< Previous6-7 | G/F | Paintsville, Ky. | Paintsville 62 @KentuckyMBB JOHN PELPHREY 1988-92 34UK SPORTS NETWORK TV AFFILIATES UK SPORTS NETWORK TV AFFILIATES SPORTS NETWORK Louisville Paducah Bowling Green Johnson City, TN SPORTS NETWORK6-1 | G | Indianapolis, Ind. | Cathedral 64 @KentuckyMBB SEAN WOODS 1988-92 11KENTUCKY BASKETBALL 66 @KentuckyMBB Blue and White The University of Kentucky adopted blue and white as its official colors in 1892. UK students had first decided on blue and light yellow before the Kentucky-Centre foot- ball game Dec. 19, 1891. The yellow was soon dropped from the combination and replaced by white. The particular Kentucky shade of blue, close to royal blue, was determined without ceremony. After settling on the base colors, a student posed the logical question, “What color blue?” Letterman Richard Stoll looked down at his necktie and raised it to the air. The vote was unanimous. Wildcats Nickname The official nickname for the University of Kentucky’s athletics teams is “Wildcats.” The nickname became synonymous with UK shortly after a 6-2 football victory over Illinois on Oct. 9, 1909, on the road. Commandant Carbusier, then head of the military department at old State Uni- versity (UK), told a group of students in a chapel service following the game that the Kentucky football team had “fought like wildcats.” Later the name Wildcats became more and more popular among UK followers as well as with members of the media. As a result, the nickname was adopted by the University. UK Dance Team The University of Kentucky Dance Team helps generate excitement and enthusiasm at Wildcat athletics events. Under the direction of head coach Dawn Duncan Walters and as- sistant coach Janet Brock, the dance team in- cludes both Blue and White Squads. The team placed second in the Universal Dance Associ- ation national championships in 2020 in both the hip-hop and gameday competitions. Fan-tastic! The Kentucky cheerleaders, band and dance team combine to entertain the nation’s largest and most loyal fan base in college basketball. Sure, Ashley Judd, Tommy Lasorda, Muham- mad Ali and Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson steal the attention, but those Big Blue stars are just a few of the Cat fans in attendance at UK games. It’s each and every one of the many Kentucky fans who deserve the credit for help- ing the Wildcats lead the nation in attendance 22 times since Rupp Arena opened in 1976-77, including 14 of the last 15 years. And the tremendous fan base is not limit- ed to just Lexington. Each year, Kentucky fans flock to Freedom Hall in Louisville, to fill the arena with more than 20,000 fans for an an- nual “home” game. The Southeastern Conference Tourna- ment? Well, it might as well be called the Kentucky Invitational. March Madness? Nearly the same result. The nation’s largest media contingent follows the Cats from start to finish simply because of the fans’ incessant appetite for information on their Wildcats. Trademark Swoosh Only the best wear Nike. Kentucky not only wears Nike, but is under an all-school contract with the athletic apparel company. In 1997, UK signed the contract with the pop- ular makers of the trademark swoosh. Thanks to Nike’s exten- sive research and product development, UK student -athletes stay on the cutting edge of quality and style with all of their gear. All 22 sports use Nike shoes and equip- ment, and over the course of the contract, the Wildcats will receive millions of dollars worth of clothing, equipment and cash. The men’s basketball team has been recognized by the apparel company as a “Nike Elite” team. While clothing adorned with “Kentucky” was already popular throughout the nation, thanks to Nike and its international market- ing reach, Kentucky’s blue and white can now be found worldwide. Kentucky TraditionsKENTUCKY BASKETBALL Kentucky Traditions Cawood’s Court Prior to the UK-Louisville game on Dec. 29, 2001, the court at Rupp Arena was named “Cawood’s Court” in honor of Cawood Led- ford, the beloved “Voice of the Wildcats” for 39 years (1953-92). Ledford passed away in Sep- tember 2001, after a long battle with cancer. The ceremonies included the unveiling of a logo courtside, not far from where Ledford called the action. Also included in the cere- mony were donations by two area business- es to the Cawood Ledford Scholarship Fund, established in 1992 to assist former student- athletes in obtaining their degrees. The Wildcat The Wildcat mascot originated during the 1976-77 academic year at UK. Gary Tanner was the original Wildcat, dancing and entertaining thousands of UK fans at Commonwealth Stadium and Rupp Arena during athletics events. A few years later, he was joined by an- other Cat — walking on stilts — who made his appearance during UK’s twin tower era of Melvin Turpin and Sam Bowie. Today, both the Wildcat and his sidekick, Scratch, attend each football and basketball game, several academic functions and gen- erally serve as friendly ambassadors for the University. Scratch Scratch joined the cheerleading squad in the mid ’90s in conjunction with the UK Kids’ Club, but today he has become almost as recognizable as the Wildcat. The lovable face of UK Athletics gar- nered national attention after being named to the 2003 Capital One Mascot All-Ameri- ca team, an honor he earned again in 2004. Senior Day Senior Day at Kentucky has become one of the most celebrated ceremonies in col- lege basketball. Honoring its senior class, UK’s event is one of the most elaborate and moving programs of its kind. The pregame ceremony begins with player introductions. Once they have all burst through banners bearing their likenesses, their families join them at center court. Then the state song, “My Old Kentucky Home,” is sung as the home crowd bids farewell. UK Cheerleaders Rooting on the Wildcats at every game are the award-winning UK Cheerleaders. Under the direction of head coach Ryan Martin O’Connor, the UK Cheerleaders are the gold standard in the nation. Kentucky has won 24 Universal Cheer Association national championships, more than all oth- er schools combined. UK placed third in the nation in 2020. UK Pep Band With more than 100 members, the Uni- versity of Kentucky pep band is one of the largest in the nation. Clad in its recognizable blue and white outfits, the pep band is direct- ed by Scott-Lee Atchison. Performing at both home football and basketball games, the UK pep band has been named by Southern Liv- ing as one of the “top 10 bands in the South.” @UKSportsNetwork 67A dolph Rupp was synonymous with win- ning. As coach of Kentucky, he was a pioneer in the Wildcats’ fast-break offense while becoming the winningest coach the game had ever seen. The site that now serves as a tribute to his outstanding coaching accomplishments – Rupp Arena – has become one of the most recognizable gym- nasiums in the world while serving as home to college basketball’s most storied program. Now in its 48th season as the home court of Kentucky basketball, the facility has seen UK win more than 88% of its home games since it opened in 1976. Long considered the mecca of college basketball, Rupp Arena received a $16 mil- lion upgrade over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons that has enhanced the fan experi- ence and once again made it one of the pre- mier venues in all of college basketball. The most notable updates include: n State-of-the-art Daktronics center-hung video board n 15mm ribbon boards n Replaced 16mm LED corner video boards with 6mm LED video boards to pro- duce HD quality image n L Acoustic Line Array audio speaker system n Total sanding and repainting of the floor to reflect UK’s updated branding and logo n New basketball goals and new shot clocks n Added press box seating to the east side of the arena n Replaced LED scorer’s table with 6mm version and moved the old 10mm scorer’s table to the opposite side of the floor for ra- dio broadcast seating n Replaced static ad panels in lower four corners of the arena with LED ad panels After renovations, Rupp Arena seats 20,500. Following the 2012 season, the Wild- cats received a $3.1 million renovation to their locker room. Funded with private donations, the facility features the actual floor from the 2012 championship game. It has its own kitchen and dining area, as well as hot and cold tubs inlaid with the UK logo. There is also a recruiting room that is available to all 22 sports at the Uni- versity of Kentucky. Since the fall of 1976, the arena in downtown Lexington has served as home to four national championship teams at Kentucky. Six others have advanced to the Final Four. Thirteen seasons have witnessed the Cats go unbeaten at home. It has played host to more than 700 UK games, more than 30 KHSAA Sweet Six- teens, a number of NBA exhibitions, 12 Men’s NCAA Tournaments, three South- eastern Conference Tournaments and two Ohio Valley Conference Tournaments. A new floor was installed in 2001. With so many unforgettable moments, the old floor still maintained a value to hoop fans across the Bluegrass and beyond. There- fore, officials made pieces of the relic available for public sale, with proceeds going to the UK Basketball Museum, the KHSAA and to help offset the costs of the new playing floor. Thanks to an auction of additional sections, like coaching boxes and lettered end zones, the old floor gener- ated more than $250,000. Midcourt of the old floor rests in the main entrance of the Lexington Center. When assembled, the court lies 118 feet below the ceiling and is made of a high- grade northern maple. The floor can be re- moved and an ice rink can be constructed for ice shows or hockey games thanks to a $2.5 million renovation during the summer of 1996. But the playing surface is just one aspect of the impressive home of the Cats. Situ- ated in downtown Lexington, Rupp Arena has played host to several premier basket- ball events. In March of 1985, all roads led to Lexington for the NCAA Final Four as Villanova shocked Georgetown in a mem- orable finale. In 1986, Rupp played host to both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Women’s Final Four. On numerous other occasions, the arena has served as one stop en route to the NCAA title game. Starting in 2016, Rupp Arena hosted three straight NCAA women’s regional rounds. An awesome structure in sight and scope, the arena is divided into two seat- ing areas. The lower level features 10,000 cushioned theater seats. The upper level has 10,500 seats with new chairback seats in sections 211-217 and 228-234. The lat- ter can be visually isolated to provide more natural setting for small shows. Built by the city of Lexington, the are- na is the major portion of the $53 million Lexington Center complex, which includes an expanded convention-exhibition hall, a 50-store tri-level enclosed shopping mall and a Hyatt Regency Hotel. In January 2001, the Wildcats began utilizing a new lights-out introduction, featuring a video presentation and indoor fireworks. @UKSportsNetwork 69 Rupp Arena Facts Capacity: 20,500 UK’s record: 647-81 (.889) Most Wins in a Season: 19 (2014-15) Longest Winning Streak: 54 (11/13/09 to 12/1/12) Packed to the Rafters • Now in its 48th season as the home court of Kentucky basketball, the facility has seen UK win more than 89% of its home games since it opened in 1976 • Prior to reducing seating capacity for the 2019-20 season, Kentucky led the nation in average home attendance in 20 of the previous 24 seasons • Since Rupp Arena opened for the 1976-77 season, and excluding the 2020-21 season that was affected by the COVID-19 pan- demic, UK has ranked either first or sec- ond in average attendance every season • Excluding the 2020-21 season that was was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, UK has averaged more than 20,000 fans per game in all but two seasons of the John Calipari era • Chair-back seating was installed in the upper-sideline area prior to the 2019-20 season. Two club areas for season ticket holders opened in 2021-22 season with a third opening during the 2022-23 season • A center-hung scoreboard, ribbon boards, a new sound system and lighting were installed over the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasonsKENTUCKY BASKETBALL 70 @KentuckyMBB T he Kentucky men’s golf team enters its spring season looking to build on a strong finish to the fall in which the Cats fin- ished fourth in their final two tournaments under first-year head coach Gator Todd. After opening the fall portion of the schedule in a tie for sixth at the Folds of Honor Collegiate in September, Kentucky placed 13th in the stroke-play portion at SEC Match Play. The Wildcats then con- cluded the fall schedule with fourth-place finishes in both October tournaments, at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational and the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational. Kentucky opens its spring slate at the Battle at Briar’s Creek in Johns Island, South Carolina Feb. 5-6 before traveling to the Ga- tors Invitational Feb. 17-18 in Gainesville, Florida. The Cats then have close to a month off before wrapping up the regular season at the Schenkel Invitational March 15-17 in Statesboro, Georgia, the Hootie at Bulls Bay March 24-26 in Awendaw, South Caro- lina and the Mason Rudolph Championship April 5-7 in Franklin, Tennessee. Postseason play begins with the SEC Championship April 24-28 at the Seaside Course at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Georgia. NCAA Regional play will take place May 13-15 at a site to be deter- mined before the NCAA Championship at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California May 24-29. The Cats are led by graduate Alex Goff, who was a Second-Team All-Southeast- ern Conference selection a season ago. Goff, from Kings Mountain, North Caro- lina, holds Kentucky’s best career scoring average at 71.50. He has carded a 69.36 average through the four fall tournaments, all of which resulted in a top-10 finish as he tied for second at the Folds of Honor Collegiate, Blessings Collegiate Invitational and Steelwood Collegiate Invitational to go along with a tie for sixth at SEC Match Play. The Haskins Award Watch List member has carded nine of 11 rounds under par this sea- son and finished in the top 10 in nine of his last 11 tournaments. Senior Campbell Kremer, junior Jansen Preston and freshman Michael Hake are the other three Cats to participate in four fall tournaments, while redshirt freshman Solo- mon Petrie has teed it up in three. Kremer, from Louisville, Kentucky, has posted a 74.55 scoring average with a sea- son-best tie for 16th at the Folds of Honor Collegiate. He has tallied 7.5 team-counted rounds and two rounds of par or better this season. Preston, a Lexington, Kentucky, na- tive who transferred from Vanderbilt, has notched a 75.00 scoring average with a 41st-place finish at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational. Preston has seven team-count- ed rounds and three rounds of par or better in his first season as a Wildcat. Hake, who tied for 14th at the Cardinal Individual Collegiate and 23rd at the Bless- ings Collegiate Invitational, has recorded a 74.10 scoring average. The Brentwood, Tennessee, native has six rounds counted toward the team tally with one round of par or better. Petrie, from Akron, Ohio, has carded a 73.63 scoring average with a season-best tie for 30th at the Blessings Collegiate Invita- tional. He has notched seven team-counted rounds and two rounds of par or better. In all, eight different Wildcats have teed it up in multiple tournaments through the fall portion of the season. The Cats will continue to build in the first season under Todd when they tee it up the first week of February at Briar’s Creek Golf Club in South Carolina. UK Men’s Golf Looks to Build on Strong Fall Finish By Brett Rybak UK Athletics Communications and Public Relations Alex Goffkentuckylegend.com For the finest, most flavorful meats, crafted and smoked with a patience unique to life in the South, there’s only one Kentucky original.Next >