January 15th: On this date...

... in 2005, two scary names from Kentucky’s past reunited as point guard Patrick Sparks met his old Western Kentucky coach Dennis Felton down in Athens, Georgia. Kentucky had fourteen players log minutes, controlled the contest throughout and won the game 74-55. Patrick Sparks led the way for the Cats on the outside (15 points - 5 assists) and Chuck Hayes dominated things down low (13 points - 11 rebounds). The game was also a coming out party for freshman Ramel Bradley, who impressed with his play off the bench. Bradley finished the contest with an efficient 5-7 shooting and 14 points. The victory moved #8 Kentucky to 13-2 on the season, the only losses coming to North Carolina and Kansas. They would only lose two games in SEC play in 2005 and go into the NCAA Tournament boasting a 25-5 record after falling in the SEC Championship game to Florida. The run ended in Austin, Texas, in the Elite Eight to Michigan State.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 3.18 - MKG, Davis Take Over Down The Stretch In Knoxville

January 14th: On this date...

... in 2003, your #16 University of Kentucky Wildcats apparently got a halftime speech of a lifetime from head coach Tubby Smith as they came out and destroyed Vandy in the second half to win going away, 74-52. Vandy came out on fire hitting five consecutive three-pointers in route to a 25-11 lead at the midpoint of half one. By halftime, the Commodore lead had been cut to eight. The second half of basketball was possibly the greatest of basketball played under Tubby while at Kentucky. The Cats outscored their opponent 46-16 in the final frame to cut the halftime deficit into a 22-point victory. Whatever it was Tubby said in the locker room had a profound effect on the rest of the season. Kentucky won every game they played in the SEC, finishing 16-0 for the regular season. They also won the SEC Tournament in 2003, making them the first and only team to sweep regular and post season honors in SEC history. Tubby’s defensive specialists went on to win 26 straight games and went into the NCAA Tournament as the #1 team in the country. A 27th straight win would have resulted in a Final Four berth. I can sum up the ending of the season with two words: Dwyane Wade.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 13th: On this date...

... in 2009, a 6'4 junior guard from Norcross, Georgia, put on a show in enemy territory, as Jodie Meeks went ballistic scoring 54 points in a win over Tennessee, 90-72. The 54 points stand as the single greatest scoring performance in Kentucky basketball history, breaking Dan Issel’s 39 year old mark of 53 points against Mississippi in the 1969-70 season. Meeks could do no wrong on the night as most of his teammates simply got out of the way and watched. On the other hand, Tennessee did about the same, as Jodie was left open time after time. No other Wildcat finished in double-figures (P Pat was the closest at 9 points - 12 rebounds). The finishing line on Meeks’ night: 39 minutes played - 15-22 FG - 10-15 3PM - 14-14 FT - 54 points - 8 rebounds - 4 assists. Enough words. Need picture movie.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Bill Murray Is King

January 12th: On this date...

... in 1994, your 8th-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats dismantled the Ole Miss Rebels in Freedom Hall, 98-64. The trio of Jared Prickett (8-10 FG - 18 points - 4 rebounds), Walter McCarty (8-10 FG - 4-5 3PM - 24 points - 3 rebounds - 3 assists), and Rodrick Rhodes (18 points - 8 rebounds - 12-14 FT) did anything they wanted for most of the day as the outcome was never in doubt. Of Kentucky’s 32 made baskets, 25 were assisted, led by Travis Ford’s nine. By halftime the lead had ballooned to 60-27, behind 7-13 shooting from beyond the 3-point line. The Cats also forced the Rebels into 21 first half turnovers, leading to uncontested fast break points. Big Blue would ultimately finish the 27-7, but not before being regular season SEC Co-Champions with Florida, winning the SEC Tournament, and being given a #3 seed for the NCAA Tournament. The year would come to an end in the second round, though, after Marquette put the clamps down on Rodrick Rhodes (0-9 FG - 0 points) and the Cats. It was probably one of the more disappointing endings to a season during the Pitino Era.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 3.17 - Sloppy Cats Escape Once Again At Auburn

January 11th: On this date...

... in 1997, your third ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats were upset in Oxford, Mississippi, by the most famous basketball player in Ole Miss history...Ansu Sesay. The 73-69 loss snapped a 14-game winning streak for UK, moving the Cats to 14-2 on the season. It was the first loss in nearly two months for the defending National Champions; the first coming to #20 Clemson in the opening game of the 1996-97 campaign. The shooters: Allen Edwards, Derek Anderson, and Ron Mercer, were off the mark, going a combined 8-31 from the field. The team went a paltry 3-13 behind the arc. To this day, I’ll always blame it on the lighting in that hole they called a gym. Homecourt advantage is homecourt advantage, that is until you refuse to put lighting over the baskets. One of the weirder phenomenons in college basketball. As you can tell, I took loss #2 very well The MVP of the All-Name team, Ansu Sesay, finished the game with 16 points - 8 rebounds - 2 assists - 2 steals - 2 blocks. Big Blue would eventually finish out the year 35-5, falling one win short of bacl-to-back National Championships.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 10th: On this date...

... in 2003, your University of Kentucky new head football coach Rich Brooks started his tenure by naming several coaches to his staff. Among those hired by Brooks was former Wildcat player Joker Phillips. The former wide receiver (1981-84) would head the University’s recruiting efforts as well as coach the wide receivers. Phillips was a standout for Franklin-Simpson, leading them to two Class AAA state championships as a quarterback. He left UK as the fifth leading receiver in Wildcat history and was a part of the last team to beat Tennessee in 1984, until this past season. Joker was named offensive coordinator in 2004 and successfully led the Kentucky offense to improved marks in each of his first three seasons. Under the previous offensive coordinator, UK averaged 15.7 points and 275.5 yards per game. In the next three seasons under Phillips, Big Blue’s totals went to: 2005 (21.7 ppg - 297.5 ypg), 2006 (26.7 ppg - 375.3 ypg), 2007 (36.5 ppg - 443.4 ypg). In 2008, Phillips was named head coach in waiting, presumably to keep continuity in the program.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 9th: On this date...

... in 1991, your #11 University of Kentucky Wildcats took out unranked Mississippi State, 89-70, in front of 23,990 fans at Rupp Arena. This game is significant because Big Blue stole the ball from the Bulldogs a program record 23 times in route to the comfortable victory. It was at this point, Kentucky fans really got a taste of what their team would look like for the near future. A frenetic, up-and-down pace that would make the opposing team do things they either weren’t accustomed to, or make them think much more than they needed. And all of this was being done without the necessary horses, while on probation. The Cats were led by Jamal Mashburn (24 points - 8 rebounds), Reggie Hanson (19 points - 9 rebounds), and Sean Woods (10 points - 7 assists). Rick Pitino finished his second season as UK’s head coach ranked ninth in the AP poll with a 22-6 record. The 14-4 Conference mark was good enough for best record in the SEC, but was not recognized due to probation. I’m guessing this put the other SEC schools on notice, as a team on probation just won/dominated your Conference.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 8th: On this date...

... in 1955, your University of Kentucky Wildcats lost on their home court for the first time since January 2, 1943. The Georgia Tech Engineers came into Memorial Coliseum and stunned the top-ranked Wildcats, 59-58. The Wildcats’ home winning streak was officially over at 129, an NCAA record that still stands today. The sellout crowd was in shock, mirroring the Rupp Arena crowds from the Billy Clyde Era. Georgia Tech was not a highly rated team and had won just two of its last six games. The student body gathered outside Memorial that night and greeted the players with encouragement and the school fight song in an attempt to pick up the team’s spirit. Big Blue ended the season ranked second by both the AP and UPI (23-3 record), but eventually lost in the NCAA Tournament to our apparent arch nemesis, the Marquette Whole Milks.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 3.16 - Jones, Teague Find Their Mojo, Kroger Avoids PR Nightmare

January 7th: On this date...

... in 1963, in what had to be one of the longest games to date in SEC history, your University of Kentucky Wildcats outlasted Vanderbilt and the referees to win 106-82 at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. A total of 86 free throws were shot in Nashville that day, and the Cats were 46-53 from the stripe (87%). The 46 made free throws still stands today as the program record for made free throws in a game. Eventual Lexington mayor Scotty Baesler paced the Cats, going 16-17 on his own. Cotton Nash was 9-11 and Charles Ishmael finished a perfect 8-8. Kentucky dominated Vandy on the boards as well, led by Don Rolfes’ 19 points and 17 rebounds. Nash finished the game with 27 points and 6 rebounds, and Baesler added 22 points and 6 rebounds. A total of 57 fouls were called in the game and six players fouled out. Big Blue ended the season with 16 wins against 9 losses and did not make the NCAA Tournament.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 6th: On this date...

... in 1998, Wayne Turner had one of his most efficient days as a Wildcat to lead the Wildcats to a 90-79 victory in Athens, Georgia. It was a familiar place for new Kentucky head coach, as it was Tubby Smith’s first appearance back at Georgia since taking the job in Lexington. Not only was it Tubby Smith’s first game back at Georgia as UK’s head coach, it was also the first time in NCAA history that a coach coached with one son on his team and another son on the opposing team. Freshman Saul Smith logged 10 minutes as a backup point guard and G.G. Smith played 36 minutes as Georgia starting point guard. Kentucky’s Wayne Turner, though, was the story as he finished the game 5-8 from the field and 10-13 from the free throw line to finish with 20 points - 5 rebounds - 5 assists. Allen Edwards added 19 points and 6 rebounds; Heshimu Evans and Nazr Mohammed both finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds. The win moved the #6 Wildcats to 13-2 on the season, in what would turn out to be a very memorable season for the new head coach.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 5th: On this date...

... in 1993, Rick Pitino and his team had a bit of a scare when on their way to Athens to play Georgia. On the way down the runway to takeoff, the pilot noticed a mechanical issue. The plane’s engine was smoking. This forced the athletic department to call on their boosters to try and get a private plane for the trip. The boosters responded in the short amount of time with four planes in which to choose. Once the team survived the trip down to Athens, the rest was all business. Kentucky led by 14 at halftime, on their way to a 74-59 victory. The win gave the eventual Final Four team its tenth straight win to give the #2 Cats a 10-0 mark on the young season. Jamal Mashburn led all scorers with 26 points on 9-20 shooting and scored at will against the overmatched Georgia defense. Mash also added five assists and three rebounds. Travis Ford finished an efficient 4-5 from the field, 3-4 from 3-point range, and 4-4 from the charity stripe, to finish with 15 points - 4 assists - 2 rebounds. It was estimated that 40-45% of the 9,824 in attendance were wearing Blue.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Januay 4th: On this date...

... in 1943, your University of Kentucky Wildcats beat Fort Knox, 64-30, to move to 3-2 on the young season. Why is this significant? This was the first win in what turned out to be an NCAA-record 129 straight on their home court. The streak went on for twelve years, and was stretched between Alumni Gymnasium and Memorial Coliseum. The Cats were led by that day by a Jenkins, KY-native, 6'3 forward/center Milt Ticco, who finished the game with 17 points. During the 1942-43 season, the Kentucky basketball team only played nine home games the entire season. A streak that size, nowadays, would take about half the time due to the vast amount of home games in today’s game. Kentucky ended the season with a record of 17 wins against 6 losses. The Cats are currently on a 44 game home win streak.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 3.15 - Sloppy Cats Survive UALR In Louisville Behind The Brow's 22 & 16

January 3rd: On this date...

... in 2006, your #19 University of Kentucky Wildcats were saved by Louisville-native Rajon Rondo (13 points – 6 assists – 4 rebounds) and his last second jumper to outlast mighty Central Florida, 59-57. While the fade-away jumper gave the Rupp Arena crowd plenty to cheer about, it also highlighted a growing trend within Kentucky basketball………..the fact we were beating “Central Florida’s” by two in Rupp Arena. Tubby’s Cats blew an 11-point second half lead to lead to the dramatics. After falling behind early in the first half, the Cats got a spark from sophomore guard Ramel Bradley (16 points) off the bench. He finished the game 3-4 from beyond the arc and turned the momentum back Big Blue’s way before halftime. But a 16-4 second half run gave Central Florida a 52-51 lead with under five minutes to play. One of the more embarrassing stats was the fact UK only turned it over 10 times, compared to UCF’s 19. Kentucky was also out-rebounded by nine on the day. Rondo’s final jumper was the difference, though, as he let Big Blue Nation know he could be trusted with the game on the line.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 2nd: On this date...

... in 2009, Big Blue Nation witnessed possibly the worst half of football of the year as a listless football team couldn’t do anything right in the Liberty Bowl vs. East Carolina. All of that changed during the opening kickoff of the second half, as David Jones went 99-yards to essentially cut the deficit in half. East Carolina never seemed to get the momentum back on their side after that play as UK went on to win 25-19 in Memphis. It was the new look Cats third straight bowl win, the first time that had happened in the program’s 118 year history. The most memorable play from Memphis that day came as the Pirates were driving at the end of regulation of a 19-19 tie. Big fella, 285-lb. Ventrell Jenkins, returned a fumble 56 yards for a touchdown, which included the most famous stiff-arm in Kentucky football history. The extra point was blocked, Lones Seiber’s second missed PAT of the game. The teams were a combined 2-5 on extra points in what was a weird college football game.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

January 1st: On this date...

... in 1997 (12:01 am), Lexington, KY, was the hottest place to be in all the land after the defending National Champions destroyed rival Louisville in Freedom Hall, 74-54. The game started out a struggle, though, as the Cats trailed 28-27 at halftime. An efficient Derek Anderson led the second half surge to put the game on ice. The biggest highlight of the game came early on in the first half. After a Louisville miss, Anthony Epps threw a bounce pass (from beyond half court) to Anderson on the break for a cram on Louisville’s Nate Johnson. The Louisville-native finished the game with 19 points (8-13 FG) and 6 rebounds. Four other Wildcats were in double-figures: Ron Mercer - 16, Scott Padgett - 15, Nazr Mohammed - 10, and Jared Prickett - 10. The win was the eleventh straight for #3 Kentucky and moved the team to 11-1 on the season. This would be restaurateur Rick Pitino’s final win against Louisville as University of Kentucky head coach.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach