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KENTUCKY COACH EDDIE SUTTON
When Eddie Sutton accepted "the best coaching position in America," he knew that pressures and demands were part of the job description.
Known for his uncanny ability to build teams from scratch, Sutton faced a different task at Kentucky. In Lexington, Sutton would not have to construct a team into a powerhouse; instead, he needed to maintain the winningest program in college basketball history.
If his first two seasons are any indication, the Eddie Sutton Era is off and running with flying colors.
In his first season at the helm, the Bucklin, Kansas, native inherited a team that had compiled an 18-13 worksheet the previous season and was, at best, predicted to finish third in the Southeastern Conference. But Sutton's style and creativity transformed the Cats into one of the most exciting teams in the country.
Promising to start the five best athletes on the squad, the first-year coach utilized three guards for their speed, quickness and smothering man-to-man defense. The 1985-86 Wildcat team captured the imagination of Kentucky fans like no other team since the famous "Rupp's Runts" of 1965-66.
By season's end, the Cats posted a 32-4 record and were ranked third in the country in the final polls. UK stormed through the Southeastern Conference with a 17-1 record and proceeded to capture the league tournament. In the NCAA Tournament, Kentucky won three games, advancing to the Final Eight, before falling one game short of the Final Four.
For his efforts, Sutton was named SEC Coach of the Year by the Associated Press and United Press International. In addition, the first-year coach earned National Coach of the Year honors from the AP and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Last season, fans wondered what Sutton could possibly do for an encore. The odds were stacked against the 1986-87 Wildcat squad when star forward Winston Bennett was sidelined for the season with a knee injury. Several other injuries depleted the UK squad until there were just seven scholarship players available for practice at one point. Kentucky was picked to finish an uncustomary fifth in the SEC.
Instead, the Wildcats earned an NCAA tournament berth after finishing third in the SEC with a 10-8 league mark and an 18-11 overall record. Included in last year's accomplishments were: a 34-point win over rival Louisville on national television, a hard-fought loss to 3rd-ranked Indiana in Bloomington, a stunning upset of Alabama on national television, a victory over David Robinson's Navy team before the national TV cameras, as well as a thrilling one-point win over 12th-ranked Oklahoma.
Sutton's two-year UK record now stands at 50-15 for a winning percentage of 76.9. He has now completed 18 seasons as a head coach and has an overall record of 392-140 (73.7).
Last year marked the 11th straight year Sutton has guided a team to the NCAA Tournament. The only other coach who can match that record is North Carolina's Dean Smith, whose Tar Heels made their 13th straight appearance in college basket-
Eddie and Patsy Sutton with sons (I. to r.) Sean, Scott and Steve.
EDDIE SUTTON'S COACHING RECORD			
Year	School	Record	Percentage
1970	Creighton	15-10	.600
1971	Creighton	14-11	.560
1972	Creighton	15-11	.577
1973	Creighton	15-12	.556
1974	Creighton	23-6	.793
1975	Arkansas	17-9	.654
1976	Arkansas	19-9	.679
1977	Arkansas	26-2	.929
1978	Arkansas	32-4	.889
1979	Arkansas	25-5	.833
1980	Arkansas	21-8	.724
1981	Arkansas	24-8	.750
1982	Arkansas	23-6	.793
1983	Arkansas	26-4	.867
1984	Arkansas	25-7	.781
1985	Arkansas	22-13	.629
1986	Kentucky	32-4	.889
1987	Kentucky	18-11	.621
	TOTALS		
1970-74	Creighton (5 years)	82-50	.621
1975-85	Arkansas (11 years)	260-75	.776
1986-87	Kentucky (2 years)	50-15	.769
1970-87	18 Years	392-140	.737