The best UK basketball game you ever saw anywhere any time.

[ArtLaibsGhost]

There are so many, to me the Regional semifinal in 96 . The Cats beat a very good Wake Forrest team by 20. We were obviously the best team in the country and that day we played nothing short of sublime basketball. Our press was a thing to behold. I remember the CBS analyst George Raveling , who had up to that point been downplaying our team saying in awe after the game” My garandfather once told me when locust come they eat everything”. To me it was the pinnacle of what UK basketball could be, of course that team went on to win it all. It was the greatest performance In a big game I ever saw

 

[yoshukai]

That’s a tough one but , the 95 SEC championship game against Arkansas would be tough to beat .

 

[yes_takeaside]

1978 Title game at the Checkerdome in St Louis on IU’s home floor

“The Cats Crash the Final Four” knocking off unbeaten IU in Dayton (See my avatar)

The Runts taking down Michigan and Cazzie Russell to go to the Final Four in Iowa City

 

[zwynn10]

That’s a tough one but , the 95 SEC championship game against Arkansas would be tough to beat .

I have to agree. The level of intensity and the quality of the players on both sides made it a memorable game. I think we had 8 or 9 players that played in that game play in the NBA and I think Ark had 5 or 6. Neither team gave an inch and every possession was like a life and death struggle between the teams. The fact that we came out on top made it all the better.

 

[ConRay9]

Depends on what you mean by best?

For instance, most dominant? For some reason the first two games that come to mind are the 2015 win over West Virginia in the Sweet 16, and the halftime score that same team had against UCLA 41-7

My favorite? 2003, Florida, at home. As a kid old enough to understand the game, but still young enough to cry when we would lose, that season as a whole was amazing. Say what you want about Dickie V, but his commentary that game adds to his legacy in such a positive way. To me, that game, atmosphere, and commentary are the epitome of college basketball.

Best win? Probably 2014 Wisconsin. That 2014 team had incredible talent. But that magical run leading up to the championship game is stuff of legend. 8 seed upsetting an undefeated team, allowing them to defeat their arch rival in the Sweet 16, only to win on a near buzzer beater in the Elite 8 against Michigan, followed by another near buzzer beater in the Final Four against likely the best team that year…shame they couldn’t close it out,

Honorable Mention: 1998 Duke. I was not alive in 92’, but I understand the importance of both of those Duke Elite Eight games. I was alive in 1998, and yet I’ve known for a long time it wasn’t just about winning a championship—it was also about healing from the scars of 92’. Three straight championship appearances is also incredible to be honest.

 

[Kentucky fan 1989]

2014 Wichita State.

 

[michaeluk26]

From a pure basketball standpoint, probably the Wichita State game. Hell every win in that run was incredible, minus Kstate. That is by far the most fun I had watching a tournament run minus 98.

Also as posters above have mentioned the 95 SEC title game vs Arkansas was incredible.

The 31 point comeback. Nough said.

Favorite game I attended. It has to be the 2010 SEC tournament. By far the best atmosphere I've ever been in, and that includes at Rupp. From the comeback against Alabama, to the absolutely blowing Pearl's Tennessee team out of the water after they beat us the prior week. Then MSU, the Boogie basket at the buzzer after what looked like a sure loss. I thought we'd won with that basket as well lol. Then Wall hits that sideways 3 as the shot clock went down. Words cant describe how epic those 3 days were.

 

[Swifterz]

Assume we are talking in person, so I will say the kentucky witchita state game in St. Louis in 2014 when they were 35-0. They were no joke. Incredible game.

 

[BlueSince92]

1992 vs Duke, unfortunately.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

1998 Duke

 

[Born and raised Big Blue]

Kentucky notre dame 2015 elite 8.
Sadly watched the following game. That would be the worst game I have watched.
also watched the 2012 team at South Carolina their year they won it and it was a beat down.

 

[Greatestalltime]

Kentucky vs Wake Forrest when they had Rodney Rogers. UofK seemed to hit three after three.

 

[mebeblue2]

2014 Wichita State.

my first thought and i have watched decades of games
that was not just one of the greatest UK games of all time, that was one of the greatest CBB games of all time

 

[JimBR]

Two stand out for me both in Freedom Hall (Grew up in Louisville): North Carolina game where Jimmy Dan Conner went off for 30+ when the natives were getting restless with Joe B. Second was Notre Dame and Dwight Anderson rallied the Cats to a win.

 

[know1]

Kentucky 100-95 over LSU with Shaq, Chris Jackson and Stanley Roberts. Our tallest player was Reggie Hanson at 6-7.

 

[STL_Cat]

I was at the UK-Wichita State game in 2014. Far and away the best game I’ve seen live and in person. 2 teams playing at such a high level and trading punches all game. I would have put money on Cleanthony Early eventually becoming an NBA All-Star after that game. The Kansas fans sitting around us (at least the ones that stuck around after the loss to Stanford …) were commenting that it made their game look like a couple JV teams.

 

[HagginHall1999]

Didn't see either in person but just watching on TV and regardless of outcome it has to be '92 and '98 Duke.

There have been so many great games over the years, some we lost and some we won.

 

[CUJO_1970]

1998 Duke. (See my avatar) History, and an eventual national title was at stake in this game.

That Scott Padgett 3-pointer remains the greatest sports induced euphoria I've ever experienced.

 

[nssdigitalchumps]

I was in Jewell Hall on campus when the 96 team took down Syracuse. I walked down to Euclid/Woodland and celebrated like a fool. Accidentally bumped into a guy with a box of bud light and it went everywhere. No great loss. It was Bud Light.

 

[Catfan2226]

Kentucky 100-95 over LSU with Shaq, Chris Jackson and Stanley Roberts. Our tallest player was Reggie Hanson at 6-7.

I was there..loudest Ive ever heard Rupp Arena.The building was rocking.

 

[know1]

I was there..loudest Ive ever heard Rupp Arena.The building was rocking.

Same. I was there too. My ears were actually ringing after the game.

 

[Catfan2226]

1998 Duke. (See my avatar) History, and an eventual national title was at stake in this game.

That Scott Padgett 3-pointer remains the greatest sports induced euphoria I've ever experienced.

There have been so many great games but the 92 and 98 Duke games for me were the epitome of emotions...one so sad I didnt eat for 2 days and the other was pure joy and happiness.

 

[nssdigitalchumps]

Didn't see either in person but just watching on TV and regardless of outcome it has to be '92 and '98 Duke.

There have been so many great games over the years, some we lost and some we won.

I lived in NC when Duke won that game. I remember going to high school and getting condolences from UNC fans (they sincerely felt bad). It was weird.

 

[21Goose]

I was a UK student in 92 and made the drive to Philly for the Duke game. It was by far the best game I've been to and the atmosphere was unbelievable. Terrible ending and a long drive home.

Side note: A friend and I had a test scheduled while we were going to be gone. We went to see our teacher about getting it rescheduled. He paused for a minute and then said gosh that sounds like a great time have fun guys. He ended up counting our final twice instead of having us make the test up.

 

[JonathanW]

In person?
Then I am limited to 2 seasons and maybe 10 more games over past 30 years.
1- UK over WF in 93 sweet 16, utter first half dominance over a good team, we were up 34 at half time.
2- UK over IU in Dec 92, both top 5 teams, D.Bailey missed shot that would have beat us.
3- 93 SECT final vs Ark

Not in person:
1- “the game”, 92 Duke game. I almost went, seriously thought about getting student ticket and driving to it.
2- Dec 14 vs UCLA, never seen such dominance
3- Dec 14 vs KU (see above)

I’m sure some of you will post some that will make me think oh yeah that one too.

 

[JonathanW]

I was a UK student in 92 and made the drive to Philly for the Duke game. It was by far the best game I've been to and the atmosphere was unbelievable. Terrible ending and a long drive home.

Side note: A friend and I had a test scheduled while we were going to be gone. We went to see our teacher about getting it rescheduled. He paused for a minute and then said gosh that sounds like a great time have fun guys. He ended up counting our final twice instead of having us make the test up.

On your side note, I was in Grad school in 92 and 93, so also strongly considered going to that Duke game. So the next year remembering that regret I did go to our game vs WF in Charlotte. Shorter drive, but long enough. I got back at like 6am, overslept for class I was teaching, so the other class I was teaching was right after so I canceled that class too. And in a couple of teacher evaluations was mentioned that I showed up to class with hangover and canceled class once. Had to be that time (since I didn’t ever drink). Lol.

 

[Cat in ga]

There are so many, to me the Regional semifinal in 96 . The Cats beat a very good Wake Forrest team by 20. We were obviously the best team in the country and that day we played nothing short of sublime basketball. Our press was a thing to behold. I remember the CBS analyst George Raveling , who had up to that point been downplaying our team saying in awe after the game” My garandfather once told me when locust come they eat everything”. To me it was the pinnacle of what UK basketball could be, of course that team went on to win it all. It was the greatest performance In a big game I ever saw

Remember that game like it was yesterday. I was nervous the day before due to all the talking heads saying Duncan was unstoppable. He was a great player. We had a great team and we hit them in the chin and just kept on swinging. That was a fun game to watch.