Men's Basketball
Kentucky Basketball to Host Reunion for 1996-98 Teams
Published
2 years agoon

On February 18th, 2023, the UK Athletic Department will honor three of the most memorable teams in Kentucky men’s basketball history. The 1996, ’97, and ’98 seasons are considered the pinnacle of Kentucky basketball by some fans.
This three-year stretch may arguably be the greatest in all of college basketball, since the addition of the 3-point line. Three seasons, and three consecutive NCAA National Championship game appearances to bring home two national titles.
The celebration will start Friday, Feb. 17th, for players, coaches, and managers of these teams and will extend into Saturday’s game. Members of the historic teams will be recognized during the game as Kentucky takes on Tennessee at 1:00 pm ET.
“The Untouchables”
The 1996 team earned the title as “the Untouchables” following 25 straight wins, including a 16-0 record in SEC play. The team was led by coach Rick Pitino and Kentucky basketball legends Tony Delk and Antoine Walker.
Delk averaged 17.8 points per game while Walker brought 15.2 ppg himself. The duo led the ’96 team to the national championship game where they defeated Syracuse, 76-67 to bring home Kentucky basketball’s sixth national title. Tony Delk drained seven 3-pointers to tie the record for most 3-pointers in a national championship game.
1997
The 1997 team was led by legends Ron Mercer and Derek Anderson. Mercer and Anderson averaged 18.1 and 17.7 points per game, respectively, for the reigning national champs. Pitino coached his team to a 35-5 record and a second straight appearance in the title game. Despite a dominate season, the Cats fell to Arizona 84-75 in overtime of the final game.
“Comeback Cats”
In his first season as head coach, Tubby Smith led the ’98 Wildcats to a 35-4 overall record, an SEC championship, and a third straight appearance in the national championship game.
Senior guard Jeff Sheppard served as the team’s leading scorer at 13.7 points per game. All other starters averaged at least nine points a game to serve their opponents a balanced scoring attack.
The team earned the name “Comeback Cats” by overcoming a 10 point halftime deficit to defeat Utah, 78-69 to secure Kentucky’s seventh national title. Their second championship in three years.
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Men's Basketball
Former Wildcats Headline Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals Matchup
Published
3 days agoon
June 1, 2025
The NBA Finals tip off with familiar faces on both sides in the first-ever series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.
For the first time since 2012, when the Thunder were led by Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City is in the NBA Finals. The franchise has the opportunity to earn its first title in Oklahoma City since the team’s rebrand and relocation in 2008.
As for the Pacers, it’s the franchise’s first NBA Finals appearance since 2000. Indiana is seeking its first championship in team history.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City’s superstar and crowning 2024-25 league MVP has continued his season-long dominance into the postseason. Averaging 31.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
Gilgeous-Alexander impressed as the Thunder beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1, as he led all but one game of the series in scoring.
After an underwhelming performance in Game 3, Gilgeous-Alexander responded with a near triple-double performance, posting 40 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Oklahoma City defeated the Timberwolves narrowly, 128-126.
The Thunder blew out Minnesota in Games 4 and 5 thanks to back-to-back massive performances by Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 34 and 40 points, respectively. Clinching his first bid to the NBA Finals.
At midcourt after their Game 5 victory, OKC hoisted the Western Conference Trophy in front of their home crowd. Gilgeous-Alexander walked off with the Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson Trophy for his Western Conference Finals heroics.
Cason Wallace
Second-year pro Wallace is the Thunder’s ultimate plug-and-play contributor. Although Wallace isn’t a stat-stuffing machine like Gilgeous-Alexander, his defensive prowess stands out.
In five games, the Kentucky product averaged 25.8 minutes per game off the bench. Wallace was often assigned to guard Wolves superstar Anthony Edwards.
The 6-foot-4 guard averaged five points, 3.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and nearly a block and steal per game.
Known for his hustle, Wallace excels at imposing himself on defense despite commonly matching up with larger opponents. His ability to disrupt the Timberwolves’ offense created offensive opportunities, which coincided with his pass-first mentality on offense.
Wallace could be found stealing from 7-foot-1 Frenchman Rudy Gobert in the post and nailing 3-pointers on the other end.
In Game 5, Wallace scored only five points but had two rebounds, three assists and two blocks. Helping OKC seal a commanding 124-94 victory to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals.
Isaiah Jackson
The tallest former Wildcat out of the bunch, Jackson stands at 6-foot-9 as a physical off-the-bench presence for Indiana.
Unfortunately, the big man won’t be available to play in the NBA Finals. In the fifth game of the season, Jackson suffered a season-ending Achilles tear on Nov. 1 in a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans.
This season Jackson made six appearances for the Pacers, including a start against the Boston Celtics early in the season. Posting seven points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
Despite the injury, the four-year Pacer would still receive a ring if Indiana wins for his short-lived contribution this season.
Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips-off on Thursday, June 5, at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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Men's Basketball
The 2025-26 Cats Consensus: It’s Time for Banner Number Nine
Every new and returning Wildcat shares the same dream: bringing a championship trophy to Lexington once more.
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Published
4 days agoon
May 31, 2025
“We are here to win banners.”
While just about everything Mark Pope said at his introductory press conference went viral in one way or another, that aforementioned declaration stood out amongst his crowd of quotes like no other to a fanbase more than a decade removed from a national championship.
To the big blue nation, Coach Pope’s words last spring were a much needed battle cry. Now, as he’s set to enter his second year at the helm, Pope has made sure the team he assembled for the 2025-26 season shares the same hunger.
It begins on a basic level, with players across the board throwing the number “9” around on social media in posts, replies, and commitments. Much like the Kentucky faithful, the newest roster to roll through Lexington isn’t afraid to make reference to the top task at hand.
For (likely) starting point guard Jaland Lowe, it’s an opportunity he “can’t miss.” “See y’all soon #BBN,” he said in a post on X, announcing his return to the collegiate level. Lowe chose a junior season at Kentucky over a chance to be chosen in the NBA Draft. Otega Oweh, the now-projected SEC player of the year, would follow suit shortly thereafter.
The Ultimate Goal
Andrija Jelavic, a primary member of the incoming unit, as well as the team’s lone international player, dubbed the title chase as “the ultimate goal” in his interview with KY Insider. “We all [the team] agree that the ultimate goal is the same and that is to bring a championship to Kentucky, to the state and the fans,” he said.
To Jelavic, it goes further than hunger. It’s a responsibility.
And that responsibility is what sets Kentucky apart from other programs. As awkward as the conversation around John Calipari can get, when push comes to shove, much of the dissatisfaction growing within the fanbase as his tenure came to a close was rooted in the coach’s apparent disinterest in winning another championship.
Year after year went by; top-ranked roster after top ranked roster. After a while, it seemed that Kentucky was more often mentioned in the first round of the NBA Draft than it was in the NCAA Tournament. The problem persisted, the tension festered and, ultimately, the two sides split… and it all goes back to that elusive ninth title.
Name on the Front of the Jersey
Mark Pope has said before that he wants to bring in guys who are playing for the name on the front of their jersey. It just so happens that there are enough of those like-minded athletes across the nation to build one of the consensus best teams in college basketball, all of whom are in full pursuit of a new blue banner in the rafters of Rupp.
With a mindset like that shared across the board and talent like the 2025-26 team has at hand, it’s only a matter of time before that dream becomes a reality once more. For the first time in more than a decade, the entire Big Blue Nation is on the same page – and that includes the guys who can actually make it happen.
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Men's Basketball
Koby Brea Talks With Andrija Jelavic About His Legendary Chapter Awaiting At Kentucky
Published
4 days agoon
May 31, 2025
Andrija Jelavic, in a recent Q&A with Kentucky Insider, revealed that he exchanged messages with former Wildcat Koby Brea, who will be handing down his No. 4 jersey to Jelavic.
The big man was asked if he had spoken with any former Wildcats after comparing his play style to Karl-Anthony Towns, and what he knew about Kentucky growing up. During a Q & A with us, Kentucky signee Andrija Jelavic said that he models his game after players like Lauri Markkanen, former Wildcat Karl-Anthony Towns and NBA legend Kevin Durant.
Graphic made by Kai McClelland (@fourwal1) #BBN #UKMBB #AndrijaJelavic pic.twitter.com/GepdIOHrG8— KY Insider (@KyInsider) May 28, 2025
“I exchanged some messages with Koby Brea because I’m gonna be wearing his number four,” Jelavic said. “About Kentucky, I always knew that they are the biggest franchise in college basketball history, and just everything about them is legendary.”
Jelavic added on what exactly Brea said in those messages.
“He just told me to go be great and that he can’t wait to see me play,” Jelavic said. “Also, that he likes my number decision.”
Alone, the fact that Brea reached out speaks volume to the culture that is established at Kentucky. The lethal sharpshooter from Mark Pope’s first team at Kentucky played only one season in the blue and white, yet, seems interested in the future of the program despite chasing his own big league dreams.
To end our exclusive interview, Jelavic talked about the goals he has now as a Wildcat and how he wants to be a legendary piece to this year’s roster.
“Definitely to bring many wins and hopefully a championship to Kentucky, Jelavic said. “To be a player that Kentucky will always remember.”
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