1997–98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team

Roster

• Tubby Smith
• Mike Sutton
• George Felton
• Shawn Finney

Depth chart

Schedule

November

The Tubby Smith-era officially began on November 18 with an 88 to 49 victory over Morehead State at Rupp Arena. Allen Edwards added 15 points, Wayne Turner had 12 points and Heshimu Evans had 10 points. Four days later Kentucky traveled to island of Maui to compete in the annual Maui Invitational Tournament, Kentucky defeated George Washington 70–55 in the first round of the tournament. 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 89–74 setback. After the loss the Wildcats rebounded the next night in the 3rd-place game against Missouri with a 77–55 victory. After Kentucky left Maui they traveled to Phoenix three days later to defeat No. 13 Clemson 76–61. 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 89–75 in the annual Great Eight Classic in Chicago. Nazr Mohammed carried Kentucky with 19 points on 8 for 10 field goal shooting. Three days later Kentucky traveled to Indianapolis to defeat rival Indiana 75–72. Nazr Mohammed and Jeff Sheppard led the way with 21 points apiece. Four days later Kentucky traveled to Buffalo to defeat Canisius 81–54. On December 13 the Wildcats played its first home game in 23 days against No. 24 Georgia Tech. They defeated the Yellow Jackets 85–71 behind 14 points and 10 rebounds by Heshimu Evans. One-week later Kentucky defeated Tubby Smith's former school Tulsa 74–53. Three nights later Kentucky defeated American 75–52. Next, Kentucky played in-state rival Louisville in the annual Battle for the Bluegrass. Kentucky was upset by the Cardinals 79–76, due in part to the Wildcats shooting 5 for 23 from the 3-point line. Three nights later the Wildcats bounced back on the road in Athens, OH with a 95–58 victory over Ohio. Kentucky finished the 1997 calendar year with a 11–2 record and ranked 6th in the AP poll.

January

February

March

Results

|- !colspan=12 style="background:#005DAA; color:white;"| Exhibition |- !colspan=12 style="background:#005DAA; color:white;"| Non-conference regular season |- !colspan=12 style="background:#005DAA; color:white;"| SEC Tournament |- !colspan=12 style="text-align: center; background:#005DAA"|NCAA tournament

Team players drafted into the NBA

References

References

1. Woods, Mark. (1997-11-21). "There's no stall in Tubby-ball: 88-49". Louisville Courier-Journal.
2. Tipton, Jerry. (1997-11-21). "Two sides to every story? Not 88-49 UK win". Lexington Herald-Leader.
3. Woods, Mark. (1997-11-25). "Wildcats roar 70-55 in Maui tourney". Louisville Courier-Journal.
4. Tipton, Jerry. (1997-11-25). "UK win sets up rematch with Arizona". Lexington Herald-Leader.
5. Woods, Mark. (1997-11-26). "Unwelcome aloha: Arizona 89-74". Louisville Courier-Journal.
6. Tipton, Jerry. (1997-11-26). "Cats overmatched in rematch". Lexington Herald-Leader.
7. Woods, Mark. (1997-11-27). "Cats get some consolation, 77-55". Louisville Courier-Journal.
8. Tipton, Jerry. (1997-11-27). "UK remodels in paint job of Missouri". Lexington Herald-Leader.
9. Woods, Mark. (1997-11-30). "Jet-setting Wildcats soar over Clemson, 76-61". Louisville Courier-Journal.
10. Tipton, Jerry. (1997-11-27). "Turner fins way to lead UK 76-61". Lexington Herald-Leader.
11. Woods, Mark. (1997-12-04). "UK steams by Boilermakers 89-75". Louisville Courier-Journal.
12. Tipton, Jerry. (1997-12-04). "Second-half blitz carries UK 89-75". Lexington Herald-Leader.
13. Woods, Mark. (1997-12-07). "In classic duel against IU, Wildcats come out on top". Louisville Courier-Journal.
14. Tipton, Jerry. (1997-12-07). "Cats prevail on thriller instinct". Lexington Herald-Leader.
15. Woods, Mark. (1997-12-14). "For a half, it's like pulling teeth". Louisville Courier-Journal.
16. Tipton, Jerry. (1997-12-14). "Cats' 85-71 victory Evans sent". Lexington Herald-Leader.
17. Terhune, Jim. (1997-12-21). "Wildcats huff and puff but finally take wind out of Hurricane,74-53". Louisville Courier-Journal.
18. Tipton, Jerry. (1997-12-21). "Stormy Smith blows Cats by Hurricane". Lexington Herald-Leader.
19. Woods, Mark. (1997-12-28). "Padgett's fantasy ending comes true - with tragic thud". Louisville Courier-Journal.
20. Woods, Mark. (1997-12-31). "Kentucky vents anger on Ohio, 95-58". Louisville Courier-Journal.
21. (March 29, 1998). "Upstart Utah, Kentucky play on: Stanford's run ends in OT, 86-85". [[Baltimore Sun]].
22. "1998 NBA Draft on Basketballreference.com".