UK on March 1st

UK plays Vandy at home tonight. Here are UK's results in other games played on March 1st since the 1974-75 season (the first one where I followed the Cats):

Home team listed first:

03/01/75: # 4 Kentucky 109 - 84 Vanderbilt

I don't remember this game, but it was the beginning of a winning streak that ended only with a loss to UCLA in the National Championship game.

03/01/76: Louisiana St. 70 - 85 Kentucky

I don't remember this game either, but it was in the middle of a winning streak that ended with UK winning the NIT.

03/01/79: Alabama 100 - 101 Kentucky (SEC Tournament, Birmingham)

This game I remember very well. It was in the second round of the SEC tournament, and I listened to the game on the radio while I was sitting in the stands at Heath watching the 2d district tournament. I think it is the only game I've ever seen UK win where both teams scored 100 points. UK went 43-63 from the field, and I don't think we'll ever see that again.

03/01/80: # 2 Kentucky 78 - 80 # 5 Louisiana St. (SEC Tournament, Birmingham)

I remember this one as well. This is one of only two SEC Championship games to feature two teams ranked in the top 5 nationally. This was a real heartbreaker, as I have hated few teams in history as much as I hated that LSU team.

03/01/81: # 9 Kentucky 73 - 71 # 2 Louisiana St.

This is one of my favorite UK games of all time, as UK won on Senior Day to prevent LSU from going 18-0 in the SEC. One of the most intense games ever played at Rupp.

03/01/84: # 3 Kentucky 76 - 57 Ole Miss

Just another blowout at Rupp for a very good team.

03/01/86: # 5 Kentucky 68 - 57 Louisiana St.

I didn't pay much attention to this game, because I was too busy hanging out with my new girlfriend. But UK played LSU three times in March of 1986, and the third game really grabbed my attention.

03/01/87: Kentucky 75 - 74 # 12 Oklahoma

I'm pretty sure that this was the last time UK played a non-conference opponent on Senior Day. This may have been the last March 1st I spent in Paducah; my girlfriend and I were having Sunday dinner with my parents while the game was on, and I kept running into the living room to check the score.

03/01/89: Kentucky 70 - 69 Ole Miss

I didn't pay any attention to this game, as I was in Connecticut and UK's season had already collapsed in scandal and defeat. As it turned out, this was Eddie Sutton's last home game as the UK coach, as well as his last win with the Wildcats.

03/01/92: # 11 Kentucky 80 - 56 Vanderbilt

This was the last March 1st I spent in Kentucky, as I was married now and living in Louisville. Next-to-last home game for the Unforgettables.

03/01/95: Georgia 74 - 97 # 5 Kentucky

This was the last of 39 games UK played against teams coached by Hugh Durham; UK went 30-9 in those games. UK put six players in double figures; I really thought this team was going to win the whole thing.

03/01/06: # 11 Tennessee 78 - 80 Kentucky

UT had already thumped UK in Lexington, and I didn't have the heart to watch the rematch, because I was certain we could get killed. Instead, we pulled it out, thanks to a spectacular performance by Rajon Rondo. This was probably the last time I was really happy with Tubby Smith.