Just to get away from the same ole same ole conversationg we've been having on here lately, I'm just going to throw a question out there.....
Who was the most clutch UK player of all time? I'm not as old as some of you, so my memory doesn't span back tooooo long, but the NCAA tourney that Wayne Turner had in 1996 (i believe) was one of the best ever by a Wildcat. He put the team on his shoulders down the final stretch of that tourney and never looked back. Not sure what happend to Wayne after his time at UK, but that NCAA tourney he had was the definition of clutch.
There's been so many from Macy, Walker with four and five guys hanging all over him, Ford, Sheppard, Turpin was almost automatic down low...Hard to pick just one. Wasn't it Sheppard that hit the last second game winning shot in the Maui classic one year? Or how about McCarty? He sparked that comeback against LSU in Baton Rouge with the three's...Chapman was known for hitting the big shots especially against UL as well as a young man by the name of Tayshaun Prince that flat smoked UNC with six or seven straight three's! Then there's Tony Delk and the "54" Jodie hung on UT in their own house last year.
But all time it would probably be Dan Issel. He's the all time points leader in three years since they didn't let freshman play back then. Walker almost caught him but played four years varsity.
While I'm too young to remember Issel and Jack Givens playing, I certainly know the legend of both players and that they'll always be remembered as some of the best Cats to ever play.
What about Bowie? Too young to remember seeing him play (early 80's I think), but he was drafted pretty high so what kind of clutchness did he have?
I think little Patrick Sparks deserves some recognition. Hit those 3 big free throws against Louisville, and then of course the buzzer beating 3-pointer against Mich. St. in the Elite 8. I think he's playing overseas right now, not doing too badly either.
I can remember Sheppard and McCarty coming up pretty big. And I almost forgot to mention a walk-on, not always rackin' up a bunch of minutes every game, but Cameron Mills hit some clutch shots and free throws (esp. against Duke) in the tourney.
Man, I love going back and talking about some of these memories.....hopefully many more to come from this season.
Great stuff guys but wasnt it jeff brassow(sp) who hit the tip in at the maui classic? I can remember back a min. and if it wasnt for a certain duke player sean woods legend would be off the charts. I mean that shot he hit in the lane over at least 17 duke players lol was great but it doesnt get remember becasue of what happens next.
I would say Macy was the clutch player of all time for Kentucky. He hit so many big shots. I would agree that Givens was big for Kentucky in the 78 National Championship game. Shepherd was also a clutch player. Tayshaun Prince was a clutch player as well. "Sky" Walker always seem to hit the big shot for Kentucky. I like Issel and Dampier but I don't remember them hitting the big shot. I'll never forget Delk hitting a three pointer for Kentucky in the 96 NCAA tourney and being knocked down. I still think Macy was the best clutch player for Kentucky with Delk a close second.
I would say Patrick Sparks is the clutchest player ever. He hit those huge free throws against Louisville, the buzzer beater against Michigan State, and the 3 pointer from half court against South Carolina in 07. Haha good times, but whatever. Go big blue!
While I believe Jeff Sheppard during the '98 Championship run was the clutchest player I ever saw at UK, Coach Rupp would disagree. Coach Rupp believed it was Mike Casey. Rupp was quoted in 1969 saying, "If I had to send my money to Las Vegas to be doubled, I'd send it with Casey. He's the best money player I've ever had." In my book that means a whole lot. Rupp coached many great players and remember Casey and Issel were teammates. Casey actually averaged more points than Issel when they first started as sophomores for the Wildcats.
Earlier someone brought up Wayne Turner. Turner was the only player on the team not to play in the National Championship game of '96. He had a great tournament in 98. Turner finished his playing career as the NCAA player with the 2nd most tourney game appearances behind Christian Laettner, if we had defeated Michigan State in '99 at St. Louis, the final four game would have tied Turner with Laettner for the most tourney game appearances in a college career.
It was Jeff Brassow that hit the shot in the Maui. Jeff Sheppard and Cameron Mills in 98 were clutch, McCarty against LSU, the Unforgettables in 92, Prince, Mashburn, Delk, Chapman, Ford, Walker, the list can go on. What about Roger Hardin? I was young when he played but I still remember him draining 3's every time he touched the ball. Can't wait to add to the list this season with the new talent. GO CATS!!!
I have to say Patrick Sparks!! The game saivng free throws in Louisville..THE BEST 3 point shot against MSU during the elite 8 game to send it into overtime. Also that huge nearly halfcourt three-pointer against South Carolina back in 06...Sparks was the man when it came to clutch plays..PLUS him and Rondo used to dial up each other all the time..I would LOVE to see those two together again!!!
Patrick Sparks hands down,,, when we needed a clutch shot or free throw, he was DA MAN, ice water in his veins. Everyone knew he was going to get the ball but he would burn them anyway!
I don’t know if you can pick just one to be the best clutch player. I have been watching UK basketball since the early 70's and have seen many players hit clutch shots and some players hit several clutch shots. I can remember watching Jack Givens light it up and all the long range bombs that Macy hit when we really needed a basket.
There have been many, many others through the years also, Sam Bowie, Jeff Sheppard, Walter McCarty, Rex Chapman Travis Ford just to name a few.
The most memorable Clutch shot to me was the shot that irishcat83 mentioned the floater in the lane that Sean Woods hit in the regional finals in 92 all to be ruined by that unmentionable Duke player. I went from being so happy to so mad in the shortest amount of time possible. Go Cats
