As one of the stars of Adolph Rupp’s 1951 NCAA championship team and the original “Sixth Man” for Red Auerbach’s dynastic Boston Celtics, Ramsey had a particularly rich treasure trove of memorabilia in his home. An autographed picture of the 1963 NBA …
For Kentucky legend Frank Ramsey, tornadoes hit close to home
Like Rome, Kentucky basketball is a storied, flawed empire
Rick Pitino, upon taking the Kentucky job three coaches ago, called it the “Roman Empire of college basketball.” Which was correct, in a way. The Emperor Nero supposedly fiddled while Rome burned. Kentucky’s 1958 NCAA champions were called the “Fiddlin’ Five.” Said Adolph Rupp, the legendary Kentucky coach: “All they can do is win. They’re…
When Adolph Rupp won 1,234 games
The day Adolph Rupp won his 1,234th college basketball game, it rained all day. Inside Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gymnasium, the drops thumped away like a drumline, perhaps a subtle suggestion that time marched on that night. Rupp waited out of sight during warmups as nervous as when he had coached his first game against Georgetown College 42 years earlier. He would describe that pregame feeling often, like a sudden hook to the belly.
Adolph Rupp about to be passed by Coach Krzyzewski in all-time wins
Hate to report this but we all knew it would come to fruition sooner or later. Mike Krzyzewski is one of just six coaches in Division I history to reach 800 career wins. His 874 wins rank fourth among college basketball’s victory leaders and first among active coaches. Krzyzewski is three wins shy of passing Adolph Rupp for third place all-time. Krzyzewski is six wins shy of passing Dean Smith as the winningest coach in ACC history.
1967: Adolph Rupp not ready to retire
Many basketball coaches around the country would gladly settle for a .500 season. But not Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp, the recognized Baron of Basketball and the winningest coach active on the collegiate scene today. Opponents naturally chortled when the Wildcats wound up their worst season ever back in March with a 13-13 record but the smile…
On this day in Kentucky basketball history
From “The Season Never Ends 2010 Calendar“: Adolph Rupp, the man in the brown suit, was born on this day. On this day in 1901, Adolph Rupp was born in Lenexa, Kansas. He was the 4th of six children born to Mennonite German immigrants. As a young man, Rupp worked on the family farm and…
Former Cat Adrian Smith enters Hall of Fame having lived the dream
For former Kentucky Wildcats guard Adrian Smith, membership on the 1960 U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team has been a gift that keeps giving. Start with the memories. Marching into Rome’s Stadio Olimpico behind the American flag during the opening ceremonies. “The goose bumps came up all over you,” said Smith, a starting guard on Adolph…
Kentucky great Wallace ‘Wah Wah’ Jones still going strong at 84
Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones still draws a crowd, even at age 84. Entertaining a large group of well-wishers recently, during a surprise birthday party, Jones was amazed by the turnout. Among the guests, former UK coach Joe B. Hall, himself a spry 81. “He’s one of the best that’s ever been to the University of…
On this day in Kentucky basketball history…
From The Season Never Ends Calendar 2010: “Albert B. Happy Chandler was born this day in Corydon, KY. Governor. Senator. Commissioner of Baseball. Albert B. Happy Chandler was all of those things, but nothing fit the man quite like the description “Kentucky fan.” Look at any old photo from the national championship teams of the…
Adolph Rupp got to pick and choose, same as John Calipari
If John Calipari wanted to cut expenses and give the savings for scholarships for poor kids, he could trim his UK staff and forget about spending money on recruiting. All he will have to do is send ESPN’s tape of the NBA draft and newspaper clippings to the six or seven recruits he wants. The…