10 Years Ago Tonight

[RP_McMurphy]

Kentucky won it's sixth National Championship and how sweet it was. Unfortunately I missed the live TV as my ship got underway that morning for a weapons onload in Charleston. Absolutely the closet I have ever came to going over the fence. Man it hurt missing that game after going thru so much pain for so many years. I did listen to the game over Armed Forces radio thanks to a kind Radioman who understood my passion for Kentucky. I sacrificed whatever sleep I was going to get that night for the Wildcats for I had watch immediately after the game went off. I still have the tape and pull it out occassionally just to see it and have that feel again of being on top of the College Basketball world.

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Games/19960401Syracuse.html

[Will Lavender]

Ten years. Wow.

Absolutely the most fun I've ever had following a team. It was four months of consistent, utter joy watching those guys.

We will never again see a Kentucky team as good as that one.

[catwomantat]

This one was the first one I remember, 78 happened when I was 2 years old. I still remember how happy I was. I cried my eyes out. My stepdad fell in the floor crying and didn't move for like a half an hour. Wow what sweet memories!!!

[Rockober]

Will Lavender wrote: Ten years. Wow.

Absolutely the most fun I've ever had following a team. It was four months of consistent, utter joy watching those guys.

We will never again see a Kentucky team as good as that one.
Youvery well may be right Will, but never say never.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

:cool:In honor of that team I am wearing one of many 1996 tee's I still have...what a great, great team.

[RP_McMurphy]

Forget having a team that good I am wondering if UK will ever have a team in the Final Four again.

[trublu]

I think that the teams that are in the final four now wouldn't have a prayer against that team. They were in another class.:)

[Buddah]

96 was a brillant year, and a brillant team, lead by a great coaching staff. In a weird way, it seems like a two or three seasons ago and in another way it seems like ten years ago.. Feels like something has come full circle with Fla in the final four this year with Billy, just seems like the end of something and the begining of something else. I won't say anything more on this subject.

[Rockober]

Buddah wrote: 96 was a brillant year, and a brillant team, lead by a great coaching staff. In a weird way, it seems like a two or three seasons ago and in another way it seems like ten years ago.. Feels like something has come full circle with Fla in the final four this year with Billy, just seems like the end of something and the begining of something else. I won't say anything more on this subject.
I will wait til Monday night to see if their are any more comments on the subject. Billy has had a hell of a run and has really matured in his coaching style. The players have responded and he should receive kudos. As far as end of something-I don't think so. Beginning of something-yes I think you are right-Florida wins their first NCAA. For some reason I think you imply something greater on one end and something catastrophic on another. The good thing is you won't say anything more on the subject and I can get in the last word.:D:ggrin:;)

[Terry L. Wildcat]

FCFS82 wrote: RP_McMurphy wrote: Forget having a team that good I am wondering if UK will ever have a team in the Final Four again.

Can we just keep the focus on that team and not hijack your own thread to talk about today's state of the program? :thumbdown

RP, As 82 stated, please let's celebrate 96...I know I am...we will celebrate again :cool:

[zonetoncatfan]

We practically spent our life savings on t-shirts....hubby said, "It's been 20 years since the last one, I need enough shirts to last in case it's another 20!" :)

[Terry L. Wildcat]

zonetoncatfan wrote: We practically spent our life savings on t-shirts....hubby said, "It's been 20 years since the last one, I need enough shirts to last in case it's another 20!" :)
:cool:Please high five your hubby for me...when he said it's been 20 years it was 1978 and when he said it's been 18 years it was 1996...we traveled the same road...I still have a 1978 NCAA championship tee that I wore during the UK/Duke 98 game.

[Mr. Peanut]

That was a crazy night! I stumbled out of a lexington BW3s near Two keysinto the stampede of folks as the game ended and spent a few hours in the mess of people crammed into the intersection at ?Euclid and Woodlawn? There were people up on the signs in the Lynaghs parking lot (one girl took her shirt off up there). Some poor guy who parked his truck at the intersection had it TRASHED! Cops in riot gear. A cop car drove through the intersection (WHAT?!?!?) and the crowd had it rocking on its wheels (and probably dented all to heeeell).At some point neardawn I made it back to my car and slept a day of beer off...

'96 was a fun year to bein Lexington.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

I went to Uk for 2 years. Luckily, 96 was one of them. That team was easy to predict, even the year before. I remember thinking to myself in 95 that 96 would probably be special. Damn we were simply LOADED. I watched the umass game at some house on Euclid and afterwards mosts fans spent the night waiting at the cross-walk, and crossing the street, from both sides and roughly 150-200 at a time,every time the light changed. Two nights later, in mid-40's weather I recall, the real party started when it seemed like the entire student population hit the streets not 5 minutes after syracuse was put away. What a surreal party that was.

[mdluk1]

I snuck out of work early that morning to get one of the 1st Tee shirts (I still have one that is like new) and there were already stands up on the corners selling them. It was awesome baby!!

[cumberlandredskin]

I don't think we will ever see the likes of a UK team such as that one. They were spectacular! The only close game in the SEC regular season was against Tubby's UGA team. I remember just not believing at how bad they were beating teams and winning games by large margins at UT,Vandy and others. Almost always those games were close but not with this team. UK will win other basketballNCAA Championships but IMO nonewill bebetter team than that 1996 team.

[CATHYnKY]

The BW3s I watched from was in St. Matthews. Drink special of the night....LITs. Celebrated with a Rattlesnake as we were listening to the Fat Lady Sing. What a fun time to be a UK fan. Horns blowing all over Louisville. Can't wait til #8.

[bleedbluelady]

I was at the Meadowlands at the game. Bought T-shirts there. As I was leaving the arena Kenny Walker was going wild. I ran up to him to give him a high five. He picked me up and twirled me around. There was a huge party inthe hotel where the players were staying. It went all night and most of the players came down at one time or another. Great, great memories. :)

[RCS]

The thing about that team that we won't see repeated was how much talent was in the SR class. There were3 NBA draft picks that were SRs. That just doesn't happen anymore. Plus a JR, a SO and a FR that were all lottery picks. Just nuts. I think all told there 9 or 10 NBA draft picks off that team. That kind of talent just can't be assembled these days. That was a whole, whole lot of fun. I still to this day can't believe that Pitino manage to not sign a single McD AA coming off that year. How could you watch that team and not want to play for UK? Especially with 4 starters leaving.

RP, forever is a real long time. 8 years just seems like a long time.

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

Roster for 1995-96
http://www.bigbluehistory.net/Images/Lines/bluebar.gif




#
Name
Pos
Class
Ht.
Wt.
Hometown
(School)

Notes

#00
Tony Delk (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Delk_Tony.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#D))
G
Sr.
6-1
193
Brownsville, TN (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#TN) (Haywood)
All-American (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllAmerican.html) [Consensus (1st), AP (2nd), UPI (1st), NABC (2nd), USBW (1st), Sporting News (2nd)]; NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllNCAAFinalFourMOP.html); NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllNCAARegionalMOP.html); SEC Player of the Year (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllSECPOY.html); First Team All-SEC (AP & Coaches) (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllSEC.html);

#24
Antoine Walker (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Walker_Antoine.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#W))
F
So.
6-8
224
Chicago, IL (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#IL) (Mount Carmel)
All- NCAA Regional Team (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllNCAARegional.html); First Team All-SEC (AP & Coaches) (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllSEC.html); All-SEC Tournament (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllSECTourney.html);

#40
Walter McCarty (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/McCarty_Walter.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#M))
F
Sr.
6-11
230
Evansville, IN (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#IN) (Harrison)
Second Team All-SEC (Coaches) Third Team All-SEC (AP) (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllSEC.html); All-SEC Tournament (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllSECTourney.html);

#23
Derek Anderson (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Anderson_Derek.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#A))
G
Jr.
6-6
194
Louisville, KY (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#KY) (Doss)
All- NCAA Regional Team (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllNCAARegional.html);

#33
Ron Mercer (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Mercer_Ron.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#M))
F
Fr.
6-7
210
Nashville, TN (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#TN) (Oak Hill Academy, VA)
All-NCAA Final Four Team (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllNCAAFinalFour.html); All-SEC Freshman Team (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllSECFreshmanTeam.html);

#41
Mark Pope (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Pope_Mark.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#P))
C
Sr.
6-10
235
Bellevue, WA (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#WA) (Newport)
-

#25
Anthony Epps (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Epps_Anthony.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#E))
G
Jr.
6-2
182
Lebanon, KY (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#KY) (Marion County)
All- NCAA Regional Team (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/AllNCAARegional.html);

#15
Jeff Sheppard (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Sheppard_Jeff.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#S))
G
Jr.
6-4
189
Peachtree City, GA (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#GA) (McIntosh)
-

#5
Wayne Turner (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Turner_Wayne.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#T))
G
Fr.
6-2
190
Boston, MA (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#MA) (Beaver Country Day)
-

#32
Jared *****ett (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/*****ett_Jared.html)
F
Red
6-9
235
Fairmont, WV (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#WV) (Fairmont West)
(Redshirted after 5 games);

#3
Allen Edwards (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Edwards_Allen.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#E))
G-F
So.
6-5
205
Miami, FL (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#FL) (Miami Senior)
-

#13
Nazr Mohammed (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Mohammed_Nazr.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#M))
C
Fr.
6-10
238
Chicago, IL (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#IL) (Kenwood)
-

#51
Oliver Simmons (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Simmons_Oliver.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#S))
F
Fr.
6-8
218
Nashville, TN (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#TN) (Lipscomb)
-

#21
Cameron Mills (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Mills_Cameron.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#M))
G
So.
6-3
181
Lexington, KY (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#KY) (Dunbar)
-

#43
Jason Lathrem (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Lathrem_Jason.html) (L (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playerslettermen.html#L))
F
Fr.
6-5
210
Bowling Green, KY (http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/playershometown.html#KY) (Greenwood)
-






To see how good this team was, just look at the second string:

Ron Mercer

Anthony Epps

Jeff Sheppard

Wayne Turner

Nazr Mohammad



This doen't even consider Edwards and Mills, or the fact that we had to red-shirt *****ett because we had TOO MUCH TALENT.

[poodoo]

RCS wrote: The thing about that team that we won't see repeated was how much talent was in the SR class. There were3 NBA draft picks that were SRs. That just doesn't happen anymore. Plus a JR, a SO and a FR that were all lottery picks. Just nuts. I think all told there 9 or 10 NBA draft picks off that team. That kind of talent just can't be assembled these days. That was a whole, whole lot of fun. I still to this day can't believe that Pitino manage to not sign a single McD AA coming off that year. How could you watch that team and not want to play for UK? Especially with 4 starters leaving.

RP, forever is a real long time. 8 years just seems like a long time.



Good post, RCS. Too, I wondered the same time at the time. Yes, how could a high school McDonald's All-American watch that '96 team play and know it lost three or four starters and still not want to come to UK! That was unreal then, and it's still unreal when I think back on that, thanks to you. Not taking advantage of that '96 team's performance really hurt the program, in my opinion, even though we still went back to two Final Fours and won the '98 championship.

[TrueblueCATfan]

96..97...98 were all great years in my book.........................3 years in a row we went to the title game................should have had 3 championships in a row too...........what a great time to be a KENTUCKY WILDCAT FAN..................................

[The Old School JPS]

cumberlandredskin wrote: The only close game in the SEC regular season was against Tubby's UGA team.

Allen Edwards to the rescue! Each of the significant players on that 1996 teamhad a momentto star, and that Georgia game was Edwards'.It was the only close SEC game of the regular season and Edwards, after being quiet the whole game,was on fire at the end of that game andmore or lesspulled out the win single handedly in the last minute and a half or so.

That team was special in many ways. They rung up 86 points on LSU...in the first half. They tookback first place in all time wins from North Carolina. And some of their margins of victory were remarkable - and records for their opponents.

[TheMadCatter]

poodoo wrote: RCS wrote: The thing about that team that we won't see repeated was how much talent was in the SR class. There were3 NBA draft picks that were SRs. That just doesn't happen anymore. Plus a JR, a SO and a FR that were all lottery picks. Just nuts. I think all told there 9 or 10 NBA draft picks off that team. That kind of talent just can't be assembled these days. That was a whole, whole lot of fun. I still to this day can't believe that Pitino manage to not sign a single McD AA coming off that year. How could you watch that team and not want to play for UK? Especially with 4 starters leaving.

RP, forever is a real long time. 8 years just seems like a long time.



Good post, RCS. Too, I wondered the same time at the time. Yes, how could a high school McDonald's All-American watch that '96 team play and know it lost three or four starters and still not want to come to UK! That was unreal then, and it's still unreal when I think back on that, thanks to you. Not taking advantage of that '96 team's performance really hurt the program, in my opinion, even though we still went back to two Final Fours and won the '98 championship.


It's actually an easy question to answer. The morning after that game every coach in the country recruiting against UK got word to the recruits that Rick had gotten his title and would be on the next bus out of UK on his way to the nearest NBA town to redeem himself. Then themedia picked up on it and carried it. Turned out they were right, just a little later than predicted.

[Buddah]

TheMadCatter wrote:
poodoo wrote: RCS wrote: The thing about that team that we won't see repeated was how much talent was in the SR class.Â* There wereÂ*3 NBA draft picks that were SRs. That just doesn't happen anymore. Plus a JR, a SO and a FR that were all lottery picks.Â* Just nuts. I think all told there 9 or 10 NBA draft picks off that team.Â* That kind of talent just can't be assembled these days.Â* That was a whole, whole lot of fun.Â* I still to this day can't believe that Pitino manage to not sign a single McD AA coming off that year.Â* How could you watch that team and not want to play for UK?Â* Especially with 4 starters leaving.

RP, forever is a real long time.Â* 8 years just seems like a long time.

Â*

Good post, RCS. Too, I wondered the same time at the time. Yes, how could a high school McDonald's All-American watch that '96 team play and know it lost three or four starters and still not want to come to UK! That was unreal then, and it's still unreal when I think back on that, thanks to you. Not taking advantage of that '96 team's performance really hurt the program, in my opinion, even though we still went back to two Final Fours and won the '98 championship.


It's actually an easy question to answer.Â* The morning after that game every coach in the country recruiting against UK got word to the recruits that Rick had gotten his title and would be on the next bus out of UK on his way to the nearest NBA town to redeem himself.Â* Then theÂ*media picked up on it and carried it.Â* Turned out they were right, just a little later than predicted.

Exactly I remember reading articles about how rival coaches were using RIck's flirtation with the NBA against him in recruiting and no doubt it hurt, but even so there were plently of food in the cabinet for another run the next season. Having said all of that, Vincent Yarbourgh, Byron Mounton, Tracey Mcgrady, Jermaine Oneil, the brown kid from tates creek who went to pitt and the one european kid could all have been here later on, add that with magliore, bradley, and the rest of the nucleus for the 98 team, and i think we would have been in fine shape.. Even had Heshemiu Evans waiting in the wings as well, so i don't think we were in that bad of shape. who knows ?

Does anyone know the starting five of the 96 team, i have forgot.. Epps was the starting PG if i recall and DA came off the bench.

[MurphyLee]

The funny thing about all of those lottery picks.Tony Delk was actually a recruiting mistake that turned into gold.He was brought here to be a point guard and fortunately for UK and himself he couldn't get the hang of it.Turned out to be a pretty nice 2 guard.

[poodoo]

TheMadCatter wrote: poodoo wrote: RCS wrote: The thing about that team that we won't see repeated was how much talent was in the SR class. There were3 NBA draft picks that were SRs. That just doesn't happen anymore. Plus a JR, a SO and a FR that were all lottery picks. Just nuts. I think all told there 9 or 10 NBA draft picks off that team. That kind of talent just can't be assembled these days. That was a whole, whole lot of fun. I still to this day can't believe that Pitino manage to not sign a single McD AA coming off that year. How could you watch that team and not want to play for UK? Especially with 4 starters leaving.

RP, forever is a real long time. 8 years just seems like a long time.



Good post, RCS. Too, I wondered the same time at the time. Yes, how could a high school McDonald's All-American watch that '96 team play and know it lost three or four starters and still not want to come to UK! That was unreal then, and it's still unreal when I think back on that, thanks to you. Not taking advantage of that '96 team's performance really hurt the program, in my opinion, even though we still went back to two Final Fours and won the '98 championship.


It's actually an easy question to answer. The morning after that game every coach in the country recruiting against UK got word to the recruits that Rick had gotten his title and would be on the next bus out of UK on his way to the nearest NBA town to redeem himself. Then themedia picked up on it and carried it. Turned out they were right, just a little later than predicted.


FWIW, I agree, MadCatter. Yes, I now know at least part of the answer (although not at that particular moment in the past).Pitino's flirtations with the NBA began after that championship and certainly influenced recruiting in a negative way. I just chosenot to bash Pitino in my post.