Twenty-Sixth Annual U.K. INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Rupp Arena  December 22-23, 1977
First Night: Illinois vs. Syracuse  7:06 p.m. EST
Texas A&M vs. Kentucky  Appx. 9:05 p.m. EST
Second Night: Third Place Game   7:05 p.m. EST Championship Game   Appx. 9:05 p.m. EST
1977 UKIT ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM-From left, Truman Claytor (UK), Freeman Williams (Portland State), Mike Phillips (UK), UK Director of Athletics Cliff Hagan, Jack Givens (UK) and George Johnson (St. John's). Givens was selected MVP and Williams was the tournament's high scorer with 73 points.
Two newcomers to the UKIT, 1978 NCAA participant Syracuse and youthful Texas A&M will provide the challenge for 1964 champion Illinois and 18-time champion Kentucky in the 26-year-old tournament.
The Wildcats have winning series records with all three visitors-Texas A&M (2-0); Illinois (8-4) and Syracuse 13-0).
Kentucky last met A&M at home in 1946, whipping the Aggies 83-18. The last meeting with Illinois resulted in a 98-97 overtime loss for the Cats at Memorial Coliseum in 1966, while they bested Syracuse 95-79 in the 1975 NCAA championship semi-finals at San Diego.
Illinois is 3-3 in UKIT competition-1956 Beat Dayton 82-65 and lost to UK 91-70; 1960 Lost to UK 83-78 and to California 72-54; 1964 Beat Dayton 104-86 and UK for the championship, 91-86.
A total of 48 Universities will have played in the UKIT after this year. Playing in the tournament for the fourth time, Illinois trails only West Virginia (six) and Dayton (five) in number of guest appearances.
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