On a rainy morning Tuesday, UK officials unveiled a new statue of a familiar face in front of the Wildcat Coal Lodge. The sculpture is of former men’s basketball coach Joe B. Hall, who was head coach at UK from 1972 to 1985. A plaque also will hang outside the building. Hall accepted the dedication…
Joe B. Hall statue unveiled outside Wildcat Coal Lodge
Kentucky legend ‘Cotton’ Nash now enjoys grandkids’ games
Once he helped build the University of Kentucky basketball program in the 1960s, playing several roles under the leadership of head coach Adolph Rupp. Today, Charles “Cotton” Nash still enjoys different roles — from Wildcat to professional ballplayer, to racehorse owner, to grandfather of seven who are developing their own sports legacies. “We have six grandchildren living…
1958 National Champ Cats still having fun
Adolph Rupp was rough, especially on his 1958 team. Rupp said he had a collection of “fiddlers” when he needed violinists. He said it could be his worst team in years. Over 50 years later, it’s still the Fiddlin’ Five who beat Seattle 84-72 for the NCAA Championship. It turned out to be one of…
Chasing the excellence of Adolph Rupp
By any measure, the Kentucky basketball program is, and has been for decades, blessed. About that there can be no debate. The program was fortunate enough to land Adolph Rupp as its basketball coach in 1930, opening the flood gates of excellence, allowing basketball greatness to wash over the Commonwealth in the form of great…
Former Kentucky men’s basketball player, 93, dies
Dr. Layton “Mickey” Rouse, 93, a retired dentist who was the first University of Kentucky men’s basketball letterman to have his jersey retired, died Saturday at Twin Oaks Assisted Living in Henry County. Dr. Rouse was a 6’1″ guard for UK during the 1938 through 1940 seasons. He was captain of the team and an…
Photo: Coach Cal with Kentucky’s coaching legacy
From Coach Cal’s twitter, Joe B. Hall and Herky Rupp, son of Adolph Rupp.
On this day in Kentucky basketball history…
On this day in 1968, Adolph Rupp won his 772nd basketball game and passed Phog Allen as the all-time wins leader in major college basketball. Rupp earned the historic win after Kentucky defeated Mississippi. Rupp had actually played college basketball under Allen at Kansas. Rupp ended his career with 876 wins. His record would stand…
Kentucky seeks revenge for 1952
After winning the NCAA Championship in 1951, the Cats were feeling great about themselves in 1952. Adolph Rupp had the number one team in both AP and UPI. UK was undefeated in the SEC and finished the season at 29-3. They were led by All-Americans Frank Ramsey and Cliff Hagan. Kentucky opened up the NCAA…
Defeat and failure to me are enemies…
In Basketball, as in all phases of human endeavor, there are certain laws that govern and regulate the pattern that measures success and failure. In the business world there have been many men of outstanding talents who have molded large corporations into world leadership. This is true in religion, in education and also in sports.…
Cotton Nash was one of the most illustrious performers to ever don “Kentucky” across his chest
Adolph Rupp, the architect of Kentucky basketball, told Sports Illustrated in 1962, “If I had my choice of one man in the country to build my team around, it would be Cotton Nash.” Kentucky basketball did not magically appear at the pinnacle of college basketball by accident. Rather, the program was elevated to blue-blood status…