With this being the 20th anniversary of the 1996 champs, you're favorite memory of them.

[Robcatt24]

Didn't really think about this being the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Cats until it was mentioned during tonight's game.

A lot of great memories from that season.

One of my favorites is the 86 point first half at LSU. Just mind blowing watching that happen.

Wow, does time fly. Can't believe it's been 20 years already.

 

[CELTICAT]

Mark Pope

 

[Blouman]

I went to the LSU game in Baton Rouge that year. We scored over 80 in the first half.

 

[kyboy1998]

Damn I'm getting old.

 

[reddickulis81]

The rematch against UMASS ironically enough. 20 years later Cal is on our bench.

 

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

so many - 96 was my last year at UK. Like others said the 86 point first half but my favorite "memory" was the FF Umass game. Watched it in an apartment right off Euclid, and when it was over a huge crowd of people would cross back and forth at Euclid and Woodland as the crosswalk signal changed. We'd all gives high fives and such in the middle.

Two nights later was obviously great too but that night was much colder and I got sick from having too much beer land on me. Also lost my hat in the melee. But that was quite the 3-4 days, wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

[jrpross]

The rematch against UMASS ironically enough. 20 years later Cal is on our bench.

That's the game that sticks out in my head too.

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

It is also the 50th ann. Of Rupps Runts.
Gotta believe something special will happen in 2016.

 

[.S&C.]

The rematch against UMASS ironically enough. 20 years later Cal is on our bench.

My thoughts to an extent....

My favorite memory was being 11 years old with my father at Pitino father/son camp 1997. I'll never forget being on campus the last night and watching the title game with the players. There were only around 15 sons and dads then, so looking back it's pretty incredible if you're a UK fan. I know it's the next season but it kind of intertwines, at least to me.

1996 Kentucky Wildcats.....STILL they greatest college team in UK history, and probably ever.

 

[KopiKat]

I attended the game at Thompson-Boling that season. We whipped them soundly. Played really well, didn't turn the ball over hardly any. Huge crowd - lots of UK fans in Knoxville. Good memory.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

Easily the LSU game. I have never seen a P5 team dismantled like that. It was brutal. Utter domination in every way. I'll probably never see another beating like that in my lifetime. It was epic. 86 points in the first half. They could have scored 150 if they felt like it that night. Toine had 28 in the first half. Unreal.

 

[.S&C.]

Easily the LSU game. I have never seen a P5 team dismantled like that. It was brutal. Utter domination in every way. I'll probably never see another beating like that in my lifetime. It was epic. 86 points in the first half. They could have scored 150 if they felt like it that night. Toine had 28 in the first half. Unreal.

My father was part of the Tennessee alumni chapter and we saw it live with a huge group. Anyone that didn't live through that team has absolutely no idea.

 

[kyboy1998]

It is also the 50th ann. Of Rupps Runts.
Gotta believe something special will happen in 2016.

18th anniversary of the Comeback cats and 4th anniversary of the 12 championship.

Definitely something special brewing.

 

[kentucky_wildcat_#1]

Team depth. I know last year's team was deep, but before that, i didn't think we would ever see another season we could go 2 deep and really not lose much talent. With the way Cal recruits, depth should never be an issue, but in 96 to have a team as deep as the 96 cats, it was rare and special.

 

[ukwazoo]

Delk's 4-point play. Knew we had it then.

 

[JumperJack]

Pope diving on the floor in the NC game to save a ball and put it away.

 

[reddickulis81]

My thoughts to an extent....

My favorite memory was being 11 years old with my father at Pitino father/son camp 1997. I'll never forget being on campus the last night and watching the title game with the players. There were only around 15 sons and dads then, so looking back it's pretty incredible if you're a UK fan. I know it's the next season but it kind of intertwines, at least to me.

1996 Kentucky Wildcats.....STILL they greatest college team in UK history, and probably ever.

That would be an experience of a lifetime. That team will always be my favorite, I remember Pitino would do a platoon. He would press the shit out of teams. At a dead ball 5 more studs would come in and keep on going. Absolutely relentless. I still haven't seen anything like it, and probubly won't.They just slaughterd mother****ers!

 

[WildMoon]

Winning the NT...

 

[reddickulis81]

I also remember that Jon Wallace kid from Syracuse. That dude could ball, Do you remember him. I was impresed.

 

[hmt5000]

Syracuse player saying "their Kentucky, we knew we'd lose" or something like that... it was like the world acknowledged we were one of the best teams ever.

 

[downthehatch]

I was at the final game in NJ. The best moment was Anthony Epps getting John Wallace to foul out with two minutes left. It was a simple, but brilliant move by Epps that did it. Wallace already had 29 points and was unstoppable. That was the difference between a Final Four banner and a Championship

 

[musrat59]

That was definitely a great, great team.

 

[hotelblue]

I was at the final game in NJ. The best moment was Anthony Epps getting John Wallace to foul out with two minutes left. It was a simple, but brilliant move by Epps that did it. Wallace already had 29 points and was unstoppable. That was the difference between a Final Four banner and a Championship

we would have still won because their whole team was gassed and in foul trouble. and burgain still had his little run that wouldn't have happened the same otherwise.

i remember epps throwing his arms up at the end of the umass game. kind of an emotional release, like "this is ours bitches".

 

[Roe07]

The LSU game in Baton Rouge where we just completely destroyed them. There's a good Dick Vitale quote from that game where he said, "after what I've seen tonight, there needs to be an NCAA investigation if Kentucky doesn't win the national title." Also, beating Syracuse to win it all. I was in 6th grade and that was the first title I witnessed. That team was legendary!

 

[bradscats]

I went to my first game that year with my dad. We watched Kentucky beat Tubby led Georgia.

 

[EvilMD]

Syracuse players started rapping after each win in the NCAA...."The Cuse is in the house, oh my God, my God, the Cuse is in the house oh my God...."

When we beat them in the final, our players rapped "Tell me who's in the house tonight? YOO KAY!"

Chills.

 

[CatNChucktown]

Kick a little tush and then it's back on the bus...

 

[ORCAT10]

Me and my brother leaving Oak Ridge, TN at about 3am the next morning and making the drive to Lexington. We were able to get tickets (free but you had to have them) in order to get into Rupp for the teams return. Nothing like watching the team team get off the bus with the championship trophy.

 

[Bkocats]

I'm going to say Tony Delk's three and getting fouled on the shot in the title game.

But that entire year was so special - it's really hard to pinpoint one thing. Does anyone else remember hearing about our first round against San Jose St and their players were asking OUR players for autographs before the game?

 

[Untouchables96]

I was a student working for the Kernel and went to almost every game and knew all the guys personally, it was an amazing experience I will never forget.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

The Shimmy

 

[BigBluuDog]

Pitino before he became a traitor..

 

[Cowtown Cat]

For people that didn't get to witness the 1996 team, all you need to know is that Nazr Mohammed played on the UK JV team that year. That's just insane.

 

[gossie21]

That time they all climbed up ladders and cut down some nets. Good times.

 

[DCFseattle]

That one time when Walter McCarty dunked it.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

Didn't really think about this being the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Cats until it was mentioned during tonight's game.

A lot of great memories from that season.

One of my favorites is the 86 point first half at LSU. Just mind blowing watching that happen.

Wow, does time fly. Can't believe it's been 20 years already.

The LSU game where we scored 80 in the 1st half.

 

[TeoJ]

Kick a little tush and then it's back on the bus...

Classic

 

[KWilt43atbuzz]

McCarty's late stick back when the Cuse was making a final run at UK.

 

[FlCATFan]

I remember some analyst discussing the college basketball season after the championship. Unanimously agreed that the UK starting five were the best team that season and it was postulated that UK's bench was the second best team in college basketball. An unbelievable collection of talent.

 

[CatPhight]

Delk's 4-point play. Knew we had it then.

Absolutely - it was our defining championship moment for a long time and forever etched in the lore of the program.