32 George Atkins

On This Day in UK Basketball History

After Louisville bested Kentucky 80-68 in overtime in the 1983 NCAA Tournament, the two schools agreed to begin playing regularly starting with the following season’s opener.  On November 26, 1983, in the first regular-season meeting in 61 years between Kentucky and Louisville, the Wildcats employed a swarming defense and balanced offense to roll to victory.  Before a raucous Rupp Arena crowd of 24,012, UK took U of L apart. Seniors Jim Master (19 points), Melvin Turpin (16) and Sam Bowie, who returned after missing two full seasons to leg injuries with a stellar all-around game (seven points, 10 rebounds, five assists, five blocks), led the dismantling.