What was your first game at Rupp?

VAWildcat15

Heisman
Oct 9, 2015
4,800
11,000
0
2008 vs. Miami. If I recall correctly we got whipped in the first half only to almost win in the second half.
 

Leatherface1983

Redshirt
Mar 18, 2016
15
6
0
Mine was Syracuse vs. Iona, in 1998. Syracuse hit a 3 with two seconds left to win. I've never seen kentucky play at Rupp.
 

keefsopeng

All-Conference
Mar 23, 2005
5,015
2,068
0
one of the exhibitions in 95-96 can't remember who it was. also saw the sweet 16/elite 8 there that year and got to see Ray Allen and Stephon Marbury and that was incredible too.
 

hotelblue

Heisman
Jul 6, 2006
41,683
13,121
0
one of the exhibitions in 95-96 can't remember who it was. also saw the sweet 16/elite 8 there that year and got to see Ray Allen and Stephon Marbury and that was incredible too.
me too i think aia in '95 for me.
 
May 22, 2002
18,430
15,924
113
January, 1992 against Arkansas. The Hogs' first year in the conference. Wildcats lost that one. :angry:
 

Bkocats

Heisman
Jan 2, 2011
80,908
70,033
67
First game I saw was versus Pennsylvania in 1999
Had great tickets, too
 

spotter34

All-American
Dec 31, 2002
19,435
8,870
113
The first game played in Rupp, November 27, 1976, Wisconsin. I remember it well.

Same here. I was about 12 years old then and I remember the first thing I thought when I walked in was, "why do they have different colored seats"? The 2nd thing I thought was, "why don't they have the state of Kentucky at mid-court like in Memorial"?
 

J_Dee

All-Conference
Mar 21, 2008
4,284
4,317
0
Mine was sometime in the early '90s. I was in seventh or eighth grade. I always forget to ask my dad what game it was (same with the Reds games I went to as a kid).
 
Apr 15, 2007
19,357
822
0
I will never forget it. 1/6/1996 vs Ole Miss. My brother and I (I was 16 at the time) drove from Stanton (Powell County) to Lexington for the game in about 2 feet of snow. The highways were essentially shut down as was the City of Lexington. It took us probably 2 1/2 hours to get there and is normally 50 minutes to an hour.

We get there expecting there to be a lot of empty seats. Not an empty seat to be found in the upper arena and only a scattered handful in the lower bowl. Attendance was 21,275 (thanks Jon Scott).

Watch UNC, Duke or just about any other team play a game in a blizzard and they are lucky to have the place half full.

UK trounced the Rebs....as they did just about everyone that season....90-60
 

JasonS.

All-American
Moderator
Oct 10, 2001
41,937
7,420
66
Season opener against Austin Peay in 1986. Rex Chapman's first game (which was cool being from Owensboro) and got to see him hit the first three pointer in UK history.
 

Blueworld_3.0

Heisman
Sep 23, 2008
14,131
11,260
113
My first basketball game in Rupp wasn't a UK game but, a Sweet Sixteen game in either '83 or '84. Watching my Pulaski Co. high school team.
 
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UKUGA

Heisman
Jan 26, 2007
18,505
26,810
0
Season opener against Austin Peay in 1986. Rex Chapman's first game (which was cool being from Owensboro) and got to see him hit the first three pointer in UK history.

That was my first regular season game.

Only 3 pointer we hit that night.

"Let's go Peay!"

"Go ahead and Pee!"
 

TheLoc1

Redshirt
Apr 9, 2010
4
4
0
I will never forget it. 1/6/1996 vs Ole Miss. My brother and I (I was 16 at the time) drove from Stanton (Powell County) to Lexington for the game in about 2 feet of snow. The highways were essentially shut down as was the City of Lexington. It took us probably 2 1/2 hours to get there and is normally 50 minutes to an hour.

We get there expecting there to be a lot of empty seats. Not an empty seat to be found in the upper arena and only a scattered handful in the lower bowl. Attendance was 21,275 (thanks Jon Scott).

Watch UNC, Duke or just about any other team play a game in a blizzard and they are lucky to have the place half full.

UK trounced the Rebs....as they did just about everyone that season....90-60
We drove over 6 hours to get there. It should have been about a 4 hour drive, but it took well over 2 hours from Louisville to Lexington.
 

UKvisitor_rivals101449

All-American
Jan 3, 2007
18,099
8,602
0
Opening game. I was a student. At first the color scheme made wonder about the designers.
Then after the seats filled up, it wasn't a problem.

The student section was center court and I usually has seats 15 rows up. I was in heaven at every game that year in Rupp.
 
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mrdavisanddd

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2006
3,276
4,086
113
Can't remember the year but it was Syracuse back when Rob lock was playing seems like they were # 1 and we were ranked 2nd
 

Clive Gollings

All-Conference
Nov 10, 2014
6,004
4,725
0
I've never been to a UK game. :(

The first game I watched on a HD tv was the shellacking we took at KU under Tubby. Also :(
 

CELTICAT

Heisman
May 21, 2002
19,414
19,405
113
January 1999, against Miss St. Desmond Alison's first start. He ended up leading thE country in fewest points per game for a starting shooting guard.
 

GGCAT

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
3,239
2,198
113
Won tickets thru an grade school essay contest that was sponsored by Cats Pause and attended a
non descript game vs Auburn in Jan / Feb of 1979. Seems like Chuck Verderber had a big game if I recall. Don't remember the details, just in awe of how big it was.
 

JasonS.

All-American
Moderator
Oct 10, 2001
41,937
7,420
66
January 1999, against Miss St. Desmond Alison's first start. He ended up leading thE country in fewest points per game for a starting shooting guard.

[laughing]

Hey, he could rebound. Desmond Allison was Gerald Fitch beta.
 

Clive Gollings

All-Conference
Nov 10, 2014
6,004
4,725
0
[laughing]

Hey, he could rebound. Desmond Allison was Gerald Fitch beta.
I really hate hearing that guys name. I don't blame his death on UK's overkill alcohol policy, but I wonder what his life would have been like if not for it.


note: Worst narrator ever.
 
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Jan 25, 2015
10,559
16,768
113
Samford vs Kentucky in 2011 of the 11-12 championship season. Bought tickets months before, only game we could afford. Wanted to go to Rupp to see a game my entire life prior to that and want to go back soon. Ticket prices and being away from home in the military has made it difficult.
 

BlueRunner11

Heisman
Mar 26, 2011
11,563
35,624
0
87 vs Vandy's Will Perdue, Barry Booker, and Barry Goheen team coached by CM Newton. I think UK was ranked 1 or 2 at the time. Lost to the same Vandy team later in the year I think.

I was 9, sat in the rafters with my dad. He bought me a program. Still have it. Special day.

Loved that UK team with Davender, Chapman, and Bennett.
 
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Calsarmy

All-Conference
Jul 24, 2013
1,009
1,232
0
First game ever played in Rupp. I also saw, but cant remember it clearly as I was a pup, but it was January 19,1953. We only played exhibitions that year as it was our penalty year. That year Rupp divided the team into 2 teams. There was Ramsey vs. Hagan. UK toured the state that year playing exhibition games. Sell outs of course every time.
 
KSR

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