They’re back. Aaron and Andrew Harrison, two of the most polarizing figures in recent Kentucky basketball history, are returning to Lexington — this time not as Wildcats, but as members of La Familia, Kentucky’s alumni squad in The Basketball Tournament (TBT).
It’s a reunion that will thrill some fans and reignite old debates for others.
The Harrison Twins’ legacy in Lexington is complicated. Aaron gave Big Blue Nation one of the most unforgettable runs in NCAA Tournament history, burying clutch three after clutch three during Kentucky’s magical march from an 8-seed to the 2014 national title game. But a year later, as veterans on a 38-0 squad chasing perfection, the story didn’t end in glory — it ended in a gut-wrenching loss to Wisconsin in the Final Four.
And many fans still point to the Harrisons when dissecting what went wrong.
During a critical stretch late in that 2015 semifinal, with future No. 1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns dominating the paint and shooters like Devin Booker and Tyler Ulis on the bench, John Calipari stuck with Andrew Harrison at point guard. The result? A string of stagnant offensive possessions and missed shots that let Wisconsin seize momentum.
Kentucky didn’t score a field goal for nearly five minutes. By the time the Cats found the net again, Sam Dekker had buried a dagger three, and the perfect season was slipping away. Final score: Wisconsin 71, Kentucky 64. The dream season ended with the Harrisons on the floor.
To some, that loss marked the beginning of the end of Calipari’s golden run — a symbolic moment when loyalty to perceived NBA future stars over college role players cost the program its place in the history books.
Still, it’s impossible to tell the story of Kentucky basketball in the 2010s without the Harrisons. Aaron’s ice-cold jumpers against Michigan, Louisville, and Wisconsin in 2014 are part of March Madness lore. Andrew’s steady presence ran the offense for two Final Four teams. Together, they won games — a lot of them.
Now, nearly a decade later, they’ll lace it up again in Rupp Arena.
TBT is more than just a summer basketball tournament — it’s a nostalgia-fueled celebration of college programs and their fan bases. For Kentucky fans, seeing La Familia take the court with familiar faces like the Harrisons offers a chance to relive the highs and, yes, reconsider the lows.
Will they be cheered like heroes or remembered as a what-if?
That depends on who you ask.
But there’s no doubt about this: their return is emotional, provocative, and quintessentially Kentucky. The Harrisons are back. The debate is back. And for better or worse, Big Blue Nation will be watching.