February 2nd: On this date...

... in 2008, your University of Kentucky Wildcats led by phenom first year head coach Billy Clyde Gillispie used toughness and grit to squeeze out a win against perennial powerhouse Georgia, 61-55. The amazing thing about the win was that it was accomplished without three of its best players: Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, and Jodie Meeks. In essense we had no backcourt down the stretch, with the exceptions of Michael Porter and Derrick Jasper, who had a shredded up knee. Joe actually played 31 minutes (9-15 FG, 5-6 3PM - 26 points - 5 rebounds) , but his feet were giving him problems once again and had to sit down the stretch. Ramel got blasted on a fast break by Georgia’s goon, Dave Bliss, and left the game with a concussion. Poor Smooth was seeing all tweet-tweet. Jodie’s sports hernia left him out of action for the entire game. So what did we do to counter of all of the injuries? We told our all-world big man, freshman Patrick Patterson, to take over and end this nonsense. Pat finished his first trip to Athens with 16 points (8-13 FG) and six rebounds. Cat-killer Sundiata Gaines led the way for the Bulldogs.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 3.23 - Cats Frontcourt Too Much For Listless Vols, 69-44

February 1st: On this date...

... in 2000, a freshman phenom came out on fire to lead your #14 University of Kentucky Wildcats to a 81-68 beatdown of hated rival Tennessee. Keith Bogans scored 16 of Kentucky’s first 23 points, including four 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes to energize the usually sleepy Rupp Arena crowd. He ended with a career high 25 points (8-17 FG, 4-9 3PM - 5 rebounds - 2 assists - 2 steals). Tayshaun Prince (6-9 FG, 3-4 3PM - 17 points - 6 rebounds) and the most popular player ever to wear #11, Saul Smith (12 points - 6 rebounds - 5 assists), added some firepower as well. The win was UK’s 12th in its past 13 games (16-5) and put them all alone atop the SEC East at 6-1. After starting the season 4-4 and dropping from the rankings across the board, Big Blue used the Tubby stare and some key play from the freshman (Bogans), a lanky sophomore (Tayshaun Prince), and an eighth-year senior (Jamaal Magloire). The 1999-2000 season was Tubby Smith’s first “10 loss” team. The #6 Vols were led by former Kentucky recruit Vincent Yarborough (17 points), but dropped to 18-3, 6-2 in the SEC.

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The Blake Griffin - Kendrick Perkins Poster

January 31st: On this date...

... in 1983, Melvin Turpin had a game for the ages, but no one else helped out as the #10 Cats dropped a tough road game in Knoxville. Turpin scored 42 points on 18-22 shooting from the field in what was a Top 10 scoring performance in program history. The Big Dipper added 12 rebounds and four blocks to boot. Future NBA All-Star Dale Ellis led the way for the Volunteers with 22 points - 6 rebounds - 3 assists - 3 steals. No other player on Kentucky’s roster scored over five points in the game (Derrick Hord). The loss was the fifth on the season to go with 13 wins, a record Joe B. Hall wasn’t too thrilled to have. The Cats were missing All-American center Sam Bowie, someone Hall knew could put Lexington atop the basketball world again. The 1983 Cats would ultimately end the season in the Elite Eight against a team they hadn’t played in 24 years. The Dream Game loss to Louisville in overtime would usher in a new hatred for the rabid Kentucky fan base. Some things are just meant to be.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

The NCAA Has Released Its Team Sheets For RPI. They've Gone Too Far With UK's

Calipari 3.22 - Terrence Is Back, Davis Nearly Gets Killed In Baton Rouge, Move To 21-1

January 30th: On this date...

... in 1993, your University of Kentucky Wildcats beat the Florida Gators, 71-48, to win their 14th straight contest at Rupp Arena. Jamal Mashburn led the way for Big Blue with 22 points and 7 rebounds, including 4-5 shooting behind the 3-point line. Rodrick Rhodes (10 points - 5 rebounds), Rodney Dent (5 points - 11 rebounds), and Travis Ford (10 points - 5 assists) helped control the game as Kentucky had built a nine point lead by halftime. The Gators were led by Stacey Poole’s 16 points and 10 rebounds. A name you should know, as his son, Stacey Poole Jr., left UK this past fall and was a part of coach John Calipari’s second recruiting class (BRAND NEW INFORMATION!!). The Florida Stacey Poole still stands as the fourth leading scorer in Gator basketball history. The Kentucky Stacey Poole was ranked as the fourth best small forward in the class of 2010 by Rivals and the 11th best by Scout. According to sources. both recruiting agencies have been foreclosed on and do not exist any longer. This was their quote, "Poole fits the Coach Cal mode as he is another 6'5 swingman/slasher who is a lockdown defender." Hmmm... that's good to know.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 29th: On this date...

... in 1992, WAS beginning of the longest winning streak (33) in the history of hallowed Rupp Arena, as #14 UK took out Mississippi, 96-78. Big Blue got out to a fast lead and by halftime led by 21 points. Super sophomore Jamal Mashburn led the way for the Good Guys with 24 points and 7 rebounds; John Pelphrey added 16 points and 8 rebounds on 7-9 shooting. Head coach Richard Pitino wanted to do one thing when he took the reigns at Kentucky. He wanted to make Rupp Arena of the most feared places to play in college basketball. Pitino succeeded in doing just that as his overall record was a snappy 107-7 at Rupp as the head coach of Kentucky. The previous game had Nolan Richardson and his “40 Minutes of Hell” come in and pound The Unforgettables 105-88. We wouldn’t lose again until Arkansas came calling over two years later. Richard ultimately lost his last game at Rupp as UK’s coach, snapping a 27-game home win streak in a loss to South Carolina.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 28th: On this date...

... in 1968, your #9 University of Kentucky Wildcats head basketball coach, Adolph Rupp, became the all-time winningest coach in college basketball history. Actually, we’ll call it, “in the history of the World.” And although the game wasn’t necessarily close, it was exciting for the fans in Baton Rouge. The 121-95 win for the Cats was the first time they had the opportunity to face one “Pistol” Pete Maravich. The Pistol finished his first ever game versus Kentucky with 52 points and 11 rebounds. Big Blue countered with 58% shooting on 90 shots from the field. This included a quartet of solid games: Mike Casey (31 points - 10 rebounds), Dan Issel (17 points - 14 rebounds), Mike Pratt (18 points - 12 rebounds), Thad Jaracz (24 points - 7 rebounds). While the victory was well and good, years later it was discovered that Adolph Rupp actually achieved the feat on February 18,1967, in a 103-74 win over Mississippi State.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 27th: On this date...

... in 1998, the most dominant junior varsity member in the past 30 years hit the shot heard round the Bluegrass, as Nazr Mohammed threw up a running prayer to steal a game in Nashville. With the game tied at 61, Scott Padgett in-bounded the basketball to Jeff Sheppard who threw a 60-foot cross-court diagonal pass to Mohammed, who turned, looked at the clock and let go with 0.01 seconds. It was easily one of the more awkward looking shots in the history of basketball, but it was OUR awkward looking shot, and that’s all that mattered. Almost as good as the shot was the celebration of the staff and players. As soon as the clock expired, everyone in Camp Lexington sprinted off the court (check Tubby out in the video, he looks like he’s in Pamplona running with the bulls). This left the Vanderbilt players and fans stunned and shocked with their mouths open wondering, “What the hell just happened here?” Sheppard led the #7 Cats with 20 points on the night, Padgett added 12 points and 7 rebounds. Nazr, the Man of the Night, finished an efficient 4-5 from the field for 8 points - 2 rebounds - 2 blocks. The win moved the #7 Cats to 19-2 on what would end up being a decent season, if you're into that whole National Championship thing.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 26th: On this date...

... in 2007, your University of Kentucky Wildcats and The Breakfast of Champions, Wheaties, announced a special-edition package coming out to honor the most storied basketball program in all the land. Kentucky became just the ninth school ever to be put on a box of Wheaties. The display side of the box featured the floor of famed Rupp Arena on the front alongside the “UK” logo. The back of box featured the team cutting down the nets during one of our SEVEN National Championships, and Scratch the mascot. Head coach Tubby Smith displayed a giant version of the Wheaties box at a press conference during a mid-week presser. (In the meantime, his agent was working behind the scenes to see if any other University was looking for a basketball coach......OOOOOOOOO...Hisssssssssssss). Other schools to be featured on Wheaties: Georgia, Texas, Texas Western, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Michigan, Northwestern, and Texas A&M.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

New Nike Hyper Elite Uniforms Look Great

Calipari 3.21 - Locked In Darius, First Half Blitz Too Much For Dawgs

January 25th: On this date...

The man on the left was an NBA great. The man on the right was the Italian Michael Jordan.

... in 1987, a Rupp Arena scoring record was set when a Naval cadet by the name of David Robinson made his way to Rupp Arena and put on a show for the Wildcat faithful. The unranked Cats held on, though, for the 80-69 upset of #19 Navy. The Admiral was an insane 17-22 from the field and finished the game with a triple-double: 45 points - 14 rebounds - 10 blocks. It still stands today as the Rupp Arena scoring record. Eddie Sutton’s squad used three-point shooting to stay in front, including four treys from freshman Rex Chapman (22 points). Kentucky finished the contest 8-20 from deep, while Navy had a goose egg from long range (0-8). The Admiral was subbed for late when the game was decided and received easily the loudest and longest standing ovation ever for an opposing player. Along with a thrashing of Louisville (85-51), this game was one of the few bright spots during the 1986-87 season, as Big Blue finished the season with an 18-11 record. A one-and-done appearance in both the SEC and NCAA Tournament left the rabid UK fan base squirming. Eddie Sutton was on the clock.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 24th: On this date...

... in 1970, your University of Kentucky Wildcats moved to 14-0 on the season with an exciting 109-96 win at Memorial Coliseum against “Pistol” Pete Maravich and the LSU Tigers. Pistol Pete scored 55 points on 21-44 shooting, but Adolph Rupp’s team was content to play 5-on-1 all night long and give the Pistol every look he wanted. Big Blue had a balanced attack behind superstar Dan Issel (35 points - 10 rebounds), Larry Steele (17 points - 11 rebounds), Mike Pratt (19 points - 4 rebounds), Terry Mills (22 points - 4 rebounds), and Bob McCowan (12 points). It was the fifth time The Pistol had played Kentucky, and the fifth time he had gone home with a loss. His career averages versus UK were an absurd: 20-46 FG, 12-15 FT, 7.33 RPG, 52 PPG. According to Jon Scott’s site, midway through the second half, The Pistol passed Elvin Hayes to become the NCAA’s second leading scorer ever. The game was stopped and the PA announcer told the crowd about the feat. Adolph Rupp quickly responded, “Why the hell do they have to announce that?” It was Rupp’s World, everyone else was just passing through.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 23rd: On this date...

... in 1980, your #5 University of Kentucky Wildcats went on the road to Starkville, Mississippi, and took out the Bulldogs, 89-67, behind the outstanding play of a freshman. Newbie Dirk Minniefield set a then-program record for assists with 13 and added 14 points (on 7-10 shooting) to lead the UK to its 16th win in 19 chances. Big Blue was on fire, assisting on 33 of the 39 made baskets and shooting 62% from the field. Kyle Macy and his socks finished the game with 20 points and 8 assists to round out a ridiculous night from the Kentucky backcourt. The win was the 24th for the Cats out of the last 26 games in the series going back to 1967. Minniefield finished his outstanding career and still stands as the all-time leader in assists for the program. Over his four years, he averaged an impressive 5.25 assists/game. Dirk also ended his career as the all-time steals leader in program history, but currently sits in a tie for 10th, behind a Who’s Who list of players from my generation. Minniefield had the three-striped tube socks and ushered in a high-flying style that excited even the oldest members of Rupp Arena.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 22nd: On this date...

... in 1984, your #3 University of Kentucky Wildcats squared off against one of the most feared teams in college basketball history and took down #4 Houston and Phi Slama Jama, 74-67, in front of nearly 24,000 at Rupp Arena. Big Blue was lead by its own lethal frontcourt of Sam Bowie, Melvin Turpin, and Kenny “Sky” Walker. The trio combined for 47 points - 39 rebounds - 5 blocks against elite Houston center Akeem Olajuwon, led by Walker’s 20 points and Bowie’s 18 rebounds. Kentucky defense forced the Cougar big man into seven turnovers of his own, frustrating him all day long. The referees successfully fouled out four of the five Houston starters, including Olajuwon, with six minutes remaining in the game. From there, the #3 Cats did enough to win the game, including some clutch free throws from freshman Winston Bennett, who finished the day with eleven points. The win moved UK to 14-2 on the season. Joe B. & Company would eventually win the SEC Tournament, before being beaten in the Final Four by Georgetown and Patrick Ewing.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 3.20 - Cats Have Six In Double Figures, Hold Off Late Charging Bama

January 21st: On this date...

... in 1922, your University of Kentucky Wildcats, led by head coach George C. Buchheit, beat in-state rival Louisville for the program’s 100th win, 29-22. The game took place at Kentucky’s Buell Armory Gymnasium and was the second victory over the Birds in less than five days. The Good Guys won in Louisville 38-14 four days earlier at St. Xavier Gymnasium. According to Jon Scott’s Big Blue History site, the Kentucky defense was so stingy, Louisville never made a basket inside of 35 feet. Think about that for a second. Even more staggering is the fact they made nine shots from the distance. One quote from the Lexington Herald recap says, “Most of the Cardinal's shots came from more than halfway down the court.” William King led the Cats with six field goals and finished with 13 points. Future Kentucky head coach and retired jersey club member Basil Hayden was also on the squad. The 1922 squad returned four out of five starters from the 1921 team that ultimately won the Championship of the South.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach