Kentucky Basketball Reference: The Ultimate Guide

The Kentucky Basketball Reference The Ultimate Guide is a one stop shop for all your Kentucky Basketball needs. This site includes a history of the program, all-time stats, and more.

History

Kentucky basketball is one of the most storied programs in college hoops history. The Wildcats have won more NCAA tournament games than any other team and have produced some of the game’s greatest players including legends like Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Rick Pitino, and John Calipari

Kentucky has been home to some of the game’s greatest players and teams, and the program’s history is rich with tradition and success. Kentucky fans are some of the most passionate in all of sports, and their support for the Wildcats is unrivaled.

If you’re a fan of Kentucky basketball or if you’re just curious about one of college basketball’s most successful programs, this guide is for you. We’ll take a look at Kentucky’s history, from its early days as a regional power to its current status as a national powerhouse. We’ll also explore some of the program’s most iconic moments, players, and coaches.

Championships

The Kentucky Wildcats have been one of the most successful college basketball programs in history, winning a total of 8 National Championships The first championship came in 1948, led by Head Coach Adolph Rupp. Kentucky would go on to win titles in 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998, and 2012. The Wildcats have also been to a total of 20 Final Fours in their history, more than any other team in college basketball

Notable Players

Some of the most notable players in Kentucky Basketball History include:
--Anthony Davis 2012 National Player of the Year, one of only three UK players to be named consensus first-team All-American in multiple seasons
--Demarcus Cousins 2010 National Freshman of the Year
--John Wall 2010 National Freshman of the Year, first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft
--Karl-Anthony Towns 2015 National Player of the Year, first overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft

Notable Coaches

Some of the most notable coached in Kentucky basketball history include Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and John Calipari Rick Pitino led the Kentucky Wildcats to a National Championship in 1996 and is the only coach in NCAA history to lead three different teams to a Final Four. Tubby Smith led Kentucky to a National Championship in 1998 and is the only African American coach to win a National Championship in NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball John Calipari has led Kentucky to four Final Fours and is the current head coach of the team.

Rivalries

In College Basketball there is perhaps no greater thrill than beating a rival. For the Kentucky Wildcats there are a few teams that fit that description. Louisville, Indiana, and Tennessee have all been historic rivals of Kentucky over the years, and the games against these teams are always hotly contested.

The rivalry with Louisville is the most recent one, dating back to the early 1990s when Louisville joined the SEC. The two teams have played each other almost every year since then, and the games are always intense. Kentucky has had the upper hand in recent years but Louisville has won a few games as well.

The rivalry with Indiana predates Louisville’s by many decades. The two teams first played each other in 1924, and they have played nearly every year since then. The series is very even, with each team winning about half of the games.

The rivalry with Tennessee is perhaps the most storied of all. The two teams first played each other in 1913 and they have played each other nearly every year since then. Tennessee leads the series overall, but Kentucky has won more than its fair share of games in recent years

No matter who Kentucky is playing, though, they always bring their best game when a rival is on the schedule.

Venues

Over the years, Kentucky Wildcats basketball has been played in a number of different venues. Below is a brief guide to some of the most important places in Kentucky basketball history.

Rupp Arena: Rupp Arena is the current home of the Kentucky Wildcats and has been since 1976. The arena is named after legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp, and is one of the largest arenas in College Basketball with a capacity of over 23,000.

Memorial Coliseum: Memorial Coliseum was the home of the Kentucky Wildcats from 1950 until 1976, when Rupp Arena opened. The coliseum was originally built to honor University of Kentucky alumni who had died in World War II, but it quickly became one of the most important places in Kentucky Basketball history. It was also the site of two historic NCAA Tournament upsets: In 1966, Texas Western (now UTEP) defeated an all-white Kentucky team to win the National Championship and in 1974, Indiana State’s Larry Bird led his team to a victory over unbeaten and defending champion UCLA.

Freedom Hall: Freedom Hall was the home of the Louisville Cardinals from 1956 until 2010, when they moved into the KFC Yum! Center. It was also home to the Kentucky State Fair from 1958 until 2010. Freedom Hall hosted a number of memorable moments in both Louisville and Kentucky basketball history, including Louisville’s win over UCLA in 1972 (giving UCLA their only loss that season), and UK’s “Miracle at Meadowlark” come-from-behind victory over Louisiana State in 1989.

Media Coverage

Kentuckians take their basketball very seriously. Every winter, fans of the Kentucky Wildcats pack into Rupp Arena to watch their team battle it out against some of the best college teams in the country.

The Kentucky Basketball Program is one of the most storied and successful in NCAA history. The Wildcats have won 8 national championships and produced numerous NBA Stars including Anthony Davis Karl-Anthony Towns, and John Wall

Kentucky’s games are often featured on national television, and the team receives significant media coverage throughout the season. If you’re a fan of the Wildcats, you can stay up to date on all the latest news and information by following some of the top Kentucky Basketball media outlets.

Fans

Whether you’re a casual fan or a die-hard supporter, Kentucky Basketball Reference is the ultimate guide for everything related to the Wildcats. From in-depth player and team stats to comprehensive game recaps, this site has it all. Plus, with a deep archive of articles dating back to the early days of the program, die-hard fans can brush up on their history.

Legacy

Few programs in college basketball can match the legacy of the University of Kentucky Wildcats The Wildcats have been a powerhouse since the early days of the sport, winning their first National Championship in 1948 and adding seven more titles since then. Kentucky has also produced some of the greatest players in college basketball history, including Oscar Robertson Pat Riley Dan Issel, and Anthony Davis

Future

What will the future hold for Kentucky Basketball? This is a difficult question to answer, as the program has seen a lot of success in recent years Coach John Calipari has done an excellent job of recruiting top talent to Kentucky, and the team has had a lot of success on the court. However, there are always changes in college basketball and it is impossible to predict exactly what will happen.

One thing we can say for sure is that Kentucky will continue to be one of the top programs in the country. They have a rich tradition of success, and Coach Calipari has shown that he can bring in the best players in the country. Kentucky will always be a force to be reckoned with in college basketball