My top 5 Centers to play at Kentucky in order..

[smooth as butter]

1.Anthony Davis
2.Mel Turpin
3.Sam Bowie
4.Demarcus Cousins
5.Rick Robey

I know alot people are going to say Dan Issell.But my list is for the players that I have watched play.

 

[2Adulterers]

1.Anthony Davis
2.Mel Turpin
3.Sam Bowie
4.Demarcus Cousins
5.Rick Robey

I know alot people are going to say Dan Issell.But my list is for the players that I have watched play.

Issel is far and away #1..the rest are all falderol..Nobody touches the Horse

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

Issel is far and away #1..the rest are all falderol..Nobody touches the Horse

But is it supposed to be "defensive" centers? Weird thread title. If so AD was the best defensive player we ever had.

 

[2Adulterers]

But is it supposed to be "defensive" centers? Weird thread title. If so AD was the best defensive player we ever had.

I didn't see that..Jamal Magloire

 

[bluescat92]

Issel followed another tough center in Thad Jaracz. He was only 6'5". He played with four shooters: Riley, Dampier, Conley and Kron.

Riley, Kron and Conley has some muscle on them and were fighters.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

1. Davis
2. Cousins
3. Issel
4. Towns
5. Robey

 

[TheTruCatsFan]

 

[EastKYWildcat]

Have we had any DeCenters besides DeMarcus?

 

[UKWildcats#8]

1.Anthony Davis
2.Mel Turpin
3.Sam Bowie
4.Demarcus Cousins
5.Rick Robey

I know alot people are going to say Dan Issell.But my list is for the players that I have watched play.

AD did more in one year than any other center has done in 3-4. So yeah hard to argue with AD.

 

[ZenCatFan73]

I go back to late 70's. Here goes:
1. Davis
2. Bowie
3. Cuz
4. Turpin
5. Towns

 

[JacksonPurchaseCat]

1a Davis- The greatest talent
1b Issel- Geastest UK career
Depends on your criteria
3 Bowie- Neck and neck with Davis in terms of talent
4 Cousins- Unstopable
5 Towns-just like Cuz, unstoppable on the blocks

Honorable mention Groza, Spivey, Turpin, McCarty, Phillips/Roby

 

[docholiday51]

If we are talking defensive centers, as great as he was you can't put Issel in there. We had to have him to score so we couldn't risk him playing much defense. Teams were scoring 90 to 100 points on a regular basis in his day without a shot clock, nobody was playing any defense.

 

[BigKari]

No votes for Noel?

 

[MrHotDice]

Bill Spivey, and didn't Cliff Hagen play center?

 

[Clive Gollings]

Have we had any DeCenters besides DeMarcus?

IIRC Cousins was listed as a Forward.

 

[Jmeeks54thebest]

A lot of guys saying Issel. Some of them poking at the OP and others for not listing him. Well, like the OP, I never saw him play live so I'm not going to list him. Sam Bowie and Mel Turpin were also before my time.

1) AD
2) Boogie
3) Towns
4) Noel
5) Morris

Keep in mind that I was very young in the Tubby years, only in high school for BCG and the transition to Cal (senior year- born in 91).

 

[uky8unc5]

If you put Issel (or AD) on any team that Cal has had, UK hangs a banner. He was that good.

 

[HedleyLamarr]

I think Groza is the only UK center with two banners. Of course, nobody remembers the 40's...

 

[azubuikefan]

I was born in 89 so from what I can remember..

Davis
Cousins
Towns
Magloire
Morris

 

[thecatsareback#8]

1.Anthony Davis
2.Mel Turpin
3.Sam Bowie
4.Demarcus Cousins
5.Rick Robey

I know alot people are going to say Dan Issell.But my list is for the players that I have watched play.

 

[JonathanW]

Lots to pick from:
Before my time: Issel, Payne, Robey, & I'm not sure of the positions of the players from 40's-60's
My time: Bowie, Turpin, Magloire, Davis, Noel, WCS, Towns, Cousins

Limiting to just those I saw play, I'll go:
Davis
Bowie
Cousins
Towns
Turpin

It would be hard to not put Issel #1 though unless he just couldn't guard anybody.

 

[DoyleHargrave1]

I was born in 89 so from what I can remember..

Davis
Cousins
Towns
Magloire
Morris

Morris shouldn't even be on this thread IMO

 

[EvilMD]

1. Davis
2. Issel
3. Towns
4. Cousins
5. Bowie

 

[westerncat]

Some of you younger guys need to go back and watch some of the tapes of Issel. Great player.

 

[jrpross]

Morris shouldn't even be on this thread IMO

I could see it, if you only go back 25 years or so. People forget how good he was offensively because of his other boneheaded issues. But he was really good when he was on top of his game. I'd kill for his 16 points, 8 Reb, 2 blk, & 60% fg on the team this year.

 

[AzubuikeandFitch]

Somebody actually listed Noel, Morris, or WCS. Andre Riddick and Rodney Dent might as well be mentioned. Never ceases to amaze.

 

[uky8unc5]

Some of you younger guys need to go back and watch some of the tapes of Issel. Great player.

* Issel was mean and took no guff. He ran the floor and always showed up.
* He scored 27,643 points in ABA/NBA and was a much better shooter than Anthony Davis.
* AD will become UK's most accomplished pro, but Big Dan sits at his right hand.

 

[ZenCatFan73]

You can make an argument for Noel being in the top 5. He was right there with Davis numbers-wise before he got injured. Not saying he is as good as Davis, but he is a big-time talent.

 

[Sawnee Cat]

Dan Issel. (Yes I did see him play and I read his stats before picking him #1)
Anthony Davis ( one year at UK but if he had three years like Issel he would challenge for #1)
Bill Spivey (if he had been allowed to play in the pros I might put him #1 or at least 2)
Sam Bowie
Alex Groza

Most of the younger UK players didn't hang around long enough to grade them. How can you put players on the list who were not good enough to make All American? We are UK not Ole Miss.

 

[FredTX]

1.Anthony Davis
2.Mel Turpin
3.Sam Bowie
4.Demarcus Cousins
5.Rick Robey

I know alot people are going to say Dan Issell.But my list is for the players that I have watched play.

Any top five list would have to include Cliff Hagan. Cotton Nash would probably make a top ten list. And what about the Fabulous Five's Alex Groza?

 

[UKWildcats#8]

I think Groza is the only UK center with two banners. Of course, nobody remembers the 40's...

Yup, averaged over 20 a game his senior year. Back to back titles in 48 and 49.

 

[Bobcat94]

Top 5 since I have been watching from he mid 80's and on.

1. Anthony Davis
2. Demarcus Cousins
3. Sam Bowie ( Somewhat remember him)
4. Karl Towns
5. Nerlens Noel (He only played 2/3 of season but he was a killer talent on defense and loved his heart)

Honorable mention would be
Stein
Morris (He took alot of heat but was really good his last couple years for a team that didn;t have
many options)
Mohammed
Magloire

 

[NCukcat62]

I consider Davis more of a power forward

 

[Deli owl]

Rob Lock
Gimel Martinez
Andre Riddick
Cedric Jenkins
Todd Svaboda

 

[Rhavicc]

I consider Davis more of a power forward

Played center.

 

[smooth as butter]

I would pick Magliore over Noel anyday.

 

[uky8unc5]

Played center.

Of course you are right. But if Davis played with Issel, AD would slide to the 4 (and be amazing).

 

[NCukcat62]

Played center.

He played the 5. Doesn't mean he was a center.

 

[ukwazoo]

Daniel Orton

 

[KopiKat]

Spivey cannot be excluded from UK top 5 centers list. No way.