Throwback Thursday: WKU vs #4 UK Basketball (2001)
In the season opener of the 2001–2002 season, WKU stunned the state (sans Southcentral Kentucky) and the nation by defeating the #4 ranked Kentucky Wildcats, 64–52, in Rupp Arena.
WKU historically hasn’t been given many opportunities outside the NCAA Tournament to take on Kentucky, so when they were given the chance to play the Wildcats in the first game of the regular season in the NABC Classic, they were ready to put on a show.
While UK had elite players on their squad that season such as future NBA players Tayshaun Prince, Chuck Hayes, and Keith Bogans, the Tops taking down an elite team shouldn’t have been a surprise that year.
The Hilltoppers had won the Sun Belt Conference championship the year before and they still had many of their best players with Chris Marcus, Patrick Sparks (before he transferred to the dark side), Derek Robinson, and David Boyden. They were even ranked #20 in the Sports Illustrated top 20 poll at the beginning of the season as well. So the Tops were definitely motivated to show that they were the top school in the state.
That 64–52 victory over UK at Rupp is one amazing moment that Hilltopper fans should always remember. The picture of Derek Robinson silencing the Rupp Arena crowd after hitting his dagger three late in the second half is one of my favorite WKU sports moments ever, along with several others who remember the victory. It’s a moment that will have to live on at WKU as a memory because surprisingly enough, WKU hasn’t been scheduled to play UK again in basketball in the regular season.
Unless they meet them in the NCAA Tournament, like they did in 2012 when UK went on to win the national title, WKU hasn’t been an in-state school UK wants to play. I guess playing other in-state powerhouses such as Asbury University is more up UK’s ally than playing us again anytime soon, especially after the recruiting class Stansbury has for next season.
So until we meet again Big Blue Nation, we won’t forget this historic win any time soon. Here’s to hoping we actually play in the regular season sometime within the next thirty years.
