Feeling bummed about another Final Four without Kentucky, but happy to be a fan of a program that has been in twelve of those games in my life as a fan, beginning with beating Duke in 1966. The Cats are 8-4 in those games, and at least five of them have been incredibly memorable.
Pick your favorite from these:
* 1978: Held off the "Tripletts" -- Sidney Moncrief, Ron Brewer and Marvin Delph -- and Eddie Sutton's very tough Razorbacks on the way to a championship win over Duke.
* 1996: Pitino vs. Calipari: Playing a UMass team with Marcus Camby, probably the best player in college basketball, that had already beaten the Cats once. And they wouldn't go away. Probably never felt a great sense of relief in my life than after that game.
* 1998: The Comeback Cats win in overtime with Stanford in what I believe may be the most underrated college game by anybody, but especially Kentucky, in my lifetime. Down double-digits at the half, Stanford absolutely refused to go away. Sheppard hit not one, not two but THREE difficult 3-pointers off curls. Miss any of them and the Cats probably lose.
* 2012: The stakes couldn't have been higher playing Louisivlle and Pitino. and the Cards played way over their heads to keep it close into the final two minutes, MKG played a gritty game and two dunks by AD sealed it.
* 2014. Playing a tough Wisconsin team, the Cats trailed by two with just 5.7 seconds to go -- then Aaron Harrison hit his third straight miracle 3. Sadly, the Cats lose in the Finals. Win the title and that might be the most clutch shot in Kentucky history.
Great memories. I'm not sure I can pick a favorite - maybe 1998. I can't wait to feel that excitement again. Take it from a guy with memories back to the 1960s -- we will.
Pick your favorite from these:
* 1978: Held off the "Tripletts" -- Sidney Moncrief, Ron Brewer and Marvin Delph -- and Eddie Sutton's very tough Razorbacks on the way to a championship win over Duke.
* 1996: Pitino vs. Calipari: Playing a UMass team with Marcus Camby, probably the best player in college basketball, that had already beaten the Cats once. And they wouldn't go away. Probably never felt a great sense of relief in my life than after that game.
* 1998: The Comeback Cats win in overtime with Stanford in what I believe may be the most underrated college game by anybody, but especially Kentucky, in my lifetime. Down double-digits at the half, Stanford absolutely refused to go away. Sheppard hit not one, not two but THREE difficult 3-pointers off curls. Miss any of them and the Cats probably lose.
* 2012: The stakes couldn't have been higher playing Louisivlle and Pitino. and the Cards played way over their heads to keep it close into the final two minutes, MKG played a gritty game and two dunks by AD sealed it.
* 2014. Playing a tough Wisconsin team, the Cats trailed by two with just 5.7 seconds to go -- then Aaron Harrison hit his third straight miracle 3. Sadly, the Cats lose in the Finals. Win the title and that might be the most clutch shot in Kentucky history.
Great memories. I'm not sure I can pick a favorite - maybe 1998. I can't wait to feel that excitement again. Take it from a guy with memories back to the 1960s -- we will.
