Share Your Stories

[Josh]

I remember mine pretty well. It was back during the 97-98 season and it was actually a few days before Christmas. On one of those cold nights, as I was getting ready for the 25th, my dad comes in and shows me tickets that my Aunt had given him as a present to us. The game was against American University. I couldn't believe it. I was really young at the time, and I couldn't believe that I was actually going to be going to a Kentucky basketball game. It was like a dream come true.

The drive up there seemed to take forever. Three hours is a long time for a kid. So, for the most part, I tried to sleep. As we got closer and closer to Lexington, I tried to imagine what it was like to be there. But nothing could prepare me for what it really was. It was 100x better than what I had expected. Rupp Arena was HUGE. There were so many people. And one of the first things we did was try to go down and grab some autographs. Before going to the Arena, I had already seen Sam Bowie and he autographed a page in my program that had a pair of feet on it.

Cameron Mills, one of my favorite players from that team, was one of the first players that I ever had autograph anything for me at a game. It was so surreal being down there with the playes. It felt like the red carpet in Hollywood. Everyone was treating these players like celebrities.

As we found our seats, they were very high up, close to the nosebleeds. But I didn't care. I was actually sitting in Rupp Arena, about to watch my Wildcats live for the first time. And it was an awesome experience. They routed American U., and I had one of the best times of my life.

The drive home was much like the drive up there: I slept most of the time. But all I could think about was the great time I had. Since that time, we've been fortunate enough to go to see the Cats live about 100 times. Each time it's the same: The excitement, the tradition that surrounds you, everything. I left out quite a bit from my first game at Rupp, but I put in most of the good things I remember about that night.

In the dull month of July, I wanted to share this with you all in hopes that it made you remember how you felt the first time you went to a game live, and I hope that it only made you that much more excited for November to finally get here.

[Doug Hardin]

The first UK game I ever saw was in December of 1995 at Freedom Hall against Marshall, who was coached by Billy Donovan and had a freshman named Jason Williams (though I had no idea who Williams was at the time and have had to go back and examine the boxscore to see if he even played in the game). UK absolutely murdered them, and, of course, went on to win the NCAA championship.

The first time I saw them in Rupp Arena was December 23, 1999, against Michigan State, who went on to win the national championship. UK beat them, largely because Mateen Cleaves didn't play, even though that was probably Tubby's worst team until '06 (though that was also the only team under Tubby to go undefeated at home). It was a great game, and I remember J.P. Blevins hit some big shots and won the player of the game award.

[kyjones]

Let's see, somewhere around Christmas in the early 60's I saw my first UK ticket under the tree! As most old timers remember, we used to play Notre Dame in Louisville that time of year. What a thrill!!!! After my first game I was hooked. My Grandmother would twist and turn her transitor radio so she could hear the game and I would keep the score in my "official" scorebook. What a time!!!

[bwright]

I had the pleasure of my first game being on senior night. Not just any senior night! My father spent alot of money to take me and my brothers to senior night the year of the unforgettables. I didn't realize how special it was then but man I still look back and get tears in my eyes. The only thing bad about that game was that Woods got ejected.

[jpay]

My first live UK game was during the banstorming tour after the 75 season. Grevey, Guyette and the boys. the played a really good Marathon oilers team at Paul Blazer High School in Ashland.Unlike todays barmstorming tours. This was a real game. Very competative.

[Lost Highway]

1958 Final Four in Freedom Hall. We beat Temple who had an All American named Guy Rogers (great NBA player) and then beat Seattle who had an All American named Elgin Baylor. Elgin Baylor was one of the greatest players to put on a pair of basketball shoes.He had a super NBA career and once scored over 60 points in a game.

We had an All American named Johnny Cox and a coach who came up with a game plan to stop Baylor. The result was a banner that you can now see hanging in Rupp Arena, NCAA Championship #4 for the Cats

[Littlemeyer]

First time for me was 1993 SEC tourney semi-final at Rupp Arena, Kentucky v. Arkansas. Great seats, about the 10th row behind the basket, benches to our right. This was the day after the 101-40 shellacking of UT. Just like that game, UK got off to an extremely fast start. We were on the verge of putting them away early, but that was a fantastic Arkansas team (Thurman and Williamson were freshmen, I believe, Cory Beck, Stewart...can't remember them all) and they battled back and turned it into a great game.

Kentucky won by around 10-12 pts, but I can remember the outcome being in doubt well into the second half.

Great thread idea.

[ky302girl]

The first time I saw a game in person was when I lived in Gainsville(hated it). Someone at work gave me a ticket to the UK/UF game in 1996. People were really staring at me because here I was sitting in UK gear, surrounded by a bunch of orange. Needless to say, I was up on my feet screaming for UK and didn't care what anybody there thought. Of course, we won. It was a great day.

The first and only time I have been to Rupp Arena, just about everyone on here knows. It was this year in January, when we played Arkansas. I got the tickets for my birthday. Going to see a game at Rupp was one of my dreams come true. I was 12 rows from the floor. It was an exciting game and we came back to win in the last few minutes of that game. My favorite time though, had to be when I got pics taken with Sparks, Thomas, Perry, and the Wildcat mascot. I am looking forward to attending another game at Rupp and will not care where I sit, as long as I get to go. Looking forward to Atlanta.

[scathendo]

my dad and i went to see uk vs. navy with david robinson. uk won... robinson dropped 45of navy's 69 points in 40 minutes. uk won 80-69 and rex chapman had 22, but the most memorable thing to me was the uk crowd giving robinson a standing 'o' when he left the floor... it made me very proud to be a uk fan

[trublue4life]

My first was actually an away game.I grew up in Western Ky andit wasin Memorial Coliseum in Nashville against Vandy (1972, I think it was). During one timeout after Jim Andrews had bricked a shot from top of the key I heard Coach Rupp yell in the huddle, "Boy, the only time I want to see you that far from the basket is if the damn roof is falling in!" We won 85-80, in overtime I think(?).

The real treat on that trip was getting to see the undefeated freshmen team "The Super Kittens" spank Vandy's freshmen. I was a huge Jimmy Dan Conner fan as a kid.

[Russ24ky]

Memorial Coliseium 1973

I was 8 .. Don't know who they played.. just remebering being on TV.. and running up and down those funny looking stairs

[tiffincatfan]

my first and only game to watch the cats live was in 90 or 91 and i was about 11 or 12. i remember we played tulane and just crushed them. i think we hit someting like 10 or 12 threes in that game. the best part of the trip was being able to be there and watch the game with my dad and grandfather(god rest his soul). i remember going to Memorial and walking out onto the floor and there being a basketball sitting there and my dad and i taking a few shots. then after the game when pretty much everyone was gone but us my cousin and i went running around rupp picking up the big blue three point signs, i think we probably grabbed about 300 of the things.