Mine is 1998 and the Comeback Cats because of Mills and Padgett being Kentuckians and because of the epic Reg.Final comeback v Duke.
Of UKs 8 National Title's which is your favorite & why?
- Thread starter KWilt43atbuzz
- Start date
2012
I cried. I'm old enough to have seen a few, but was just so happy to see Cal succeed with all the heat he has taken, and so happy to see us back on top.
I cried. I'm old enough to have seen a few, but was just so happy to see Cal succeed with all the heat he has taken, and so happy to see us back on top.
1996...that was the most dominant team I've ever seen from Kentucky. It was also an unbelievably entertaining team. Great athletes. Great players. First title in 18 years.
GBB!!!
GBB!!!
I think mine would have been the 1978 team because the Goose got loose against the Dookies.
Hard to say. 1996 felt so damn good. UK was the first of my teams to break through and I was suddenly overwhelmed with the feeling that MY team was the champion. The guys chanting "Tell me who's in the house tonight? Yoo Kay!" gave me chills. But 1998 was magical. The Sports Illustrated article said it best....previous UK teams were like pulling for the Yankees. The 98 team was like watching a different UK, one that everyone could pull for. 2012 was more like 78 and 96...more relief than joy.
1998! Just an unbelievable run those guys went on and the Duke game is the best one in my lifetime.
2012
After 14 years of Tubby and Gillispie...
yeah, 2012
I would have said 1996, but then I'd have to think of Pitino and well, I try not to think about the 90's too much.
After 14 years of Tubby and Gillispie...
yeah, 2012
I would have said 1996, but then I'd have to think of Pitino and well, I try not to think about the 90's too much.
1998 for me too. 1998 was the worst year of my entire life and the 98 title was the one bright spot.
1998 with the Comeback Cats was a very special ride that we may never see the likes of again. I agree with some others that all 8 are very special but asked to pin down just one I'd have to go with the Comeback Cats. I was in a brew pub in the Colorado Rockies watching the Duke came when we were being ripped apart. The bartendress was proudly wearing a Duke sweatshirt while I had my UK sweatshirt on. She was very loud, happy and obnoxious for the first half of the game and starting into the 2nd half. I remember the awesome comeback and how things in that brew pub also turned dramatically. Have to admit, I now became a bit loud and proud for my Cats and let her know it. Great day and a tremendous tournament that has such a lasting memory. The nickname was well earned and just made the whole tournament very special.
They were all too special for me to pick a favorite, but the Goose going off on Duke was magic.
I was alive only for the last 3 and I remember them vividly. Each one was special in it's own way. 96 was amazing because we all realized we were watching history and one of the greatest, if not THE greatest basketball team in the history of the NCAA. 98 was special just because it was unexpected. There was no big NBA star, our coach he just bolted for the NBA and it was expected to be a rebuilding year when all of a sudden a couple of Kentucky boys won us a game that nobody thought we would win and after 2 more nail biters we were champs again. But 12 was special too being the first of the new era and watching the budding of the best new player on the planet.
But if I have to choose, I'd probably say 98 for the simple reason that in 96 and 12, we were supposed to win. It was exciting but it was a relief. 98 was just pure joy.
But if I have to choose, I'd probably say 98 for the simple reason that in 96 and 12, we were supposed to win. It was exciting but it was a relief. 98 was just pure joy.
96 for its dominance but 2012 for its meaning as the renaissance of UK BB after BCG.
1996 was a very special group. Best college basketball team I've ever witnessed. I've only watched college ball since 1992, though. I still can't imagine any team that could beat that 1996 UK squad in a series.
I'll go with 1996, as well. It was my sophomore year at UK. A friend and I purchased student tickets for the Final Four at the Meadowlands. It was $88 for all three games. Students had to pick up tickets at Will-Call in New Jersey. As we got out of line, people were offering $1,000 cash for the tickets. We didn't even bat an eye, kept our tickets, and loved every minute of the games.
1998.
It took away most of the sting of the DA injury-'97-coulda-been-champs and RP's departure.
It took me a week to get my voice back after the Dook game... just in time to lose it again during the FF games.
(Bonus: Watching the Tarholes lose to Utah, before the Cats knocked off Stanford.)
For me, it has to be 1978......a very enjoyable game to watch, we beat Duke and my daughter was born a few days later!!
Every other championship, it was like we were pulling for the typical Kentucky championship team AGAINST someone else's 98 team. In 98 we got to pull for that team ourselves. I was only one, but I imagine it was the same feeling with Rupp's Runts in 66.
It would have to be 1978. It was my senior year at UK. I remember everyone dancing in the streets at Euclid and Woodland after the game. Then we went to the airport to welcome the team back.
1998...because it was such an exciting tournament and had so many memorable moments. 2013 would've topped it though if we could've finished it out and beaten UConn.
All of them are special. My brother was stationed near San Antonio in 98 and he was able to attend, send home pics and other swag.
It's a difficult choice, but I'm picking '98. I was a student at UK at the time, and the miraculous comeback against Duke in the elite eight was a blast. The entire campus roared when we won that game. The Cats also put a ruthless beating on UCLA in that tournament. It was incredibly exciting to have an unexpected run to the championship while taking out some of our historical rivals.
78 was the first championship i got to watch
but for me 98 is the best of the bunch
as others have stated we were supposed to win in 78, 96, 2012
the 98 team was far from being anywhere close to the talent 96, 97 had, but they would not quit and every move Tubby made was perfect
but for me 98 is the best of the bunch
as others have stated we were supposed to win in 78, 96, 2012
the 98 team was far from being anywhere close to the talent 96, 97 had, but they would not quit and every move Tubby made was perfect
My favorite was the "Fiddling Five" in the late 50's. I think this was maybe Adolph's greatest coaching job. He took players who were dedicated and beat the best. Seattle in the final was the much better team. They had Elgin Baylor and Sweet Charlie Brown ( I think was his name). Ky had Creager who was a good driver and Baylor was guarding him. Baylor was in foul trouble early and UK was on their way. Johnny Cox was 6-4 and was our big gun. None of the UK players was a laggard and the big man was Beck maybe 6-7. They played as a team and accomplished a lot.
Obviously of the 8 titles the 58 and 98 titles were the most unexpected and by pure record the 58 Fiddlin Five has to be the biggest surprise of all 8 titles and ironicly enough was Rupps last.
1998 wasn't supposed to be THE year losing so much talent and a thin crop of recruits. Nobody told the Comeback Cats.
1978 was the overwhelming favorite and loaded with talent but labeled the "Season without joy". Yet they made me as happy as I'd ever been.
1978 was the overwhelming favorite and loaded with talent but labeled the "Season without joy". Yet they made me as happy as I'd ever been.
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