This Week in Kentucky Basketball History: Noel's Block Record Edition

On Tuesdays throughout the 2015-2016 season we will take a trip down memory lane and look back at past great plays, players and games associated with University of Kentucky men’s basketball for that given week. So be sure to check back with us each and every Tuesday to relive the moments that make the winningest Division I men’s basketball program so special.

Jan. 24

• 1970: No. 2 Kentucky shot an impressive 57.7 percent from the field in defeating LSU 109-96 at Memorial Coliseum to improve its record to 14-0 on the season. The Wildcats won with ease despite having a minus-16 rebounding margin. This game was mostly about the matchup between two greats of college basketball: Dan Issel of Kentucky and Pete Maravich of LSU. Issel recorded a double-double with 35 points and 10 rebounds, while Maravich poured in 55 points to lead the Tigers.

Jan. 25

• 1969: No. 5 Kentucky dominated LSU on the glass, with a plus-16 rebounding margin, en route to the Wildcats’ 108-96 victory over the Tigers in Baton Rouge. Kentucky’s trio of Mike Casey, Dan Issel and current UK Sports Network radio analyst Mike Pratt was too much for LSU to handle as the three combined to score 69 points and pull down 42 rebounds. Pete Maravich scored 52 points for the Tigers. 

• 1987: Kentucky made eight 3-point field goals, while holding No. 18 Navy to zero made three-point field goals, and that was the difference that the Wildcats needed in their 80-69 upset victory against the Midshipmen. Four Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Rex Chapman’s 22 points. But even the Wildcat faithful had to applaud the effort given by Navy’s David Robinson in arguably the greatest individual performance by an opponent ever at Rupp Arena. The Midshipmen center recorded a triple-double with 45 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 blocks. The 45 points and 10 blocks are the most ever by an opposing player at Rupp Arena. 

• 2003: No. 8 Kentucky used suffocating defense to limit No. 15 Alabama to a dismal 23.8-percent from the field in the Wildcats’ 63-46 win over the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. Kentucky took great care of the ball on the road, committing just seven turnovers. The Wildcats allowed just six made 2-point field goals by the Crimson Tide. Three players scored in double figures for Kentucky, led by Gerald Fitch’s 16 points.

Jan. 26

• 1957: No. 5 Kentucky overwhelmed No. 13 Vanderbilt in the first half, outscoring the Commodores 49-36, and cruised in the second half for the Wildcats’ 91-83 win in Nashville. The Wildcats won the game despite the Commodores attempting over twice as many free-throws (54-26). Kentucky was led by the duo of Gerry Calvert and Johnny Cox, who combined to score 46 points.

Jan. 27

• 1968: No. 9 Kentucky used some hot shooting, 57.8 percent from the field, to defeat the LSU Tigers 121-95 in an offensive shootout in Baton Rouge. Three players each recorded a double-double for the Wildcats: Mike Casey (31 points, 10 rebounds), Dan Issel (17 points, 14 rebounds) and UK Sports Network radio analyst Mike Pratt (18 points, 12 rebounds). Pete Maravich scored 52 points for the Tigers. 

• 1969: No. 5 Kentucky had one of its most dominating overtime performances in school history when the Wildcats traveled down to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. With the scored knotted at 64 at the end of regulation, the Wildcats outscored the Crimson Tide 19-6 in the extra period to secure the 83-70 win. This game was historic as it was head coach Adolph Rupp’s 800th victory at Kentucky. Four players scored in double figures for Kentucky, led by Dan Issel’s 33 points. This game tied the largest margin of victory for Kentucky in an overtime game. This was also the first game that Kentucky had played against head coach C. M. Newton, former Kentucky player and athletics director.

• 1998: With No. 7 Kentucky and Vanderbilt tied at 61 with 4.4 seconds left, the Wildcats needed a little Memorial Gymnasium magic to pull out the victory in Nashville. Scott Padgett inbounded the ball to Jeff Sheppard, who then threw a bullet cross-court pass to Nazr Mohammed. With time winding down, Mohammed drove towards the basket. With under a second left, Mohammed literally threw the ball up in the air, and miraculously the ball banked off the backboard and into the basket for a thrilling 63-61 victory for the Wildcats. Sheppard led the team in scoring with 20 points.

Jan. 28

• 1984: No. 3 Kentucky saved its best for last against No. 18 Georgia, outscoring the Bulldogs 36-16 in the second half en route to a convincing 64-40 win at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats shot 50.9 percent from the field, while limiting the Bulldogs to just 35.3 percent. Kentucky was also dominant on the glass, resulting in a plus-14 rebounding margin. Melvin Turpin led the team in scoring with 18 points, while Roger Harden dished out 10 assists.

Jan. 29

• 1955: No. 1 Kentucky raced out to a 15-point lead at the half against No. 18 Vanderbilt, but struggled in the second half against the Commodores. Luckily the big halftime lead was enough for the Wildcats as they defeated Vanderbilt 75-71 in Nashville. The trio of Jerry Bird, Bob Burrow and Billy Evans combined to score 59 points for the Wildcats. 

• 1959: No. 1 Kentucky was just too much for Georgia to handle as the Wildcats blew out the Bulldogs 108-55 at Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats overwhelmed Bulldogs on the boards, with Kentucky posting an astronomical plus-44 rebounding margin. Phil Johnson, Bill Lickert, Don Mills and Bobby Slusher outrebounded Georgia by themselves (46-37). Slusher led Kentucky’s six double-figure scorers with 17 points. This was head coach Adolph Rupp’s 600th victory at Kentucky. 

• 1973: Kentucky overcame an impressive shooting performance by No. 9 Alabama, 59.7 percent from the field, to upset the Crimson Tide 95-93 in Tuscaloosa. The difference that provided the win for the Wildcats was the charity stripe. Kentucky shot 85 percent from the free-throw line, while Alabama shot just 41.2 percent. Kevin Grevey led the team in scoring with 33 points.

• 1977: With No. 6 Kentucky trailing No. 3 Alabama by three points at halftime, the Wildcats outscored the Crimson Tide 45-40 in the second half to secure the 87-85 upset victory in Tuscaloosa. Both teams made 35 field goals, so the difference for the Wildcats was at the free-throw line, where they made 17-of-26 attempts while the Crimson Tide made 15-of-22 attempts. Jack Givens posted a double-double for Kentucky, scoring 23 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.

• 1986: No. 8 Kentucky overcame some sloppy play of offense, turning the ball over 23 times, to defeat No. 17 LSU 54-52 in Baton Rouge. The Wildcats overcame the turnovers by shooting 57.8 percent from the field. Winston Bennett led Kentucky in scoring with 17 points, while Roger Harden posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.

• 2002: No. 10 Kentucky and No. 5 Florida were in a back-and-forth battle in Gainesville, with neither team able to get a big lead. With Kentucky leading by a point with under a minute remaining, senior Tayshaun Prince made a running jumper with 47 seconds left that proved to be the dagger, resulting in a thrilling 70-68 victory for the Wildcats. Kentucky’s dominance on the glass, a plus-14 rebounding margin, sparked the victory. Keith Bogans, who had lost his starting spot to recent poor play, came off the bench to lead the team in scoring with 20 points.

• 2006: Kentucky was thoroughly outplayed by Arkansas in the first half, trailing by as many as 18 points, before going into the break down 12 points. But the Wildcats responded by outscoring the Razorbacks 55-41 in the second half in their 78-76 thrilling come-from-behind victory at Rupp Arena. Three players scored in double figures for Kentucky, led by Randolph Morris’ 19 points. This is the largest halftime deficit ever overcome in a win for Kentucky at Rupp Arena. 

• 2013: Kentucky relied on the stellar performances of two freshman in a 87-74 upset victory over No. 16 Ole Miss in Oxford. Center Nerlens Noel was a force to reckoned with on defense, swatting 12 of the Rebels’ shots, setting a new school record. Kyle Wiltjer stepped up his game on offense, scoring a career-high 26 points. The Wildcats defense limited Ole Miss to just 32.9-percent shooting from the field. 

Jan. 30

• 2010: No. 1 Kentucky was balanced on offense, making both 12 2-point field goals and 12 3-point field goals, in their 85-72 victory over No. 21 Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats also showed their muscle on the glass, resulting in a plus-19 rebounding margin. Freshman center DeMarcus Cousins posted a double-double for Kentucky, leading the team in both scoring (21 points) and rebounds (10).