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.
Feb. 7
• 1970: No. 3 Kentucky shot 54.7 percent from the field to aid in its 120-85 blowout win over Ole Miss, while senior Dan Issel had one of the greatest individual performances in school history. Issel made 23 field goals, on 34 attempts, and was a perfect 7 for 7 from the free-throw line for a then-school record 53 points. Amazingly, the trio of Issel, Tom Parker and current UK Sports Network radio analyst Mike Pratt outscored (91-85) and outrebounded (42-40) the entire Ole Miss team by themselves. Issel’s school record for points scored in a single game lasted 39 seasons.
• 1987: Kentucky shot 53.6 percent from the field, and overcame an impressive shooting performance by No. 9 Alabama (52 percent from the field), to upset the Crimson Tide 70-69 in Tuscaloosa. Three players scored in double figures for the Wildcats, led by Ed Davender’s 29 points. This was Kentucky’s first win as an unranked team against an Alabama team ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Poll since 1973.
• 1990: Kentucky saved its best for last against Vanderbilt, outscoring the Commodores 54-34 in the second half in a 100-73 victory in Lexington. The game was all about senior Derrick Miller, who had the greatest individual performance by a Kentucky player at Rupp Arena. Miller made 15 field goals, including six 3-point field goals, and was a perfect 4 for 4 from the free-throw line to score 40 points, the most points ever scored by a Wildcat at Rupp Arena. To add insult to injury, Deron Feldhaus, Reggie Hanson and Miller outscored Vanderbilt by themselves, 81-73.
• 2004: No. 9 Kentucky dominated No. 25 South Carolina on the glass, outrebounding the Gamecocks 41-26, to win 65-64 in a thriller at Rupp Arena. The victory was secured when senior Antwain Barbour had a three-point play with 1:09 left to give the Wildcats the lead for good. Four player scored in double figures for Kentucky, led by Erik Daniels’ 17 points.
• 2012: No. 1 Kentucky used stifling defense to limit No. 8 Florida to just 34.9-percent shooting as the Wildcats blew out the Gators 78-58 at Rupp Arena. Kentucky also imposed their will on the glass, resulting in a plus-12 rebounding margin. Doron Lamb led the Wildcats in scoring with 18 points, while freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. This was Kentucky’s largest win against a team ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press Poll since Dec. 7, 1996.
Feb. 8
• 1983: No. 13 Kentucky made the most of its opportunities from the charity stripe, making 84.8 percent of its 33 attempts from the free-throw line, to thoroughly defeat Mississippi State 88-67 at Rupp Arena. Four Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Kenny Walker’s 23 points, but it was two points by Dirk Minniefield that left the crowd speechless. In the second half, with Kentucky leading the Bulldogs 52-39, Minniefield took a pass from Melvin Turpin on a fast break and threw down a thunderous slam that could possibly be the greatest dunk by a Kentucky player at Rupp Arena. Minniefield, standing at 6-foot-3, jumped so high that his head was above the rim.
Feb. 9
• 1918: Kentucky, with a 10-point lead at halftime against Kentucky Wesleyan, let its lead slip away in the second half, and the Wildcats lost 22-21 in Winchester. At least, that’s what Kentucky thought. After the game ended, it was revealed that the official scorers for the game had counted a free-throw made by Kentucky Wesleyan that was disallowed by the referee. As a result, the game was officially changed to a 21-21 score, making it the only game in Kentucky’s history to end in a tie. George Zerfoss led the Wildcats in scoring with eight points.
• 1997: No. 3 Kentucky was dominant in nearly all facets of the game against No. 18 Villanova at Rupp Arena, and it showed in a 93-56 beatdown in a battle of ranked Wildcats in Lexington. Kentucky’s pressure defense forced Villanova into 24 turnovers, and its physicality also resulted in an astounding plus-26 rebounding margin. Kentucky also did well on offense, shooting 55.4 percent from the field. Sophomore sensation Ron Mercer was the star of the game, leading Kentucky in both points (23) and rebounds (11). The duo of Mercer and Jared Prickett outrebounded Villanova by themselves, 18-17. This was Kentucky’s largest margin of victory against a team ranked in the top 20 of the Associated Press poll since Dec. 23, 1974.
Feb. 10
• 1958: With No. 12 Kentucky and No. 17 Mississippi State both making 24 field goals, the Wildcats won the game at the charity stripe, making 24 of their 31 free-throw attempts, to defeat the Bulldogs 72-62 in Lexington. Kentucky’s defense also provided the difference, limiting Mississippi State to 39.3 percent shooting from the field. Four Wildcats scored in double figures, led by Johnny Cox’s 22 points.
• 1979: Kentucky was nearly flawless from the charity stripe, making 88 percent of its 25 free-throw attempts, to upset No. 16 Alabama 70-61 at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats were also great from the field, making 58 percent of their field-goal attempts. Kentucky had four players score in double figures, led by Kyle Macy’s 22 points.
• 2009: Kentucky, trailing Florida by six points with 3:05 left in the second half, outscored the Gators by nine points in the final few minutes to complete the 68-65 thrilling comeback at Rupp Arena. With the score tied at 65, junior Jodie Meeks provided the dagger, making a 3-point field goal with 4.7 seconds left to seal the victory for the Wildcats. Meeks led the team in scoring with 23 points.
Feb. 11
• 1984: No. 6 Kentucky, clinging to a five-point lead at the half against No. 16 Auburn, outscored the Tigers 47-32 in the final 20 minutes to run away with an 84-64 victory at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats were aided by their superb shooting performance, making 55 percent of their field-goal attempts. Kentucky was balanced on offense with five players scoring in double figures, led by the Dicky Beal and Winston Bennett, who each scored 17 points.
• 2003: No. 3 Kentucky raced out to a 12-point lead at halftime against No. 20 Georgia and cruised in the second half to thoroughly defeat the Bulldogs 87-67 at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats provided the difference behind the arc, making 11 3-point field goals while allowing just two made 3-point field goals. Kentucky was very balanced on offense, with six players scoring in double figures, led by Marquis Estill’s 16 points.
Feb. 12
• 1968: No. 8 Kentucky and No. 7 Tennessee were in a back-and-forth battle the entire game, with neither team taking full control. The Wildcats led by just two points at halftime, and held on in the second half to squeak by the Volunteers 60-59 at Memorial Coliseum. The difference in the game was at the charity stripe as Kentucky made 16 free throws while Tennessee made just seven. The trio of Mike Casey, Dan Issel and current UK Sports Network radio analyst Mike Pratt combined to score 46 points and pull down 20 rebounds.
• 1992: No. 19 Kentucky, with a seven-point at halftime against No. 16 Alabama, ran away from the Crimson Tide in the second half, outscoring them 65-48 to secure the 107-83 upset at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats’ victory was aided by good shooting both in front of and behind the arc, making 50 percent of both their 2-point and 3-point field goal attempts. Kentucky had five players score in double figures, led by Gimel Martinez’s career-high 26 points.
Feb. 13
• 1982: No. 12 Kentucky, in a tie with No. 10 Alabama at halftime, outscored the Crimson Tide 40-30 in the second half to secure a 72-62 upset victory in Tuscaloosa. The Wildcats’ 50.9-percent shooting from the field aided in their victory. Kentucky had four players score in double figures, led by Jim Master’s 18 points.
• 1986: No. 11 Kentucky and No. 18 Alabama were almost identical in every statistic of the game, but it was the Wildcats’ 28 made field-goals compared to the Crimson Tide’s 27 made field-goals that provided the difference in their 73-71 victory in Tuscaloosa. Kentucky had four players score in double figures, led by James Blackmon’s 22 points.
• 2010: No. 3 Kentucky, clinging to a slim one-point lead against No. 12 Tennessee at halftime, ran away from the Volunteers in the second half, outscoring them 43-33 in the final 20 minutes for the 73-62 victory at Rupp Arena. The Wildcats used their stifling defense to limit the Volunteers to just 38.3 percent from the field, including 26.1 percent from behind the arc. Kentucky had four players score in double figures, led by freshman John Wall’s 24 points.
