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 35–4 record (14–2 SEC). Kentucky automatically qualified for the NCAA Tournament with a victory over South Carolina in the SEC Championship Game. The Wildcats were invited to the 1998 NCAA Tournament as a #2 seed. In the Final Kentucky defeated the Utah Utes, 78–69.

Roster

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 Maui (; Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ) is the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, at 727.2 square miles (1,883 km2). It is the List of islands of the United States by area, 17th-largest in the United States. Maui is one of ...

to compete in the annual Maui Invitational Tournament, Kentucky defeated

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

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 Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

, 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 Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

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 Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. 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 Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

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 Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

. Kentucky finished the 1997 calendar year with a 11–2 record and ranked 6th in the AP poll.

January

February

March

Results

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Team players drafted into the NBA

References

External links

1998 NCAA Basketball National Championship Utah vs Kentucky
{{DEFAULTSORT:1997-98 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball seasons NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship seasons NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons

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