Top Ten Memorable Sweet Sixteen Games in Kentucky Basketball History
By J Bill Sosh
As Kentucky Basketball prepares to take on UCLA Friday night, we’re going to take a look back at some noteworthy Wildcat appearances in the Sweet 16 of the tournament.
When a team has had as much post-season success as Kentucky Basketball, there are going to have many good memories upon which to reminisce. Final Four appearances in the semi-finals and title games naturally draw the biggest audiences. Those games have the most on the line and even casual fans can recall the biggest moments and players.
But some of the Wildcats greatest performances and most memorable wins have come in this same round in which they will take on the Bruins in Memphis. Presented here are what we believe are the ten most memorable of those contests. All but one of these games resulted in a Big Blue win.
For a little historical perspective, the NCAA tournament didn’t expand to include 16 teams total until 1951, when Kentucky Basketball won their third title, all of which came in a four-year span. The field expanded to 32 teams in 1975. It grew to the full 64 (now 68) team field we know now in 1985. The first game we will look at is the only prior to the 64-team era.