... in 2000, your University of Kentucky Wildcats retired the jerseys of three basketball legends before an evening tilt against the Ole Miss Rebels. Bill Spivey, Pat Riley, and Jamal Mashburn would forever be remembered in hallowed Rupp Arena as Kentucky basketball royalty, becoming the 36th, 37th, and 38th players to have their jerseys retired.
Spivey, who wore #77, was a 7-foot tall big man who set numerous records in his two seasons in Blue. He topped the 1,000 point mark, setting scoring marks in 1950 and 1951. He also set rebounding records for the SEC in 1951, including a school record 34 rebounds. Spivey died in 1995.
Pat Riley earned All-SEC and All-American honors in 1966 as a part of UK’s famed Rupp’s Runts. According to Adoplh Rupp, Pat Riley, who wore #42, was one the most complete athletes he ever coached. He currently 17th on Kentucky all-time scoring list. Riley parlayed his success as a player into coaching, as he was named “Coach of the Decade” for the 1980s after leading the Showtime Lakers to four titles. He later earned his fifth title as the head coach of the Miami Heat.
Jamal Mashburn (#24) was the building block for my generation in terms of renewed success and led Big Blue back to prominence during the 1990s. He was Rick Pitino first big time recruit and did not disappoint during his three years in Lexington. The Monster Mash left the University fourth on the all-time scoring list and currently sits at #6. Mash was a consensus All-American in 1993, leading the Cats to their first Final Four in nine seasons.
FYI: Kentucky beat Ole Miss 74-69 behind Jamaal Magloire’s 19 points and 14 rebounds.
Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach
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