A lot of the answers will be based on the age of the poster and how many coaches they seen in their lifetime but my personal favorite era is the Pitino era. That was the golden age before guys to jumped to the NBA after their freshman season. I remember me and my father listening to games on the radio together during the probation season when we not permitted to be on TV. It was just great memories for me from start to finish during Pitino's time here.
Your favorite coaching era of UK basketball
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Rick Pitino was the best UK coach in my lifetime. His style of play fit UK perfectly.
How many choices are there really?
I'd say the current era may be the most difficult to win. Back then, the blue bloods had their way with recruiting lists and always had the advantage.
I'd say the current era may be the most difficult to win. Back then, the blue bloods had their way with recruiting lists and always had the advantage.
Rick Pitino. One can only imagine what could have been had he stayed. He did more with the talent he had.
Pitino. And it’s not even close.
I loved everything about the way Pitino’s UK’s teams played. The full court press and constant pressure, the high intensity way his UK teams never took their foot off the gas, the pace of play, etc. Even his first team that had no talent and went 14-14 was really fun to watch for those reasons.
It’s a damn shame he got lured away by the Celtics. What an unreal run he could’ve had here if he’d stayed.
I loved everything about the way Pitino’s UK’s teams played. The full court press and constant pressure, the high intensity way his UK teams never took their foot off the gas, the pace of play, etc. Even his first team that had no talent and went 14-14 was really fun to watch for those reasons.
It’s a damn shame he got lured away by the Celtics. What an unreal run he could’ve had here if he’d stayed.
If I had to pick one coach, it would the Pitino era.
From 91 to 98 the Cats were so much fun to watch.
I know 98 was the beginning of the Tubby era but that three-year run from 96 to 98 was unbelievable.
I first really started watching the Cats in 75.
That was a heartbreaker losing to UCLA in John Wooden’s last game.
Jimmy Dan Connor
Kevin Grevey
Goose
Kyle Macy
Great memories from middle to the late 70s.
Pitino 1st
Joe B 2nd
64 years old.
From 91 to 98 the Cats were so much fun to watch.
I know 98 was the beginning of the Tubby era but that three-year run from 96 to 98 was unbelievable.
I first really started watching the Cats in 75.
That was a heartbreaker losing to UCLA in John Wooden’s last game.
Jimmy Dan Connor
Kevin Grevey
Goose
Kyle Macy
Great memories from middle to the late 70s.
Pitino 1st
Joe B 2nd
64 years old.
He was and still is a great coach. He could have had a dynasty at UK. He knows he messed up. Hindsight is always 20/20.
The answer is undoubtedly Rick Pitino
Pitino by a mile. I'd have ran through a brick wall with my hair on fire for that man and the university back then. What happened after changed that, but I won't deny that era. Cal was a better recruiter, but Pitino did well at recruiting and got every inch of heart, blood, and sweat out of his guys.
Born in 92, I don't remember the Pitino years.
Tubby '00 to 05'. Cal's first 7-8 years.
Tubby '00 to 05'. Cal's first 7-8 years.
Kyle Macy did not play on that 75 team.
You may be mistaking him for Mike Flynn, who bore clear similarities to Macy (both PGs the same size who’d been Indiana Mr. BBs).
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Hold on, Saul. Shouldn't the correct choice be:
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
?
No haha. I meant the years Saul Smith played for UK specifically. It was a horrendous joke lol
Right I know he didn’t. I was just saying I started watching for good in 75 and that continued later in that decade with the 78 team of Goose and Macy.
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Crazy to think we used to be able to hold on to studs like Saul for a whole 4 years. We really were spoiled
Yep, in the NIL era, we'd have lost him to Georgetown College for a Powerwheels Jeep.
Alright here's a tough one for you. One of these stat lines is Jaland Lowe, the other is Saul Smith. Can you tell which is which?
- 8pts/2 assists/1 TO/2 rebs/.7 steals/35% FG/20% 3P
- 7pts/4 assists/2 TO/2 rebs/1.5 steals/37% FG/32% 3P
I think the second one is the G.O.A.T. Saul because Lowe definitely didn't get close to 32% from three at UK
Start to finish? Pitino, and it’s not close.
Not a coaching era exactly but 90s and 2010s are tough to beat. 1980s, 2000s and so far 2020s are down decades so history says 2030s will be great. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait 3 more years to be relevant again but it comes in cycles for every top tier team in any sport.
Pitino era. Almost 3 Championships from the players he recruited. Man if he would have just stayed.
All the recent coaches in my lifetime other than Pope/BG had a strong run at some point that was fun as a fan:
Pitino - 1995-1997 was peak Kentucky basketball IMO
Smith - 2003-2005 was an underrated era. Kentucky was best program in the country over that 3 year span IMO
Calipari - 2010-2015 was incredible, but it did have low points that get glossed over i.e. mediocre regular season in 2011, really really bad regular season in 2013 and 2014, but amazing tournament runs and all-time teams.
Pitino - 1995-1997 was peak Kentucky basketball IMO
Smith - 2003-2005 was an underrated era. Kentucky was best program in the country over that 3 year span IMO
Calipari - 2010-2015 was incredible, but it did have low points that get glossed over i.e. mediocre regular season in 2011, really really bad regular season in 2013 and 2014, but amazing tournament runs and all-time teams.
