It was before my time and probably before most peoples time that post here but looking at past stats and all the high scoring games makes me wonder if Rupp was known more for his offense or defense? No doubt he was way ahead of his time. I know he wrote some books but I haven’t read any of them. Just wondering if anyone on here has any insight or good stores to tell since it’s a slow time for basketball news
Was Rupp an offensive genius?
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He was considered a innovator of the game in the forties with his fast break style of basketball some believe he patterned after a local hs coach at Clark County letcher Norton
Rupp never had a player or team shoot 40% from 3. He was useless.
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Yes, and UK was the 1st CB dynasty winning four titles before anyone else in 11 seasons:
‘48, ‘49, ‘51 and ‘58.
‘48, ‘49, ‘51 and ‘58.
without a doubt
he changed the game both offensively & defensively with the 131 zone
he changed the game both offensively & defensively with the 131 zone
I heard he never let his teams shoot threes. Thought I'd look it up. It's actually true. They never shot a three. Not one.
Genius, my ass!
Rupp was friends with some of the top pro coaches of the day and would talk basketball with them, so yes he was on the cutting edge of basketball in the day. He was getting top talent and wanted a faster pace to help talent show their skills. He was one of if not the first to play a national schedule. He did this to allow his players to play in areas where there was pro ball, giving them more chance to be noticed. Prior to Rupp, most college ball was local. By traveling to other parts of the country, it lead to highlighting differences in officiating in different areas, creating a problem for the NCAA. This didn't make Rupp very well liked by the NCAA.
If not the inventor, he was the popularizer of the fast break, which is a 1000000x greater accolade to have than inventing some BS like the "four corners". The great Red Auerbach once said about Rupp and his teams that he would rather watch a Kentucky basketball practice than any two teams playing a game.
Rupp was ahead of his time, I was able to see his teams from the early 60's they were a fast break first kind of a team but when that wasn't there their offense consisted of player movement and passing, no one exemplified that more than Rupps Runts, he was definately a genius.
Coach Rupp despised zone defense (strictly man to man).
But the last decade or so, he shocked the world with a 1-3-1 half court trap.
But the last decade or so, he shocked the world with a 1-3-1 half court trap.
Wasn’t a zone. Was actually a stratified transitional hyperbolic paraboloid defense.
Some of you are too young to know...but Rupp really did not like Zone. Joe B brought the 1-3-1 zone to Kentucky. He fought constantly for Rupp to use it more, so much so that Joe B. left Kentucky, and the Administration got him to come back with the promise of being head coach by making Rupp retiring at mandatory age 70. Rupp tried to get his age set aside by the state legislators and for a while had the votes, but the deal with Joe b. won the day.
Rupp did not like the deal or Joe B and was very bitter about Joe returning. Joe B. went on to recruit Dan Issel and company as his 1st class, as Rupp was still head coach at that time. Joe coach the freshman Issel and company team and ran 1-3-1 zone exclusively that year. He took over the Head coaching job the next year!
Joe in his last years went to numerous John Calipari practices of John Calipari, who he was very fond of, always trying to get Cal to run the 1-3-1. He even offered to teach the team, but Cal never would use it, but Joe B. did teach Cal the 1-3-1!
Rupp Like Cal was Run, Run, Run and would not except change! In his last years teams started playing slow down (think four corners) and they ceased to be as good of a team.
Seems like yesterday .... Time flies when you are old, but the memories of Kentucky Basketball never fade!!
Rupp did not like the deal or Joe B and was very bitter about Joe returning. Joe B. went on to recruit Dan Issel and company as his 1st class, as Rupp was still head coach at that time. Joe coach the freshman Issel and company team and ran 1-3-1 zone exclusively that year. He took over the Head coaching job the next year!
Joe in his last years went to numerous John Calipari practices of John Calipari, who he was very fond of, always trying to get Cal to run the 1-3-1. He even offered to teach the team, but Cal never would use it, but Joe B. did teach Cal the 1-3-1!
Rupp Like Cal was Run, Run, Run and would not except change! In his last years teams started playing slow down (think four corners) and they ceased to be as good of a team.
Seems like yesterday .... Time flies when you are old, but the memories of Kentucky Basketball never fade!!
He won a lot of games. So he had to be doing something right!
I would love to have the classic K and that wildcat back as our logo.
PastorBob, Loved your post.
Going by my memory...which means 98.5% chance I am wrong :
* Coach Rupp did use the 1-3-1 in the 60's (trapping half court).
* Joe became head coach after Issel graduated.
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The ol’ Kentucky Weave was Rupp’s version of the dribble drive. Unique at the time and tough to defend.
Thank you. I wasn't sure what he was talking about. Rupp had two more seasons after Issel (70/71 & 71/72) with Tom Payne and Jim Andrews.
Likewise, he said Rupps teams ceased to be good toward the end, but they were consistently one of the best teams in basketball with 3 Elite 8s and 2 Sweet 16s in his final 5 seasons, ranked in the top 5 at some point in all 5 years, and an 82% winning percentage.
His postseason success dropped off but the Issel, Pratt, Casey teams were highly ranked the entire seasons 1969-71. I think the 1970 team ended the regular season ranked #1 but lost to Artis Gilmore and Jacksonville or at least I think so. That was the year I was born but my memory is not nearly that good.
Genius? Al McGuire said it best about coaches: you have to be smart enough to do it and dumb enough to think it important. I've watched some of the stuff from 58 and 66 on Youtube clips. The game was vastly different in those days. The athleticism of the players was much less, the skills were rougher, and the amount of contact permitted was tiny and strictly enforced. Hoops was what got played between football and baseball.
Rupp was among a handful of coaches who took the game seriously. Ed Diddle, Clair Bee, Adolph Rupp, Phog Allen. The UK coach before Rupp -- John Mauer -- went on to coach baseball and football elsewhere.
I think the UK coach who changed the game the most was Joe B. He brought year round training and muscle to the game and initiated the practice of defenses daring the refs to call contact.
Rupp was among a handful of coaches who took the game seriously. Ed Diddle, Clair Bee, Adolph Rupp, Phog Allen. The UK coach before Rupp -- John Mauer -- went on to coach baseball and football elsewhere.
I think the UK coach who changed the game the most was Joe B. He brought year round training and muscle to the game and initiated the practice of defenses daring the refs to call contact.
It was, I was at the Game! Dayton, OH. Issel was fouled out on a cheap foul and that was it.
