Connect with us

Kentucky Basketball

Billy Gillispie recorded his first win as coach at Kentucky on this day 2 years ago

Senior didn't make an appearance until 13 minutes had been played.  We should have known something was up with Gillispie right then and there.  No matter.  He still scored 20 points as #20 kicked off the Billy Gillispie era with a 67-40 thrashing of Central Arkansas.  With the win, advanced to the second round of the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic.  Fans had been critical of Gillispie's attire following UK's first exhibition win (he wore a grey suit with a yellow tie).  This time, Gillispie wore a blue shirt underneath a charcoal suit.  The criticism of his clothing would pale in comparison to the reception he'd receive following UK's next opponent, lightly regarded .

On This Day In UK Basketball History

On March 28, 1992, in what many called the “best NCAA Tournament game ever,” Kentucky takes defending NCAA champion Duke into overtime before losing 104-103 in the East Regional finals in Philadelphia. A last-second shot by Christian Laettner sends Duke to the Final Four, and breaks the hearts of Wildcat fans everywhere. It is Cawood Ledford’s last game as the “Voice of the Wildcats.”

 

On March 28, 1998, against Stanford, Kentucky rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit, then grabbed a 5-point overtime lead, before fending off the Cardinals to advance to the title game for the third straight season. Jeff Sheppard canned three long-range three-pointers - two in the final three minutes and one in overtime - en route to a career-high 27 points.

 

On March 28, 2014, unranked Kentucky beat No. 5 Louisville 74-69, in the 2014 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.  Aaron Harrison buried a three-pointer from the left corner with 39 seconds left that put UK ahead to stay before 41,072 in Lucas Oil Stadium.

 

On March 28, 2015, No. 1 Kentucky defeated No. 8 Notre Dame, 68-66, in the 2015 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.  With its 37-0 record on the line, Kentucky trailed Notre Dame 59-53 with 6:14 left. UK rallied in front of 19,464 fans in Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena and preserved its perfect season thanks to a crucial blocked shot by Willie Cauley-Stein and two game-deciding free throws from Andrew Harrison in the final seconds.

 

More in Kentucky Basketball