January 17th: On this date...

... in 1998, Tubby Smith and your #6 University of Kentucky Wildcats outlasted Nolan Richardson and the #22 Arkansas Razorbacks 80-77 in overtime at Rupp Arena. The win moved Big Blue to 16-2 on the season and 6-1 against Top 25 teams under their new head coach. The story of the day was three-point shooting, as the Cats were a paltry 2-19 from behind the arc. Add in the fact Arkansas was 9-30, and we found our beloved team in a tight spot. But Uber sixth man Heshimu Evans was an efficient 8-12 from the field and finished with 20 points and seven rebounds including multiple key baskets in overtime to help us escape. Scott Padgett (11 points - 12 rebounds) and Nazr Mohammed (14 points - 13 rebounds) both had double-doubles and helped the good guys destroy Arkansas on the boards 57-31. Richardson’s 40 Minutes of Hell caused a season high 22 turnovers (including Wayne Turner with six and Allen Edwards with five) to help offset the absurd rebounding margin. The Comeback Cats could not be denied as the win was their fifth straight against Arkansas.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach