Untitled Document

BIG BLUE FANS FOR

BASKETBALL

HOW GREAT IS UK BASKETBALL
A Review of UK's NCAA Tournament History

The history of UK basketball has been marked by sustained national prominence spanning nearly 90 years. Other programs have come and gone from the national stage during those span of years, but only Kentucky can claim Final Four Appearances in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and the 1990s. With 2 seasons remaining in the first decade of the new millenium, the Cats still have an opportunity to keep that unprecedented streak of final four appearances alive.

Yes, other programs have won national championships, even more than one, but few programs can claim national championships under four separate coaches spanning 50 years like the Kentucky program has achieved. Yes, Kentucky's NCAA championships have occurred under Coaches Rupp, Hall, Pitino, and Smith between 1948 and 1998.

See the Compilation of this unmatched tournament record that follows:

Kentucky Wildcats NCAA Tournament History

Overall Record: 98-46 (.681)

Final Four Appearances: 13
(1942, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1966, 1975 1978, 1984, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)

NCAA Tournament Championships: 7
(1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998)

BEGIN BILLY GILLISPIE ERA
END TUBBY SMITH ERA
10 Tournament Appearances in 10 Seasons
1 Final Four
1 Championship

2007--Eighth seed in West Region
Defeated Villanova in first round, 67-58
Lost to Kansas in second round, 76-88

2006--Eighth seed in East Region
Defeated UAB in first round, 69-64
Lost to Connecticut in second round, 83-87

2005--Second seed in the Austin Region
Defeated Eastern Kentucky in first round, 72-64
Defeated Cincinnati in second round, 69-60
Defeated Utah in regional semifinal, 62-52
Lost to Michigan State in regional final, 88-94 [2OT]

2004--First seed in Midwest Region
Defeated Florida A&M in first round, 96-76
Lost to UAB in second round, 75-76

2003--First Seed in Midwest Region
Defeated IUPUI in the first round, 95-64
Defeated Utah in the second round, 74-54
Defeated Wisconsin in regional semifinal, 63-57
Lost to Marquette in regional final, 69-83

2002--Fourth seed in East Region
Defeated Valparaiso in first round, 83-68
Defeated Tulsa in second round, 87-82
Lost to Maryland in regional semifinal, 68-78

2001--Second seed in East Region
Defeated Holy Cross in first round, 72-68
Defeated Iowa in second round, 92-79
Lost to Southern California in regional semifinal, 76-80

2000--Fifth seed in Midwest Region
Defeated St. Bonaventure in first round, 85-80 (2OT)
Lost to Syracuse in second round, 50-52

1999--Third seed in Midwest Region
Defeated New Mexico State in first round, 82-60
Defeated Kansas in second round, 92-86 (OT)
Defeated Miami Ohio in regional semifinal, 58-43
Lost to Michigan State in regional final, 66-73

1998--Second seed in South Region - Final Four/Championship
Defeated South Carolina State in first round, 82-67
Defeated Saint Louis in second round, 88-61
Defeated UCLA in regional semifinal, 94-68
Defeated Duke in regional final, 86-84
Defeated Stanford in National Semifinal, 86-85 (ot)
Defeated Utah in National Champiosnhip, 78-69

BEGIN TUBBY SMITH ERA
END RICK PITINO ERA
6 Tournament Appearances in 8 Seasons
3 Final Fours
1 Runner-up
1 Championship

1997--First seed in West Region - Final Four/Runner-up
Defeated Montana in first round, 92-54
Defeated Iowa in second round, 75-69
Defeated St. Joseph's in regional semifinal, 83-68
Defeated Utah in regional final, 72-59
Defeated Minnesota in National Semifinal, 78-69
Lost to Arizona in National Championship, 79-84 (OT)

1996--First seed in Midwest Region - Final Four/Championship
Defeated San Jose State in first round, 110-72
Defeated Virginia Tech in second round, 84-60
Defeated Utah in regional semifinal, 101-70
Defeated Wake Forest in regional final, 83-63
Defeated Massachusetts in National Semifinal, 81-74
Defeated Syracuse in National Championship, 76-67

1995--First seed in Southeast Region
Defeated Mount St. Mary's in first round, 113-67
Defeated Tulane in second round, 82-60
Defeated Arizona State in regional semifinal, 97-73
Lost to North Carolina in regional final, 61-74

1994--Third seed in Southeast Region
Defeated Tennessee State in first round, 83-70
Lost to Marquette in second round, 63-75

1993--First seed in Southeast Region - Final Four
Defeated Rider in first round, 95-62
Defeated Utah in second round, 83-62
Defeated Wake Forest in regional semifinal, 103-69
Defeated Florida State in regional final, 106-81
Lost to Michigan in National Semifinal, 78-81 (OT)

1992--Second seed in East Region
Defeated Old Dominion in first round, 88-69
Defeated Iowa State in second round, 106-98
Defeated Massachusetts in regional semifinal, 87-77
Lost to Duke in regional final, 103-104 (OT)

BEGIN RICK PITINO ERA
END EDDIE SUTTON ERA
3 Tournament Appearances in 4 Seasons

1988--Second seed in Southeast Region
Defeated Southern in first round, 99-84
Defeated Maryland in second round, 90-81
Lost to Villanova in regional semifinal, 74-80

1987--Eighth seed in Southeast Region
Lost to Ohio State in first round, 77-91

1986--First seed in Southeast Region
Defeated Davidson in first round, 77-55
Defeated Western Kentucky in second round, 71-64
Defeated Alabama in regional semifinal, 68-63
Lost to Louisiana State in regional final, 57-59

BEGIN EDDIE SUTTON ERA
END JOE B. HALL ERA
10 Tournament Appearances in 13 Seasons
3 Final Fours
1 Runner-up
1 Championship

1985--12th seed in West Region
Defeated Washington in first round, 66-58
Defeated UNLV in second round, 64-61
Lost to St. John's in regional semifinal, 70-86

1984--First seed in Mideast Region - Final Four
Defeated Brigham Young in second round, 93-68
Defeated Louisville in regional semifinal, 72-67
Defeated Illinois in regional final, 54-51
Lost to Georgetown in National Semifinal, 40-53

1983--Third seed in Mideast Region
Defeated Ohio in second round, 57-40
Defeated Indiana in regional semifinal, 64-59
Lost to Louisville in regional final, 68-80 (OT)

1982--Sixth seed in Mideast Region
Lost to Middle Tennessee State in first round, 44-50

1981--Second seed in Mideast Region
Lost to Alabama-Birmingham in second round, 62-69

1980--First seed in Mideast Region
Defeated Florida State in second round, 97-78
Lost to Duke in regional semifinal, 54-55

1978--Mideast Region - Final Four/Championship
Defeated Florida State in first round, 85-76
Defeated Miami (Ohio) in regional semifinal, 91-69
Defeated Michigan State in regional final, 52-49
Defeated Arkansas in National Semifinal, 64-59
Defeated Duke in National Championship, 94-88

1977--East Region
Defeated Princeton in first round, 72-58
Defeated Virginia Military Institute in regional semifinal, 93-78
Lost to North Carolina in regional final, 72-79

1975--Mideast Region - Final Four/Runner-up
Defeated Marquette in first round, 76-54
Defeated Central Michigan in regional semifinal, 90-73
Defeated Indiana in regional final, 92-90
Defeated Syracuse in National Semifinal, 95-79
Lost to UCLA in National Championship, 85-92

1973--Mideast Region
Defeated Austin Peay in regional semifinal, 106-100 (OT)
Lost to Indiana in regional final, 65-72

BEGIN JOE B. HALL ERA
END ADOLPH F. RUPP ERA
20 Tournament Appearances in 34 Seasons
6 Final Fours
1 Runner-up
4 Championships

1972--Mideast Region
Defeated Marquette in regional semifinal, 85-69
Lost to Florida State in regional final, 54-73

1971--Mideast Region
Lost to Western Kentucky in regional semifinal, 83-107
Lost to Marquette for regional third place, 74-91

1970--Mideast Region
Defeated Notre Dame in regional semifinal, 109-99
Lost to Jacksonville in regional final, 100-106

1969--Mideast Region
Lost to Marquette in regional semifinal, 74-81
Defeated Miami (Ohio) for regional third place, 72-71

1968--Mideast Region
Defeated Marquette in regional semifinal, 107-89
Lost to Ohio State in regional final, 81-82

1966--Mideast Region - Final Four/Runner-up
Defeated Dayton in regional semifinal, 86-79
Defeated Michigan in regional final, 84-77
Defeated Duke in National Semifinal, 83-79
Lost to Texas-El Paso in National Championship, 65-72

1964--Mideast Region
Lost to Ohio in regional semifinal, 69-85
Lost to Loyola (IL) for regional third place, 91-100

1962--Mideast Region
Defeated Butler in regional semifinal, 81-60
Lost to Ohio State in regional final, 64-74

1961--Mideast Region
Defeated Morehead State in regional semifinal, 71-64
Lost to Ohio State in regional final, 74-87

1959--Mideast Region
Lost to Louisville in regional semifinal, 61-76
Defeated Marquette for regional third place, 98-69

1958--Mideast Region - Final Four/Championship
Defeated Miami (Ohio) in regional semifinal, 84-60
Defeated Notre Dame in regional final, 89-56
Defeated Temple in National Semifinal, 61-60
Defeated Seattle in National Championship, 84-72

1957--Mideast Region
Defeated Pittsburgh in regional semifinal, 98-92
Lost to Michigan State in regional semifinal, 68-80

1956--Midwest Region
Defeated Wayne State in regional semifinal, 84-64
Lost to Iowa in regional final, 77-89

1955--East Region
Lost to Marquette in regional semifinal, 71-79
Defeated Penn State for regional third place, 84-59

1952--East Region
Defeated Penn State in regional semifinal, 82-54
Lost to St. John's in regional final, 57-64

1951--East Region - Final Four/Championship
Defeated Louisville in regional semifinal, 79-68
Defeated St. John's in regional final, 59-43
Defeated Illinois in National Semifinal, 76-74
Defeated Kansas State in National Championship, 68-58

1949--Eastern Regionals - Final Four/Championship
Defeated Villanova in regional semifinal, 85-72
Defeated Illinois in regional final, 76-47
Defeated Oklahoma State in National Championship, 46-36

1948--Eastern Regionals - Final Four/Championship - OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS
Defeated Columbia in regional semifinal, 76-53
Defeated Holy Cross in regional final, 60-52
Defeated Baylor in National Championship, 58-42

1945--NCAA Tournament
Lost to Ohio State in semifinal, 37-45
Defeated Tufts for regional third place, 66-56

1942--Eastern Regionals - Final Four
Defeated Illinois in semifinal, 46-44
Lost to Dartmouth in final, 28-47

THE ADOLPH F. RUPP ERA BEGAN IN 1930
NCAA Tournament Began in 1939
Prior to 1948, the NIT held Greater National Prominence than the NCAA
1944 NIT Final Four
1946 NIT Final Four/Championship
1947 NIT Final Four/Runner-up

Hope all enjoy, and many wonderful memories are revived.

Contributed by Anthony C. Matthews

The Tradition Lives On
A Must See For Any Wildcat Fan

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