Where does Reed Sheppard at MSU rank among all-time Kentucky game-winners?

Reed Sheppard reached immortal status in Starkville, sinking a game-winner to complete the 13-point second-half comeback over Mississippi State, a 91-89 victory. Receiving the shovel pass from DJ Wagner, the freshman guard sliced through defenders at the top of the key and lifted at the free-throw line to drill the off-balance floater with 0.5 seconds to go. It capped off a career-high 32-point effort that saw Sheppard hit 11 of 14 shot attempts with seven assists, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals — an all-time performance.

When you hit a shot like that, you join a legendary list of the program’s top moments and broadcast calls. No matter what’s happened up to this point or what comes after, Sheppard will always have this.

REED SHEPPARD WINS IT FOR NO. 16 KENTUCKY 😱

WHAT A FINISH IN STARKVILLE 🔥 @KentuckyMBB pic.twitter.com/AaIurMWuEG

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) February 28, 2024

So where does No. 15’s game-winner stack up historically among Kentucky’s other top buzzer-beaters and clutch go-ahead shots? Let’s run through the best of the best.

Aaron Harrison vs. Louisville (2014)

You can’t make a list of clutch buckets without including three of the biggest shots in Wildcat history — all by the same guy, all in a three-game postseason stretch. March Madness victories automatically put you at the top of the list, Harrison’s first coming vs. Louisville in the Sweet 16. Down 68-67, the freshman guard drilled the go-ahead corner three with 39 seconds to go, ultimately leading to the 74-69 win.

Aaron Harrison vs. Michigan (2014)

He followed that up with one of the gutsiest moments in Kentucky history, catching the handoff from Andrew Harrison and stepping back for the deep three from the left wing. Tied at 72-72, his shot fell through the net with 2.3 seconds to go, leading to the 75-72 win for a spot in the Final Four.

Aaron Harrison vs. Wisconsin (2014)

“This is the point where he always hits it.”

Nothing left to say, Harrison drilling the catch-and-shoot look from his brother with 5.7 seconds to go to earn the 74-73 win to advance to the national championship.

Brandon Knight vs. Princeton (2011)

Before Harrison came Knight’s clutch postseason run just three years prior, starting with a running layup with 2.0 seconds to go to avoid the opening-round upset vs. Princeton, winning 59-57.

Brandon Knight vs. Ohio State (2011)

After going for a career-high 30 points against West Virginia in the Round of 32, Knight followed it up with the biggest shot of his life: a right-elbow jumper with 5.4 seconds to go vs. No. 1 overall seed Ohio State to earn the 62-60, Kentucky advancing to the Elite Eight.

Tyler Herro vs. Houston (2019)

Again, March Madness wins surpass all, and The Bucket earned one himself during Kentucky’s 2019 run. Down 58-57, Herro caught a pitch-back from Keldon Johnson and drilled the contested go-ahead three with 25.8 seconds left, ultimately leading to the 60-58 win to propel the Cats to the Elite Eight.

Kenny Walker vs. Auburn (1984)

It wasn’t the NCAA Tournament, but “Sky” Walker got his own March moment with a game-winner to beat Charles Barkley and the Auburn Tigers to clinch the SEC Tournament title. Tied at 49-49, his shot hit the rim, bounced up, then rolled back into the net at the final buzzer to earn the championship.

Kyle Macy vs. LSU (1980)

It wasn’t for postseason hardware, but Macy’s game-winning jumper in overtime at LSU did give Kentucky the 1980 SEC regular season title. That was a 76-74 final in Baton Rouge.

John Wall vs. Miami (OH) (2009)

Now we shift to the program’s top regular season clutch buckets and moments.

In Wall’s debut as a Wildcat, the dynamic freshman took it coast-to-coast with the game tied in the final seconds for the 15-foot stepback jumper for the win with 0.5 seconds left on the clock.

Malik Monk vs. North Carolina (2016)

How about one of the most electric games of the John Calipari? Down 100-98 in the final minute, Monk pump faked to reset before launching for his 47th point, a dagger from the left wing with 16.7 seconds to go to earn the 101-100 win in Vegas.

EJ Montgomery vs. Florida (2020)

The final game of 2019-20 before we knew it was the final game of 2019-20. Trailing 70-69 with 21.1 seconds to go, Keion Brooks Jr. drove baseline for the missed contested layup, only to see Montgomery follow it up on the opposite side of the basket with 11.6 seconds to go. A failed Florida three-pointer at the buzzer confirmed the game-winning putback effort.

Julius Randle vs. LSU (2014)

An overlooked clutch moment for that 2013-14 group thanks to Harrison’s postseason efforts, Randle converted a follow-up effort following a James Young Miss to earn the 77-76 win in overtime inside Rupp Arena.

Quade Green vs. Vanderbilt (2019)

Sitting at 81-81 in overtime, Green took the inbounds pass coast-to-coast and sliced through two defenders for the open layup finish with 4.3 seconds to go. Vanderbilt then front-ended its shot at the buzzer to lose.

Nick Richards at Texas Tech (2020)

In a dominant 25-point, 14-rebound, four-block effort in a ranked true road battle in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, Richards was fouled with the game tied at 74-74 in overtime and drilled both free throws to ice the game with 10.3 seconds to go.

Erik Daniels vs. Mississippi State (2004)

Moving back before the John Calipari era, Daniels’ tip-in as time expired on a botched alley-oop to Chuck Hayes is a fan favorite, giving Kentucky the 67-66 win over Mississippi State — also in Starkville.

Rajon Rondo vs. South Carolina (2006)

Or how about Rondo’s double crossover from the left wing with the Cats down 78-77 vs. South Carolina in Lexington? An unlikely hero considering his shooting struggles, he drilled the game-winner with 1.2 seconds left to give Kentucky the 80-78 victory.

Jeff Brassow vs. Arizona (1993)

The 1993 Maui Invitational Championship was an instant classic, Kentucky vs. Arizona tied at 88-88 with a minute to go and the two teams going back and forth down the stretch — UK with a three, Zona with four straight free throws. It ended with a Rodrick Rhodes heave, put back at the rim by Brassow as time expired to earn the 93-92 tournament title win.

Patrick Sparks vs. Louisville (2004)

Did Sparks travel? Irrelevant, because a foul was called on his corner three attempt with the Cats down 58-57, leading to three straight makes at the free-throw line with 0.6 seconds left to earn the rivalry win in Freedom Hall. That would give the star guard 25 points in the clutch performance, Kentucky overcoming a 16-point halftime deficit.

Walter McCarty vs. LSU (1994)

Down 31 points in the second half, McCarty helped complete the greatest comeback of all time in Baton Rouge with a go-ahead corner three to go up 96-95 with 19 seconds to go. The Cats would go on to win 99-95.

Tayshaun Prince vs. Florida (2001)

With Tubby Smith going for his 100th win at Kentucky and the Cats looking for their fourth straight as the SEC East leader, Prince drilled a running jump hook in the lane with 3.3 seconds to go to earn the 71-70 victory.

Nazr Mohammed vs. Vanderbilt (1998)

Tied 61-61 with 4.4 seconds to go in Nashville, Mohammed caught a cross-court pass on the right wing and took two dribbles right before tossing up a running prayer off the glass, falling through at the buzzer to win 63-61.

Cedric Jenkins vs. Louisville (1987)

Trailing 75-74 with 11 seconds to go, Ed Davender missed a baseline jumper for the win, only to see Jenkins convert the putback for his lone bucket of the day. Kentucky would come out on top by a final score of 76-75.

Jodie Meeks vs. Florida (2007)

Tied 65-65, Meeks lifted for a double-clutch stepback from the left wing, falling through the net with 4.7 seconds to go. The kicker? Nick Calathes was fouled on a three with 0.6 seconds to go but missed all three free throws to choke away the overtime opportunity.

Marquis Estill vs. Indiana (2002)

Down 64-63, Estill finished a tough drop-step go-ahead bucket over George Leach with 12.7 seconds to go. A string of technical free throws helped push the Kentucky lead to 70-64 at the final buzzer.

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Where does Sheppard’s buzzer-beater in Starkville rank among Kentucky’s all-time game-winners?