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Posted by brand270 (Member # 2639) on 04-02-2009, 08:49 PM:

This topic was brought up on the Joe B. & Denny show. This is my All-Time Top 5:
1)Dan Issel
2)Jack Givens
3)Kyle Macy
4)Kenny Walker
5)Tony Delk

Posted by Trey Ball (Member # 332) on 04-02-2009, 09:03 PM:

Hard to choose just 5 IMO especially since I never personally saw greats like Issel, Spivey, Riley, Nash, Beard, etc play.

Top 5 that I have personally watched at UK:

1. Jamal Mashburn
2. Kenny Walker
3. Tayshaun Prince
4. Tony Delk

My surprise pick

5. Chuck Hayes (The only player in the history of the SEC with the following stats: 1,000 points scored, 900 Rebounds, 250 Assist, 150 Steals, and 125 Blocks)

Posted by FlaCatz (Member # 925) on 04-02-2009, 09:33 PM:

In the storied history of the all-time winningest program in College Basketball...

Only 5 is very very tough...........

So I added to the roster 5 more.... so they could have thier own pick-up game....

1. Dan Issel
2. Ralph Beard-Alex Groza-Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones (Just a note, all 3 were consensus 1st Team All Americans - TWICE!!)
3. Jack "Goose" Givens
4. Kenny "Sky" Walker
5. Jamal Mashburn
6. Kyle Macy
7. Tony Delk
8. Tayshaun Prince
9. Chuck Hayes
10. "The Unforgettables"

[ 04-02-2009, 09:39 PM: Message edited by: FlaCatz ]

Posted by Bluecat (Member # 516) on 04-02-2009, 10:00 PM:

1. Adolph Rupp
2. Cawood Ledford
3. Bill Keightley
4. John Calipari (upon retirement)
5. Rick Pitino

Posted by mr_ukkid (Member # 2304) on 04-02-2009, 10:06 PM:

Bluecat ... now that is a great top 5. I believe Cawood was just as big as what Wild Bill was. I hope he is never forgotten.

Posted by brand270 (Member # 2639) on 04-03-2009, 05:15 AM:

I wouldn't put Calipari on that list just yet. I know we are all excited and all but this list is for people who truly have the Blue spirit and lets say at least they have 3 or more years with the program NOT 3 days. Go Big Blue!!

Posted by boomdaddy (Member # 2644) on 04-03-2009, 06:31 AM:

It would be difficult to compare players from different eras. Because of my age, I didn't start keeping up with the Cats until the Joe Hall era. I am sure there are many great players from Rupp's years of coaching, but I haven't even seen any old game films of them, just a few clips here and there. But, UK had many players who were the top talent of their time.

Posted by barrenkountykat (Member # 3072) on 04-03-2009, 06:38 AM:

I can only go back to the mid 80's because of my age.Trying to pick 5 of the best boys who played at Uk is like trying to eat just 1 potato chip.It can't be done LOL.

Posted by BluesClues (Member # 2737) on 04-03-2009, 07:51 AM:

Not top 5 all time, but here is my 5 favorites that are not as heralded as the greats, but still played an important role at UK

1) Derrick Hord
2) Dirk Minniefield
3) Charles Hurt
4) Jim Master
5) Everyone from the unforgettables

Posted by Bluecat (Member # 516) on 04-03-2009, 08:41 AM:

Brand270, My only hope is that bothe coach Calipari, and myself prove you wrong!. [Wink]

Posted by Mississippi Wildcat (Member # 2336) on 04-03-2009, 09:01 AM:

Only had him for one season, but I'd certainly consider putting Chris Mills on a top ten list...

[ 04-03-2009, 09:02 AM: Message edited by: Mississippi Wildcat ]

Posted by Mississippi Wildcat (Member # 2336) on 04-03-2009, 09:13 AM:

And my all time favorite, like him or not, Rex Chapman!

[ 04-03-2009, 09:14 AM: Message edited by: Mississippi Wildcat ]

Posted by catfan1 (Member # 2923) on 04-03-2009, 09:31 AM:

Picking only 5 is difficult.

PG= Kyle Macy
SG= Rex Chapman
C = Sam Bowie
F = Kenny Walker
F = Antwoine Walker

Posted by SlumcatMillionaire (Member # 3029) on 04-03-2009, 09:43 AM:

I only know what I have read about the team pre-Pitino. So, here is the team I'd put on the court if I had to win one game:

PG - Turner
SG - Mercer
SF - Hayes
PF - Mashburn
C - Patterson

I like what Turner, Hayes and Patterson would get me without having to score a lot of points.

If I had to pick a team of favorite players, they would be:

Epps
Farmer
Mashburn
Prince
Prickett

Posted by Rich Moon (Member # 160) on 04-03-2009, 10:07 AM:

C Alex Groza

PF Dan Issel
SF Jamal Mashburn
SG Jodie Meeks
PG Kyle Macy

Posted by CATTRACKER (Member # 55) on 04-03-2009, 11:00 AM:

Guys...unless I missed it, you're forgetting Cotton Nash. He was a 3 time consensus ALL-AMERICAN.

[ 04-03-2009, 11:03 AM: Message edited by: CATTRACKER ]

Posted by CATTRACKER (Member # 55) on 04-03-2009, 01:04 PM:

Wasn't NASH...along with Groza and Beard the only 3 players in the gloried history of UK basketball to be named 'ALL AMERICAN' 3 times?

[ 04-03-2009, 01:04 PM: Message edited by: CATTRACKER ]

Posted by country cat (Member # 1774) on 04-03-2009, 02:29 PM:

nash was probley the best player uk ever had---only us old f--ts can remember him

Posted by ukcatfannfl (Member # 1425) on 04-03-2009, 02:32 PM:

Cotton along with Ted Deaken(sic) were a great 1-2 punch for us. Ted and Cotton had a falling out over Cotton dating Ted g/f if I remember correctly but still played well together!!

basketball over realationships!! [Smile]

Posted by Rich Moon (Member # 160) on 04-03-2009, 03:42 PM:

Really hard comparison to make.

I considred replacing Meeks with Nash. However, Nash was not a shooting Guard and Iwent for the best player in each position. [Smile]

Posted by Tiptree (Member # 844) on 04-03-2009, 03:45 PM:

Nash has to be on the top 5. So does Issel. That leaves only 3 'modern' era players for me to add.

First five:
Sky Walker -- PF -- Most dominating player at that position that I have ever seen short of The Round Mound of Rebound
Cotton Nash -- SF -- Best kentucky player ever?
"Big Dan" Issel -- C -- Who else?
Jodie Meeks -- SG -- Record-holder.
Kyle Macy -- PG -- A legend.

Second five:
Chuck Hayes -- PF -- Too much heart, too many records.
Jamal Mashburn -- SF -- Smooth, innovative player
Sam Bowie -- C -- Wonder what he might have done if he wasn't injured so frequently?
Louie Dampier -- SG -- Lights out!
Rajon Rondo -- PG -- The most talented PG I have seen in a UK uniform

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 04-03-2009, 03:57 PM:

Wow TIp, you'd put Chuck Hayes over some all-Americans?

Posted by Brandon (Member # 108) on 04-04-2009, 06:52 PM:

It's hard to pick an all time best list. Maybe I could do an all-time best list from the year I was born until now, but I wasn't around to see Issel or Nash play so I just have to go by what I hear and read.

Maybe someone could do an all-decade team and then compare them to other decades.

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 04-04-2009, 07:39 PM:

That's a good idea, Brandon!