Scott Padgett is a beloved member of the Kentucky basketball family. He hit one of the most memorable shots in Kentucky history to help complete the comeback against Duke in 1998.
Padgett told The Cat's Pause, “To this day, if I were to watch it on video, I get goosebumps. As soon as Wayne Turner comes off the screen, because I already know what’s coming, I get goosebumps.”
That moment is etched in the minds of many UK fans, not only for the win itself but because it led to a national title, the team's second in three years. It exorcised the demons of the loss to Duke in 1992; after falling behind by 18 points, they came roaring back.
Scott Padgett was a little stingy with the NCAA trophy
Padgett was back on local airwaves Friday, where he talked to Alan Cutler about the aftermath of that title game.
"So in '98, we're getting interviewed and stuff in the locker room and everything. I look over, and the trophy is sitting there. I just took it and put it in my bag, and I took it back to the room because I just wanted to hang out with it for a night," Padgett laughed. "When I came down the next day, Brooks Downing and, you know, some of the assistants are all in panic mode because they can't find the trophy. I was like, 'We're good. I'm just taking it back to Rupp."
Can you imagine the panic? Coaches and administration staff running around looking everywhere for the trophy they just won, and it was in a player's room the whole time.
"I got off the bus, and I had it. There's a picture of me... I've got this kind of goofy smile. And the goofy smile is seeing him asking for it back. And I'm like, 'I can't really give it back yet.'"
Great conversation with Scott Padgett today that we taped yesterday. @ScottPadgett34 just sent me this pic. Great story on how HE took the NCAA Championship trophy after UK won !!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/hZECSGhSXI
— alan cutler (@cutler1300) January 9, 2026
That is a great story from a great team that had one of the most memorable runs in NCAA Tournament history.
In the Elite Eight, they overcame a 17-point second-half deficit to beat Duke. In the Final Four, they defeated Stanford after trailing at halftime. And in the Championship Game, they wiped out a 10-point halftime deficit (the largest ever in a title game) to defeat Utah.
In a season for of miracles, Scott Padgett just wanted to savor it a little longer and who can blame him for that.