catsclassics

Happy 81st birthday to Pat Riley! A member of Rupp's Runts and the 1966 SEC Player of the Year, Riles would go on to win nine NBA championships as a player, coach or executive and become one of the most iconic figures in basketball history at any level. 🐐

On this day in 2015, after West Virginia guard Daxter Miles claims, "They're going to be 36-1," No. 1 Kentucky doubles up the No. 5 seed Mountaineers 78-39 in the Sweet 16 in Cleveland to improve to 37-0. Miles went scoreless in 19 minutes.

On this day in 1999, Saul Smith beats the halftime buzzer and Jamaal Magloire beats up the Miami (Ohio) mascot as No. 3 seed Kentucky ends Wally Szczerbiak and the No. 10 seed Redhawks' Cinderella run in the Sweet 16 with a 58-43 win in St. Louis.

Kids nowadays probably watch on their phone or tablet, but nothing compares to the teacher wheeling this behemoth into your class for the NCAA Tournament.

Happy birthday to 2x All-American and UK Hall of Famer Sam Bowie, who throws down Dirk Minniefield's lob from halfcourt in No. 9 UK's 73-71 Senior Day win over No. 2 LSU in 1981. Despite a slew of injuries, Boo ranks 4th all-time in blocks, 9th in rebounds and 30th in points.

2⃣5⃣ years ago today, after scoring 27 points in the first round vs. Holy Cross, Tayshaun Prince drops 31 in No. 2 seed Kentucky's 92-79 win over No. 7 Iowa at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. Prince ranks fifth all-time at UK in career NCAA Tournament points with 194.

Happy birthday to Central City's own Patrick Sparks! Among Kentucky transfers, Sparks ranks 3rd all-time in made 3-pointers (151) and 7th in points scored (714). In 69 career games with the Wildcats, Sparks hit 4 or more 3s 16x and scored 25 or more points 6x, including this 2004 win at No. 13 Louisville.

Tuesday Treasures

1⃣5⃣ years ago today, Brandon Knight's only bucket of the game rescues the Wildcats and gives No. 4 seed Kentucky a 59-57 win over No. 13 Princeton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Tampa en route to UK's first Final Four appearance in 13 years.

On this day in 2001, Tayshaun Prince's fifth 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left sends the game to OT as No. 5 seed Kentucky escapes with an 85-80 2OT win over No. 12 St. Bonaventure in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament in Cleveland. In a game that featured 9 ties and 12 lead changes with both teams holding double-digit leads, Prince scored 11 of the Wildcats' final 12 points in regulation and 6 more in the overtime periods to finish with a then-career-high 28 points.

On this day in 2003, SEC Tournament MVP Keith Bogans (22 points) puts the finishing touches on No. 2 Kentucky's 64-57 win over Mississippi State at The Superdome in New Orleans as the Wildcats become the first SEC team in 51 years to run the table in league play (19-0).

On this day in 2002, Tayshaun Prince pours in a career-best 41 points in No. 4 Kentucky's 87-82 win over No. 12 Tulsa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in St. Louis. Among UK players, only Dan Issel (44) has scored more points in an NCAA Tournament game.

@rotobrady And Jason Caffey.

@catsclassics Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t that Alabama team have James Robinson, Robert Horry, AND Latrell Sprewell?

On this day in 1992, Kentucky returns to postseason play following a 2-year ban and steamrolls Alabama (which features four future NBA players) 80-54 in Birmingham to capture the first of four straight SEC Tournament titles behind 28 points and 13 rebounds from Jamal Mashburn.

Nothing like the anticipation of Selection Sunday.

On this day in 2010, DeMarcus Cousins' last-second putback rescues No. 2 Kentucky in regulation as the Wildcats defeat Mississippi State 75-74 in overtime to capture its first SEC Tournament title in six years.

🔟 years ago today, SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year Tyler Ulis adds SEC Tournament MVP to his trophy case after dropping a career-high 30 points in No. 16 Kentucky's 82-77 overtime win over No. 17 Texas A&M to win the 2016 SEC Tournament in Nashville.

No. 3 Kentucky rallies from a 19-point first half deficit and from 9 down in overtime to defeat defending national champion and No. 5 Arkansas 95-93 at The Georgia Dome in Atlanta to win the 1995 SEC Tournament. Freshman Antoine Walker led the way with 23 points, Tony Delk added 15 and Mark Pope recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Wildcats claimed its fourth straight SEC Tourney title by closing the extra period on a 13-2 run.

On this day in 2005, Patrick Sparks goes through his legs to Rajon Rondo as No. 4 Kentucky races out to a 36-14 lead en route to a 76-62 win over Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the 2005 SEC Tournament in Atlanta.

Happy 33rd birthday to the 🐐 Anthony Davis! Every season, they try to replace AD with the next latest and greatest college freshman, but numbers don't lie. 🐐 National Champion 🐐 National Player of the Year 🐐 Final Four Most Outstanding Player 🐐 National Freshman of the Year 🐐 National Defensive Player of the Year 🐐 First Team All-American 🐐 SEC Player of the Year 🐐 SEC Defensive Player of the Year 🐐 No. 1 NBA Draft Pick 🐐 Olympic Gold Medalist