by Paul Jordan
Sunday’s game will mark the Senior Day “goodbye” for Wildcat’s Mark Krebs, Perry Stevenson, and Ramon Harris. In a stark contrast from tradition, it is also rumored that Junior Patrick Patterson will also be honored in what could be his last home game as a Wildcat. When you add in the fact that this is likely the last home game for John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, this promises to be a sentimental event.
Kentucky has had amazingly good success on their goodbye party for their departing players. Over the last 20 years, Kentucky is 17-3 on Senior Day. That 17-3 record is actually somewhat of a slump when you look at the previous Senior Days. Kentucky has actually compiled a couple of 30 year winning streaks on Senior Day.
Kentucky lost to Vanderbilt in 1932 on Senior Day and then ripped off a 30 year winning streak which ended with a loss to Alabama in 1964. Not to be outdone, the Wildcats started a 33 game winning streak that ended with a loss to South Carolina in 1997. So if we are keeping count, UK is 73-4 in their past 77 Senior Days. So we can say that history is against the Gators.
Kentucky is actually 5-1 against the Gators in Senior Days on recent years, so I decided to take a look at the past UK/Florida Senior Days so we can get a sense of appreciation for the Wildcat’s impending win.
3/9/2008
Kentucky 75 Florida 70
Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford
This was a notable win for the Wildcats as it ended a seven game losing streak to the Gators. Perry Stevenson paced four Wildcats in double digits with 18 points and the Wildcats drilled 10 3-pointers in the victory. Joe Crawford scored 16 points and Ramal Bradley 14 on their big days.
3/5/2006
Florida 79 Kentucky 64
Brandon Stockton, Ravi Moss, Preston LeMaster and Patrick Sparks
This was a joyless Senior Day as the eventual national champion Gators steamrolled the Cats. The Gators were just hitting their peak as they were ranked 14th coming into this game. Joe Crawford led Kentucky with 21 points, but the seniors did not have big days. Patrick Sparks and Ravi Moss scored 8 points, Stockton scored 7 and LeMaster went scoreless on his big day.
3/7/2004
Kentucky 82 Florida 62
Erik Daniels, Cliff Hawkins, Gerald Fitch, Matt Heisenbuttel and Antwain Barbour
Kentucky hit 10 treys as #9 UK spanked the Gators at Rupp. Seniors Fitch and Daniels led the Cats in scoring with 21 and 15 points. Barbour added 12 and Hawkins scored 5 and Heisenbuttel was shut out on his Senior Day.
3/2/2002
Kentucky 70 Florida 67
Tayshaun Prince and J.P. Blevins
#11 Kentucky knocked off the #8 Gators in a thrilling Senior Day as UK said goodbye to one of its most revered players, Tayshaun Prince. Prince led UK with 13 points and Blevins poured in 4 points.
3/4/2000
Kentucky 85 Florida 70
Jamal Magloire and Steven Masiello
Another #8 ranked Gators team went down in flames on Senior Day as the #22 Wildcats stormed out to a 43-24 halftime lead and never looked back. Tayshaun Prince led 5 Cats in double figure scoring with 19 and Magloire had 14. The “human victory cigar” Masiello failed to score in his eight minutes of action.
3/2/1994
Kentucky 80 Florida 77
Rodney Dent, Travis Ford, Jeff Brassow and Gimel Martinez
Yet another ranked Gators team went down in defeat as the #19 Gators led by coach Lon Kruger went down to Pitino’s 7th ranked Wildcats. Rodrick Rhodes and Tony Delk each scored 18 points and Travis Ford scored 12 points for UK. Martinex scored 7 and Jefff Brassow scored a point. Dent failed to score.
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