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
National Championship Game, W 78-69 vs. Utah
Conference	Southeast Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 5
Record	35–4 (14–2 SEC)
Head coach	Tubby Smith (1st season)
Assistant coaches	Mike Sutton George Felton Shawn Finney
Home arena	Rupp Arena
Seasons ← 1996–97 1998–99 →

1997–98 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
East
No. 5 Kentucky †	14	–	2		.875			35	–	4		.897
No. 14 South Carolina	11	–	5		.688			23	–	8		.742
Tennessee	9	–	7		.563			20	–	9		.690
Georgia	7	–	9		.438			20	–	15		.571
Vanderbilt	7	–	9		.438			20	–	13		.606
Florida	6	–	10		.375			14	–	15		.483
West
No. 13 Ole Miss	12	–	4		.750			22	–	7		.759
No. 17 Arkansas	11	–	5		.688			24	–	9		.727
Auburn	7	–	9		.438			16	–	14		.533
Alabama	6	–	10		.375			15	–	16		.484
Mississippi State	4	–	12		.250			15	–	15		.500
LSU	2	–	14		.125			9	–	18		.333
† 1998 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[1]

Roster

1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown 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 Tubby Smith Assistant coach(es) Mike Sutton George Felton Shawn Finney Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt

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.

January

February

March

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

Year	Round	Pick	Player	NBA Club
1998	1	29	Nazr Mohammed	Utah Jazz
1999	1	28	Scott Padgett	Utah Jazz
2000	1	19	Jamaal Magloire	Charlotte Hornets

^[23]

See also

• Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
• 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

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.^{[dead link]}
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.^{[dead link]}
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.

External links

• 1998 NCAA Basketball National Championship Utah vs Kentucky