March 21st: On this date...

...in 1996, your University of Kentucky Wildcats rolled through the Sweet 16 against our old reliable friend Utah, 101-70, to set up a date with Wake Forest and Player of the Year Tim Duncan. The matchup against the Utes was no match from the beginning, as the Cats had a 56-34 lead by intermission. (This game also took place three years from the day of another NCAA Tournament victory over Utah, when Jamal Mashburn's crew took out the Mormons in the 1993.) On this day, though, Rick's squad dominated from the start, with four starters in double figures, and twelve Cats scoring in all. Keith Van Horn and Andre Miller put up a fight, but the swarming Kentucky defense forced 21 turnovers, leading to UK getting off 26 more shots during the game. Antoine Walker showcased his talents with 19 points - 8 rebounds - 6 assists, leading most of Big Blue Nation to realize his days were numbered as a Cat.

March 21st is also relevant in Kentucky basketball history because in 1930, the University hired Adolph Rupp to be its head basketball coach.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach