December 27th: On this date...

... in 1986, in just his seventh official game as a Kentucky Wildcat, freshman Rex Chapman gained immediate folk hero status as he dropped 26 points on the Louisville Cardinals in a 85-51 destruction of the birds. King Rex was scoring at will in Freedom Hall, going 10-20 from the field (5-8 from 3-point range). The day was highlighted by a Chapman steal and dunk during the second half in which he threw it down with authority to make the Big Blue faithful go bonkers. Even the older fans stood up and applauded The Michael Jordan of Italian pro basketball, Rob Lock, shut down “Never Nervous” Pervis Ellison, as the world found out that Perv’s nickname was a total sham. Louisville’s Perv ended the game with only four points and four rebounds on 2-8 shooting. Ed Davender (16 points - 8 rebounds - 5 assists) and Richard Madison (9 points - 17 rebounds) were King Rex’s wingmen on this glorious day.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach