1995-96 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 1995–96 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky
in the 1995–96 college basketball
history. Coached by Rick Pitino
, the team finished the season with a 34–2 record and won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
over the Syracuse University
Orangemen, 76–67.
Also known as "The Untouchables", nine players from the 95–96 team eventually played in the NBA
. These players were Derek Anderson, Tony Delk
, Walter McCarty
, Ron Mercer
, Nazr Mohammed
, Mark Pope
, Jeff Sheppard
, Wayne Turner
, and Antoine Walker
.
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in the 1995–96 college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
history. Coached by Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino is an American basketball coach. Since 2001, he has been the head coach at the University of Louisville. He has also served as head coach at Boston University, Providence College and the University of Kentucky, leading that program to the NCAA championship in 1996...
, the team finished the season with a 34–2 record and won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
over the Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
Orangemen, 76–67.
Also known as "The Untouchables", nine players from the 95–96 team eventually played in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. These players were Derek Anderson, Tony Delk
Tony Delk
Tony Lorenzo Delk is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team. He was team leader of the 1996 University of Kentucky Wildcats team that won the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
, Walter McCarty
Walter McCarty
Walter Lee McCarty is an American former basketball player who played for the NBA's New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Clippers....
, Ron Mercer
Ron Mercer
Ronald Eugene Mercer is a former American basketball player at the University of Kentucky who also had a career in the National Basketball Association; the last time he played was for the New Jersey Nets in 2005.-Basketball career:...
, Nazr Mohammed
Nazr Mohammed
Nazr Tahiru Mohammed [NAW-zee] is an American professional basketball player with the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder. He plays the center position. He is 6 ft 10 in and 250 lb...
, Mark Pope
Mark Pope
Mark Edward Pope is a American basketball coach and is currently an assistant coach for Brigham Young University...
, Jeff Sheppard
Jeff Sheppard
Jeffrey Kyle Sheppard is a retired American professional and collegiate basketball player.Sheppard was Player of the Year in Georgia in 1993 at McIntosh High School in Peachtree City....
, Wayne Turner
Wayne Turner
Wayne Keon Turner is an American professional basketball player. He played high school basketball at Beaver Country Day School in Brookline, Massachusetts...
, and Antoine Walker
Antoine Walker
Antoine Devon Walker is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League...
.
NCAA tournament
- Final Four
- Kentucky 81, Massachusetts 74
- NCAA Championship
- Kentucky 76, Syracuse 67
Awards and honors
- Tony DelkTony DelkTony Lorenzo Delk is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team. He was team leader of the 1996 University of Kentucky Wildcats team that won the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
, NCAA Men's MOP AwardNCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerAt the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
Players drafted into the NBA
| Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club |
| 1 | 6 | Antoine Walker | Boston Celtics 1996–97 Boston Celtics season The 1996–97 Boston Celtics season was the 51st season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association and the worst by winning percentage in team history.-Draft picks:-See also:*1996–97 NBA season... |
| 1 | 16 | Tony Delk | Charlotte Hornets 1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season The 1996–97 Charlotte Hornets season was Charlotte's ninth season in the National Basketball Association, and first under new Head Coach Dave Cowens. The Hornets finished the season with a 54–28 record, and qualified for their third Playoff appearance. They faced the New York Knicks in the first... |
| 1 | 19 | Walter McCarty | Portland Trail Blazers Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the... |
| 2 | 23 (52) | Mark Pope | Indiana Pacers Indiana Pacers The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association... |
See also
- Kentucky Wildcats men's basketballKentucky Wildcats men's basketballThe Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
- 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena in...