Blast from the Past: Cliff Hawkins crossover vs. UL

[Clive Gollings]

I was watching the Isaiah Briscoe mini documentary, and was reminded of this.

 

[Orange Soda King]

Nasty

 

[brianpoe]

He was also hailed as a standout defender. I remember other team's players talking about his defense to the media after the games. IU game in particular.

And to think a young poster not too long ago said it was insulting to mention his name with Liggins and Poythress...???

 

[Tannerdad]

First of all...it is HAWKINS.

He was the absolute best on ball defender I have ever seen here when he set his mind to it. Saw him frustrate and completely shut down a couple of PGs in his day. Amazing quickness in bursts.

 

[brianpoe]

First of all...it is HAWKINS.

He was the absolute best on ball defender I have ever seen here when he set his mind to it. Saw him frustrate and completely shut down a couple of PGs in his day. Amazing quickness in bursts.

I think the memory of Hawk and his play was diminished by Rondo coming immediately after him.

 

[Zakk Wyldcat]

Is he related to Stephen? And his, ahem, 'asthma' contributed to his lack of PT while Saul was here. At least that's what Tubby told us...

 

[Montana81]

Hawkins was the best on ball defender we've had since I started watching back in the late 80's.

MKG and Liggins were very good but Hawkins IMO was the main reason we were so good defensively during that 26 game streak in 03.

 

[EastKYWildcat]

"Cluff" was something else.

 

[JC for 3]

N'Sima still looking for his jock.

 

[Born and raised Big Blue]

One of my favorite players.

 

[caneintally]

Hawkins was the best on ball defender we've had since I started watching back in the late 80's.

MKG and Liggins were very good but Hawkins IMO was the main reason we were so good defensively during that 26 game streak in 03.

Yep the best I have seen at UK .

 

[General Bland]

Cliff is one of my favorite UK players of all time. He just erased the other team's pg. He was a defensive ninja. Cool as the other side of the pillow, too.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

"Which way did he go, which way did he go?"

 

[ccukuk]

I think he's related to Dominique.

 

[azubuikefan]

I remember he used to completely own that pg from Notre Dame.

 

[JustthefaxMa'am]

I thought it was Stephen Hawking....

 

[NCukcat62]

Cliff was one of my favorites. Needs to be honored.

 

[rabidcatfan]

"Cluff" was something else.

Lol...yeah, he along with Geralt and Erk were one hell of a trio.

 

[General Bland]

That was one of my favorite UK teams. Erik Daniels rebounding the ball against Duke then dribbling it behind his back before putting it back up an in was one of the greatest plays I have ever seen a UK player make. That team and some spunk to it. Loved them.

 

[Bigblueforever]

Hawk should have made a bigger impact at Kentucky. For one thing, he had to sit out half a year in 2002-2003 for letting his grades slip (I think that was the reason.) Then there was the absurd 'asthma' controversy that many felt was a cover for Tubby continuing to play Saul in Hawkins' first couple years. But he was fun to watch.

My favorite Hawkins game was very early in his freshman year of 2000-2001, when he and Estill pounded UNC-Cheaters in the Dean Dome. The Cheaters, as we now know, weren't going to class, but the Hawk took them to school.

Great post and very true.

 

[General Bland]

Had Marquis Estill returned to school there is no doubt in mind my that UK wins it all that year.

 

[Montana81]

Hawkins had a play against Tennessee I wanna say, that was pretty amazing.

He got screened out top, and the ball handler, who had created quite a bit of seperation with the screen, thought he had an open 3 and Hawkins went behind the screen and somehow blocked the shot from behind.

It doesn't sound like such an amazing play but I remember watching it live and thinking I had never seen another guard make a play like that. Especially considering Hawkins was only like 6'1.

Tubby supposedly had to be convinced by Steve smith that Hawkins was good enough to play here.

 

[General Bland]

Tubby supposedly had to be convinced by Steve smith that Hawkins should be allowed to take playing time away from Saul and play here.

Fixed.

 

[Xception]

See , what happened was

 

[Ben101er]

First of all...it is HAWKINS.

He was the absolute best on ball defender I have ever seen here when he set his mind to it. Saw him frustrate and completely shut down a couple of PGs in his day. Amazing quickness in bursts.

He really was good, defensively, but sometimes he lost focus. For an entire game, give me Wayne Turner, but you couldn't go wrong with either of those two.

 

[ok-cats-computer]

I was watching the Isaiah Briscoe mini documentary, and was reminded of this.

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Big Time Crossover. If I remember correctly, that was the game in which Fifteeno made his first return to Rupp as the UL coach.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Had Marquis Estill returned to school there is no doubt in mind my that UK wins it all that year.

Oh there is always plenty of doubt when Tubby Smith is the coach. That 03-04 team was not winning anything with or without Estill.

 

[ccukuk]

Really? This thread is still going with Cliff "Hawkings."

 

[YouKay]

I was watching the Isaiah Briscoe mini documentary, and was reminded of this.

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I was at that game, center court in the alumni pep band. Thought the roof was gonna come off Rupp after that play. It was truly amazing. The whole game was a party/ Thanks for the flashback!