It’s all fun and games while cutting down nets and sending droves of players to the NBA. John Calipari‘s first three years as head coach at UK produced 102 victories, two Final Fours, one national championship and 15 NBA draft picks (11 in the first round). Despite personally despising the NBA’s one-and-done rule, Calipari embraced…
Through wins, losses, Cats need fan support
Cats back in SEC title hunt with another win, moves into 2nd place
Five players scored in double figures as strong defense and sharp shooting led the Cats to a 77-55 win over South Carolina at Rupp Arena on Tuesday night. Coupled with Florida’s loss to Arkansas, the win puts the Cats one game out of first place in the SEC. “We’re coming together slowly but surely,” said…
Joe B. Hall earns fame in own right
The circumstances and pressure to win a national championship in 1978 would have engulfed most coaches. The Cats had gone an unheard of 20 years since claiming a title, but spent nearly the entire season atop the polls with an experienced, talented, senior-laden squad. Head coach Joe B. Hall was in his sixth year following…
Bill Keightley remembered daily by fans
Sitting at a desk atop the steps of the Joe Craft Center is Karen Marlowe, a staff assistant at UK Athletics’ administrative office, or a bouncer of sorts, she said. She welcomes guests daily, often for media-related purposes. But, ever so often, names that have gone down in the record books for UK basketball pay…
1949: Kentucky successfully defends NCAA title
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
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…
’92 squad lifted program out of probation shadow
“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
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…
Joe B. Hall statue unveiled outside Wildcat Coal Lodge
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…
Kentucky’s sweetheart Polson grew up loving UK
Basketball players recruited from across the country soon catch the Big Blue Nation’s infectious ardor for UK basketball, but one player has loved the team since he was in diapers — literally. Like so many little boys growing up in the Lexington area, Jarrod Polson dreamed of being a Wildcat while he was shooting hoops…