ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | INSIDER | FANTASY   




Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Classic Kentucky Basketball


ESPN Classic celebrates 100 years of Kentucky basketball by reliving some of the greatest moments in team history on Sunday, Feb. 2 from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET. Highlights include Kentucky's national championship victories in 1978, 1996 and 1998. Here's our complete schedule:
All times eastern

Rick Pitino
Oh, how times have changed in Lexington, Ky. Just seven years ago, Rick Pitino was the toast of the town, leading the Wildcats to the '96 national championship.
Classic Kentucky Basketball
Sunday, Feb. 2
10 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET

10 a.m. - Kentucky at LSU (1994)
Kentucky completed its greatest comeback in school history, rallying from 31 points down in the final 15:34 to defeat LSU, 99-95. The Wildcats hit 11 three-pointers and outscored the Tigers 62-27 for the miraculous victory. Jeff Brassow hit four 3's and Walter McCarty, who had 23 points, hit a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to give Kentucky its first lead since 1-0. The Wildcats went 12-for-15 on 2-point shots in the second half and 12-for-23 on 3-pointers. LSU missed 11 free throws in the last 12 minutes.

Noon - 1978 National Championship
Kentucky vs. Duke

MVP Jack Givens put on one of the greatest individual performances in championship game history, netting 41 points (three shorts of the NCAA record) on 18-for-27 shooting to lead Kentucky to a 94-88 victory. Givens (eight rebounds) scored 23 first-half points, including UK's final 16 of the half. Rick Robey added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats.

2 p.m. - 1995 SEC Championship
Kentucky vs. Arkansas

The Wildcats continually clawed back until finally overtaking Arkansas when Anthony Epps converted two free-throws with four seconds remaining in overtime in a 95-93 SEC championship victory. Kentucky trailed by 19 in the first half, as many as 15 in the second half and by nine with just 1:33 to go in the extra period. Antoine Walker led the Wildcats with 23 points and Walter McCarty completed a key three point play down the stretch. Arkansas' Corliss Williamson led the Razorbacks with 22 points before fouling out in OT.

4 p.m. - 1996 National Championship
Kentucky vs. Syracuse

Tony Delk (24 points), the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, tied a championship game record with seven three-pointers and the Wildcats held off a late Syracuse rally to win their sixth national title, 76-67. Freshman Ron Mercer scored a career-high 20 points coming off the bench. John Wallace had 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Orangemen.

6 p.m. - 1998 National Championship
Kentucky vs. Utah

Scott Padgett scored 17 points and Final Four Most Outstanding Player Jeff Sheppard had 16 as Kentucky outlasted Utah, 78-69. Utah led 41-31 at halftime thanks to a large 24-6 rebounding advantage. Then, the Wildcats battled back and took a 65-64 lead when Sheppard canned a baseline jumper with 4:54 to play. The Utes would then miss 11 consecutive shots as Kentucky won its second title in three years.





Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories