Most clutch free throws ever by a UK player

[EvilMD]

Just watched the end of the UK-U of L 2014 tournament game and somehow I had forgotten how Julius Randle hit two of the most clutch free throws in our program's history with 14 seconds to go. We're up one when he goes to the line. You think of Aaron's shot to put us ahead and his two free throws to seal it, but man....Julius went up there and swished them both. Not bad for a big man.

Who else would you nominate for the most clutch free throws ever made by a UK player? Obviously the one that anyone older than 45 is going to say is Kyle Macy against Michigan State and Arkansas in 1978. Who else should be nominated?

 

[triadaz]

Sparks against Brothel-U

 

[wild mandu]

Rodrick Rhodes vs. Ark - '95 SEC Tournament

 

[MegaBlue05]

Rodrick Rhodes vs. Ark - '95 SEC Tournament

That's second to Nazr Mohammed in the 97 NCAA final.

 

[hotelblue]

Rodrick Rhodes vs. Ark - '95 SEC Tournament

epps had two big ones at the end of that game.

 

[KyCatFan]

I was going to say Sparks hitting the 3 free throws to beat UL. Also how about the two Travis Ford hit to finish off LSU at the Mardi Gras Miracle?

 

[2Adulterers]

Ralph Beard to win the 1946 NIT

 

[Katwatcher]

Not sure of what game, but Kyle Macy had to be involved sometime. He was the best in my opinion.

 

[Supreme Lord Z]

Sparks was my immediate thought.

Should have also been Sparks against Michigan State to beat them, too. But he never got the call.

 

[Nubb16]

SEC Championship
Eric Bledsoe vs Miss State

Make first, intentionally miss second.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Not sure of what game, but Kyle Macy had to be involved sometime. He was the best in my opinion.

The game that comes to mind is in the 1978 NCAA Regional Finals against Michigan State. Michigan State had Magic Johnson and the game was a nail biter from the opening tip off. Macy sealed the game in the final moments when he went to the line wiped his hands on his socks and drilled them. The entire basketball world was impressed as to how cool he was.

 

[Ben101er]

Macy, in almost every close game. Doesn't matter if you are over 45, or not. He had the most.

 

[EvilMD]

How about the two Ford hit to take the Michigan game to overtime in 1993?

 

[Kampus Korner]

For me, if the national championship is on the line and UK needs to make three free throws to win, I will take Kyel Macy every time. He was the best clutch player I've ever seen play at Kentucky

 

[Real Deal 2]

How about Derek Anderson coming off bench after sitting 3 months with ACL and swishing FT's against Minnesota in FF. I would say Macy, Epps, Ford, Sparks, are all pretty clutch, Randle is there with that UL game.

IMO

 

[JPScott]

Bill King to win Kentucky's (and the South's) first tournament ever in 1921.

UK Beats Georgia 20-19 on Free Throw as time expires

What made this free throw even more significant (beyond giving UK the tournament title and the fact that it came at the end of the game) is that just when he was about to shoot, the timer fired his pistol signifying that time had expired.

 

[wild mandu]

You just know Kyle Macy wants to choke certain UK players when they shoot from the line.

 

[Bkocats]

Sparks was my immediate thought.

Should have also been Sparks against Michigan State to beat them, too. But he never got the call.

that still makes me burn - one of the worst blown calls I can remember

 

[wcc31]

- Didn't Epps hit some big ones to send the Arizona '97 championship game to OT?

- Nominated: Entire team 2012 vs. IU S16 35-of-37. Ridic.

 

[Bkocats]

- Didn't Epps hit some big ones to send the Arizona '97 championship game to OT?

- Nominated: Entire team 2012 vs. IU S16 35-of-37. Ridic.

I like that you mentioned that - most of us think clutch free throws are ones hit down the stretch. Sometimes it's how well they're hit through the entire game.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

Kyle Macy against both Florida State and Michigan State in the 1978 NCAA Tournament. I believe he also had some clutch FT's against Arkansas in the National Semifinal that same year.

 

[anon_q409idbs5m40a]

that still makes me burn - one of the worst blown calls I can remember

And I guarantee that had it been the other way around the call would've been different. How can put a body on someone shooting and NOT call a foul?

 

[EvilMD]

The thing that struck me about Randle was how cool he was, just like Sparks when he hit his to beat Louisville.

 

[nookam]

When I think of free throws, I think of the 2011 FF vs UConn game. I think we hit 5-12 and Terrence Jones was 0-5, I hope numbers are right but we lost by 1. Had we hit a couple we would have played Butler, who UConn destroyed. #8 was there and the AD class would have been #9 back to back.

 

[Katwatcher]

Bill King to win Kentucky's (and the South's) first tournament ever in 1921.

UK Beats Georgia 20-19 on Free Throw as time expires

What made this free throw even more significant (beyond giving UK the tournament title and the fact that it came at the end of the game) is that just when he was about to shoot, the timer fired his pistol signifying that time had expired.

Thanks JP, I had not heard that before. They sure didn't have instant replay for that one.lol

Giving timekeepers a pistol would not be a good thing in today's game.

 

[JPScott]

Thanks JP, I had not heard that before. They sure didn't have instant replay for that one.lol

Giving timekeepers a pistol would not be a good thing in today's game.

There's a good story about this, as the timer decided to use a gun because the place was so loud. A policeman tried to arrest him for shooting a gun in a public building.

The story is reprinted on the following page in the section on officials.

SIAA Tournament

 

[BigBlue1992]

Patrick Sparks against Louisville is the first one that comes to my mind too. Also thought I'd point out last year against one of the SEC teams I can't remember which one we were playing against, but Trey Lyles hit two big free throws to send the game into overtime in which we obviously won to keep the undefeated season alive. If he missed one we would've lost cause I don't think there was enough time to even get a shot off. I think if we would've went undefeated Lyles free throws would have to be way up on the list.

 

[CharlieT71059]

For me, it was Macy. Cool as a cucumber

 

[ZenCatFan73]

The Epps vs Arky ones jumped into my mind first. Was a heck of a game and at the time the Hogs were really good.

 

[aceman509]

SEC Championship
Eric Bledsoe vs Miss State

This is a really good mention. Not only did he have to make the first one, but it was the most perfect intentional free throw miss I've ever seen. It was high enough in the air to give Patterson time to spin around the guy boxing him out, and then the bounce off the back of the rim couldn't have worked out better either. Gave Patterson just enough to get his hand on it and tip it back out to Wall.

 

[howercat]

Patrick Sparks against Louisville is the first one that comes to my mind too. Also thought I'd point out last year against one of the SEC teams I can't remember which one we were playing against, but Trey Lyles hit two big free throws to send the game into overtime in which we obviously won to keep the undefeated season alive. If he missed one we would've lost cause I don't think there was enough time to even get a shot off. I think if we would've went undefeated Lyles free throws would have to be way up on the list.

stripes had no problem whistling ky for the foul against wisky in the final four. Poythress I think got called for the pump fake then shooter got him in the air. Foul.

 

[ncaaky]

stripes had no problem whistling ky for the foul against wisky in the final four. Poythress I think got called for the pump fake then shooter got him in the air. Foul.

Refs missed the walk on the Wisconsin shooter before the foul call.

 

[ukwazoo]

- Didn't Epps hit some big ones to send the Arizona '97 championship game to OT?

- Nominated: Entire team 2012 vs. IU S16 35-of-37. Ridic.

Yes I believe he had to hit 2 with very little time on the clock to send it to OT. Clutchest free throws I've seen here.