Kentucky honored its 1975 NCAA runner-up team with a 50th anniversary celebration

by:Drew Franklin•about 10 hours•

DrewFranklinKSR

Kentucky honored some of its past basketball greats with a ceremony during halftime of Saturday’s game versus South Carolina in Lexington. Rupp Arena gave a warm welcome to members of the 1974-75 team that went 26-5, won a share of the SEC championship, and played for an NCAA championship. Coached by the late Joe B. Hall, the ’75 Wildcats’ remarkable season culminated in a runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament, losing to John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins in the championship. Wooden famously announced his retirement before the game, which many believe inspired UCLA to win its tenth national championship.

Fifty years later, Big Blue Nation welcomed many of those Wildcats home for an anniversary celebration in Lexington. Among the former players who were honored were Jack Givens, Jimmy Dan Conner, Bob Guyette, Jerry Hale, and Mike Flynn, and assistant coach Dick Parsons. Kevin Grevey was part of the festivities via Facetime while Jimmy Dan Conner, who also was “the Y,” spoke to the crowd with a nod to those who passed away and one good joke about Grevey’s defense.

[More on Joe B. Hall’s 1974-75 Wildcats]

Kentucky’s 1974-75 Roster

(Kentucky’s 1974-75 team reunion via Dr. Mike for KSR)

Unknown date, 1975; Dayton, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; (l to r) Kentucky Wildcats guard Jerry Hale (23) Jimmy Conner(20) center Bob Guyette (45) forward Kevin Grevey (35) and guard Mike Flynn (24) celebrate a victory over the Indiana Hoosiers during the NCAA midwest regional championship game to go to the Final Four. Kentucky beat Indiana 92-90. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

#	Name	Pos	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown (School)
#35	Kevin Grevey	F	Sr.	6-5	205	Hamilton, OH (Taft)
#20	Jimmy Dan Conner	F-G	Sr.	6-4	200	Lawrenceburg, KY (Anderson County)
#53	Rick Robey	F-C	Fr.	6-10	235	New Orleans, LA (Brother Martin High)
#21	Jack Givens	F	Fr.	6-4	205	Lexington, KY (Bryan Station)
#24	Mike Flynn	G	Sr.	6-3	190	Jeffersonville, IN (High)
#45	Bob Guyette	C	Sr.	6-9	215	Ottawa, IL (Marquette)
#55	Mike Phillips	C	Fr.	6-10	235	Manchester, OH (High)
#12	Larry Johnson	G	So.	6-2	205	Morganfield, KY (Union County)
#32	James Lee	F	Fr.	6-5	230	Lexington, KY (Henry Clay)
#34	G. J. Smith	F	Sr.	6-7	180	London, KY (Laurel County)
#54	Dan Hall	C	Fr.	6-10	225	Betsy Layne, KY (High)
#15	Reggie Warford	G	Jr.	6-1	165	Drakesboro, KY (High)
#10	Joey Holland	G	So.	6-2	165	Charleston, WV (George Washington)
#23	Jerry Hale	G	Sr.	6-1	178	New Albany, IN (Floyd Central)
#30	Merion Haskins	F	So.	6-4	205	Campbellsville, KY (Taylor County)

Kentucky’s 1974-75 Schedule/Results

Date	Game	Result	Score	Notes
11/25/1974	Athletes in Action	W	103 – 65	Exhibition
11/30/1974	Northwestern	W	97 – 70	–
12/2/1974	at Miami (OH)	W	80 – 73	–
12/7/1974	at (#3) Indiana	L	74 – 98	–
12/9/1974	(#9) North Carolina	W	90 – 78	(at Louisville, KY)
12/20/1974	Washington State	W	97 – 75	UKIT
12/21/1974	Oklahoma State	W	90 – 65	UKIT Championship
12/23/1974	(#18) Kansas	W	100 – 63	(at Louisville, KY)
12/28/1974	(#13) Notre Dame	W	113 – 96	(at Louisville, KY)
1/4/1975	LSU	W	115 – 80	–
1/6/1975	at Georgia	W	96 – 77	–
1/11/1975	at Auburn	L	85 – 90	–
1/13/1975	(#18) Tennessee	W	88 – 82	–
1/18/1975	at Mississippi	W	85 – 82	–
1/20/1975	(#7) Alabama	W	74 – 69	–
1/25/1975	Florida	W	87 – 65	–
1/27/1975	at Vanderbilt	W	91 – 90	–
2/1/1975	Mississippi State	W	112 – 79	–
2/3/1975	at LSU	W	77 – 76	–
2/8/1975	Georgia	W	75 – 61	–
2/10/1975	Auburn	W	119 – 76	–
2/15/1975	at Tennessee	L	98 – 103	–
2/17/1975	Ole MIss	W	108 – 89	–
2/22/1975	at (#5) Alabama	W	84 – 79	–
2/24/1975	at Florida	L	58 – 66	–
3/1/1975	Vanderbilt	W	109 – 84	–
3/8/1975	at Mississippi State	W	118 – 80	–
3/15/1975	(#10) Marquette	W	76 – 54	NCAA First Round (Tuscaloosa, AL)
3/20/1975	Central Michigan	W	90 – 73	NCAA Regional Semifinals (Dayton, OH)
3/22/1975	(#1) Indiana	W	92 – 90	NCAA Regional Finals (Dayton, OH)
3/29/1975	(#6) Syracuse	W	95 – 79	NCAA Final Four (San Diego, CA)
3/31/1975	(#1) UCLA	L	85 – 92	NCAA Championship (San Diego, CA)