March 15th: On this date...

... in 1992, your #9 University of Kentucky Wildcats won their first SEC Tournament since being put on probation with a destruction of #17 Alabama in Birmingham. The Tide actually put up a fight against the Cats in the first half, taking a 39-32 lead into the break. Master motivator Rick Pitino got the guys in gear for the second frame, outscoring Alabama 51-22 by forcing turnover after turnover. The trio of Robert Horry, James Robinson, and Latrell Sprewell had 16 turnovers by themselves, as the Elephants self-destructed when it mattered most. Kentucky was led once again by eventual SEC Tournament MVP Jamal Mashburn and his 28 points - 13 rebounds - 3 steals on 12-14 shooting from the field. The win moved UK to 26-6 on the season, earning them a #2 seed in the East Regional opposite Duke. The performance of the '92 squad put the college basketball world on notice that the Kentucky Wildcats were back. Coach Pitino was able to use the success of this team and parlay it into one of the most impressive runs in college basketball history during the 1990s. We know the rest of the story.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 14th: On this date...

... in 1989, Buster and Tywanna Patterson of Huntsville, West Virginia, gave birth to (I'm guessing) an enormous kid and named him Patrick. Their son would grow exponentially and become quite the basketball player. In 2007, Pat would named to the exclusive McDonald's All-American team. Luckily for everyone in Lexington, he chose a school over a coach, and committed to your University of Kentucky. Patterson is single-handedly responsible for exploding the blogosphere around Kentucky basketball, as his college choice was followed closely by two big time programs, Kentucky and Florida. From the moment he stepped foot on campus, Pat has carried himself as a man that any mother in Kentucky would be proud to have. He was the perfect rock for a basketball program that had lost its way behind an iffy ending to the Tubby Smith Era and the Billy Gillispie debacle. Thankfully, Pat stayed long enough (3 seasons) to earn his degree and see our program make a turn for the good. Happy 23nd big guy, something tells me you'll never pay for a drink in this city.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 13th: On this date...

... in 1992, your #9 University of Kentucky Wildcats defeated Vanderbilt, 76-57, in their first postseason action in three years. The SEC Tournament was held in Birmingham, Alabama, and Big Blue Nation came out in full force. It was a nice way to cap things off for one of the most beloved senior classes in program history. The leader on the day was sophomore superstar Jamal Mashburn, who ended the afternoon with 24 points and 10 rebounds, on 8-9 shooting (3-3 from deep). Kentucky made its presence known quickly after dominating the league in 1991, despite being unable to play in the SEC Tournament due to probation. The Unforgettables controlled the game from the onset, building a nine point lead by the break. Behind Mashburn, the experienced group threw a balanced attack of Sean Woods (10 points - 8 assists - 6 rebounds), Gimel Martinez (8 points - 7 rebounds), John Pelphrey (8 points - 5 rebounds), and Richie Farmer (10 points) at the Commies to win going away.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 12th: On this date...

... in 1995, your #3 University of Kentucky Wildcats squeaked past arch-nemesis #5 Arkansas, 95-93, in overtime to win the SEC Tournament in Atlanta. The 1990s as a whole provided some of the most exciting basketball in the history of the SEC as these two teams were guaranteed to put on a show when they matched up together. Nolan Richardson's squad took the earlier meeting, 94-92, in Fayetteville, but the SEC Tournament provided a "neutral" site for the second meeting. The crowd of over 30,000 would not be disappointed as the up-and-down game would be tied at the end of regulation. After being down 19 points, Kentucky clawed their way back and had a chance to win in regulation, but Rodrick Rhodes missed two free throws with 1.3 seconds left to send the game to the extra frame. Rick Pitino would not play Rhodes in the overtime due to his near emotional breakdown on the court after the misses. Arkansas scored the first seven points of overtime and eventually got the lead to nine before Kentucky got things working. The Backs missed four of six free throws down the stretch and Tony Delk hit a key 3-pointer with 39 seconds left to cut the lead to 93-90. Antoine Walker and Anthony Epps then had consecutive steals to give UK a 94-93 lead as time was winding down. A last second Arkansas heave bounced off the rim, giving Kentucky the title. The win came despite Kentucky going a paltry 3-18 from 3-point range. Ten players saw at least 10 minutes of action and all ten scored, led by Antoine Walker's 23 points - 7 rebounds - 3 steals.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 11th: On this date...

... in 2001, your #15 University of Kentucky Wildcats beat the Ole Miss Jar Jar Binx, 77-55, to win the SEC Tournament, their eighth in the past ten years. Tubby's squad jumped out early in Nashville and took a 36-19 lead into the break. At that point, the game was decided, and the Cats went on to take what was beginning to look like the Kentucky Invitational. Junior All-American and SEC Player of the Year Tayshaun Prince single-handedly gave Mississippi all they wanted, finishing with 26 points and 12 rebounds, on 10-15 shooting (6-8 from 3-point range). He went on to earn SEC Tournament MVP unanimously and put Big Blue on the run they wanted going into the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Keith Bogans added 19 points - 5 rebounds - 4 assists on 8-11 shooting from the field. The Championship moved UK to 22-9 on the season, a huge improvement after starting the 2000-01 campaign 3-5. Tayshaun and Company would enter the NCAAs as the #9 team in the country, and ultimately lose to Southern Cal in the Sweet 16.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 10th: On this date...

... in 1984, your #3 University of Kentucky Wildcats needed a game winner by Kenny "Sky" Walker as time expired to beat Auburn in the SEC Championship game, 51-49. The game was a freak show of talent, putting five of the nation's premier college basketball players on display at Vanderbilt Memorial Gym in Nashville. Kentucky's Sam Bowie, Melvin Turpin, and Kenny Walker dominated the inside for UK, while Charles Barkley and Chuck Person controlled the middle for the Tigers. The game was a slugfest that went back-and-forth until the final buzzer sounded when Jim Master found Sky Walker on the elbow for the winner. Walker's shot hit the front of the iron, bounced into the air and found the bottom of the basket for a lil' string music, sending The Round Mound of Rebound to the floor in tears. The Cats were led by Walker (12 points - 9 rebounds), Turpin (13 points - 5 rebounds), Master (10 points), and Dicky Beal (7 assists). It was the 14th SEC Tournament Championship for Kentucky.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 9th: On this date...

... in 1996, your top-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats gave Nolan Richardson the beatdown he deserved with a 95-75 thrashing of the Arkansas Razorbacks in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament. The Hogs seemed to be a shell of their former selves, as the "40 Minutes of Hell" is just what they got from arguably the best college basketball team ever. Antoine Walker shimmied his way to 21 points - 14 rebounds - 5 assists - 2 steals, giving him player of the game honors. The most scary statistic of the game was the fact senior All-American Tony Delk went only 1-9 from 3-point range. A 20 point victory over the proverbial thorn in our side with our MVP shooting like that was a great sign for Big Blue Nation. Walter McCarty added 17 points - 4 blocks - 3 steals and freshman phenom Ron Mercer contributed 11 points off the bench. The win was the 27th straight for the '96 Cats. The streak would end at 27, though, as Mississippi State would catch us sleeping in the Championship game.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 8th: On this date...

... in 1998, your #7 University of Kentucky Wildcats absolutely destroyed #15 South Carolina, 86-56, to take their sixth SEC Tournament Championship in seven years, and their 21st overall SEC Tournament Championship. The most impressive part of the beating was that Kentucky didn't have the services of Jeff Sheppard due to an ankle injury, and Nazr Mohammed was less than 100% with a separated shoulder. Only three Cats got into double figures and twelve players saw court time as Tubby's squad built a ten point lead by halftime. Wayne Turner picked up the slack (with Sheppard out) and finished the contest with 18 points, including two 3-pointers, and four assists. Allen Edwards added 15 points and five assists, and super-sub Heshimu Evans had 11 points - 6 rebounds - 3 assists for the winners. And to add salt to the gaping South Carolina wound, Myron Anthony finished 3-3 from the field for 7 points and the human victory cigar Steve Masiello's three minutes of action saw him make a 3 and have an And-1. There ya go South Carolina, Steve Masiello balled on you.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 7th: On this date...

... in 1992, your #10 University of Kentucky Wildcats honored the most compelling group of seniors ever as The Unforgettables walked onto the Rupp Arena floor one last time. The quartet of Deron Feldhaus, Sean Woods, John Pelphrey, and Richie Farmer changed the culture of a basketball powerhouse that had buried itself in NCAA sanctions into (ultimately) one of the most talked about teams in the country. Make no mistake, though, as the most dominant player on the floor was super sophomore Jamal Mashburn, who had 30 points in the 99-88 shootout win over Allan Houston and Tennessee. On the senior side, Sean Woods got ejected and spent most of the day in the locker room, not before dishing out six assists. John Pelphrey (9 points - 7 assists - 5 steals - 4 rebounds), Deron Feldhaus (13 points - 4 rebounds), and Richie Farmer (15 points - 4 assists) were enough of a supporting cast to help Mash send the boys out on a high note. The game was also the last Rupp Arena game for "The Voice of the Wildcats" Cawood Ledford.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 6th: On this date...

... in 1998, your #7 University of Kentucky Wildcats started their postseason march by taking out future Kentucky assistant David Hobbs and Alabama in the SEC Tournament 81-72. After a close first half, Big Blue steadily pulled away in the second stanza even without a suspended Jamaal Magloire. Tubby Smith suspended the big man for a violation of team rules and didn't even notify the team that he wouldn't be playing until halftime. No matter, as UK had nine players see at least 13 minutes of action, led by Jeff Sheppard (17 points), Wayne Turner (9 points - 8 assists), and Scott Padgett (12 points - 13 rebounds). The highly acclaimed trio, along with sculpted sixth man Heshimu Evans (7 points - 10 rebounds) put Big Blue Nation on its back and slammed its way into the semifinals where they would take on #16 Arkansas. The difference in the Bama game, though, was the beating put forth on the glass by the Wildcats, outworking the Tide 53-32.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

The ESPN Magazine Jinx?

BOBSLED OF TERROR

Calipari 3.31 - SEC Perfection For Cats In Complete Gainesville Performance

March 5th: On this date...

... in 2003, your #2 University of Kentucky Wildcats beat up Vanderbilt, 106-44, to move to 15-0 in conference play and put themselves in a position that only the 1996 Cats had ever been in, going undefeated in all 16 conference games. All 15 players saw at least four minutes of court time in a game that saw only two players play over 20 minutes (Seniors Marquis Estill and Keith Bogans). The first half was the setup, outscoring the Commies 48-29. The second half was the annihilation, outscoring Vandy 58-15. Kentucky had almost as many made baskets as Vanderbilt did points, 43 to 44. Tubby's finest team was led by an efficient Erik Daniels with 20 points on 9-12 shooting, 2-3 from 3-point range. Josh Carrier was given a technical for pushing and Bernard Cote even put up five points and four rebounds in a game that apparently had everyone feeling like they were John Wall. The only Cats not to score on the day were Matt Heissenbuttel and Preston LeMaster, but who cares, they could still ball us out.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 4th: On this date...

... in 2009, is a very memorable day to me, because it was the last time Billy Clyde Gillispie ever stepped foot in Rupp Arena as the head coach of my beloved Kentucky Wildcats. What happened you ask? He lost to possibly the worst SEC squad that had come in there in a long time, the 2-13 Georgia Bulldogs, led by head coach Pete Hermann! Obviously the best experience of his life. The team was reeling already and with the loss, needed to win an SEC Tournament that nobody went to and get an NCAA bid. Michael Porter had the game of his life going 5-8 from deep and finishing with 15 points to keep it close, but Georgia's Terrance Woodbury dropped 30 points to send poor Jared Carter packing on Senior Night. It would also be the last game for a multitude of players that Big Blue Nation had seemed to actually have a close connection. We hated Billy, they hated Billy, and Jeannine hated Billy. After the Billy Gillispie/Jeannine Edwards confrontation in Oxford, Kentucky would go 6-10 to finish out the year after starting the season 16-4. It did lead to the always rumored Memorial Coliseum game, which was a very raucous event for the first round of the NIT versus UNLV. Fans actually stood, banged their hands together, while noises came from their mouth. It was highlighted by the Coz's posterization of some poor dude.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 3rd: On this date...

... in 1984, your #3 University of Kentucky Wildcats sent a fine group of seniors away by throttling the LSU Tigers, 90-68, in front of a sellout crowd at Rupp Arena. The seniors were: Tom Heitz, Dicky Beal, Jim Master, Melvin Turpin, and Sam Bowie. Big Blue was led on the day by Sam Bowie, who was an efficient 5-6 from the field and 10-11 from the foul line, and finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Big Mel finished the game with 19 points and five rebounds as Joe B. Hall's Cats shot 58% from the field. The win pushed Kentucky to 23-4 on the season and in great position for a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Twin Towers went on to lead UK to the SEC Tournament title over Auburn (more on that a week from today). After beating renewed rival Louisville in the Sweet Sixteen and #6 Illinois in the Elite Eight (in Lexington BTW), Joe B. earned his third trip to the Final Four. You can look up the rest if you want.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

CBS Sports Feature On Anthony Davis

CBS Sports Network

Calipari 3.30 - Barrage of Three Goggles Send Darius, Eloy Out On Top

March 2nd: On this date...

... in 1996, your top-ranked University of Kentucky Wildcats beat Vanderbilt, 101-63, to become the first team ever to go an undefeated 16-0 in SEC conference play. The win was the 25th straight for Rick Pitino and moved #1 UK to 26-1 on the season. The leader that Senior Night was none other than Super Senior Tony Delk, who efficiently went 10-16 from the field, 3-4 from behind the arc, and finished his final game at Rupp with 23 points in just 27 minutes. Six different players had at least three assists as Big Blue assisted on 25 of 37 field goals. It was their first game back at #1 since losing to #5 Massachusetts and coach John Calipari in the Great Eight in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The loss to Calipari was followed up with 27 straight wins, a program record. There would not be a 28th consecutive win because the '96ers would get upset by #25 Mississippi State in the SEC Championship eight days later. The Master Manipulator convinced everyone in the Bluegrass (at least me) that the loss was a good thing for the team and that they needed to get it out of their system before the NCAA run. He then had sex with a crazy lady in a restaurant.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach

March 1st: On this date...

... in 1921, your "dark horse" University of Kentucky Wildcats upset the Georgia Bulldogs to become the first ever Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) champions. The Champion Basketeers played "basket ball" like a machine and became one of the most heralded teams in all the South. It is believed to have been the first major basketball tournament in collegiate basketball history. The captain of the 1921 team, Basil Hayden, was the key cog during Kentucky's first ever tournament run. Later that spring, he would become the University's first ever All-American (Helm's). Hundreds of fans were gathered around getting play-by-play updates via telegraph. I think that's what people used before Al Gore and the Internet. Anyway, Hayden & Company would drive their horses back from Atlanta and were greeted by a raucous Big Blue Nation at Saddle Ridge, which was then located at the corner of Euclid and Woodland. Kentucky ended the season 13-1. Basil Hayden came back to coach Kentucky for one year (1927) and also has a jersey retired into Rupp's Rafters.

Big Blue Booyah on Tom Leach