FortyYearCatFan

A neat scroll through history. Read about the fabled Super Kittens in 1972. Read about the last UK JV team in 1996. Neat stuff for oldtimers like me. Thanks Jon!

Cats have 4 on the list of 40. Aaron Harrison, Marcus Lee, James Young, and Dominique Hawkins.

The Cats have signed 6 of the Top 15 on the C-J Super 5 teams.

USA Today (newspaper) began naming HS A-A in 1983. Now it names 15 HS A-A (in 3 teams of 5) from all classes (Sr, Jr, Soph, Frosh). Prior to Calipari coming to UK, the Cats had signed 10 USA Today HS A-A. Ever. Since his arrival, UK has signed 16 (yes SIXTEEN) of them, including 6 this year alone.

This took place 25 years ago in 1988. Nothing like it anywhere. PS the crying UK (girl) cheerleader is Lori Gooch, who was my neighbor in Fort Mitchell KY growing up. She's 15 years younger but lived right down the street. Her brother is one my best friends (and my eye doctor now).

Many on here know them only in history but thanks to this video, we can hear them both in their own words. Both had a melodic cadence in their voices that may never be repeated here at UK or anywhere.

About former UK coach Tubby Smith. I still think a buyout is coming in March. The new AD wants his own coach. It will cost about $3 million to do it.

Is Sid Hartman really 92 years old? I still think a buyout is coming in March.

Perhaps the UCLA freshman team. Undefeated at 21-0. Beat UCLA varsity by 15. UCLA was 2-time defending NCAA champions at the time.

Darryl Dawkins, Bill Willoughby, and Tracy McGrady among those who would (?) have attended UK had they not gone straight to NBA from HS ranks.

Adolph Rupp, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, and John Calipari all have well over 500 career W. Tubby Smith joined that list tonight. Only 19 active coaches have 500 or more W in their career.

Coach Hall finally gets recognition for what he did in the 1970's and 1980's. He also deserves credit for creating a UK recruiting system in the mid 1960's than brought players like Dan Issel, Mike Pratt, Mike Casey, Tom Parker, Tom Payne, Kevin Grevey, Mike Flynn, Jimmy Dan Conner, Bob Guyette (et al) to Lexington. UK basketball recruiting was floundering in the mid 1960's.

Especially these Wildcats. Most especially those with an * who paid the ultimate price for us. May they RIP.

Good read from Mark Story in LHL today. Jim Duff was HS teammate of Grevey. He and his Dad are the reasons that Kevin Grevey came to UK.

BYU still on his list. I think they are a sleeper.

A member of the UK Super Kittens (undefeated frosh team in 1972) died of a heart attack this week. GJ Smith passed away at 59. Far too young.

The late Mr. Butler (native of Owensboro who passed away in 2002) brought many a UK legend to Lexington in his day.

Don't know much about him but you can't teach 7-feet.

Neat recap of both games that I found surfing the Internet today.

Adolph Rupp was forced into retirement in 1972. Joe B Hall replaced him. Freshmen would be eligible for the first time since the late 1940's (post WW2 era). UK had 10 new varsity players on its roster. 7 were up from the undefeated (22-0) Super Kittens and 3 were true frosh recruits. The Cats went on to become SEC champions and make it to the Elite 8 in the NCAA tourney.

Adolph Rupp was forced into retirement in 1972. Joe B Hall replaced him. Freshmen would be eligible for the first time since the late 1940's (post WW2 era). UK had 10 new varsity players on its roster. 7 were up from the undefeated (22-0) Super Kittens and 3 were true frosh recruits. The Cats went on to become SEC champions and make it to the Elite 8 in the NCAA tourney.

He "tweeted" that Tubby Smith brought Rondo off the bench at UK. http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Rondo_Rajon.html Rondo played 68 games at UK and started more than 60 of them. Big Wally can be renamed Big Dummy.

Not the right kind of Cat (Bearcat not Wildcat) but a great man passed away this week. He was a friend of my neighbor growing up. He used to play pick-up games with us in the 1960's wearing his business suit and wingtip shoes. Only time I ever saw someone dunk in wingtips! Answer to trivia question also. He and Wilt Chamberlain were the first NBA players to average 30+ ppg in a season (1959-60). Rest in peace, Mr. Twyman.

Cats are # 1 class with # 1 - 8 - 10 - 38 rated recruits in 2012. Click on Winners link to see top recruiting classes for 2012.

Especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Great story and Tubby played a big part in it.

Neat story.

Nerlens Noel, Alex Poythress, and Archie Goodwin were named 2012 Parade A-A recently.

Who was Layton Rouse? Well, he was the first UK player ever to have his jersey retired by Adolph Rupp. And he was a fellow (native) Northern Kentuckian. He was a doctor and a WW2 Army veteran. May he RIP.