It would be too easy to use coaches because Rupp and Cal are half of it right there so stick to players.
Who is on the Mt. Rushmore of Kentucky basketball (Players edition)?
- Thread starter YourPublicEnemy
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Frank Ramsey, Ralph Beard or Wah Wah Jones
Dan Issel
Jack Givens
Jamal Mashburn
Limiting it to 4, I tried to represent every era. Ramsey is an all-time great at every level. Beard was extremely talented & according to every recollection I've heard, could've played in any era. I just don't know if you can include a guy who was banned from the sport for point shaving. Wah Wah is arguably the best all-around athlete UK has had. And, obviously Davis & Wall are easily 2 of the best players to come thru Lexington. But, I can't bring myself to put ANY one year player on an all-time list like this. I'm more torn by leaving off Cotton Nash & Cliff Hagan than any of the Calipari guys. Maybe better athletes or players but they weren't here long enough to be better Wildcats, IMO.
Dan Issel
Jack Givens
Jamal Mashburn
Limiting it to 4, I tried to represent every era. Ramsey is an all-time great at every level. Beard was extremely talented & according to every recollection I've heard, could've played in any era. I just don't know if you can include a guy who was banned from the sport for point shaving. Wah Wah is arguably the best all-around athlete UK has had. And, obviously Davis & Wall are easily 2 of the best players to come thru Lexington. But, I can't bring myself to put ANY one year player on an all-time list like this. I'm more torn by leaving off Cotton Nash & Cliff Hagan than any of the Calipari guys. Maybe better athletes or players but they weren't here long enough to be better Wildcats, IMO.
Just my opinion but Issel will always be the face of UK basketball.
AD Did more in one season than 99.99% of UK players.
I agree. He had ONE great season. If it's top 4 PLAYERS he's on the list for sure. Just me personally, I think of the Mt Rushmore thing as more of a career recognition than a season. Even if your career IS one season. The guys who did it 3-4 years provided a lot more memories & fans grew attached to them. Being the face of the program meant more, maybe. I'm certainly not gonna argue with Davis being one of the four. He just wouldn't be one of MY four for this particular category.
Issel
Mashburn
AD
Those three seem obvious. The fourth, IMO, is anybody's guess.
Mashburn
AD
Those three seem obvious. The fourth, IMO, is anybody's guess.
One year. NPOY, DPOY, No. 1 pick, national championship. No-brainer.
I agree.
To be fair to the other poster, he did say IMO so I will respectfully agree to disagree.
Thank you. Like I said I'm not arguing that he's worthy. My personal criteria is just different for this particular discussion. Davis is one of my favorites & was absolutely dominant here. When I think Mt Rushmore it's more than just ranking the best players. I also see it as the faces of the program's history. Davis IS a big part of that history & if he was ever voted onto an official UK Mt Rushmore I'd be fine with it. And, I know he's probably a better player than everyone on my list. I just think to be on THAT list at a program with so much history, you need to do it for more than one year.
Issel
Mashburn
Davis
Any one of: Wah Jones, Nash, Hagan, Goose, Grevey, Skywalker, Bowie, Delk, Prince and dozens more.
Mashburn
Davis
Any one of: Wah Jones, Nash, Hagan, Goose, Grevey, Skywalker, Bowie, Delk, Prince and dozens more.
Cats1again
Ulismyman
Smooth as butter
Bigbluesean(soccer extraordinare and paddock legend)
Ulismyman
Smooth as butter
Bigbluesean(soccer extraordinare and paddock legend)
Ralph Beard
Dan Issel
Jamal Mashburn
Anthony Davis *
* Hope they can chisel the "Brow" properly!
Dan Issel
Jamal Mashburn
Anthony Davis *
* Hope they can chisel the "Brow" properly!
Agree here...if you don't have those three on it the list of sort of looney tune-ish. And the AD was only here 1 year argument...geez look at what he did in that one year.
This would be mine as well. Covers all eras of Kentucky basketball.
It would take a pretty big mountain to hold all of our greats. So I am taking one from each era.
Rupp Years Ralph Beard
Joe B Years Goose
Ricky P Years Mash
Coach Cal Years AD
Only Mash did not win a title. But he should have.
Rupp Years Ralph Beard
Joe B Years Goose
Ricky P Years Mash
Coach Cal Years AD
Only Mash did not win a title. But he should have.
I was thinking along those same lines, I was getting ready to type those four when I saw your post!!! Even tho Mash is only one to not win a title he was so instrumental in our return from probation. And he was a huge name, even people that aren't huge fans remember Mash.
I think Issel, Mashburn and AD are obvious as others have pointed out. I'm also big on comparing players to how successful they were in their respective era. The 4th for me is also obvious...Ralph Beard:
4 time 1st team All SEC (only UK player to ever accomplish that)
3 time consensus 1st Team AA
2 National Championships
Gold Medal summer before his Senior Year
4 time 1st team All SEC (only UK player to ever accomplish that)
3 time consensus 1st Team AA
2 National Championships
Gold Medal summer before his Senior Year
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