Kentucky at Madison Square Garden: Star Performances in the Calipari Era

Kentucky Basketball has a long and storied history in Madison Square Garden dating back almost eight decades. Adolph Rupp led the Cats to their first national title in the old Madison Square Garden in 1948. Almost 30 years later in the new building, Joe B. Hall’s Wildcats won the 1976 NIT, beating UNC-Charlotte 71-67. Rick Pitino’s squads returned to the Garden for the ECAC Holiday Festival in 1992 and 1995. Tubby Smith took the Cats to New York for the Preseason NIT in 1999 and the Coaches vs. Cancer IKON Classic in 2000. The connection between the most famous arena in basketball and college basketball’s winningest program has only gotten stronger during the John Calipari era.

The Cats are 14-5 in the current MSG. Saturday’s game vs. UCLA will be Calipari’s eighth trip to Madison Square Garden as Kentucky’s head coach. During his tenure, the Cats are 5-2 on the hallowed court, the only losses being to Seton Hall in overtime in the Citi Hoops Classic in 2018 and Duke in last year’s Champions Classic.

The Garden has a way of inspiring greatness. Throughout the Calipari Era, several Wildcats have seized the spotlight. As we count down the hours until the game vs. UCLA, let’s look back on some of the best individual performances.

Dec. 9, 2009: John Wall vs. UConn (SEC/Big East Invitational)

25 points (10-16 FG), 7 turnovers, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound

John Wall had already played eight games for Kentucky but asserted himself as a superstar at the Garden. Wall scored 25 points, including 12 of Kentucky’s final 15, in the Cats’ thrilling 64-61 win over UConn. Wall took over the game in the second half, outshining Huskies star Kemba Walker.

“He’s phenomenal, one of the best players out there,” Patrick Patterson said at the time. “If we need a crunch-time basket we give it to John and we know we are going to have the advantage. Pretty much when we need baskets we know who to get the ball to.”

“We rode John Wall at the end of the game,” Calipari said.

I was in the building that night and it’s still one of my favorite Kentucky Basketball memories. Wall was simply unstoppable. What a way to start the Calipari era.

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Nov. 15, 2011: Anthony Davis vs. Kansas (Champions Classic)

14 points (6-8 FG), 7 blocks, 6 rebounds, 2 steals

Two years later, John Calipari brought the Cats back to Madison Square Garden for the first-ever Champions Classic. Anthony Davis was not Kentucky’s leading scorer in this game, trailing Doron Lamb (17) and Terrence Jones (15) with 14 points, but did block seven shots, a Kentucky Basketball record in the Garden. The Cats got the 75-65 win, a preview of what was to come in the National Championship game in April.

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Nov. 15, 2016: Malik Monk vs. Michigan State (Champions Classic)

23 points (8-17 FG, 7-11 3PT), 6 rebounds, 1 assist

In the third game of the 2016-17 season, Malik Monk went off, hitting seven threes to push No. 2 Kentucky past No. 13 Michigan State 69-48. Monk was the only Kentucky player to hit a three all night and nobody on Michigan State’s squad made more than one. All three of Kentucky’s phenomenal freshmen — Monk, De’Aaron Fox, and Bam Adebayo — shined at different times that year, but Monk’s performance at MSG was pretty special. Little did we know he’d top it a month later in Las Vegas.

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Nov. 5, 2019: Tyrese Maxey vs. Michigan State (Champions Classic)

26 points (7-12 FT, 3-7 3PT, 9-10 FT), 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

In his first game as a Wildcat, Tyrese Maxey saved the day. On the day after his 19th birthday, the freshman hit a clutch three from deep with 59 seconds left to extend Kentucky’s lead to 65-60. The shot was so impressive that John Wall, watching from the sidelines, leapt to his feet in celebration. The Cats went on to win 69-62.

“It was an amazing birthday celebration,” Maxey said. “I’m very happy, happy for me and my guys. It was a lot of fun out there.”

“He put on a show,” Tom Izzo said of Maxey. “He’s got great intangibles. He’s happy-go-lucky but plays hard.”

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Honorable Mention: Keldon Johnson’s three to force overtime vs. Seton Hall

Kentucky lost to Seton Hall in the Garden in 2018, but Keldon Johnson‘s three to force overtime is so ridiculous it deserves mention.

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Dec. 17, 2022: ?

We had hopes Kentucky would ruin the start of Coach K’s Farewell Tour, but no such luck. The No. 9 Blue Devils beat the No. 10 Cats 79-71 in the Champions Classic last November, with freshmen Trevor Keels and Paolo Banchero stealing the spotlight with a combined 47 points.

Oscar Tshiebwe and Sahvir Wheeler performed well in their Kentucky debuts, each notching a double-double (Oscar had 17 points and 20 rebounds, Wheeler 16 points and 10 assists). Kentucky needs strong performances from both to beat a surging UCLA team. We’ve been waiting for a breakout performance from Jacob Toppin. Will the Brooklyn native rise to the occasion in what could be his final college game at Madison Square Garden, where his brother Obi plays for the Knicks? Maybe freshman Cason Wallace will seize the moment after stepping up in the second half vs. Michigan in the O2.

We’ll find out soon enough.