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U N PA R A L L E L E D T R A D I T I O N
Jan. 8, 1955
Fans are stunned as Georgia Tech defeats UK, 59-58, in Memorial
Coliseum, ending a 129-game home winning streak that still
stands as a national record.
Dec. 7, 1957
What was then referred to as “the longest game in UK
history” proves fruitful for the Wildcats as they defeat
Temple 85-83 in three overtimes. Vernon Hatton scores
UK’s final six points to edge the Owls.
March 21, 1958
In the Wildcats’ first game in Freedom Hall Vernon Hatton’s
layup with 17 seconds left pushes the Wildcats past Temple, 61-
60, and into the NCAA Championship game.
March 22, 1958
UK wins its fourth NCAA title by defeating Seattle, 84-72, in
Louisville. The “Fiddlin’ Five” was led by Vernon Hatton’s 30
points. The win gave Rupp his most coveted title, the one he
vowed to win after the NCAA had suspended UK’s 1953 season.
March 19, 1966
In one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history, topranked
UK, featuring “Rupp’s Runts,” loses in the NCAA
Championship game, 72-65, to Texas Western.
Jan. 27, 1968
At the time, it was believed that Adolph Rupp became college
basketball’s all-time winningest coach when the Wildcats overcame
a record-setting 52-point performance by LSU’s Pete
Maravich to defeat the Tigers, 121-95. Years later, it was discovered
that he had achieved that feat on Feb. 18, 1967, with a
103-74 win over Mississippi State.
Jan. 18, 1969
On the road against its long-time rival, UK became the first
team in college basketball history to win 1,000 games, defeating
Tennessee, 69-66.
June 9, 1969
Tom Payne, a seven-foot All-American from Louisville,
becomes the first black player to sign with the University of
Kentucky.
Feb. 28, 1970
Dan Issel becomes UK’s first player to score 2,000 career points as
UK defeats Vanderbilt, 90-86.
March 14, 1970
Dan Issel scores his 2,138th point, etching his name into the
record book as UK’s all-time leading scorer. The top-ranked
Wildcats are upset by Jacksonville, 106-100, in the NCAA
Tournament.
March 18, 1972
Adolph Rupp coaches his last game at UK, a 73-54 loss to Florida
State in the NCAA Tournament.
Dec. 2, 1972
Joe B. Hall coaches his first game as head coach at UK, a 75-
66 win at Michigan State. UK goes on to win the SEC
Championship and finish 22-8 during Hall’s inaugural season.
Louie Dampier and “Rupp’s Runts” in an NCAA semifinal win over Duke in 1966. Dan Issel remains UK’s all-time leading
scorer. Joe B. Hall gave UK its fifth NCAA title in 1978.
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