Top Ten Memorable Sweet Sixteen Games in Kentucky Basketball History
By J Bill Sosh
No. 1 – 2014 – Kentucky 74 Louisville 69
In 2013-2014 Kentucky Basketball had a heralded freshman class. Great things were expected from the Harrison Twins, Julius Randle, James Young and company from the start. But it certainly wasn’t smooth sailing for most of the season. The Cats were 22-9 in the regular season and seemed to be spiraling downward after losing three of their last four and four of the last six. Thanks perhaps to Coach Cal’s famous ‘tweak’, however, they steadied in the SEC tournament winning their first two. In the title game they gave Florida, who went undefeated in all conference games that season, all they wanted before losing 61-60.
Then it was on to the NCAA tournament in the unfamiliar position of an eight-seed. But the young Cats got on a roll. They beat Kansas State in the opener and took on undefeated and top-seeded Wichita State in the second round. They knocked off the Shockers 78-76 and then it was on to Indianapolis for the Midwest Regionals.
Taking Down the Cards
Waiting on the Cats in Indy on March 28th was an old familiar foe, the University of Louisville. The fourth-seeded Cardinals were the defending national champs and a solid favorite to end their arch-rival’s season. Former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino’s Cards led virtually the entire first half. The margin was as much as nine on three separate occasions. Kentucky fought back to cut the lead to 34-31 at the break.
The Cats drew even at 38 about five minutes into the second half, but the Cards gradually pulled away again. When they took a 66-59 lead with 4:33 remaining the Wildcats appeared to be on the ropes. But fueled by Alex Poythress making plays on both ends of the floor, UK scored the next seven points to tie the game. Louisville took a 68-67 lead with 1:10 to go, but then Aaron Harrison hit a cold-blooded three from the corner with 39 seconds left to give the Wildcats their first lead since 2-0. Aaron and Randle then hit foul shots at the end to seal the 74-69 victory.
Sending them Home
With the win Kentucky Basketball ended the repeat title dreams of their in-state rival and sent seniors Russ Smith and Luke Hancock out with a loss in their final college game. The Cats had two more nailbiting wins over Michigan and Wisconsin before falling in the national championship game to Connecticut. Being in the rare position of an underdog, Kentucky Basketball fans relished the 2014 post-season run. But no moment in that stretch of games was better than knocking off the dirty birds.