1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team

The 1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team were coached by Tubby Smith. He was in his first season as head coach after taking over from Rick Pitino. The team finished the season with a 29–4 record and won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship over the Utah Utes, 78–69.

1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
NCAA tournament National champions
SEC regular season and tournament champions
ConferenceSoutheast Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 5
Record35–4 (14–2 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaRupp Arena
1997–98 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
East
No. 5 Kentucky †14–2 .87535–4  .897
No. 14 South Carolina11–5 .68823–8  .742
Tennessee9–7 .56320–9  .690
Georgia7–9 .43820–15  .571
Vanderbilt7–9 .43820–13  .606
Florida6–10 .37514–15  .483
West
No. 13 Ole Miss12–4 .75022–7  .759
No. 17 Arkansas11–5 .68824–9  .727
Auburn7–9 .43816–14  .533
Alabama6–10 .37515–16  .484
Mississippi State4–12 .25015–15  .500
LSU2–14 .1259–18  .333
† 1998 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

Roster
1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearHometown
G/F 3 Allen Edwards 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) Sr Miami, Florida
G 4 Steve Masiello 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)170 lb (77 kg) So White Plains, New York
G 5 Wayne Turner 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg) Jr Boston, Massachusetts
G 11 Saul Smith 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)175 lb (79 kg) Fr Athens, Georgia
C 13 Nazr Mohammed 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)238 lb (108 kg) Jr Chicago, Illinois
F 14 Heshimu Evans 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)235 lb (107 kg) Jr Bronx, New York
G 15 Jeff Sheppard 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)189 lb (86 kg) Sr Peachtree City, Georgia
G 21 Cameron Mills 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)181 lb (82 kg) Sr Lexington, Kentucky
G 22 Ryan Hogan 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)193 lb (88 kg) Fr Deerfield, Illinois
F 25 Myron Anthony 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg) Fr Neptune Beach, Florida
F/C 33 Michael Bradley 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)235 lb (107 kg) Fr Worcester, Massachusetts
F 34 Scott Padgett 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg) Jr Louisville, Kentucky
C 42 Jamaal Magloire 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)260 lb (118 kg) So Toronto, Ontario
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
C Nazr Mohammed Jamaal Magloire Michael Bradley
PF Scott Padgett
SF Allen Edwards Heshimu Evans Myron Anthony
SG Jeff Sheppard Cameron Mills Ryan Hogan Steve Masiello
PG Wayne Turner Saul Smith

Schedule

November

The Tubby Smith-era officially began on November 18 with an 88 to 49 victory over Morehead State at Rupp Arena.[2][3] Allen Edwards added 15 points, Wayne Turner had 12 points and Heshimu Evans had 10 points.[2][3] Four days later Kentucky traveled to island of Maui to compete in the annual Maui Invitational Tournament, Kentucky defeated George Washington 70 to 55 in the first round of the tournament.[4][5] The victory over the Colonials set up a game the next night in the semifinals against No. 1 Arizona, a rematch of the 1997 NCAA tournament championship Game. Kentucky experienced its first loss of the season with a 74 to 89 set back.[6][7] After the loss the Wildcats rebounded the next night in the 3rd-place game against Missouri with a 77 to 55 victory.[8][9] After Kentucky left Maui they traveled to Phoenix three days later to defeat No. 13 Clemson 76 to 61.[10][11] Kentucky finished November ranked No. 7 in the AP poll and with a 4–1 record.

December

On December 3 Kentucky defeated No. 6 Purdue 89 to 75 in the annual Great Eight Classic in Chicago.[12][13] Nazr Mohammed carried Kentucky with 19 points on 8-10 field goal shooting.[12][13] Three days later Kentucky traveled to Indianapolis to defeat rival Indiana 75 to 72.[14][15] Nazr Mohammed and Jeff Sheppard led the way with 21 points a piece.[14][15] Four days later Kentucky traveled to Buffalo to defeat Canisius 81 to 54. On December 13 the Wildcats played its first home game in 23 days against No. 24 Georgia Tech. They defeated the Yellow Jackets 85 to 71 behind 14 points and 10 rebounds by Heshimu Evans.[16][17] One week later Kentucky defeated Tubby Smith's former school Tulsa 74 to 53.[18][19] Three nights later Kentucky defeated American 75 to 52. Four days later Kentucky played in-state rival Louisville in the annual Battle for the Bluegrass. Kentucky was upset by the Cardinals 76 to 79 due in part to the Wildcats shooting 5 for 23 from the 3 point line.[20] Three nights later the Wildcats bounced back on the road in Athens, OH with a 95 to 58 victory over Ohio.[21] Kentucky finished the 1997 calendar year with a 11-2 record and ranked 6th in the AP poll.

Results
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 11, 1997*
7:30 pm		 No. 9 Court Authority W 86–62  0–0
  20 – Edwards  6 – Tied  6 – Turner  Rupp Arena (20,041)
Lexington, KY
November 18, 1997*
8:00 pm, BBSN		 No. 9 Melbourne W 91–63  0–0
  14 – Edwards  7 – Tied  4 – Tied  Rupp Arena (20,102)
Lexington, KY
Non-conference regular season
November 20, 1997*
8:00 pm, BBSN		 No. 9 Morehead State W 88–49  1–0
  15 – Edwards  8 – Magloire  4 – Tied  Rupp Arena (23,097)
Lexington, KY
November 24, 1997*
9:30 pm, ESPN		 No. 9 vs. George Washington
Maui Invitational Tournament first round		 W 70–55  2–0
  16 – Turner  11 – Evans  4 – Evans  Lahaina Civic Center (2,500)
Lahaina, HI
November 25, 1997*
9:00 pm, ESPN		 No. 8 vs. No. 1 Arizona
Maui Invitational Tournament Semifinals		 L 74–89  2–1
  16 – Padgett  16 – Mohammed  4 – Tied  Lahaina Civic Center (2,500)
Lahaina, HI
November 26, 1997*
7:30 pm		 No. 8 vs. Missouri
Maui Invitational Tournament 3rd-place game		 W 77–55  3–1
  18 – Magloire  17 – Magloire  5 – Sheppard  Lahaina Civic Center (2,500)
Lahaina, HI
November 29, 1997*
7:30 pm, SportsChannel		 No. 8 vs. No. 13 Clemson W 76–61  4–1
  17 – Turner  6 – Mohammed  5 – Turner  America West Arena (4,306)
Phoenix, AZ
December 3, 1997*
9:30 pm, ESPN		 No. 7 vs. No. 6 Purdue
Great Eight Classic		 W 89–75  5–1
  19 – Mohammed  9 – Padgett  8 – Turner  United Center (19,567)
Chicago, IL
December 6, 1997*
3:30 pm, CBS		 No. 7 vs. Indiana W 75–72  6–1
  21 – Tied  12 – Mohammed  5 – Turner  RCA Dome (38,504)
Indianapolis, IN
December 10, 1997*
8:00 pm, BBSN		 No. 4 at Canisius W 81–54  7–1
  21 – Sheppard  8 – Turner  6 – Turner  Marine Midland Arena (10,083)
Buffalo, NY
December 13, 1997*
12:00 pm, ESPN		 No. 4 No. 24 Georgia Tech W 85–71  8–1
  14 – Evans  10 – Evans  6 – Edwards  Rupp Arena (24,112)
Lexington, KY
December 20, 1997*
7:30 pm, ESPN		 No. 4 Tulsa W 74–53  9–1
  17 – Mohammed  8 – Padgett  5 – Edwards  Rupp Arena (24,082)
Lexington, KY
December 23, 1997*
8:00 pm, BBSN		 No. 4 American W 74–53  10–1
  16 – Edwards  6 – Magloire  5 – Tied  Rupp Arena (22,856)
Lexington, KY
December 27, 1997*
4:00 pm, CBS		 No. 4 Louisville L 76–79  10–2
  18 – Sheppard  9 – Mohammed  4 – Padgett  Rupp Arena (24,303)
Lexington, KY
December 30, 1997*
7:00 pm, BBSN		 No. 6 at Ohio W 95–58  11–2
  15 – Tied  7 – Mohammed  4 – Tied  Convocation Center (13,083)
Athens, OH
January 3, 1998
6:00 pm, JP Sports		 No. 6 Vanderbilt W 71–62  12–2
(1–0)		  19 – Mohammed  14 – Padgett  5 – Edwards  Rupp Arena (24,236)
Lexington, KY
January 6, 1998
9:30 pm, ESPN		 No. 6 at Georgia W 90–79  13–2
(2–0)		  20 – Turner  7 – Tied  5 – Turner  Stegeman Coliseum (10,523)
Athens, GA
January 10, 1998
4:30 pm, JP Sports		 No. 6 at Mississippi State W 77–71  14–2
(3–0)		  23 – Padgett  10 – Padgett  4 – Turner  Humphrey Coliseum (9,334)
Starkville, MS
January 13, 1998
9:30 pm, ESPN		 No. 6 No. 14 South Carolina W 91–70  15–2
(4–0)		  16 – Sheppard  8 – Mohammed  12 – Edwards  Rupp Arena (24,241)
Lexington, KY
January 17, 1998
4:00 pm, CBS		 No. 6 No. 22 Arkansas W 80–77 OT 16–2
(5–0)		  20 – Evans  13 – Mohammed  4 – Sheppard  Rupp Arena (24,266)
Lexington, KY
January 21, 1998
8:00 pm, JP Sports		 No. 7 Alabama W 70–67  17–2
(6–0)		  24 – Padgett  10 – Mohammed  4 – Turner  Freedom Hall (19,734)
Louisville, KY
January 24, 1998
7:30 pm, JP Sports		 No. 7 at Tennessee W 90–79  18–2
(7–0)		  20 – Padgett  7 – Tied  11 – Turner  Thompson-Boling Arena (23,146)
Knoxville, TN
January 27, 1998
9:30 pm, ESPN		 No. 7 at Vanderbilt W 63–61  19–2
(8–0)		  20 – Padgett  7 – Tied  11 – Turner  Memorial Gymnasium (15,311)
Nashville, TN
February 1, 1998
3:30 pm, ABC		 No. 7 Florida L 78–86  19–3
(8–1)		  31 – Mills  10 – Evans  4 – Turner  Rupp Arena (24,186)
Lexington, KY
February 4, 1998
8:00 pm, JP Sports		 No. 8 at LSU W 63–61  20–3
(9–1)		  12 – Sheppard  3 – Evans  4 – Sheppard  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,686)
Baton Rouge, LA
February 8, 1998*
1:00 pm, CBS		 No. 8 at Villanova W 79–63  21–3
(9–1)		  18 – Tied  11 – Mohammed  6 – Edwards  CoreStates Center (15,551)
Philadelphia, PA
February 11, 1998
8:00 pm, JP Sports		 No. 7 Tennessee W 80–74  22–3
(10–1)		  21 – Mohammed  16 – Mohammed  5 – Evans  Rupp Arena (23,861)
Lexington, KY
February 14, 1998
12:30 pm, JP Sports		 No. 7 No. 18 Ole Miss L 64–73  22–4
(10–2)		  15 – Sheppard  8 – Mohammed  4 – Tied  Rupp Arena (23,842)
Lexington, KY
February 18, 1998
8:00 pm, JP Sports		 No. 8 at Florida W 79–54  23–4
(11–2)		  19 – Mohammed  6 – Tied  5 – Turner  O'Connell Center (10,222)
Gainesville, FL
February 22, 1998
1:00 pm, JP Sports		 No. 8 Georgia W 85–74  24–4
(12–2)		  16 – Mohammed  11 – Mohammed  8 – Sheppard  Rupp Arena (24,272)
Lexington, KY
February 25, 1998
8:00 pm, JP Sports		 No. 7 at Auburn W 83–58  25–4
(13–2)		  25 – Sheppard  7 – Padgett  5 – Padgett  Beard–Eaves–Memorial Coliseum (9,644)
Auburn, AL
February 25, 1998
1:00 pm, CBS		 No. 7 at No. 14 South Carolina W 89–57  26–4
(14–2)		  24 – Sheppard  12 – Evans  5 – Turner  Carolina Coliseum (12,129)
Columbia, SC
SEC Tournament
March 6, 1998
1:00 pm, JP Sports		 (E1) No. 7 vs. (W5) Alabama
Quarterfinals		 W 82–71  27–4
  17 – Sheppard  13 – Padgett  8 – Turner  Georgia Dome (21,109)
Atlanta, GA
March 7, 1998
1:00 pm, JP Sports		 (E1) No. 7 vs. (W2) No. 16 Arkansas
Semifinals		 W 99–74  28–4
  17 – Sheppard  10 – Mohammed  7 – Turner  Georgia Dome (25,190)
Atlanta, GA
March 8, 1998
12:00 pm, CBS		 (E1) No. 7 vs. (E2) No. 15 South Carolina
Championship Game		 W 86–56  29–4
  18 – Turner  7 – Mohammed  5 – Edwards  Georgia Dome (24,545)
Atlanta, GA
NCAA tournament
March 13, 1998
12:15 pm, CBS		 (2 S) No. 5 vs. (15 S) South Carolina State
First Round		 W 82–67  30–4
  18 – Mohammed  6 – Tied  6 – Edwards  Georgia Dome (17,474)
Atlanta, GA
March 15, 1998
2:30 pm, CBS		 (2 S) No. 5 vs. (10 S) St. Louis
Second Round		 W 88–61  31–4
  18 – Sheppard  8 – Mohammed  9 – Turner  Georgia Dome (19,423)
Atlanta, GA
March 20, 1998
10:00 pm, CBS		 (2 S) No. 5 vs. (6 S) No. 19 UCLA
Sweet Sixteen		 W 94–68  32–4
  19 – Padgett  6 – Padgett  5 – Edwards  Tropicana Field (40,589)
St. Petersburg, FL
March 23, 1998
5:00 pm, CBS		 (2 S) No. 5 vs. (1 S) No. 3 Duke
Elite Eight		 W 86–84  33–4
  18 – Sheppard  11 – Tied  8 – Turner  Tropicana Field (40,589)
St. Petersburg, FL
March 28, 1998
5:42 pm, CBS		 (2 S) No. 5 vs. (3 MW) No. 10 Stanford
Final Four		 W 86–85 OT[22] 34–4
  27 – Sheppard  6 – Tied  4 – Tied  Alamodome (40,509)
San Antonio, TX
March 30, 1998
9:17 pm, CBS		 (2 S) No. 5 vs. (3 W) No. 7 Utah
National Championship		 W 78–69  35–4
  17 – Padgett  6 – Evans  5 – Edwards  Alamodome (40,509)
San Antonio, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Team players drafted into the NBA
YearRoundPickPlayerNBA Club
1998129Nazr MohammedUtah Jazz
1999128Scott PadgettUtah Jazz
2000119Jamaal MagloireCharlotte Hornets

[23]

See also

References
  1. sports-reference.com 1997-98 Southeastern Conference Season Summary
  2. Woods, Mark (November 21, 1997). "There's no stall in Tubby-ball: 88-49". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. Tipton, Jerry (November 21, 1997). "Two sides to every story? Not 88-49 UK win". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  4. Woods, Mark (November 25, 1997). "Wildcats roar 70-55 in Maui tourney". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  5. Tipton, Jerry (November 25, 1997). "UK win sets up rematch with Arizona". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. Woods, Mark (November 26, 1997). "Unwelcome aloha: Arizona 89-74". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  7. Tipton, Jerry (November 26, 1997). "Cats overmatched in rematch". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  8. Woods, Mark (November 27, 1997). "Cats get some consolation, 77-55". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  9. Tipton, Jerry (November 27, 1997). "UK remodels in paint job of Missouri". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  10. Woods, Mark (November 30, 1997). "Jet-setting Wildcats soar over Clemson, 76-61". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  11. Tipton, Jerry (November 27, 1997). "Turner fins way to lead UK 76-61". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  12. Woods, Mark (December 4, 1997). "UK steams by Boilermakers 89-75". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  13. Tipton, Jerry (December 4, 1997). "Second-half blitz carries UK 89-75". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  14. Woods, Mark (December 7, 1997). "In classic duel against IU, Wildcats come out on top". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  15. Tipton, Jerry (December 7, 1997). "Cats prevail on thriller instinct". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  16. Woods, Mark (December 14, 1997). "For a half, it's like pulling teeth". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  17. Tipton, Jerry (December 14, 1997). "Cats' 85-71 victory Evans sent". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  18. Terhune, Jim (December 21, 1997). "Wildcats huff and puff but finally take wind out of Hurricane,74-53". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  19. Tipton, Jerry (December 21, 1997). "Stormy Smith blows Cats by Hurricane". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  20. Woods, Mark (December 28, 1997). "Padgett's fantasy ending comes true - with tragic thud". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  21. Woods, Mark (December 31, 1997). "Kentucky vents anger on Ohio, 95-58". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  22. "Upstart Utah, Kentucky play on: Stanford's run ends in OT, 86-85". Baltimore Sun. March 29, 1998. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  23. "1998 NBA Draft on Basketballreference.com". Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
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