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1956-1957 Kentucky Basketball Roster

Seated (l to r): Coach Adolph Rupp, Ray Mills, Lincoln Collinsworth, Adrian Smith, Gerry Calvert, Bill Cassady, Harold Ross, John Crigler, Assistant Coach Harry Lancaster Standing: Jay Bayless, John Brewer, Johnny Cox, Bill Smith, Dick Howe, Ed Beck, Vernon Hatton, Earl Adkins, John Hardwick, Manager Ken Lehkamp

#PlayerPositionHometown (Last School)HtWt
10Lincoln CollinsworthGuardSalyersville, KY6'3"185
10Gerry CalvertGuardMaysville, KY (High)5'11"160
12Billy Ray CassadyForward-GuardInez, KY6'2"191
14Phil JohnsonForward-CenterLexington, KY (University High)6'5"190
20Dick HoweCenter-ForwardCarbondale, IL (Carbondale Community)6'5"210
24Johnny CoxForwardHazard, KY (High)6'4"185
32John CriglerForwardHebron, KY (High)6'3"180
33Harold RossGuard-ForwardHickman, KY6'3"175
34Ed BeckCenterFort Valley, GA6'7"188
40Earl AdkinsGuardAshland, KY (High)6'4"180
50Adrian SmithAdrian SmithGuardFarmington, KY6'0"178
50Jay BaylessForwardKnoxville, TN (Fulton)6'4"205
52Vernon HattonGuardLexington, KY (Lafayette)6'3"195
55Ray MillsForwardManchester, KY (Clay County)6'4"200
66John HardwickGuardLexington, KY (University High)6'3"185
70John BrewerGuardLouisville, KY (Eastern)6'3"180
88Bill SmithForwardWalton, KY6'5"200
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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 22, 1958, UK wins its fourth NCAA title by defeating Seattle and Elgin Baylor, 84-72, in Louisville before a home-state crowd of 18,803 in Freedom Hall. The “Fiddlin’ Five” was led by Vernon Hatton’s 30 points.  This is the only NCAA championship Kentucky won within the commonwealth.  The win gave Rupp his most coveted title, the one he vowed to win after the NCAA had suspended UK’s 1953 season.

 

On March 22, 1975, UK upsets undefeated Indiana in the Mideast Regional semifinals to earn a trip to the Final Four. It was the Hoosier's first loss in 34 games.  Indiana was 31-0 and had obliterated Kentucky 98-74 in a December meeting remembered for Hoosiers Coach Bobby Knight slapping UK head man Joe B. Hall in the back of the head.  With the Final Four at stake, Kentucky senior guards Mike Flynn (22 points) and Jimmy Dan Conner (17, five rebounds) came up huge to lead the Cats to sweet payback.

 

On March 22, 1984, Winston Bennett's three-point play with 13 seconds left pushed the Wildcats past Louisville into the Mideast Regional final.

 

On March 22, 1985, Joe B. Hall announces his retirement after UK loses to St. John’s, 86-70, in the NCAA West Regional in Denver.

 

On March 22, 1998, in one of the most anticipated matchups of the NCAA Tournament, UK roars back from a 17-point deficit with 9:38 remaining to defeat Duke, 86-84. Kentucky uncorked an NCAA Tournament rally for the ages behind the relentless penetration of junior point guard Wayne Turner (16 points, eight assists) and clutch three-point shooting from Heshimu Evans, Allen Edwards, Cameron Mills and Scott Padgett.

 

Wildcats Born on This Date

March 22, 1893

Hubert Blakey

March 22, 1906

Oliver Steele

March 22, 1930

38 Bobby Watson

March 22, 1976

Wayne Turner
5 Wayne Turner

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