Mark Pope may not be our forever coach but he will bring this culture back and make UK games fun to watch again. I think he and his teams will be fun to watch. And he may yet turn out to be as special as any HC we’ve had. Go Big Blue!
Louisville fan here, was in the Rupp student section during this game in 96' getting popcorn thrown at me. Louisville were good, good! ranked number 3, Kentucky won by 30.....
What most people don’t know is that Larry Bird wanted to play for Kentucky. Can you imagine how much more dominant the 1978 UK team would have been if Joe B. Hall gave him a scholarship. They likely would have won at least 2 championships possibly 3 or 4 in a row.
The 1978 team was the first team I remember winning as well. But it seemed so long between that win and this win that everyone was just finally ready to celebrate! This team was awesome! ALL players were great! On another level!
I really think this Kentucky team was the best basketball college team ever assembled. They use to literally smash teams. Sometimes the game was over in the first half.
Realizing that this team's underclassmen went to the next 2 National Championships winning again in 98 and losing one in OT 97 makes a good argument for THE BEST EVER. Plus, they only lost 2 games that season ,UMASS and MS ST , both being Final 4 teams that year. . Uk got revenge on Umass in the Final 4 and they had beat Ms st by 30 on their home floor during the season .
It's crazy to think that UK really has like 5 teams in history that could be top 5 in history of the NCAA. The 1996,1998, 2003, 2009, 2012, and 2015 UK teams are all some of the best teams to ever be assembled. The 96 squad, the 2012, and 2015 teams are the 3 best teams I've ever seen in college. I've never seen another team that could touch the 96 team. The 2007-08 Florida gators squad is up there, the 2009 tarheel squad was up there, the 2018 villanova team could shoot the lights out, but none like the 96 Kentucky wildcats.They still hold the record for highest points differential in NCAA tournament history. They just blew through the competition and never was even tested. Put up over 100 pts multiple times in their run and played smothering defense and the chemistry in the way they moved the ball was elite. Truly the best NCAA basketball team to ever step on the court.
@@hansgordy well everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You can look up best teams in college basketball history and get numerous different results, and alot of them have 96 UK, some have the UNLV squad in the early 90s. But 96 UK still holds the record for most dominant tournament run, point differential ect, they lost two games, and avenged them, and when they were playing their best basketball no other team stood a chance. 2015 UK was one of the most dominant defensive teams of the past 30-40 years and is in the Ken pom era. 96 KY bench went on to two more consecutive championship games and won 1 more in 98. In 97 they lost their best guard to injuries in Derek Anderson and they lost to Arizona in OT, hadnt Anderson been hurt UK 3 peats. And is the first team to go to 3 consecutive championship games since those UCLA teams coached by John Wooden, and no other team has done it since.
Ucla had an 88 game winning streak and a 77 game winning streak. Seven national championships in a row. Ten championships out of 12 years and one 3rd place finish in that stretch. They were so dominant during those years that a typical score would be like 110 to 40. The 1972 Ucla team with Bill Walton is usually recognized as the best team ever on most websites... with 4 or 5 of the top 20. They were perfection. Did you ever watch a Wooden team play live? lol. The 96 Kentucky team is 11th in most rankings. They were very good.
@@jdavenport1805 well let’s be real the mid 2000s is more than just arguably the greatest era of college ball… Kentuckys 11’ and 14’ rosters were some of the scariest to ever face… I get the late 90s we’re considered just as good if not better than the mid 2000s and especially since those Ky teams had the accolades and made 3 straight natties! But like I said those 11’ and 14’ squads were theyre own kind of dominant.
@@isaiahevans4930 Dominant teams win titles. That's how you measure a team. In order to dominate you have to win more than one. 96 team had way more talent than any team we have had since 1977(when I was born).
Epps and Mercer saved me a dui one night! They were playing with water guns with 2 females! I was driving up a one way street on campus! And they came running and yelling and laughing telling me to turn around!
In 97 Pitino tried to full court press South Carolina who had 3 future nba guards and got our asses handed to us. He tried to do the same in the 97 finals against 3 future nba guards from Arizona and got a second ass for the other hand. A tight 2-3 zone would have won another title but Pitino wouldn’t adjust and lost.
@@maverick2730 this UK team would smoke this years UConn team by 20. You smoking that good sh, and to keep it 💯, UK has numerous teams that would roll the best team UCONN has ever put on the court.
UNLV might not agree with this BS. Especially playing against the talent they played against back then. Made Duke look like Dookey in the championship game.
Nothing fake about Mchigan's Fab Five. They were 5 starting freshman. All top 25 3 of which top 10 players. & that 48 BS never had to endure half of what the Michigan team did. Racism coming at them from every angle. & they still manage to make the championship twice. Nor did that 48 team impact basketball as a whole. From baggy shorts & black socks which every league adopted. Also made history in Jersey sales for a season. Did 48 do any of that? Didn't think so.
@@C.P.Brown_ 1948 won our first championship (Fab Four next year won second title) and the Olympic Gold Medal! Plus your 1992 and 1993 second places finishes were stripped! So they were cheaters AND plagiarists! The '48 Cats will always be the REAL Fab Five.
In my opinion the 81/82 N Carolina Tar Heels are the best team ever. I can’t recall the exact year but one or 2 seasons of Patrick Ewings Georgetown Hoyas were right up there with Carolina
Coach Wooden and his UCLA teams were a different type of dominant. Kentucky, Duke, Carolina, Houston, Georgetown, Florida, UConn, Arizona...the list goes on. The Bruins would have defended the 3 point line and out smarted any of these great teams and several other ones I didn't mention. Walton and his gang were a clinic in motion..bow down to the Bruins of Westwood.
There is no argument to be made because Walton WOULD have WOULD have defended the three point line. You can’t prove a point on a stupid argument. Don’t talk because you can’t. Your dumb Bruins bow down to Patino and the Untouchables.
Indiana Kentucky was an all time AWESOME rivalry! I’m Big Blue all day and night, and I can still say Indiana was pretty dang good too! Boy I miss them days!
I still believe if Anderson played in 97 we would have won another championship!
I agree. Wish we could get back to having a team like in those days
Facts!
We would have won no doubt . He was an easy 20-30 points
Derek is a good brother I went to doss with him 👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿
Defintely
Mark Pope may not be our forever coach but he will bring this culture back and make UK games fun to watch again. I think he and his teams will be fun to watch. And he may yet turn out to be as special as any HC we’ve had. Go Big Blue!
Louisville fan here, was in the Rupp student section during this game in 96' getting popcorn thrown at me. Louisville were good, good! ranked number 3, Kentucky won by 30.....
It was the Best team, I ever saw , thay was just that good, wish we had them now, those was the days ,go cats,
Alcindor UCLA team in 1968 was best I ever saw.
What most people don’t know is that Larry Bird wanted to play for Kentucky. Can you imagine how much more dominant the 1978 UK team would have been if Joe B. Hall gave him a scholarship. They likely would have won at least 2 championships possibly 3 or 4 in a row.
I went to the celebration at rupp! I actually felt rupp shaking when the bus pulled into rupp! Rupp was at max capacity!
To me remembering sense the 1978 national championship team to 2012 team this is my favorite team of all time. But 1996 team is a very close second.
The 1978 team was the first team I remember winning as well. But it seemed so long between that win and this win that everyone was just finally ready to celebrate! This team was awesome! ALL players were great! On another level!
I get it, but I love the 1998 Comeback Cats the most.
I really think this Kentucky team was the best basketball college team ever assembled. They use to literally smash teams. Sometimes the game was over in the first half.
Antoine Walker was unstoppable that season. But Epps was the glue that held it all together. They were such a fun team to watch.
Also---thank god we had Oliver Simmons to hold the paint!!! :)
Realizing that this team's underclassmen went to the next 2 National Championships winning again in 98 and losing one in OT 97 makes a good argument for THE BEST EVER.
Plus, they only lost 2 games that season ,UMASS and MS ST , both being Final 4 teams that year.
. Uk got revenge on Umass in the Final 4 and they had beat Ms st by 30 on their home floor during the season .
It's crazy to think that UK really has like 5 teams in history that could be top 5 in history of the NCAA. The 1996,1998, 2003, 2009, 2012, and 2015 UK teams are all some of the best teams to ever be assembled. The 96 squad, the 2012, and 2015 teams are the 3 best teams I've ever seen in college. I've never seen another team that could touch the 96 team. The 2007-08 Florida gators squad is up there, the 2009 tarheel squad was up there, the 2018 villanova team could shoot the lights out, but none like the 96 Kentucky wildcats.They still hold the record for highest points differential in NCAA tournament history. They just blew through the competition and never was even tested. Put up over 100 pts multiple times in their run and played smothering defense and the chemistry in the way they moved the ball was elite. Truly the best NCAA basketball team to ever step on the court.
You are exactly right, that 96 team is the best college team ever to step on the hardwood.
Look up 'greatest teams in college basketball history. You're not even close. 1974 Ucla team is considered the best... by far.
@@hansgordy well everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You can look up best teams in college basketball history and get numerous different results, and alot of them have 96 UK, some have the UNLV squad in the early 90s. But 96 UK still holds the record for most dominant tournament run, point differential ect, they lost two games, and avenged them, and when they were playing their best basketball no other team stood a chance. 2015 UK was one of the most dominant defensive teams of the past 30-40 years and is in the Ken pom era. 96 KY bench went on to two more consecutive championship games and won 1 more in 98. In 97 they lost their best guard to injuries in Derek Anderson and they lost to Arizona in OT, hadnt Anderson been hurt UK 3 peats. And is the first team to go to 3 consecutive championship games since those UCLA teams coached by John Wooden, and no other team has done it since.
Ucla had an 88 game winning streak and a 77 game winning streak. Seven national championships in a row. Ten championships out of 12 years and one 3rd place finish in that stretch. They were so dominant during those years that a typical score would be like 110 to 40. The 1972 Ucla team with Bill Walton is usually recognized as the best team ever on most websites... with 4 or 5 of the top 20. They were perfection. Did you ever watch a Wooden team play live? lol. The 96 Kentucky team is 11th in most rankings. They were very good.
@@Wetrockstah2116 ... yeah... Kentucky 'went to' 3 consecutive championship games. Ucla 'won' severn in a row.
'96-'97-'98 was a heck of a run.
Greatest outside of Ky’s mid 2000 runs…
@@isaiahevans4930 1 championship game and 1 title versus 3 championship games and two titles, which I one could be better?
@@jdavenport1805 well let’s be real the mid 2000s is more than just arguably the greatest era of college ball… Kentuckys 11’ and 14’ rosters were some of the scariest to ever face… I get the late 90s we’re considered just as good if not better than the mid 2000s and especially since those Ky teams had the accolades and made 3 straight natties! But like I said those 11’ and 14’ squads were theyre own kind of dominant.
@@isaiahevans4930 Dominant teams win titles. That's how you measure a team. In order to dominate you have to win more than one. 96 team had way more talent than any team we have had since 1977(when I was born).
So was 1946-47-48-49. Two NCAA champs. One NIT champ (when it was equal to NCAA in 1940s) and one NIT runner-up.
YES UK 96 IS THE BEST 💙 And the half court violations on defense was the BEST to watch
Calipari knew how fickle some UK fans could be back in 1996.
Who?? We beat him in 96…
@@brettwright2207 UMass beat us once during the regular season. Then we beat them in the tournament.
Thanks for the memories 💙💙💙💙💙
Imagine us Ky fans when Rick went to Louisville!🥹🥹
At that point by far the best college team ever..mayne still is
Haaaaaaa. Not really
@@dudermcdude9245 you don't know ball
1997 was also a crazy good team!!
Why now Coach Pitino should be brought back to Kentucky again ! Best Coach best College basketball program !
1980 LSU men's basketball team is the best college men's basketball team I ever seen not 2 win a title
Good times
Epps and Mercer saved me a dui one night! They were playing with water guns with 2 females! I was driving up a one way street on campus! And they came running and yelling and laughing telling me to turn around!
Still the greatest today! 2024
The 1948 team won 36 games I think and the starters from that team won the gold medal at the Olympics which is a world title nobody else did that
Absolutely phenomenal run
In 97 Pitino tried to full court press South Carolina who had 3 future nba guards and got our asses handed to us.
He tried to do the same in the 97 finals against 3 future nba guards from Arizona and got a second ass for the other hand.
A tight 2-3 zone would have won another title but Pitino wouldn’t adjust and lost.
The person narrating this documentary sounds like nonother than R&B singer Tyrees Gibson.
the best no doubt
😂
Connecticut Huskies is the best in 2023. Kentucky got put out in the second round to Kansas State. UK is a joke!
@@maverick2730 this UK team would smoke this years UConn team by 20. You smoking that good sh, and to keep it 💯, UK has numerous teams that would roll the best team UCONN has ever put on the court.
@@Wetrockstah2116 living in the past is what Kentucky basketball fans are best at because your present UK team is hot certifiable garbage!
@@Wetrockstah2116 Saint Peter's owns UK!
Al those pro and the guy who really made everything go, Epps wasn’t drafted
BBN 4 L. Go Big Blue 💙
UNLV might not agree with this BS. Especially playing against the talent they played against back then. Made Duke look like Dookey in the championship game.
I think the 1948 Fab Five (the REAL Fab Five, not those fake nickname stealers from Michigan) might have something to say about that!!
Nothing fake about Mchigan's Fab Five. They were 5 starting freshman. All top 25 3 of which top 10 players. & that 48 BS never had to endure half of what the Michigan team did. Racism coming at them from every angle. & they still manage to make the championship twice. Nor did that 48 team impact basketball as a whole. From baggy shorts & black socks which every league adopted. Also made history in Jersey sales for a season. Did 48 do any of that? Didn't think so.
@@C.P.Brown_ 1948 won our first championship (Fab Four next year won second title) and the Olympic Gold Medal! Plus your 1992 and 1993 second places finishes were stripped! So they were cheaters AND plagiarists! The '48 Cats will always be the REAL Fab Five.
B ware sec cars r coming with claws out
Forgive me C.A.T.S
@@millardhardy8093GO CATS🔹⚪️🔹
if this team untouchables then 23/24 team must be underachievement without a coach that know how to coach
LoL 😂🤣
not even kentucky’s greatest team.. If we’re taking just talent then 2014/15 takes the prize. 38-1 with 9 future professional’s
1:12:40 - What does Pope say here?
"We're not supposed to do an interview".
the 2015 team would like to have a talk
In my opinion the 81/82 N Carolina Tar Heels are the best team ever. I can’t recall the exact year but one or 2 seasons of Patrick Ewings Georgetown Hoyas were right up there with Carolina
Coach Wooden and his UCLA teams were a different type of dominant. Kentucky, Duke, Carolina, Houston, Georgetown, Florida, UConn, Arizona...the list goes on. The Bruins would
have defended the 3 point line and out smarted any of these great teams and several other ones I didn't mention. Walton and his gang were a clinic in motion..bow down to the Bruins of Westwood.
Chill out this is the best college team there ever was back to back was crazy. Show me the facts that his team is better.
And they had a good post game and could play D
There is no argument to be made because Walton WOULD have WOULD have defended the three point line. You can’t prove a point on a stupid argument. Don’t talk because you can’t. Your dumb Bruins bow down to Patino and the Untouchables.
What a bum
@@denitruesdaren9781the pros that this Kentucky team played were no slouches. They had great careers. The top 12 teams were really good.
STOP it Indiana Hoosiers 1976 last undefeated team even till today
I remember Indiana 1975, undefeated until KY sent them home, it was great.
@@charliebecknell9830 does the name Christian Watford ring a bell?? Love the rivalry even at the HS level
Indiana Kentucky was an all time AWESOME rivalry! I’m Big Blue all day and night, and I can still say Indiana was pretty dang good too! Boy I miss them days!
North Vs South. Awesome sectional rivalry.
Only reason Kentucky won that game is because May had a broken arm it it lasted thirty more seconds they lose.@@charliebecknell9830
Ucla with Lew (Kareem) was the greatest team ever. Slam dunk... no contest.
The 96 UK team would have destroyed any of Woodens UCLA teams.
@@Brando-UK ... Actually... The 1974 Ucla team is ranked the best in the history of college basketball. Kareem would have played with Kentucky.
Best ever? They didn’t even win their conference tournament.
Yes best ever, take that bs somewhere else