Earlier this morning, I watched the first half of the 1996 National Championship team playing Indiana . At halftime Kentucky was leading 55-31. It was amazing watching their full court press and their offense move the ball....constant motion.
The 1996 Team
- Thread starter Hutchkycat
- Start date
That was the 1996-97 team that lost to Arizona in the title game.
Yeah, true. Lost by 5 points in OT WITHOUT Derek Anderson who averaged 17 points before the ACL. We were that close to winning 3NT in a row.
The 96 team was fun to watch. As were most of Pitino’s teams.
Say what you want about the sleeze ball, but he knows how to motivate his players and get the most out of them.
Say what you want about the sleeze ball, but he knows how to motivate his players and get the most out of them.
And Arizona hit exactly 0 field goals in overtime...
What an enjoyable team. I knew we’d be good, but I wasn’t expecting a repeat. I remember Mercer fouling out in OT a la Mashburn in 92 and 93.
Funny, I can’t recall any Duke or UNC “best player” fouling out in a big game. Yet, there were 3 instances in a 5-year stretch where it happened to one school.
Funny, I can’t recall any Duke or UNC “best player” fouling out in a big game. Yet, there were 3 instances in a 5-year stretch where it happened to one school.
Possibly because of the injury to the kid who transferred from Ohio St.He plays, we probably win. Guess it's all moot.
I have all 6 games from the 96 tournament that we won, on DVD. Watched the San Jose State game the other night. Fabulous team to watch. Will watch the Va Tech game today. Merry Christmas to all on this board.
Yeah I agree. Never cared for him personally but he can sure coach. He's the best I've ever seen at turning subpar players in to a team that can beat you.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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But shot something like 41 FT's for the game. One of the biggest screw jobs I ever saw against UK.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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I was at Reunion Arena in Dallas for the first two games. We actually trailed San Jose State for a while before getting it together and pulling away. Sportswriters in DFW (Kevin Blackistone and Wendell Barnhouse) were hoping that Virginia Tech would upset us since they play a similar style to Mississippi State who beat us in the SECT. However, the game was never in doubt and it was a brilliant performance all around. Incidentally, the coach for Va. Tech, Bill Foster, beat us in the 1979 NIT by going to the Four Corners in the first half so it was a bit of revenge.
They couldn’t stay in front of Bibby in the press, and kept falling for pump fakes from Simon. It wasn’t like they weren’t getting called for legit fouls.
Yeah. I remember watching that game live and thinking our guys were running out of gas. Allen Edwards had been battling back spasms late in the season. Plus the game against minnesota was extremely physical.
We were down to 3 healthy back court players. Shepherd was redshirted. Edwards hurting. Anderson out. Zona had the better and fresher back court and abused that advantage all game.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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I recall a lot of "hand check" fouls which were not called during the season.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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Mercer was banged up from the Minnesota game. What really sucked was losing to "Loot" Olsen.
The key stat in that game was 0-6. That was Nazr Mohammed's free throw shooting that night. We lost by 5 in overtime. Here were the available players for us at the end of the game.
Magloire
Mohammed
Epps
Edwards
Mills
Masiello
That included 2 walkons (1 that didn't play). We had no shot at winning at the end. We need to schedule Arizona again. We have a 3 game losing streak to them. One of only a handful of teams with a winning record against us. We should play UConn as well (another 3 game losing streak). We owe those 2 some beat downs.
Magloire
Mohammed
Epps
Edwards
Mills
Masiello
That included 2 walkons (1 that didn't play). We had no shot at winning at the end. We need to schedule Arizona again. We have a 3 game losing streak to them. One of only a handful of teams with a winning record against us. We should play UConn as well (another 3 game losing streak). We owe those 2 some beat downs.
Mercer put that team on his back when Anderson went down.
I still cannot believe he didn't turn out in the pros.
I will never forget him slaying Tim Thomas at Rupp in a much hyped game that year.
http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Games/19970209Villanova.html
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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I recall that UL fans were talking multiple National Titles when he took the job. Still don't know what motivated him to take the job knowing full well how he would be received around the rest of the state.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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He turned to **** when he went to U6. With all the whores, ******, and venerial diseases e had its a wonder he’s still alive.
I feel confident that right now he’s in a battle with herpes simplex 10 or syphylis or possibly Ghonorrea........(excuse my spelling) anyways there’s not enough antibiotics on the planet to cure what he has.
God complex. Remember all the bragging they did when he went there?
Haven't seen anyone sporting these shirts in a while.
One week after that game, I saw Thomas and his team coming out of the locker room for a game at Pitt. I had on a UK jacket and my buddy yells at Thomas, "Hey Thomas, what happened at Kentucky?" Thomas looked our way and saw my UK jacket and just glared at me. I basically ran. That kid was HUGE!!!!
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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I had forgotten about that.God complex. Remember all the bragging they did when he went there?
Haven't seen anyone sporting these shirts in a while.
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anon_q409idbs5m40a
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You're definitely right about him going downhill. He looks very rough for his age and just doesn't look good at all.
I think he thought he was SO big in Kentucky that he would be welcomed back as the savior, no matter where his nasty a$$ landed. He just didn't realize the animosity there is for Louisville.