This Week in Kentucky Basketball History: Back at No. 1 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.
Nov. 22
• 1985: No. 11 Kentucky used a suffocating defense, forcing Northwestern State into 23 turnovers, en route to the Wildcats’ 77-58 win against the Demons in the first game under new head coach Eddie Sutton. The Wildcats had three players score in double figures, led by Louisville native Winston Bennett’s 18 points.
• 2005: No. 7 Kentucky was effective from behind the arc, making 12 3-point field goals in their 80-66 victory over No. 13 West Virginia in the Guardians Classic. Three players scored in double figures and Rajon Rondo had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. But it was Patrick Sparks who stole the show for the Wildcats. Patrick scored 25 points, including tying his career high with seven made 3-point field goals. The defense helped in the win, holding West Virginia to just 27-percent shooting from behind the arc.
• 2010: No. 8 Kentucky built up a 14-point halftime lead against Oklahoma and cruised in the second half to a 76-64 win over the Sooners at the Maui Invitational. Four Wildcats scored in double figures, with freshman sensation Terrence Jones having a monster double-double with 29 points and 13 rebounds.
Nov. 23
• 2004: No. 8 Kentucky struggled with Ball State in the first half, but outscored the Cardinals 44-24 in the second half for a 73-53 victory in Cincinnati. Patrick Sparks led all scorers with 20 points, including four made 3-point field goals. The Wildcats limited Ball State to just 36.1-percent shooting from the field to aid in the victory.
• 2010: No. 8 Kentucky overcame a one-point halftime deficit to comeback and defeat No. 13 Washington 74-67 at the Maui Invitational. Terrence Jones had his second consecutive double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 17 rebounds. Brandon Knight led all scorers with 24 points.
• 2011: No. 2 Kentucky overwhelmed Radford in the first half, racing out to a 45-14 lead, and never looked back in the Wildcats’ convincing 88-40 win over the Highlanders. All five starters for Kentucky scored in double figures, led by Terrence Jones’ 17 points. The size advantage for Kentucky was apparent, resulting in a plus-21 rebounding margin and 10 blocked shots.
• 2014: No. 1 Kentucky was just too much for the undermanned Montana State Bobcats, holding them to just 11 first half points, then the lowest first half total allowed by the Wildcats in the shot clock era. Kentucky continued the dominance in the second half en route to an 86-28 win, their largest margin of victory since 2003. Three Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Devin Booker’s 18 points. Kentucky’s defense held Montana State to a dismal 19.7-percent shooting from the field.
Nov. 24
• 1995: No. 1 Kentucky had a slim two-point lead at halftime against No. 14 Maryland, but outscored the Terrapins 59-49 for a 96-84 victory in the Tip-Off Classic. The Wildcats had three players score in double figures, led by a career-high 26 points by Mark Pope. Kentucky was unselfish on offense, dishing out 24 assists on its 33 made field goals. The Cats’ pressure defense forced Maryland into 24 turnovers.
• 1999: No. 11 Kentucky had a comfortable 13-point halftime lead against No. 22 Maryland and held on in the second half for a 61-58 win over the Terrapins in in the Preseason NIT. Tayshaun Prince led the Wildcats in scoring with 21 points, and Marvin Stone crashed the boards to lead the team with 13 rebounds.
• 2007: Kentucky overwhelmed Texas Southern in the first 20 minutes, outscoring the Tigers 43-18 in the first half, and continued the dominance into the second half in their 83-35 win. The Wildcats had three players score at least 17 points, led by Joe Crawford’s then-career high 32 points. The Wildcats’ defense was most impressive, limiting Texas Southern to just 20.8-percent shooting from the field.
Nov. 25
• 2009: No. 5 Kentucky, down five points to Stanford at halftime, came back in the second half to force overtime in the Cancun Challenge Championship. The Wildcats dominated the extra five minutes, outscoring the Cardinal 10-2 for a 73-65 victory. John Wall led Kentucky in scoring with 23 points while Patrick Patterson chipped in a double-double effort with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
• 2013: No. 3 Kentucky had a difficult first 20 minutes against Cleveland State, trailing 31-27 at halftime at home, but came back to defeat the Vikings 68-61 in the inaugural Keightley Classic. Freshman Julius Randle continued his historic start in college, recording his sixth straight double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
• 2014: No. 1 Kentucky had a dominating defensive performance against Texas-Arlington, limiting the Mavericks to just 12 first-half points en route to the Wildcats’ 92-44 blowout win. The Wildcats were unselfish on offense, resulting in six players scoring in double figures, led by Devin Booker’s 19 points. Karl-Anthony Towns had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. For the game, Kentucky’s defense held Texas-Arlington to just 27-percent shooting from the field.
Nov. 26
• 1983: No. 2 Kentucky raced out to a 35-20 halftime lead over No. 6 Louisville and cruised to a 65-44 victory over its intrastate rival. This was a highly anticipated matchup between the two schools as it was the first regular-season meeting between the squads since 1922. Kentucky had three players score in double figures, led by Jim Master’s 19 points.
• 1994: No. 4 Kentucky had one of its most dominating wins ever when they overwhelmed Tennessee-Martin to an astounding 74-point win, 124-50. It was the second-largest margin of victory in school history, and the largest win since 1956. Not surprisingly with 124 points scored, the Wildcats had seven players score at least 10 points, led by Jared Prickett’s 21 points.
Nov. 27
• 1976: No. 6 Kentucky defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 72-64 in the first game ever played at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats were balanced on offense, with five double-figure scorers, led by Rick Robey’s 13 points. The Badgers had a tough time defending Kentucky, resulting in four of their five starters fouling out.
• 1993: No. 2 Kentucky built an 11-point halftime lead against No. 7 Louisville and cruised to a 78-70 victory over their intrastate rival. Three Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Tony Delk’s 19 points, including five made 3-point field goals.
Nov. 28
• 1989: Kentucky built up a 14-point halftime lead against Ohio and held on to defeat the Bobcats 76-73 in the first game under new head coach Rick Pitino. Reggie Hanson performed well in Pitino’s debut, recording a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Amazingly, the Wildcats defeated the Bobcats despite having a negative-18 rebounding margin in the game.
• 1996: No. 8 Kentucky overwhelmed No. 12 Syracuse in the first 20 minutes of the game, racing out to a 49-27 lead at the half. The Wildcats never looked back in their 87-53 victory over the Orange. Derek Anderson led Kentucky’s four double-figure scorers with 25 points. The Wildcats’ defense was stifling, holding Syracuse to 30-percent shooting from the field and just 9.1-percent from behind the arc.
• 1998: No. 4 Kentucky, trailing No. 10 UCLA by five points at halftime, outscored the Bruins 39-30 in the second half for a comeback 66-62 win in the Puerto Rico Shootout. Manhattan transfer Heshimu Evans led the Wildcats in scoring with 16 points.
