What is UK’s greatest moment in basketball?
October 16th, 2009 | 
Author: That’s a hard question to answer, so I am seeking guidance from you — the real UK experts. Let me know what you think the greatest moment should be.
I think of the James Lee dunk against Duke in the 1978 championship game, but that game was already decided. What about the Scott Padgett shot against Duke in the 1998 regional final? Or a shot by Cameron Mills in the same game?
Maybe it should go back even earlier, or maybe it should be a game-winning shot Kyle Macy hit during his illustrious career. I just don’t know and that’s why I want your help.
No idea or suggestion will be wrong or off base because we all have opinions. What I want to do is solicit your input, continue my research and then come up with an informed answer for Mike and The Sporting News.
So send me those comments today or Saturday and provide needed guidance and input. This is your chance to really help me.
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28 Responses to “What is UK’s greatest moment in basketball?”
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Larry,
Jeff Sheppard is my all-time favorite Wildcat. He was so electric and exciting to watch and playing the last games of his career on that horribly sprained ankle just cemented his place as my favorite. Therefore, my pick for greatest moment is completely biased.
I pick the 1998 NCAA championship game. Second half, the Comeback Cats have clawed their way back, score UK 58 Utah 58, time on the clock 7:19, Jeff Sheppard steals a pass at the top of the arc and blazes downcourt for a thunderous slam. UK leads 60-58. Never in my life have I yelled that loud. UK trailed briefly after that, but that was a very pivotal moment in that game because it completed the comeback and broke the Utes spirit.
If this is based solely on a singular moment and not a game, I would have to say Scott Padgett’s three point shot in the 98 regoinal against Duke.
We’ve all seen the picture of him, after the shot running back down to the defensive side of the court. Arms raised, fists clinched. The look on his face just says “You aint beatin us this time”
UK was down double digits with less than 10 minutes to play. I can’t recall if this shot put us in the lead, or if it cemented a great come back (come back cats?).
We as Kentuckians had carried the pain of the Laettner shot for seven years with constant reminders every year.
Padgett’s three in 98 released many frustrations in many Kentuckians.
I loved the James Lee dunk, was a great exclamation point to a super year and a talented squad, but the three in 98 was the most memorable.
That is a great one Jim and certainly merits consideration. Glad you mentioned it.
For a single moment, I think that one is hard to beat John. Still gives me goose bumps to think about it
I agree, Scott Padgett against that school in NC! There are just some words I cannot say!
The shot by Vernon Hatton of The Fiddlin’ Five against Temple and the great Guy Rodgers to tie and put the Cats into OT and the eventual win has to be considered. With only 2 or 3 seconds to go Rupp had called time out and set up a play. He designated Adrian Smith to take the shot but he said “Not me Coach”. Hatton said, “Let me have ‘er Coach” and when play started the ball came in to him and he drilled a 40 footer as time ran out. I believe this was in 1958 at Freedom Hall in Louisville. If I have any of the facts wrong on this feel free to make corrections. I’m relying on my memory which my wife says never was any good anyway.
Well, if it is a single moment, it is hard to beat Padgett’s shot.
Walter McCarty three pointer from the corner that put UK ahead at LSU when we were down by 38 points.
Larry, as a long time UK basketball fan, I cannot think of anything that brings more of a smile and a sense of vindication for me and other fans than Scott’s shot against Duke. Maybe we are guilty of only considering recent events, but there’s a certain symmetry between the 1992 and the 1998 games that plays into this as well.
Charles, I too thought of the McCarty shot as a possibility. I was there and watched the whole thing. However, I can’t remember if that tied the score or put us ahead. Either way it was a dagger to LSU.
The Padgett three in the Duke game in the ‘98 quarterfinals is the tops. The Cats were down 17 with 9:38 to go against the overall number one seed and prohibitive favorite. We won’t mention the significance of excising the ghosts of ‘92.
In a great tradition with electrifying moments galore, this one raised the roof higher than any. The kid who was running a lawn service in ‘96 was now a UK legend. It’s good to have him on staff.
Tough question, Larry. So many great moments as a Cat fan for 50 years. Jack Goose Givens performance in the championship game in 78 vs Duke was one highlight. Wayne Turner’s shot to put us ahead of Duke in 92 was great (would have been the best if not for the miracle).
I guess I will have to say Padgetts shot in 98 against Duke gets my vote.
Talk about a question with literally hundreds of answers! While this probably doesn’t rank up there with a lot of people, the game against Arkansas in 1995 in the SEC finals when Rhodes missed those two free throws and the game went into OT…. we came back from 9 points down in OT with mere seconds left, and Epps hit the two free throws to ice it. Rhodes was on the bench crying, with the weight of feeling like he blew the game. Pitino put some serious pressure on that kid! Arkansas was a power then. (lost in the NCAA finals that year to UCLA). At the time, the game was just HUGE and that was an incredible comeback. I have tried in vain since then to find a recording of that game! Had a bunch of friends over to watch it, and we were literally jumping off tables! I guess that’s why it stands out to me.
Really good answers by all. Obviously, Padgett’s shot is big. But so was that Vernon Hatton shot. And who can forget that LSU comeback. Keep the feedback coming from all. I may need even more help than I realized.
Jeff Braso tip in in Hawaii
The moment when the final horn sounded in Dayton in 1975 when UK beat previously unbeaten IU in the Mid-East Regional to qualify for the Final Four. That IU team was even better than the one for the 1976 season that is the last to go unbeaten in a season.
From the Ohio River to Lexington, UK fans lined I-75 to welcome their victorious Cats back to Kentucky. Earlier that year, UK had lost to IU in Bloomington, as Bobby Knight slapped Joe Hall in the back of the head on TV. UK’s big men, freshmen Robey and Phillips learned a lot that day and they paid back Kent Benson in March in Dayton. What a moment!
Brassow tip was brilliant. I still remember that. And I have to admit James, that 1975 win was one I still remember. REally ignited the whole state.
I think the 92 and 98 games vs Duke are the epitome of Ky. In 92 Laetrner plays the perfect game, Sean Woods shot over him and Hill to go ahead (if Laettner misses-Woods shot is number one without a doubt). Our undersized team took them to the buzzer.
In 98, again 1 vs 2 seed. This time Padgett and Mills, Ky boys hitting big shots…But in 92 Duke pushed us around and stomped on us…do you remember that. In 98 we pushed them around. Magloire taking on Wojo, then Wayne Turner taking Wojo to the woodshed offensively. These 2 games stick in my mind.
Have to love both of those games Thomas. I still get goose bumps thinking about those shots Padgett and Mills hit. And I can remember being in Philly in 1992 and rewriting my column lead about six times with the way that game went. Still the greatest game I have ever seen.
Send me your name and hometown so I can include your pick in a story for our paper
hey larry…
Thomas Burke
Nicholasville, Ky.
attended uk from 83 to 86…i was in the omni when we lost to lsu in 86…final four trip on the line…problably me personal lowest moment…already had final four tickets…sold them to Louisville fan.
You are right Thomas. That was a killer. I KNEW UK was going to the Final Four that year. Had no doubts. Probably will never forget how sick Roger Harden was over that loss and seeing his dream shattered.
I remember that game in 86. I was 13 years old. That was UK’s 4th time that year playing LSU in the 1985-86 season. Roger Harden had beaten LSU on last second shots twice that year. But LSU wised up that day in Atlanta and swarmed their defense on Harden becasue they knew he was taking the last shot. James Blackmon’s shot almost went in and sent UK to Dallas and with a chance to beat the Louisville Cardinals for a second time that season. IF Blackmon’s shot goes in, UK wins the 1986 National Title.
As for the greatest moment in UK basektball history, it is almost impossible. There are too many great moments to count. The Padgett shot is great, McCarty in Baton Rouge in 95, Brassow’s tip in in Maui, How about the Cats 100-95 victory against Shaq and Chris Jackson of LSU in Rupp in 1990? That was the turning point in the probation era that showed UK was on its way back to the top and that it wasnt going to lay down for any team no matter who it is. Good luck Larry, you have a very tough task at hand. Cant wait to see which moment you choose.
So many great memories that to pick one is hard. But for the most meaningful shot/moment, I think it has to be Vernon Hatton’s 40+ footer againt Temple. Without that shot there would be no ‘58 championship.
Good stuff HDCKY. Great memory on Atlanta game. And that win over Chris Jackson was huge.
But Oldawgblue, you may have the best single moment of all. I just don’t know how to choose between so many
There are many great moments in UK’s history.Who knows, maybe the day Cal became coach might be the greatest moment?In the future maybe we can celebrate championship #12 as the greatest moment.
I think a lot of folks would go for that litlecreek
TOO MANY TO MENTION…
Sean Woods’ one-handed runner. Chris Mills’ “shot heard round’ the Bluegrass”. Walter McCarty’s 3 to go ahead of LSU in the comeback game.
What about Hatton’s Shot against Temple? Tony Delk’s 4-point play against Syracuse. Padgett’s 3 against Duke. Brassow and Daniel’s last second tips.
Dicky Beal’s steal and score. Dirk M’s rediculous dunk. Mercer making Tim Thomas look like a 12-year-old. Epps locking down Stephon Marbary.
Anderson on Patterson. Anderson on all of UL. Any dunk Kelenna did.
Goose scoring 41 – J. Meeks bypassing Dan the Man. Anything Monster Mash did. James Lee sealing the deal.
Embarrassing Florida at #1. Rex dunking in Louisville. Dwight Anderson high-flying over all of Notre Dame.
Sparks’ force to push into overtime. Crushing Stevie Franchise and Morris when Maryland looked aweful good. Making Chris Porter believe he should stay for a senior year.
The twin towers putting a hurt on Clyde the Glide and Akeem the Dream – also the Dream Game II a real treat.
Mike Flynn making IU end their destiny early. Beating Magic Johnson. Beating Tim Duncan. Beating Barkley. Beating Shaq. Beating Pistol Pete. Beating B. King. Beating The Human Highlight Film.
Having my wife say “Look at the Bear” when Scratch came up the stairs in Rupp at her first game with me.
Losing my mind after Tayshaun’s 5th 3 in-a-row (my personal favorite).
Ultimately, the best play in Kentucky’s history is one we wish to forget – Dirty Laetner’s shot. It’s called “The Greatest Game Ever”.
The Cats had no shot….But had a shot. It’s the greatest game ever and greatest momment ever because the greatest program ever got beat by a much, much, much better team – yet still almost pulled it out.
It made all of us appreciate what we have. It makes us yearn for years like this upcoming one. We remember it more than any.
There’s a reason Richie runs Kentucky. There’s a reason John is the head at Arkansas. There’s a reason Mash is considered the most beloved cat of all time.
Protect me Larry.
Those are great Jim. And those are what make it so hard to pick a defnining moment because they are all good.