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Shedding a Light on The ’96, ’97, and ’98 Kentucky Basketball teams

By Frank Spencer

Oct 17, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; A general view of Rupp Arena during the game with the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans. Sacramento Kings defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 107-98. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; A general view of Rupp Arena during the game with the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans. Sacramento Kings defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 107-98. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kentucky Basketball
Nov 14, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; A general view of Rupp Arena before the game with the Kentucky Wildcats and the NJIT Highlanders. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

The “Untouchables”

Rick Pitino led the 1996 Kentucky Wildcats to their sixth NCAA Title in program history. This set of Cats finished the season at 34-2 while going undefeated throughout the regular season in the SEC. The ’96 Kentucky team was led by Tony Delk’s 17.8 points per game. Walter McCarty (11.3 PPG) as well as Antoine Walker (15.2 PPG) who averaged double digits throughout the season. Ron Mercer, Derek Anderson, and Anthony Epps were also consistent contributors on the offensive side of the floor.

Rick Pitino’s Wildcats would only lose one game in the regular season to the University of Massachusetts. UMass was coached by current Kentucky Head Man, John Calipari. The only other loss on the schedule was an 84-73 loss to Mississippi State in the finals of the SEC Tournament.

The NCAA Tournament saw these Kentucky Wildcats with a one-seed in the Midwest Regional. Kentucky breezed their way though the first three rounds against San Jose State, Virginia Tech, Utah and Wake Forest to reach the Final Four. Their first matchup in the Final Four paired them with the only team that defeated them in the regular season, John Calipari, Marcus Camby and the Massachusetts Minutemen.

Pitino and the Cats defeated the Minutemen 71-84 to reach the National Title game. A matchup against Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse Orange awaited.

Kentucky would go on to defeat the Orange 76-67 behind Tony Delk’s 24 points. Pitino and his Untouchable Cats would bring home Kentucky’s sixth NCAA National Championship.

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