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. 3
• 1927: Trailing Florida by four points at halftime, Kentucky outscored the Gators 30-18 in the second half to secure a 44-36 victory at Alumni Gymnasium. The Wildcats were led in scoring by Edwin Knadler’s career-high 14 points. This was the first-ever meeting between Kentucky and Florida.
• 1952: No. 4 Kentucky had their most convincing win ever against Ole Miss, handily defeating the Rebels 116-58 at the Owensboro Sportscenter. The Wildcats were led on offense by six players who scored in double figures, including junior Cliff Hagan’s 37 points. This was Kentucky’s largest margin of victory ever against Ole Miss, and their sixth-largest margin of victory against an SEC opponent.
• 1987: No. 11 Kentucky had a slim four-point lead at halftime against No. 5 Auburn and held on in the second half to upset the Tigers, 63-60, at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats shot well as a team, shooting 50 percent from the field. Three players scored in double figures for Kentucky, led by Rex Chapman’s 24 points.
• 1993: No. 3 Kentucky overcame 56.2% shooting from the field by No. 4 Indiana in a 81-78 narrow win over the Hoosiers in a battle of top-five teams at Freedom Hall. The Wildcats withstood Indiana’s hot shooting with 16 made 3-point field goals. Kentucky was led by the duo of Travis Ford and Jamal Mashburn who combined to score 58 points. Indiana’s Calbert Cheaney, the 1992-1993 Wooden Award winner, scored 29 points.
• 2004: No. 8 Kentucky, trailing No. 9 North Carolina by eight points at halftime, mounted a furious comeback by outscoring the Tar Heels 41-28 in the second half in their 61-56 victory at Rupp Arena. Kentucky’s defense played well, forcing North Carolina into 20 turnovers. The Wildcats were led on offense by Gerald Fitch’s 21 points.
Jan. 4
• 1994: No. 4 Kentucky shot an astounding 60 percent from the field in a convincing 107-82 victory over No. 22 Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats had five players score in double figures, led by sophomore Rodrick Rhodes’ 20 points.
Jan. 5
• 1985: Kentucky used a stifling defense to force No. 17 North Carolina State into 25 turnovers in the Wildcats’ 78-62 upset victory over the Wolfpack at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats took advantage of their trips to the charity stripe, making 34-of-37 free-throw attempts. Kentucky was also unselfish on the offensive side, assisting on 18 of their 22 made field goals. Junior Kenny Walker led the team in scoring with 28 points.
• 1991: No. 16 Kentucky overwhelmed No. 14. LSU in the first half, outscoring the Tigers by 17 points in the first half en route to their 93-80 upset victory at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats were impressive from behind the arc, making 17 3-point field goals. Deron Feldhaus led the team in scoring with a career-high 27 points.
Jan. 6
• 1968: No. 5 Kentucky ran away from No. 4 Vanderbilt in the first half, outscoring the Commodores by 22 points on their way to a 98-74 upset victory at Memorial Gymnasium. The Wildcats dominated on the glass, resulting in a plus-13 rebounding margin. Kentucky was led on offense by a trio of 20-plus point scorers: Phil Argento (25), Mike Casey (25), and Mike Pratt (20).
Jan. 7
• 1956: No. 6 Kentucky saved its best for last against Georgia Tech, outscoring the Yellow Jackets by 34 points in the second half en route to their 104-51 blowout win at Memorial Coliseum. The Wildcats were dominant on defense, holding Georgia Tech to just 29.5-percent shooting from the field. Kentucky was led by a pair of double-double performers, Jerry Bird (17 points and 10 rebounds) and Bob Burrow (24 points and 19 rebounds). This is the largest margin of victory ever for Kentucky against Georgia Tech.
• 1984: No. 2 Kentucky shot an impressive 57.1-percent from the field on the way to a 96-80 victory over No. 9 LSU in Baton Rouge. It also didn’t hurt that the Wildcats had 43 attempts from the free-throw line, making 32 of them. Kentucky had outstanding performances by the duo of Melvin Turpin and Kenny Walker, who combined to score 57 points and pull down 25 rebounds.
Jan. 8
• 1945: The Wildcats had their most dominant and unbelievable defensive performance in school history when they took on Arkansas State at Alumni Gymnasium. Kentucky held the Red Wolves to just six points in the first half, and that even wasn’t the best half of defense for the Wildcats. Amazingly Arkansas State scored zero points in the second half of Kentucky’s 75-6 blowout victory. As a result of the blowout, 15 players scored for the Wildcats, led by Jim Howe’s career-high 12 points.
• 1955: No. 1 Kentucky was upset by Georgia Tech by the slimmest of margins, 59-58, at Memorial Coliseum. Although it was a painful loss for the Wildcats, they couldn’t help but look back at an amazing accomplishment that set an NCAA record that may never be broken. Kentucky entered the game on an astronomical 129-game home court winning streak, spanning 12 seasons.
Jan. 9
• 1996: No. 2 Kentucky’s suffocating full-court pressure defense was too much for No. 12 Mississippi State to handle, forcing the Bulldogs into 28 turnovers as the Wildcats won 74-56 in Starkville. Kentucky had three players score in double figures, led by sophomore Antoine Walker’s 16 points.
