Kentucky MBB set to honor '96, '97, and '98 teams against Tennessee

When the Tennessee Volunteers come to Lexington next month, a big group of special guests will help cheer on their former team.

On Wednesday night, it was announced by UK athletic director Mitch Barnhart that the school plans to celebrate the 1996, 1997, and 1998 Kentucky men’s basketball teams that won a pair of national titles (’96, ’98) and made it to the national finals in the other (’97). This three-year period is considered to be one of the most dominant stretches in program history, rivaling the peak of Adolph Rupp’s time as head coach in the late ’40s and early ’50s.

According to UK, the reunion will include players from the team, coaches, and managers beginning on Friday, Feb. 17, and continuing into Saturday afternoon’s showdown between the ‘Cats and Vols at 1:00 p.m. EST on CBS. All three teams will be recognized during the game.

Don’t expect to see Rick Pitino make the trip though, BBN. The Wildcats’ former head coach, who is now in charge at Iona, has two games set for that same weekend on Friday and Sunday.

Celebrating greatness.

We can't wait to welcome home the '96, '97 and '98 teams to Rupp Arena for our game on Feb. 18 vs. Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/1XMXW5n6RH

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 25, 2023

Below is more information on the three legendary teams, courtesy of UK Athletics.

Kentucky strung together 25 consecutive wins, including a 16-0 mark in Southeastern Conference play, midway through the 1995-96 season and rolled to its sixth national championship. The dynamic duo of Tony Delk (17.8 points per game) and Antoine Walker (15.2 ppg) led the team dubbed “The Untouchables” by head coach Rick Pitino. Delk tied a championship game record with seven 3-pointers and the Wildcats withstood a late Syracuse rally to win the title by a 76-67 score.

Pitino’s reigning champions posted a 35-5 overall record and won the league tournament title in a quest to repeat as champions in 1996-97. Kentucky marched all the way to the final game before falling to Arizona in overtime by an 84-75 margin. Ron Mercer paced the scoring at 18.1 points per game and Derek Anderson added 17.7 per outing.

The team that became known as the “Comeback Cats” captured their second national title in three years after overcoming a 10-point halftime deficit against Utah in the national championship game. UK was 10-3 in games decided by 10 points or fewer and 7-1 in games decided by three points or less during the regular season in Tubby Smith’s first year as head coach. Kentucky’s players provided a balanced attack, as all five starters averaged more than nine points per game with senior guard Jeff Sheppard pacing the scoring at 13.7 points per game.

UK Athletics

Next up for Kentucky is a matchup against Kansas in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge this Saturday, Jan. 28 at 8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN.