What UK player...

[EvilMD]

...had a hand in the most impressive wins in the NCAA tournament? By impressive win I mean any win over a name opponent or an opponent in the Sweet 16 or later. And by had a hand in I mean anything other than mop up minutes. There is no right answer here, just opinions. Obviously the one-and-dones are at a huge disadvantage here.

My first candidate....Scott Padgett

1997: nine points vs Iowa, 12 points vs St. Josephs, 11 points vs. Utah, nine points vs. Minnesota
1998: 19 points vs UCLA, 12 points vs Duke, 10 points vs Stanford, 17 points vs Utah
1999: 29 points vs Kansas, 17 points vs Miami Ohio

That's 10 solid to spectacular games that helped us win in the tournament.

I used this page for my numbers...

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/gamencaa.html

 

[JStaff2187]

I think you meant 17 points vs Utah. But yeah those are impressive numbers. Didn't realize how much he contributed in those runs. Of course I was only 10, 11, and 12 those years.

 

[EvilMD]

I figured the answer would be Tony Delk, but realized Delk only contributed in 95 and 96 (94 we lost in the second round)

 

[TCurtis75]

Aaron Harrison...his run during the NCAA tournament was one of the best ever

Granted that was in only one tournament but damn that was as impressive set of games as I can remember

 

[On-On-UK]

Sean Woods.
Well, almost...

 

[ORCAT]

Scott Padgett was the first that came to mind soon as I read the question. The shot and his reaction in that huge comeback against Duke was enough in itself for me as it was one of the highest moments in UK basketball for me and I've been a fan for a whole lotta years!!!!!!

 

[EvilMD]

Aaron Harrison...his run during the NCAA tournament was one of the best ever

Granted that was in only one tournament but damn that was as impressive set of games as I can remember

It was two tournaments, and he contributed in wins over Kansas State, Wichita State, Louisville, Michigan, Wisconsin, Cincinnati, West Virginia and Notre Dame. An argument could very easily be made for him over Padgett because of the clutch shots, all beating top 10 teams.

 

[Cindog28]

Wayne Turner

 

[FrankUnderwood]

Scott Padgett was the first that came to mind soon as I read the question. The shot and his reaction in that huge comeback against Duke was enough in itself for me as it was one of the highest moments in UK basketball for me and I've been a fan for a whole lotta years!!!!!!

Yes that shot and his reaction will forever be a fav "UK moment " of mine and live in infamy imo.
Love Scott !

 

[nickhorvathsuxazz]

I know '76 was an NIT year, but what about Goose in '75, '77 and '78? Wonder how those #'s look?

 

[EvilMD]

Darius Miller

2010: 20 vs. Wake Forest, 9 vs. Cornell
2011: 17 vs. Princeton, 3 vs. West Virginia, 7 vs. Ohio State, 11 vs. UNC
2012: 19 vs. Iowa St, 19 vs. Indiana, 8 vs. Baylor, 13 vs. Louisville, 5 vs. Kansas

 

[buckkiller]

Sleeper pick Mercer vs Scumacuse 96 didn't he come in and have a huge game if I recall.

 

[bigbluelou]

Sleeper pick Mercer vs Scumacuse 96 didn't he come in and have a huge game if I recall.

20 pts if memory serves

 

[bigbluelou]

Too late to look it up but Sheppard had a helluva 98 tourney. Ended up being MOP.

 

[EvilMD]

Sheppard

1995: 11 vs Tulane, 4 vs Arizona State
1996: 2 vs Va Tech, 6 vs Utah, 7 vs Wake Forest, 7 vs UMass, 2 vs Syracuse
1998: 18 vs St. Louis, 16 vs UCLA, 18 vs Duke, 27 vs Stanford, 16 vs Utah

If you count St. Louis, you have to add that to Padgett's list, too. He had 10 in that game.