Reggie warford, the second black player in university of kentucky basketball history, arrived at uk as a freshman in 1972. Written in a unique, easytoread style that brings to life the exploits of wildcats teams and players, this definitive source includes. The cardinals have officially won two ncaa championships in 1980 and 1986 with the 20 title being vacated. How sweet it is is a journey into the locker rooms, bus rides, practices, and games of the 20152016 clay county tigers, covington catholic colonels, and taylor county. In the early days they use to draw 17,000 plus in attendance at the birmingham jefferson civic center. Although this book was published more than 60 years ago and has been updated several times since then it is the place to begin if you are curious about kentucky s fascinating and often tragic history. A book no fan can afford to be without, the winning tradition brings alive the agonies, frustrations, and glories of each season of kentucky basketball, from the first team fielded by women to the. Huntington, wv, 11659 38 lemar northington trigg county vs. Jun 16, 2019 king kelly coleman, kentuckys first mr. One of the things we try to do here at kentucky sports radio is cover uk basketball in ways that may not be common for other internet sites or traditional media outlets.
The ten best basketball books of all time truehoop espn. The university of kentucky has won 7 national championships in mens basketball. Adolph rupp, who was perceived to be hostile to the idea of integrating. There are two landmark teams in the schools history. King kelly coleman kentucky s greatest basketball legend, written by gary p. The history of basketball began with its invention in 1891 in springfield, massachusetts by canadian physical education instructor james naismith as a less injuryprone sport than football. In 1974, after a 50year absence, at the turn of the 70s, womens teams at uk once again began playing intercollegiate games. Rupp arena, memorial coliseum, alumni gym, freedom hall 1,000point scorers. Perfect for giving or receiving whether you are looking for your next book to read or are looking to find a book for the basketball fan in your life. It came at the 2010 nba draft, where history was made and where the foundation of. The books on this list will cover coaching, playing, life in general, and many other.
How sweet it is chronicles the seasonlong quest of three geographically, socioeconomically, and culturally diverse teams to reach the storied sweet sixteen, played in rupp arena. More than a book of inspiring stories, wildcat memories is a fun romp through uk basketball history. The school has one of the most successful ncaa division i programs in history, best in alltime wins and alltime winning percentage. With new discoveries and findings, the narrative continues to evolve, and so does the telling of kentuckys rich history.
All pretty amazing for a school with no athletic history. Basketball was invented in december 1891 by the canadian clergyman, educator, and physician james naismith. A new history of kentucky the university press of kentucky. In the blink of an eye, kentucky went from feast to famine as unranked evansville played the role of spoiler in whats now considered one. Adolph rupp and the rise of kentucky basketball the. Project muse adolph rupp and the rise of kentucky basketball. Mar 12, 2019 james bolin, a 1978 history alumnus recently published his book adolph rupp and the rise of kentucky basketball. The wildcats also won the southeastern conference tournament championship. Naismith was a 31year old graduate student when he created the indoor sport to keep athletes indoors during the winters. The university of kentucky mens basketball program is the winningest in the history of the sport, and this book explores those wins along with the personalities. Sep 19, 2018 reggie warford, the second black player in university of kentucky basketball history, arrived at uk as a freshman in 1972. A history of kentucky wildcat basketball bert nelli, steve. Posts about kentucky basketball written by university press of kentucky.
With the most alltime wins in mens college basketball, the university of kentucky wildcats have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with, since they started playing the game in 1903. In candid firsthand accounts, the players and coaches discuss their incredible kentucky support systems and offer a glimpse into the rarely seen personal side of life as a wildcat. Patrons listen as chandler lighty discusses basketball history in the state of indiana during a recent presentation at the hancock county library on tuesday, march 20, 2018. West, is a story about a man who played basketball, not necessarily about a basketball player. University of kentucky basketball encyclopedia by tom wallace. Yes, the gleague is now a legitimate alternative to. Frontiersman daniel boone was one of kentuckys most. Basketball and the alltime leading scorer in state high school boys basketball history, died sunday at noreen and greg wells hospice care.
Bolin currently serves as a professor of history at murray. The university of kentucky has now won eight national titles 1948, 49, 51, 58, 78, 96, 98, 2012. His teams won four ncaa championships 1948, 1949, 1951, and 1958, one national invitation tournament title in 1946, and twentyseven southeastern conference regular season titles. When originally published, a new history of kentucky provided a comprehensive study of the commonwealth, bringing it to life by revealing the many faces, deep traditions, and historical milestones of the state. My name is aaron torres, and i am the author of the new book one and fun. The kentucky wildcats are the winningest program in the history of college basketball, and this newly revised edition of the university of kentucky basketball encyclopedia is the most comprehensive book ever assembled on the history of this extraordinary team. King kelly colemankentuckys greatest basketball legend, written by gary p. Aug 19, 2007 one of the things we try to do here at kentucky sports radio is cover uk basketball in ways that may not be common for other internet sites or traditional media outlets. The most successful ncaa division i basketball team in history with a.
Mar 21, 2020 there are two landmark teams in the schools history. Rupps influence on the game of college basketball and on his adopted home of kentucky are both much broader than his impressive record on the court. Nov 01, 2006 that, more than anything, is kentucky basketball. The team plays an exciting brand of basketball which looks to get out and run, but one that also looks to execute offensively whenever possible and minimize mistakes. Kentucky wildcats mens basketball under adolph rupp covers the history of the university of. Kentucky wildcats mens basketball under adolph rupp wikipedia. In 1924 the university senate passed a bill to abolish womens basketball in part because, according to state politicians, basketball had proven to be a strenuous sport for boys and therefore was too strenuous for girls. Kentucky basketball record book walters wildcat world. Kentucky was granted statehood in 1792, becomingthe first u.
This book is here because if i dont put it here people will question my credentials as an expert on basketball books. In all my years, that was the best college basketball i ever saw, longtime louisville courierjournal columnist billy reed told me in. Aaron torres is covering football and basketball for ksr this season after four years at fox sports. Kentucky historical society adventure through the past. In candid firsthand accounts, the players and coaches. The colorful, firsthand description of the players, coaches, and supporters of these teams is interlaced with stories from the rich history of kentucky high school basketball. The kentucky wildcats mens basketball team is an american college basketball team that represents the worst fanbase in college basketabll. Few college basketball programs can match the history, the tradition, the success, and the passion of its fans than the university of kentucky boasts. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. As the university of kentucky prepares to mark its 100th season of play, the sporting news celebrates that history, that tradition, and that success in big blue. Historian gives presentation on indiana basketball history. The university of kentucky mens basketball program is the winningest in the history of the sport, and this book explores those wins along with the personalities, events, and facts that any and every wildcats fan should know. James bolin, a 1978 history alumnus recently published his book adolph rupp and the rise of kentucky basketball. Kentucky basketball history and tradition uk walters.
The first basketball season at the university of kentucky then kentucky state college began in 1903, with the program recording its first win on february 18, 1903, over the lexington ymca at the state college gymnasium. Still, before the book closed on the 200910 kentucky wildcats, one final chapter had to be written. Echoes of kentucky basketball unearths the greatest stories ever written about the most successful program in college basketball history. They have appeared in the ncaa tournament 54 times. Naismith introduced the game when he was an instructor at the young mens christian association training school now springfield college in springfield, massachusetts. The 1951 uk gambling scandal kentucky sports radio. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Kentucky is the most successful ncaa division i basketball program in history in terms of both alltime wins 2,319 and alltime winning percentage. One of the aspects of uk sports that is often underappreciated by the media and fans is the unbelievable history of the uk basketball program.
A new history of kentucky ranges throughout all parts of the commonwealth to explore its special meaning to those who have called it home. Known as the man in the brown suit and the baron of the bluegrass, adolph rupp 19011977 is a towering figure in the history of college athletics. Kentucky is the most successful ncaa division i basketball program in history in terms of both alltime wins 2,320 and alltime winning percentage. The kentucky wildcats are the mens college basketball team for the university of kentucky. Kentucky mens basketball history university of kentucky. Although a new history of kentucky is more current and is quite good, clarks book is essential for understanding the bluegrass. In houston, kentucky was beaten by eventual national champion connecticut, the same team which beat uk in the maui classic. Khsaa basketball record book boys kentucky high school. Kentucky wildcats lead the schools with 6 35win seasons and 15 30win. Apr 06, 2020 freshman guard dontaie allen of pendleton county, kentucky, became the first instate signee for kentucky since 20 and the 18th kentucky player in program history to earn kentucky mr. From 1930 until his retirement in 1972, rupp coached the university of kentucky mens basketball team to unprecedented success. Welcome to ground zero of the most comprehensive statistics site devoted to a single college basketball program, namely the university of kentucky eighttime national champions.
Although this book was published more than 60 years ago and has been updated several times since then it is the place to begin if you are curious about kentuckys fascinating and often tragic history. Both schools are also two of the most victorious programs in ncaa mens basketball history. Kentucky wildcats ncaa basketball original autographed. And, through all the rubble of coaching advice, i find coach woodens to be. During the 1980s and 1990s they consistently made the tournament and beat teams such as kentucky, indiana, and virginia. The university of kentucky wildcats own an unrivaled tradition of success, greater than any team in college basketball. History alumnus publishes book on kentucky basketball. An oral history of the 200910 kentucky basketball season. Its about a youngster, the son of a coal miner, with 10 brothers and sisters, who became the biggest high school legend in the history of basketball crazy kentucky. Adolph rupp and the rise of kentucky basketball hfs books.
The greatest stories ever told triumph books, tubby smith on. Kentucky basketball is comprised of talented players and coaches who form together as a single unit to work toward a common goal. The louisville cardinals mens basketball team is the mens college basketball program representing the university of louisville u of l in the atlantic coast conference acc of ncaa division i. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The game became established fairly quickly and grew very popular. Womens basketball more university of kentucky athletics.
A behind the scenes look at john calipari and the 2010 kentucky wildcats. They played in 17 ncaa final fours and 12 ncaa championship games. The university of kentucky has now won eight national titles 1948, 49, 51, 58, 78, 96, 98. The kentucky historical society is celebrating 20 years at the thomas d. Known as the man in the brown suit and baron of the bluegrass, adolph rupp 19011977 is a towering figure in the history of college athletics. But the winning tradition remains the only complete and authoritative history of the most celebrated college basketball program in the world. Kentucky wildcats school history college football at sports. His book features a fulllength biography of rupp and more than 100 interviews with university of kentucky athletics officials. University of kentucky basketball encyclopedia book. Freshman guard dontaie allen of pendleton county, kentucky, became the first instate signee for kentucky since 20 and the 18th kentucky player in program history to earn kentucky mr. Incredible forgotten bit of ncaa basketball history. Its about a youngster, the son of a coal miner, with 10 brothers and sisters, who became the biggest high school legend in the history of basketballcrazy kentucky. Kentucky mens basketball history allamericans alltime results alltime wildcats awards and honors big blue history website national champions ncaa history records retired jerseys sec history venue records. Kentucky has eight national championships while louisville has two official3 including the vacated 20.
It is a broadly interpretive, allencompassing narrative that tells kentucky s complex, extensive, and everchanging story. In its 95year history, the kentucky wildcats have won more games than any other college. The first four, in 1948, 1949, 1951, and 1958, came under the coaching of rupp. It came at the 2010 nba draft, where history was made and where the foundation of everything. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. This covers 110 years of kentucky basketball history, discussing some of the most aweinspiring moments, coaches, and players. Kentucky wildcats index college basketball at sports. This passionand tradition of excellencehas always been colorfully documented by writers, locally and nationally. The kentucky wildcats are the winningest program in the history of college basketball, and this newly. Mar 23, 2020 in all my years, that was the best college basketball i ever saw, longtime louisville courierjournal columnist billy reed told me in 2016 for our book, missing banners. The kentucky historical society is an agency of the kentucky tourism, arts and heritage cabinet, an affiliate of the smithsonian, has full. In this book, author doug brunk details the cherished bond between kentucky. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. The wildcats are currently coached by josh graham kentucky leads all schools in total ncaa.
This site provides a broad range and depth of statistical information which should be expected when it comes to the most storied basketball program of all time. For starters, youre probably wondering where the idea to randomly write a book, about a random team like the 2010 kentucky wildcats came from. The kentucky wildcats mens basketball team is an american college basketball team that represents the university of kentucky. The following list covers our favorite basketball books and our recommendations for you.