January 16th: On this date...

LSU stands and watches for the first 20.

... in 1996, is one of my personal favorites as your University of Kentucky Wildcats scored 86 first half points on the way to a complete destruction of the LSU Tigers, 129-97 in Baton Rouge. In the most complete half of basketball I’ve ever seen as a member of Big Blue Nation, the Tigers seemed to only get the inbounds pass in about 50% of the time. Antoine Walker and Walter McCarty made it look like they were playing against athletes half their size, as they continually stole the pass under the goal for dunks and layups. It was the first time Rick Pitino had been back to Baton Rouge since the Mardi Gras Miracle two years earlier. No doubt Rick told the Boys to get out early, as another comeback would be fresh in the mind of LSU. The ‘96 team took the meaning of “getting out early” to a whole new level. Walker finished the game a ludicrous 16-20 FG - 32 points - 8 rebounds, most of which came in the first half. Only two Cats played over 20 minutes (Walker - 24, Epps 21) and a toal of ten Cats played at least 14 minutes. Even Oliver Simmons and Cameron Mills got in on the action. Some ridiculous totals from the game include: 159 FG attempted - 81 FG made - 71 FT attempted - 89 rebounds - 46 fouls - 54 Turnovers (31 by LSU). Most definitely a Game for the ages by a Team for the ages.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach