Untitled Document

BIG BLUE FANS FOR

BASKETBALL

YEAR BY YEAR WITH THE CATS

1934-35
Kentucky Goes To The Big Apple
19-2
Loss Leads To Rupp's Call
For National Tournament and Consistent Officiating

Coach Rupp took his Kentucky Wildcat team to Madison Square Garden to play powerful NYU in what newspapers were calling a game for the national championship. In those days, officiating varied widely from one part of the country to another. Kentucky lost 23-22 in a game that eventually led to the three-second rule. Even the hometown New York press talked about the mayhem committed on UK 's Leroy Edwards. The papers also said that something needed to be done because the game of basketball was getting too rough. While on this trip to New York , Rupp made proposals that were later adopted much as Rupp had suggested that led to an NCAA Tournament and more standardized officiating.

Rupp had big hopes for the next season. His Helm's Foundation national player of the year, Leroy (Cowboy) Edwards was scheduled to be back. Many years later Rupp was to call Edwards the best center he ever had. Despite Rupp's efforts to get Edwards to stay in Lexington that summer, Edwards went home and married. Word came back to Rupp that Edwards was going to play semi-pro ball for a while and then he joined the professional Oshkosh All Stars.

Contributed by Larry Butler

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