March 31st: On this date...

...in 2008 & 2009, something bad and something good happened on these dates, respectively.

On this date....in 2008, we found out that longtime Kentucky Basketball manager Bill Keightley passed away. You don't need me to tell you how beloved and important he was to the basketball program, the University, and the State, as nearly every Big Blue fan has a story or two about Keightley. Mr. Wildcat was on the bench for 1,113 of Kentucky's wins, or approximately 57% of the wins the University had at the time of his passing. Unbelievable.

On this date....in 2009, your University of Kentucky Wildcats ushered in a new era with the hiring of John Calipari as the men's basketball coach. He brought with him arguably the greatest recruiting class in the history of the sport. Coach Cal parlayed that into a SEC regular season title, a SEC Tournament Championship, a 32-2 record, and a #1 seed going into the NCAA Tournament. Not bad for an NIT team under the previous coach.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 30th: On this date...

...in 1996 & 1998, your University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team added two chapters to its storied legacy. First, in 1996, The Greatest Team Ever revenged an early season loss to #1 UMASS by knocking them off in the game everyone knew was the real NCAA title game. Antoine Walker and Tony Delk led the '96 Cats to an 81-74 victory over one of the smuggest, cockiest....wait, what's that? Oh, sorry, one of the best young coaches in America, John Calipari!!!

Two years later on this date, Tubby Smith led a far less talented group of Cats to San Antonio to bring home Kentucky's 7th National Championship. The team, known as the Comeback Cats, were down 13 to Utah before winning 78-69. Jeff Sheppard was Most Outstanding Player, Scott Padgett was All-Final Four for the second straight year, and Wayne Turner appeared in his third straight Final Four.

Give yourself something special to celebrate today's events.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 29th: On this date...

...1997, your #5 University of Kentucky Wildcats took down the #3 Minnesota Gophers to advance to the NCAA title game vs. Arizona. These were the first back-to-back Final Four trips for the Cats since 1947-1948. Ron Mercer (19 pts), Cameron Mills (10 pts), and Scott Padgett (9 pts) led the way for Kentucky in the 78-69 victory Even though the Cats were outrebounded 48-34, the frenetic pace of the game forced Minnesota into 26 turnovers, leading to a ton of UK points. Anthony Epps (13 points - 5 rebounds - 7 assists - 5 steals) and Wayne Turner (8 points - 4 rebounds - 6 assists - 5 steals) provided experience and competence when Kentucky needed it most down the stretch, allowing Rick Pitino's squad to control the tempo. It was impressive enough the Cats made it back to the Final Four after losing Derek Anderson to a knee injury. Anderson came in to shoot two free throws after a Clem Haskins technical, giving him two points in a game in which he never officially logged a minute.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 28th: On this date...

...1998, your #5 University of Kentucky Wildcats narrowly got by a powerful #10 Stanford team in overtime, 86-85, to advance to the NCAA Championship game against old friend Utah. It was becoming apparent that the common theme of this team was the Comeback, as time after time Kentucky saw themselves down early and simply trying to keep the game close. They knew they would ultimately have a big run in them, and were confident enough in their defense to think it would eventually solve the opponents offense. This defensive scheme was probably the greatest strength of first year head coach Orlando "Tubby" Smith. Senior Jeff Sheppard had a monster game, leading all scorers with a career-high 27 points (9-15 FG, 4-8 3PM). The Peachtree City, Georgia-native also added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Nazr Mohammed ended with 18 points (17 in the second half) and five rebounds and Scott Padgett with 10 points and six rebounds.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 27th: On this date...

...in 2009, Billy Gillispie was fired as the coach of Kentucky. While that is awesome, it's not the big thing.

On this date in 1978, your #1 University of Kentucky Wildcats slipped past the #7 Duke Blue Devils, 94-88, giving coach Joe B. Hall his first and only Championship. Big Blue was led that day by Jack "Goose" Givens, who put the hammer down scoring 41 points in the Championship game. The win gave the basketball program its fifth NCAA Title, and first since 1958. Seniors Rick Robey (20 points - 11 rebounds) and the aforementioned Goose Givens (18-27 from the field, eight rebounds) led the charge in front of 18,721 at the Checkerdome in St. Louis. Kyle Macy and his tube socks were a perfect 3-3 on the day, finishing with nine points and eight assists. Coach Hall pulled the starters when the Cats went up 16, but had to reinsert them into the lineup with ten seconds left, as the lead had been cut to four. Keep in mind this score happened before a three point shot and shot clock. The game was capped off by James Lee and his emphatic slamma-jamma on a fast break as the clock was running out, giving us the final margin.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 1.37 - "Welcome to Basketball." Regards, Ashley Judd

March 26th: On this date...

...in 1992, your #6 University of Kentucky Wildcats fought off a scrappy #17 Massachusetts squad and their up and coming head coach John Calipari, 87-77, to advance to the East Region finals in Philadelphia. Fresh off an SEC Tournament MVP, Jamal Mashburn continued his torrid streak, finishing with 30 points on 11-15 shooting. Unforgettable senior John Pelphrey helped Mash out with 18 points of his own. The red-haired Paintsville-native added four assists, four rebounds, and four steals. The young hot-head coach was charged with a technical foul that night for getting out of his coaching box, a charge Calipari denies to this day. Coach Cal says there were so many lines on The Spectrum floor that it simply appeared like he was out of the box. A claim that I definitely would not have believed if he wasn't the head coach of my favorite basketball team. And since he is, I'll just say the refs were clearly in the wrong, but the outcome was ultimately unaffected and correct.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 25th: On this date...

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

...in 1993, your #2 University of Kentucky Wildcats absolutely destroyed #16 Wake Forest, 103-69, in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen to move one game closer to the program's first Final Four in nine years. Many experts thought this could be a trap game for the Cats, as the Demon Deacon duo of Randolph Childress and Rodney Rogers had run roughshod over the Atlantic Coast Conference. The '93 version of the Cats, (led by their own All-American, Jamal Mashburn) would have none of it, though, as Kentucky came out like a team possessed. The team couldn't miss, darting out to leads of 20-4 and 34-8, ultimately running the halftime margin to 60-26. The weirdest thing about the affair was the fact Wake hit six of its first seven shots also.

Some ridiculous stats include:

- Kentucky made 39 baskets (including their first eight three-pointers) on 23 assists
- Wake Forest attempted 44 shots and made 21.
- Jamal Mashburn scored all 23 points (5-5 3PM) in the first half.
- Travis Ford (10-11 FG, 5-6 3PM) scored 26 points.
- Kentucky was 16-24 from three-point range on the day.
- Kentucky was 9-17 from the free throw line.
- Freshman Tony Delk finished the game 1-7 for three points.
- Senior transfer Todd Svoboda

If you can watch this clip without the hair on your neck standing up, I take it your not human. Enjoy.

March 24th: On this date...

...in 1984, your #3 University of Kentucky Wildcats defeated #6 Illinois, 54-51, to advance to the NCAA Final Four game to face Georgetown. It helped that the game took place in Rupp Arena, but after falling short each year since 1978, the Big Blue faithful was taking anything it could. The twin towers dominated the inside for Kentucky, with Sam Bowie netting 11 points and 14 rebounds, and Melvin Turpin ending with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Senior and Covington-native, Dicky Beal controlled the outside with nine points and six assists and freshman Winston Bennett had eight huge points off the bench to help the Cats earn the Seattle Final Four berth. The win moved UK to 29-4 on the season, and helped Joe B. Hall put his stamp on an SEC regular season title, an SEC Tournament Championship, and a Final Four berth. We all know the rest of the story as the Boys in Blue had a not-too-memorable second half against the Hoyas. It was Joe B. Hall's third Final Four appearance.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 23rd: On this date...

...in 1948, your top-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats, led by head coach Adolph Rupp, dominated Baylor, 58-42, to earn the program's first ever NCAA Championship. The team, known as The Fabulous Five, finished with a record 34 wins and only two defeats (Temple and Notre Dame). The Cats got out quick in the title game, going ahead 24-7, and taking a 13 point lead into the half. Baylor tried slowing the game down against the heavily favored Wildcats, but Kentucky's size and speed was too much for the Bears. The 6'7" Alex Groza (14 points) controlled the inside and the lightning fast Ralph Beard (12 points) handled everything outside in front of the Madison Square Garden crowd of over 16,000. One of the most celebrated teams in program history, the '48 squad went on to the Olympics and brought the gold home by dispatching of the Frenchies, 65-21, in the finals. The remaining members of The Original Fabulous Five were: Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones, Kenny Rollins, Cliff Barker.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 1.36 - More Like the Demon Weakens, Am I right?

March 22nd: On this date...

...in 1998, your University of Kentucky Wildcats, led by a rag-tag bunch of Rick Pitino recruits helped new head coach Tubby Smith get revenge of the highest kind. The Comeback Cats did exactly that, as they came from 17 points behind in the second half to rip the hearts out of the Duke faithful to advance to the Final Four. With things looking dire for the Cats in St. Pete, Jeff Sheppard and Wayne Turner led a charge and abused whatever overrated point guard Duke was using that day. His name........Jimmy Wojotyrfiszjbciyuski, and he was such a hero that was able to make it back onto the court after Jamal Magloire apparently tried to murder him. Anyway, after Duke used its last timeout with about 6:00 minutes to play, Tubby let the game play out without any planned clock stoppage. This strategy allowed the Cats to snatch the momentum away (mainly with a smaller lineup), allowing two Kentucky Boys to hit three pointers down the stretch to give Big Blue the lead. Some final stats on the afternoon included: Wayne Turner (16 points - 8 assists), Jeff Sheppard (18 points - 11 rebounds), Heshimu Evans (14 points - 11 rebounds), Scott Padgett (12 points, 3-5 3PM), Cameron Mills (5 points, 1-1 3PM). Enjoy.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Yeah. But Can They Solve A Rubik's Cube?

Yeah. But Can They Solve The Dribble Drive?

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

March 20th: On this date...

...in 1998, your fifth-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats put a beatdown of epic proportions on #19 UCLA and their plastic-faced cheering section, with a 94-68 demolition in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Thirteen Cats saw floor time, led by the trio of Scott Padgett (19 points - 6 rebounds - 4 assists), Jeff Sheppard (16 points - 4 rebounds - 3 assists), and Nazr Mohammed (15 points - 7 rebounds - 6 blocks). It was topped off by minutes logged by Steve Masiello and Ryan Hogan, who hit two three-pointers in his three minutes of play. The Kentucky team best known for coming back on teams, did none of that, as they took it to through the Bruins early and often, jumping out to leads of 11-3, 16-5, 20-5, and 22-9. By halftime, the lead would be 40-23, and the Cats would never look back. The defense by the scrappy Big Blue team would hold Steve Lavin, his hair grease, and others to 29% shooting on the day. The 26-point loss was UCLA's second worst postseason beating in the history of their overrated program's history.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 19th: On this date...

... in 2005, your #7 University of Kentucky Wildcats came back from a two point halftime deficit to outlast #23 Cincinnati, 69-60, in front of over 40,000 fans in Indianapolis. The second round NCAA matchup between the Bearcats and Wildcats was the first time in 14+ years the two schools had met on the hardwood, but the outcome was the same as always, a Wildcat win. The win was the 15th straight in a series that dates back to 1904; Cincinnati's last win versus Big Blue was in 1939. Tubby Smith squad used its trademark defense hold the Bearcats to 33% shooting on the afternoon, while boasting a 51% mark themselves, including 7 of 12 from behind the 3-point line. All five UK starters scored in double figures, and only two points came from the bench (Shagari Alleyne). Junior Kelenna Azubuike led the way with 19 points and 7 rebounds; senior Chuck Hayes added 10 points and 8 rebounds; Randolph Morris came with 11 points and 12 rebounds; Rajon Rondo ended with 16 points and 7 assists, including a memorable alley-oop from Patrick Sparks, early in the first half. The win advanced the Cats to the Sweet 16 to meet an old friend.........Utah.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

Calipari 1.35 - Cats Cruise to Round Two

March 18th: On this date...

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...in 1978, your top-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats narrowly got passed Earvin "Magic" Johnson and the Michigan State Spartans, 52-49, in the Elite Eight to advance Joe. B Hall & Company to a Final Four matchup with Arkansas. Kyle Macy and his tube socks led the way for Kentucky on the day, finishing with 18 points, including 10-11 from the charity stripe. The story of the day, though, was the ineffectiveness of superstar Magic Johnson, who battled foul trouble most of the day, and ended the game 11 points under his season average (6 points). Assisting Macy in the effort for Big Blue were Jack Givens (14 points - 7 rebounds - 5 assists), Rick Robey (6 points - 5 rebounds - 4 assists), and Mike Phillips (19 points - 8 rebounds - 2 steals). The dramatic victory gave Coach Hall his second Final Four berth in six seasons as the University's head basketball coach, and the first since the referee's cheated him out of a Championship because it was John Wooden's last game. Below is the only video remaining from the win over Magic and the Spartans.

March 17th: On this date...

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

...in 2009, your unranked University of Kentucky Wildcats got past UNLV in the first round of the NIT, 70-60, in what was a very memorable night. It was the first time in 33 years that Kentucky had played a game in Memorial Coliseum, coincidentally, it was best game atmosphere in a long time. Most of the people in attendance did this weird thing where they stood most of the game and banged their hands together, confusing the average Rupp Arena crowd. It was also the last time Billy Clyde Gillispie coached a game on the Kentucky campus, which benefited everyone in the Big Blue Nation. The 8,327 in attendance showed the world (or at least whoever was watching a first round NIT game) that the Kentucky faithful could get after it with the best of them, as a game in Memorial Coliseum had been rumored for approximately the last 400 years. The highlight of the historic night, though, came early in the second half, when Perry Stevenson dribbled the ball from half court toward the goal. That's just as impressive as the dunk, no? As Purry said after the posterization of a lifetime....."LET'S GO BOYYYY!!!"