Did any of you see the Derek Anderson injury live back in 1997?

[Son_Of_Saul]

I remember reading about it in the paper when I was a kid, but I don't remember watching it on live television.

For those of you who were there, how did the injury happen and what was the crowd reaction like?

Talk about a defining moment for that season. If Anderson is healthy all year, UK would have beaten Arizona by 8+ points.

 

[Rockford]

It was in practice

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

It was in practice

Do you remember how it happened?

 

[tmuck]

I remember it. It was against Auburn at Rupp. He was chasing after a loose ball along the sideline in front of the scorers table when he pulled up and started grabbing his knee. I don't even think he went to the ground, and didn't look like he was in excruciating pain. He limped off but was putting weight on it. It didn't look that bad. I was shocked the next day when the news broke that he tore his ACL.

 

[BillyJoeCat-fan]

If I remember correctly, it was vs Auburn at Rupp on a weekend game. I think he crossed midcourt and it was going for a loose ball. Seems there really wasn't much contact. At first it was just believed to be a bruise but the torn ACL was found Monday

 

[tmuck]

Kentucky Loses Derek Anderson for Season Because of Knee Injury

Kentucky guard Derek Anderson, the leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference, will sit out the rest of the season because of an injury to his right knee, Coach Rick Pitino announced Monday night.

www.latimes.com

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Another injury another NC down the drain.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Kentucky Loses Derek Anderson for Season Because of Knee Injury

Kentucky guard Derek Anderson, the leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference, will sit out the rest of the season because of an injury to his right knee, Coach Rick Pitino announced Monday night.

www.latimes.com

Thanks for the link. It's a testament to Pitino's coaching genius that that team still almost won the national title after losing their best player.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

If not for DAs injury UK 3 peats. The last team to 3 peat to this day is UCLA from ‘71-‘73 …..50 yrs ago!
SMDH

 

[BillyJoeCat-fan]

Kentucky Loses Derek Anderson for Season Because of Knee Injury

Kentucky guard Derek Anderson, the leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference, will sit out the rest of the season because of an injury to his right knee, Coach Rick Pitino announced Monday night.

www.latimes.com

Good find. I thought I had remembered most of the details correctly but I am getting older and that is getting to be a long time ago. 🤪

 

[dcw62]

It reminded me of the Sam Bowie Injury, back in 82 I believe against Vandy, I'll never forget it when it happened and Sam was never the same.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Thanks for the link. It's a testament to Pitino's coaching genius that that team still almost won the national title after losing their best player.

Was in heavy contention for NPOY and DNPOY. Was a huge loss. DA/Mercer were the best duo in college ball in 1997 and it wasn’t close.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Was in heavy contention for NPOY and DNPOY. Was a huge loss. DA/Mercer were the best duo in college ball in 1997 and it wasn’t close.

And if Nazr makes FTs v Arizona we still 3 peat.
0-6 and lost by 5 in OT
How many title games has UK lost due to poor FT shooting?
2014 Title Game (Johnson, Hawkins, Aaron Harrison and Poythrees went a combined 1 for 8 from the FTL) lost by 6.

 

[UkMccurdy]

Live in a game v Auburn in January. Remember thinking it might not be too bad… then the news came. It sucked. Still so proud of that team. That team kind of overachieved reaching the title game at that point!

 

[mbc82584]

I was actually at that game. It was a scary injury and if my memory is right he actually returned to the game briefly in the second half and I remember thinking he was probably fine. Only to get home and see he was out for the season.

 

[clevenger32]

Was right down at the end of the floor it happened.

 

[Mike_Edwards]

I was watching the game, so yes I remember. Also remember the open practice in Indianapolis. Anderson was dunking like nothing ever happened. I thought for sure he was going to play in the final four, but…..

 

[BlueSince92]

Back then ACL was as likely to end a career as end a season. But Pitino had always seemed like he half walked out of some fantasy land to come here and do what he did. So even though it seemed impossible that DA could really play again that season, when we started hearing about miracle cutting edge surgery and doctors clearing him, most of us more than half believed it might actually go down. Mike Bibby would have just been a stain on the court with a snide grin if that had really happened.

 

[gojvc]

Do you remember how it happened?

It was during a game. I was at the game. He actually came back in after the injury.

 

[Glenn's take]

Not only went to the game but went to 2 Keys after where they were doing the post game radio.

 

[UKWILDCAT2004]

I remember it. It was against Auburn at Rupp. He was chasing after a loose ball along the sideline in front of the scorers table when he pulled up and started grabbing his knee. I don't even think he went to the ground, and didn't look like he was in excruciating pain. He limped off but was putting weight on it. It didn't look that bad. I was shocked the next day when the news broke that he tore his ACL.

This. I remember watching it on TV and never really thought anything than a bruise. Seemed like a pretty routine injury.

 

[HagginHall1999]

It was in practice

Not by my memory...it was a Vandy game...could have been someone else but near certain it was early sec game.

 

[the stat man]

I remember it. It was against Auburn at Rupp. He was chasing after a loose ball along the sideline in front of the scorers table when he pulled up and started grabbing his knee. I don't even think he went to the ground, and didn't look like he was in excruciating pain. He limped off but was putting weight on it. It didn't look that bad. I was shocked the next day when the news broke that he tore his ACL.

Yep I remember it very well !! We were the best team in the country by a good margin until that night !! You’re correct he was chasing a loose ball and when he stopped he just bent over and started rubbing his knee and limped off the court .

 

[ukfan041]

Against Auburn! Went for a loose ball near mid court and landed awkward. Him and Mercer were so exciting that year. Broke my heart when he got hurt. Stopped a 3 peat😒

 

[Wildcats1st]

If not for DAs injury UK 3 peats. The last team to 3 peat to this day is UCLA from ‘71-‘73 …..50 yrs ago!
SMDH

That’s assuming we have the same team in 98 and they are hungry for another. If events change it would stand to reason all others will have alternate outcomes

 

[kybassfan]

It reminded me of the Sam Bowie Injury, back in 82 I believe against Vandy, I'll never forget it when it happened and Sam was never the same.

Bowie’s injury was completely different. Tibial stress fractures as I recall. Was damn difficult to treat back then. He actually did recover pretty well for his last season at KY. It is my belief, if not for Georgetown freakish debacle, the ‘84 team would have been remembered as the greatest college team in history to that point. That said, you are right as regards the NBA. I think injuries kept Bowie from reaching his full potential.

1984 was and remains a nightmare in KY basketball history. 2015 is a mere blip in comparison. I find it amusing at all the hysteria over 2015. Those individuals would have been physically gutted had they experienced 1984.

 

[BillyJoeCat-fan]

Not by my memory...it was a Vandy game...could have been someone else but near certain it was early sec game.

No, it was vs Auburn (see tmuck's reply above, post #6). Sam Bowie, and later Rodney Dent, went down with season ending injuries vs Vanderbilt.

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

I remember it. It was against Auburn at Rupp. He was chasing after a loose ball along the sideline in front of the scorers table when he pulled up and started grabbing his knee. I don't even think he went to the ground, and didn't look like he was in excruciating pain. He limped off but was putting weight on it. It didn't look that bad. I was shocked the next day when the news broke that he tore his ACL.

This is 100% correct.

 

[wildcat_bigd]

Just typical bullshit that happens to UK The next year helped soothe the savage beast though

 

[Smashcat]

Speaking of DA.

Anderson enjoys giving back

When Derek Anderson got the phone call to come to Owensboro, he jumped at the opportunity.

www.messenger-inquirer.com

 

[BlueWhite21]

Pitino painted himself in a corner by not being able to play Anderson because when all the media was asking the questions about DA returning he didn't think it was anyway possible that DA could play that year so he says wat coaches say that he wouldn't play DA if his life depends on it.

Now, maybe Rick decided to tell the truth that day and meant what he said, but when they was out in San Jose CA practicing it was said DA was by far best player on the floor so if you as a coach or letting him scrimmage and play full court for NBA scouts surely 12-15 mins wouldn't be that much different in the Championship game.... Except RP earlier in the year at a press conference had done said without question that DA was like his son so he would never play him.

I respect RP decision if it was genuine and he did what he said earlier and followed through for the right reasons, but it makes me guess and wonder. Moreso now than ever.

But.... hey he still pulled off a crazy feat because ppl think of those UK years and the players we had but in 1997 we wasn't supposed to be in the Championship game when ya have Epps starting at the 2 and, not that their is anything wrong with Epps at the 2 but it just shows how much we had to change things around and hope for the best... plus Mills playing big mins.

Without DA it wasn't close, or shouldn't have been close. Now, we had Mercer and some nice guys to go around him, but not reallly FF caliber and on top of it we had a pretty short bench. That's Just my $2 and 2 cents.