Orlando “Tubby” Smith coached his first official game as the head coach of your University of Kentucky Wildcats, beating Morehead, 88-49. Brought in from the University of Georgia, Tubby Smith had an impressive record of turning around basketball programs very quickly, not to mention an impressive record in March. Matching this coach with a powerhouse the likes of Kentucky was sure to be a success. No one was complaining (yeah right) after Tubby led the 1998 squad to our seventh and most recent National Championship. Looking back on his time at UK, you have to think he was given a raw deal. Tubby was an outstanding coach, a man of great integrity, a pillar of the community, and a man with the greatest stare in all of college basketball. Smith ended with a record of 263-83 in 10 season as the Wildcat head coach. “Ten Loss” Tubby seems pretty good compared to the most recent debacle, eh?

an old friend came to town as the #16th ranked Fightin’ Utes of Utah came to Rupp to try and get some revenge. Well, that didn’t happen as #14 Kentucky turned away Utah 56-48 in a low scoring affair. Jules Camara hit the lone three pointer on the day as UK went 1-10 from three point range. Kentucky’s defense was the story of the afternoon, holding Utah to only 18 made field goals and forcing 18 turnovers. Every Utah starter had at least two turnovers. Jamaal Magloire led the team with 15 points and Tayshaun Prince added 11 points and seven rebounds. It was the fifth time in the 90's Big Blue had defeated Utah, the previous four coming in the NCAA Tournament. The most notable being when Tubby’s Comeback Cats took the 1998 Championship by a 78-69 score.

your University of Kentucky Wildcats moved to 7-4 on the season with a heart-pounding 42-40 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in Commonwealth. Keenan Burton caught multiple touchdown passes (37, 17, and 25 yards) for a program record fourth consecutive game to break teammate Dicky Lyons Jr., record set earlier in the year. The Warhawks (2-8, 1-4 Sun Belt) were down 18 points midway through the second quarter after an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown by Rafael Little. LA-Monroe wouldn’t give up though, and actually held the lead going into the fourth quarter, 34-33. A Lones Seiber field goal and a touchdown put the Cats up 42-34 with a minute to play. The Warhawks scored on a QB sneak to cut the lead to two, but the Big Blue defense stopped a two-point conversion, an onside kick, and a hail mary in the final moments to secure the win.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnqsf5PPjoQ&feature=related

an all-to-familiar feeling was cast through Big Blue Nation as the University of Kentucky Wildcats snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against hated rival Tennessee, 38-35. Commonwealth Stadium was feeling confident when the Cats marched out to a commanding (or so we thought) 21-0 lead late in the second quarter. Jared Lorenzen had 406 passing yards and Derek Abney had 10 catches for 118 to pace the Big Blue, but the defense broke down coming home. Casey Clausen connected with Donte Stallworth for three scores, two in the fourth quarter, to slam the dagger into the heart of the Wildcat faithful. Stallworth ended the game with 8 receptions for 169 yards and the three aforementioned touchdowns. The losing streak currently stands at 24. Randall Cobb will end this losing streak.

On this date...in 2002, Artose Pinner led the Big Blue with a career-high 224 yards rushing as your University of Kentucky Wildcats blasted the Vanderbilt Commodores 41-21 to move to 7-4 (3-4 SEC) on the season. Pinner tied a school record by scoring four touchdowns and set a school record by going over the century mark for the eighth time during the 2002 campaign. Derek Abney also set an NCAA record with his sixth kick return for a touchdown in a single season. It was his seventh career return for a touchdown, an SEC record. The Kentucky defense frustrated Vandy quarterback Jay Cutler for most of the day, only giving up 176 passing yards to the future first-rounder. Leading 28-21 going into the fourth quarter, Kentucky pulled away on Pinner’s fourth touchdown of the day and an Otis Grigsby fumble recovery in the end zone.

On this date...in 1985, a new generation (of Kentucky Wildcat basketball fans) was born when superstar and Kentucky-native Rex Chapman told the world he would play his college basketball at the University of Kentucky. An elite high-flyer from Apollo High in Owensboro, KY, King Rex was named a McDonald’s All-American, a Parade All-American, and Mr. Basketball in the state Kentucky for 1986. In just two years at Kentucky, Chapman gained membership into the elusive 1,000 point club and was named to All SEC teams in both seasons in the Blue and White. During his sophomore season, he was named a third team All-American, Academic All-SEC, and the SEC Tournament MVP. In 1988, Rex led the Cats to a 27-6 record and a Sweet Sixteen berth.

Then there’s this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lYnWsCUvg0

On this date...in 2005, sophomore running back Rafael Little was named National Player of the Week by SI.com after his monster performance in a 48-43 shootout victory against Vanderbilt. Little did everything but kick field goals and call plays as he managed to gain 372 all-purpose yards. This number was the highest in the nation in 2005. The second most in University history. And third most in Southeastern Conference history. The South Carolina native had 198 yards rushing on 28 carries and three touchdowns, all career highs. He added five catches for 86 yards and returned two punts for 88 yards for the final tally. After the Vanderbilt game, Rafael Little led the nation in all-purpose yards per game, averaging nearly 194 yards per contest.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8iNEq3wKVM&feature=related