1949: Kentucky successfully defends NCAA title

1949 Kentucky team photo

This series counts down the greatest UK basketball teams of all time. No. 1 will be revealed in the Kernel’s basketball season preview edition on Nov. 7. Here is No. 4: 1948-49. Even when the Fabulous Five was reduced to the Fantastic Four, the results at season’s end were the same. Holdovers Alex Groza, Ralph…

1948: Kentucky Wildcats win first NCAA title

1948 Kentucky Team Photo

This series counts down the greatest UK basketball teams of all time. No. 1 will be revealed in the Kernel’s basketball season preview edition on Nov. 7. Here is No. 5: 1947-48. The 1947-48 Kentucky Wildcats played for a much different UK basketball program than the one that exists today. The 1948 squad mirrored many…

Ryan Harrow and Archie Goodwin thrive at point in exhibition win

Ryan Harrow - photo by Tammie Brown | WildcatWorld.com

Every year they’ve been different. Whether you’re talking John Wall, Brandon Knight or Marquis Teague, all of John Calipari’s Kentucky guards have brought a little something different to the table. In that respect, whoever plays point guard for UK this year – Ryan Harrow or Archie Goodwin – will be no different. But the biggest…

Kentucky rolls past Northwood in exhibition

Nerlens Noel - photo by Tammie Brown | WildcatWorld.com

Archie Goodwin scored 22 points, Nerlens Noel added 17 and Alex Poythress had 11 as No. 3 Kentucky’s highly touted freshman class led five Wildcats in double figures in a 93-61 exhibition victory over Northwood on Thursday night.  Noel added 11 rebounds and four blocks for the Wildcats, who got 15 points from sophomore guard Ryan Harrow and 12 from sophomore forward Kyle…

Boxscore and Game Notes: Kentucky vs. Northwood (FL) Ex.

Willie Cauley-Stein - photo by Tammie Brown | WildcatWorld.com

Go here for boxscore. This was the first of Kentucky’s two exhibition games.  This was Kentucky’s first matchup against Northwood, the 2012 NAIA Division II runner-up. Kentucky has won its last 19 exhibition games. The Wildcats complete preseason play Mon. Nov. 5 at home against Transylvania.  The game is at 8 p.m. and will be…

’92 squad lifted program out of probation shadow

Unforgettables

“Weep no more, my lady, Oh, weep no more today!”  At 10 a.m. Friday, May 19, 1989, the NCAA gave UK basketball fans a reason to cry, as sanctions were handed down for rules violations in the preceding years.  Less than a week later, on June 1, fans were given a reason to weep no…

‘Rupp’s Runts’ defied the odds reaching title game

Rupps Runts

From KyKernel.com:  “This series counts down the greatest UK basketball teams of all time. No. 1 will be revealed in the Kernel’s basketball season preview edition on Nov. 7. Here is No. 9: the 1965-66 Cats known as “Rupp Runts.”  In the fall of 1965, expectations of Kentucky basketball were gloomy. People were predicting a…

Transfer Julius Mays embracing Kentucky experience

Julius Mays - photo by Tammie Brown | WildcatWorld.com

“Not many guys get to experience being one of the brand new guys and be a veteran guy being looked at as one of the leaders. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I enjoy being a (veteran) but also a guy who is learning every day like everyone else.”  That is the unique dual role…

Deandre Liggins gets final roster spot as Thunder waive Daniel Orton

Deandre Liggins - photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

Second-year guard DeAndre Liggins won the final roster spot for the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday as the team waived Andy Rautins, Daniel Orton and Hollis Thompson.  The moves get the Thunder down to the 15-player limit for the regular season.  Liggins played in five preseason games and started twice with Thabo Sefolosha and James…

Kentucky ranked No. 3 in preseason AP Top 25

John Calipari told fans at Rupp Arena after the Blue-White Scrimmage that whoever put Kentucky in the top five in preseason polls needed to be drug tested.  He can add the media to that list.  Kentucky is ranked No. 3 to start the season in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, which was released Friday.…