, for its eighth win over an Associated Press Top 15 team in Mark Pope's first season as head coach. It is the most wins over AP Top 15 foes in program history and ties Indiana (1992-93) and Duke (1978-79) for the most top 15 wins ever in a single season. Pope's team finishes the year 24-12 overall and earned a trip to the program's first Sweet 16 since 2019.

 

Wildcats Born on This Date

March 8, 1934

32 Clay Evans

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