Which Kentucky coach has the best starting 5?
By any measure, Kentucky basketball is the gold standard. With more than 2,300 wins, eight national championships, and a parade of All-Americans and NBA stars, the program doesn’t just have history—it has dynasties.
But what if the greatest players from each era—Rupp to Calipari—could face off? Who’s the best of the best? We built all-time starting fives for each Kentucky head coach since Adolph Rupp, normalized stats to a modern 40-minute pace, and ran simulations to find out who reigns supreme.
note* Mark Pope has had only 1 full season, so we chose to leave him out for now.
The lineups
Each coach gets five: PG, SG, SF, PF, C. No bench. No excuses.
Adolph Rupp’s Fabulous Force
Tenure: 1930–1972
- PG: Ralph Beard – Floor general of the “Fabulous Five,” 2x national champ.
- SG: Louie Dampier – 19.7 PPG and a three-point threat before the line existed.
- SF: Cotton Nash – 22.7 PPG and 12.3 RPG. Rupp’s first modern superstar.
- PF: Dan Issel – All-time UK scoring leader. 25.8 PPG, 12.9 RPG.
- C: Alex Groza – 2x Final Four MOP and the anchor of back-to-back titles.
Joe B. Hall’s Championship Core
Tenure: 1972–1985
- PG: Kyle Macy – Smooth, clutch, SEC POY.
- SG: Kevin Grevey – Scorer supreme (21.4 PPG), 1975 runner-up.
- SF: Jack Givens – “Goose” dropped 41 in the ‘78 title game.
- PF: Rick Robey – Blue-collar bruiser, integral to ‘78 championship.
- C: Sam Bowie – Length, shot-blocking, and underrated finesse.
Eddie Sutton’s Blue-Collar Brawlers
Tenure: 1985–1989
- PG: James Blackmon – Steady hand in chaotic times.
- SG: Rex Chapman – Electrifying scorer, SEC legend.
- SF: Winston Bennett – Mr. Reliable on both ends."
- PF: Kenny “Sky” Walker – Highlight machine and 20 & 8 guy.
- C: Rob Lock – Defensive enforcer in the paint.
Rick Pitino’s Bomb Squad
Tenure: 1989–1997
- PG: Sean Woods – Sparkplug of the “Unforgettables.”
- SG: Tony Delk – 1996 MOP and 3-point sniper.
- SF: Jamal Mashburn – “Monster Mash” was a mismatch nightmare.
- PF: Antoine Walker – Swag, versatility, and big-game chops.
- C: Nazr Mohammed – Efficient, tough, and title-tested.
Tubby Smith’s Silent Killers
Tenure: 1997–2007
- PG: Wayne Turner – The winningest PG in UK history.
- SG: Keith Bogans – 1,923 career points and fearless scorer.
- SF: Tayshaun Prince – Smooth, long, and deadly from deep.
- PF: Chuck Hayes – Undersized, unmovable, and heart of a warrior.
- C: Jamaal Magloire – UK’s all-time blocks leader.
Billy Gillispie’s Lone Guns
Tenure: 2007–2009
- PG: Michael Porter – Solid, if unspectacular, presence.
- SG: Jodie Meeks – Dropped 54 at Tennessee. Enough said.
- SF: Joe Crawford – Reliable scorer with big-game pop.
- PF: Patrick Patterson – Double-double machine.
- C: Randolph Morris – Skilled and productive in a turbulent era.
John Calipari’s NBA Factory
Tenure: 2009–2024
- PG: John Wall – The prototype one-and-done floor general.
- SG: Devin Booker – Efficient shooter, SEC Sixth Man of the Year.
- SF: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist – Defensive beast and ultimate glue guy.
- PF: Anthony Davis – Block party leader and arguably UK’s GOAT.
- C: Willie Cauley-Stein – Elite defender with speed and length.
So… who wins?
That’s where the simulations come in. Using pace-adjusted stats, player impact ratings, and era-neutral efficiency models, we ran the matchups—round-robin style. Every team is then seeded based on their record, and a bracket style showdown commences.
Rupp's Relics Prove They Still Belong
In the early going, the throwback squad led by Coach Rupp reminded everyone why they were foundational legends. Dan Issel was a force, averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds per game, while Cliff Hagan and Ralph Beard brought steady scoring and stout defense. They handled Eddie Sutton and Tubby Smith’s teams with ease and even got the best of Joe B. Hall’s bruisers. But they couldn’t keep up with the pace and firepower of Rick Pitino’s 1996-era Wildcats, falling 85–80 in a clash of tempos and timelines.
Pitino’s Precision Offense Dominates
Pitino’s team, built around the ferocious backcourt of Tony Delk and Derek Anderson, played fast and fearless. They shot the three better than anyone—Delk led all players with 21 points per game and 3.5 triples a night—and had the depth to wear down opponents. Antawn Walker and Nazr Mohammed held down the paint while Jamal Mashburn attacked from everywhere. They rolled to a 5–1 record, their only loss coming in a late-round classic to Calipari.
Even in defeat, Pitino’s crew looked dangerous—poised for redemption once the bracket tipped off.
Calipari’s Kings of the Bluegrass
And then there was Cal. Undefeated in the round-robin. Unbothered by era, tempo, or talent. His group wasn’t just the deepest—it was the most athletic and defensively dominant. John Wall averaged nearly 20 points and 7 assists per game, Davis anchored the rim with over five blocks a night, and Devin Booker rained threes in transition. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Willie Cauley-Stein gave them versatility and switchability that proved too much for any opponent.
They swept through the round-robin at 6–0 with an average margin of victory of nearly 14 points. But the real test came when the bracket began.
Round-robin results and seeding showing point differential
- 1 Calipari: 6–0 (+82) *bye
- 2 Pitino: 5–1 (+31)
- 3 Rupp: 4–2 (+33)
- 4 Hall: 3–3 (+7)
- 5 Smith: 2–4 (-10)
- 6 Gillispie: 1–5 (-28)
- 7 Sutton: 0–6 (-95)
Bracket madness: Hall of Fame drama
Quarterfinal 1: No. 2 Pitino vs. No. 7 Sutton
- Result: Pitino 87, Sutton 73
- Key Factors: Pitino’s high-powered offense, led by Delk (22 pts, 4 3PM) and Mashburn (20 pts), overwhelms Sutton’s weaker roster.
Quarterfinal 2: No. 3 Rupp vs. No. 6 Gillispie
- Result: Rupp 85, Gillispie 77
- Key Factors: Rupp’s frontcourt dominance (Issel: 23 pts, Groza: 18 pts) overpowers Gillispie’s interior. Meeks (25 pts, 5 3PM) keeps it close, but Rupp’s balanced attack and Beard’s defense (3 stl) secure the win.
Quarterfinal 3: No. 4 Hall vs. No. 5 Smith
- Result: Hall 81, Smith 78
- Key Factors: Hall’s perimeter shooting (Grevey: 22 pts, 3 3PM) and Bowie’s defense (4 blk) edge out Smith’s balanced attack. Bogans (19 pts) and Prince (16 pts) fight back, but Givens’ clutch scoring (18 pts) wins it.
In the quarterfinals, Pitino made quick work of Sutton’s winless squad, while Rupp’s bigs overpowered Gillispie’s one-man Meeks show. Joe B. Hall’s gritty bunch edged out Tubby Smith in the tightest game of the round behind 22 from Jimmy Dan Grevey and key blocks from Sam Bowie.
In the semifinals, Calipari faced Hall—and once again leaned on his modern length and transition game to control the tempo. Davis swatted six shots, Wall dished seven dimes, and Calipari advanced with a confident 90–82 win.
Semifinal 1: No. 1 Calipari vs. No. 4 Hall
- Result: Calipari 90, Hall 82
- Key Factors: Calipari’s athleticism and rim protection (Davis: 20 pts, 6 blk, Cauley-Stein: 3 blk) overwhelm Hall. Wall (22 pts, 7 ast) controls the pace, while Grevey (21 pts) keeps Hall in it. Davis’ late blocks secure the win.
Semifinal 2: No. 2 Pitino vs. No. 3 Rupp
- Result: Pitino 86, Rupp 83
- Key Factors: Pitino’s modern style and three-point shooting (Delk: 23 pts, 4 3PM) edge out Rupp’s traditional attack. Issel (22 pts, 12 reb) and Nash (19 pts) keep it close, but Mashburn’s versatility (20 pts, 8 reb) and Woods’ clutch plays (6 ast) win it.
On the other side, Pitino and Rupp delivered another classic. Issel dropped 22 and Larry Steele added timely buckets, but Mashburn’s 20-point, 8-rebound effort, combined with Delk’s clutch threes, gave Pitino the edge in a thrilling 86–83 win.
The Final: New Blood vs. Old School Swagger
It came down to the two titans of Kentucky’s post-Rupp era—Rick Pitino and John Calipari—each with one national title at UK, each with rosters capable of steamrolling a Final Four. And for 40 simulated minutes, they traded haymakers.
Final: No. 1 Calipari vs. No. 2 Pitino
- Result: Calipari 89, Pitino 87
- Key Factors: Calipari’s defensive dominance (Davis: 21 pts, 6 blk, Cauley-Stein: 4 blk) and Wall’s playmaking (22 pts, 8 ast) outlast Pitino’s offense. Delk (22 pts, 4 3PM) and Mashburn (20 pts) make it a tight game, but Davis’ rim protection and Wall’s late drives secure the title.
Delk hit four threes. Mashburn and Walker combined for 36 points. But every answer Pitino had, Calipari had a counter. Wall was unstoppable down the stretch, finishing with 22 points and 8 assists. Davis posted 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 more blocks—cementing his MVP status. With Cauley-Stein protecting the paint and Booker splashing in timely shots, Calipari’s team pulled away in the final moments for an 89–85 win.
Final Verdict
In the end, the numbers didn’t lie. Calipari’s team finished 9–0 across the full simulation, beating every other coach at least once, including two wins over Pitino and two over Hall. They had the best defense, the most spacing, the most athleticism—and a pair of future NBA All-Stars in Wall and Davis who took over every time it mattered.
Champion: John Calipari
Runner-Up: Rick Pitino
Most Outstanding Player: Anthony Davis
Best Game: Calipari 89, Pitino 85 (Final)
Top Scorer: Jodie Meeks (Gillispie) – 24.0 PPG