7 1978
Four Years Ago
In an intense and well-played game, the Alabama-Crimson Tide eliminated the Kentucky Wildcats 64-59 in the second round of the SEC tournament. UK received a first-round bye for finishing atop of the SEC regular-season standings. Kentucky lost the game at the foul line, making only six of 15 shots, compared to the Tide's 23 of 36. UK held a 14-point lead with 4:52 to go in the first half, but turnovers and the failure to execute led to only one field goal for the remainder of the half. The Tide trailed by only six at the break. The second half resulted in an exchange of baskets until a couple of turnovers led to Bama baskets and a Bama lead at 57-55 with 11:08 remaining in the game. The Tide never trailed again. Jim Master led Kentucky with 20 points, Melvin Turpin grabbed 11 rebounds. The Tide ad-vanced to the finals where they were defeated
by a hot Georgia team 86-71.
*The NCAA pairings were announced and Kentucky will play the winner of the Illinois State-Ohio University game at the Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla. The Wildcats drew a first-round bye and are seeded third in the region. A total of four SEC teams received bids. In addition to Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama were selected.
Five Years Ago
*The Wildcats defeated Auburn 89-66 and Ole Miss 62-58, but were beaten by Alabama 58-56 in the Finals of the SEC tournament which was held in Lexington. Many thought it would be impossible to beat Kentucky on its own floor, but the Tide, behind Eddie Phillips, Mike Davis and Ennis Whatley showed that no one was invincible. The game was nip-and-tuck all the way with Alabama leading much of the way. The game went right down to the final seconds with the score tied
1. True or False? Since the renewal ot the SEC tournament in 1979. Kentucky is the only team to win back-to-back titles.
2. Kentucky has the most victories in the history of the tourney. What team is second?
a) LSU
b) Tennessee
c) Alabama
d) Vanderbilt
3. What team holds the record for the most points scored in a single tourney game?
a) Alabama
b) Kentucky
c) Georgia
d) Auburn
4. What former UK player set the tournament mark for most free throws attempted?
a) Alex Groza
b) Kenny Walker
c) Cliff Hagan
d) Sam Bowie
5. True or False? Kentucky has never been seeded lower than sixth for any SEC tournament.
6. Who was the MVP of the 1982 tourney?
a) Dirk Minniefield. >;\
b) Dominique Wilkins
c) Ennis Whatley
d) Carlos Clark
7. Who was the only Wildcat represented on last year's all-tournament team?
a) Kenny Walker
b) Winston Bennett
c) Roger Harden
d) James Blackmon
8. What player was the leading scorer (total points) in last year's tournament?
a) Buck Johnson
b) Roger Harden
c) John Williams
d) Chauncey Robinson
9. Who was the MVP of the 1986 tournament in Rupp Arena?
a) Roger Harden
b) John Williams
c) Terry Coner
d) Kenny Walker
10. True or False? Florida's only tournament title came in the 1965-66 season.
Dirk Minniefield
Answers
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at 56. It was then that Whatley worked to the right side of the floor against Kentucky's Dicky Beal, who soon received help from Dirk Minniefield. With seven seconds remaining Whatley let loose of a short jumper. It came off the rim and was slapped around, but Whatley alertly retrieved the ball and let another shot fly. It was an air ball, but Phillips had position and gingerly put back a follow shot to give the Tide the win. Kentucky got the ball with three seconds left, but Melvin Turpin's bid to send the game into overtime came up short.
*The all-tournament team for the SEC included Carlos Clark of Mississippi, Dale Ellis of Tennessee, Eddie Phillips and Ennis Whatley of Alabama and Dirk Minniefield of Kentucky. Minniefield was named the tournament MVP.
The pairings for the NCAA basketball tournament were announced. Kentucky was paired in the first round against Middle Tennessee State University of the Ohio Valley Conference. The winner of that game was scheduled to play Louisville in Memorial Gym in Nashville, Tenn.
Six Years Ago
*The NCAA tournament pairings were announced and Kentucky will play the winner of the Western Kentucky-Alabama Birmingham game in the Mideast Regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
*As Kentucky was able to hit only nine of 16 free throws, Vanderbilt converted 22 of 28 from the stripe and eliminated the Wildcats from the SEC tournament in Birmingham. The game featured what has to be one of the most dramatic turnarounds ever. Kentucky came out playing a tenacious man-to-man defense, with Sam Bowie patrolling the inside. Bowie blocked three early shots, Charles Hurt scored six straight points and Kentucky led 10-0. After that, however, it was all Vandy as the Commodores tied the score at 27 at halftime and went on to win the game 60-55. Hurt and Bowie shared Kentucky scoring honors with \2 points apiece.
*01e Miss won the SEC tournament, the first time ever for the Oxford, Miss., school. The Rebels defeated Georgia in the finals 66-62 and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Seven Years Ago
?Some costly Kentucky turnovers in the final minutes, and 19 Wildcat miscues for the game, allowed LSU to defeat UK 80-78 in Birmingham in the finals of the SEC tournament. The 'Cats had defeated the Tigers just one week earlier for the regular-season league championship. LSU led by three at the half, but UK came back to take the lead. Then the 'Cats made crucial turnovers in the final two minutes when the teams were virtually trading baskets. DeWayne Scales was spectacular for LSU, hitting 13 of 19 shots and scoring 26 points, many of them coming down the stretch. Sam Bowie and Kyle Macy had great nights for UK. Macy fought back from an illness which had hampered him earlier in the tourney to hit seven straight second-half shots, and nine of 12 for the game, for 20 points. Bowie made nine of 13 field goal attempts while claiming 12 rebounds. Dirk Minniefield scored 12 points.
?Despite 29 points from forward John Stroud, UK was able to down Ole Miss 70-67 and advance to the SEC tournament finals. Ole Miss led by six points six minutes into the second half, and trailed by just one with 2:18 left in the game. Chuck Verderber, Dirk Minniefield and an ailing Kyle Macy all hit clutch free throws in the late stages to
preserve the Kentucky win. Freshman Sam Bowie led UK with a career-high 27 points. Minniefield added 10.
?Led by Sam Bowie, who played the second half with a bandage on his leg as a result of a first-half injury, UK defeated Auburn 69-61 in the first round of the SEC tournament. The 'Cats took the lead at 6-4 and never trailed, although they could never blow the Tigers out. Bowie scored 19 points and had 10 boards. Fred Cowan scored 11 points for Kentucky and Kyle Macy pitched in with 10.
Nine Years Ago
?The slam dunking seniors played their last game at Rupp Arena as the 'Cats ripped Nevada-Las Vegas 92-70. In front of the largest crowd ever at Rupp, some 23,698, the four UK seniorsJack Givens, James Lee, Mike Phillips and Rick Robeysaid their farewells to the homecourt crowd in Lexington before a national television audience. Robey played one of the best games of his career, hitting on 10 of 13 from the field and six of seven from the charity stripe to lead Kentucy with 26 points. Givens turned in another velvet-smooth performance with 24 points, while Lee added 13. Phillips had seven points.
?Kentucky's second all-time leading scorer, Jack Givens, and teammate Rick Robey were named to the Associated Press three-team All-America squad. Givens was on the second team and Robey was named to the third five. Givens was also named to the United States Basketball Writers' All-American team which consists of 15 players.
*United Press International named Jack Givens, Rick Robey and Kyle Macy to its All-American squad. Givens and Robey were selected to the second team, and Macy, who is just a sophomore, was named to the third team.
Fourteen Years Ago
?UK broke into the Associated Press Top Twenty for the first time since the season began. The 'Cats were able to earn a 19th place tie with San Francisco.
?By whipping Tennessee 86-81 in Lexington to close out their SEC schedule, the Kentucky Wildcats clinched the league championship in coach Joe B. Hall's first year at the helm. The game was tied 17 times, 10 time in a first half which saw Kentucky mount a 46-43 advantage. After the 'Cats forged a 71-67 lead on a Jimmy Dan Conner 23-footer, Tennessee could come no closer than two points the rest of the way. Kentucky led by as many as eight in the last three minutes of the contest. Kevin Grevey once again led UK, scoring 28 points. Conner had 23 points and 10 rebounds. Jim Andrews scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The win gave UK a 14^ SEC slate and a 19-7 mark overall.
?By winning the SEC crown, the Kentucky Wildcats earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. They drew a bye in the first round and were scheduled to play Austin Peay after the OVC team defeated Jacksonville 77-75 in the first round. The game was scheduled to be played in Nashville, Tenn.
Thirty Two Years Ago
?UK captain Billy Evans will not be eligible for the NCAA tournament. NCAA rules state a player can take as long as he wants to graduate and still be eligible. Evans, a five-year student with a straight A average, holds a college degree. He is only in his third year of basketball, but went along with the regular course of study rather than spread his classes out.