Top 20 of Kentucky Wildcats who won an NCAA title

[blueheretic]

Players-only Top 20 of Kentucky Wildcats who won an NCAA title, ranked by program impact/UK production/title-stage contribution:

1. Alex Groza (’48, ’49) – 2× champ, 2× Final Four MOP; centerpiece of the “Fabulous Five.”
2. Anthony Davis (’12) – NPOY, Final Four MOP, defensive axis of a 38–2 champion.
3. Tony Delk (’96) – Team leader and Final Four MOP for the “Untouchables.”
4. Jack “Goose” Givens (’78) – 41 in the title game, Final Four MOP; face of ’78 champs.
5. Bill Spivey (’51) – Dominant 7-footer, Final Four MOP for the ’51 title team.
6. Vernon Hatton (’58) – Leader of the “Fiddlin’ Five,” 30 in the final vs. Seattle.
7. Ralph Beard (’48, ’49) – All-America guard/engine of back-to-back titles with Groza.
8. Cliff Hagan (’51) – All-time UK great who won in ’51 and became a program icon.
9. Frank Ramsey (’51) – All-Tournament performer and future Celtics legend
10. Wayne Turner (’96, ’98) – Two-time champ PG; tone-setter for Pitino/Tubby eras.
11. Jeff Sheppard (’98) – Final Four MOP, clutch wingscorer for the “Comeback Cats.”
12. Rick Robey (’78) – Interior anchor next to Givens on the ’78 champs.
13. Kyle Macy (’78) – Backcourt nerve of the ’78 title run.
14. Johnny Cox (’58) – 24 in the ’58 final; co-headliner with Hatton.
15. Ron Mercer (’96) – Key two-way wing on the ’96 title team (SEC POY the next year).
16. Antoine Walker (’96) – Versatile star on ’96 champs; matchup nightmare.
17. Nazr Mohammed (’96, ’98) – Two-ring center; pivotal in ’98 front line.
18. “Wah Wah” Jones (’48, ’49) – Core forward of the back-to-back “Fabulous Five.”
19. Doron Lamb (’12) – 22 in the title game; spacer/shot-maker for the ’12 champs.
20. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (’12) – Elite defender/connector on the ’12 title squad.

Next up: Walter McCarty (’96), Jamaal Magloire (’98); Kenny Rollins/Cliff Barker (’48–’49)

All era. No recency bias.

AI assisted




bigbluehistory.net?


*If you didn't win a Championship, you can't be on the list. Hence, no Issel.

[SportsFan]

No Scott Padgett?

[blueheretic]

Who would you take off the list to add him?

[KentuckyWild2020]

T. Jones., Scott Padgett, McCarty..


Who comes off I don't know? Still these players made a impact even if the stats don't show it.

[Semi-OldEvilleCat]

I felt like Ron Mercer should be higher, had 20 in championship game as a freshmen. But, same as above, no idea who I'd drop down to move him up?

[KentuckyWild2020]

I felt like Ron Mercer should be higher, had 20 in championship game as a freshmen. But, same as above, no idea who I'd drop down to move him up?

Same here. Mercer is/ was one of my most favorite UK players of all time. He was just a problem for opposing teams all year and made life much easier for Walker and others in my opinion...

[abroo588]

Players-only Top 20 of Kentucky Wildcats who won an NCAA title, ranked by program impact/UK production/title-stage contribution:

1. Alex Groza (’48, ’49) – 2× champ, 2× Final Four MOP; centerpiece of the “Fabulous Five.”
2. Anthony Davis (’12) – NPOY, Final Four MOP, defensive axis of a 38–2 champion.
3. Tony Delk (’96) – Team leader and Final Four MOP for the “Untouchables.”
4. Jack “Goose” Givens (’78) – 41 in the title game, Final Four MOP; face of ’78 champs.
5. Bill Spivey (’51) – Dominant 7-footer, Final Four MOP for the ’51 title team.
6. Vernon Hatton (’58) – Leader of the “Fiddlin’ Five,” 30 in the final vs. Seattle.
7. Ralph Beard (’48, ’49) – All-America guard/engine of back-to-back titles with Groza.
8. Cliff Hagan (’51) – All-time UK great who won in ’51 and became a program icon.
9. Frank Ramsey (’51) – All-Tournament performer and future Celtics legend
10. Wayne Turner (’96, ’98) – Two-time champ PG; tone-setter for Pitino/Tubby eras.
11. Jeff Sheppard (’98) – Final Four MOP, clutch wingscorer for the “Comeback Cats.”
12. Rick Robey (’78) – Interior anchor next to Givens on the ’78 champs.
13. Kyle Macy (’78) – Backcourt nerve of the ’78 title run.
14. Johnny Cox (’58) – 24 in the ’58 final; co-headliner with Hatton.
15. Ron Mercer (’96) – Key two-way wing on the ’96 title team (SEC POY the next year).
16. Antoine Walker (’96) – Versatile star on ’96 champs; matchup nightmare.
17. Nazr Mohammed (’96, ’98) – Two-ring center; pivotal in ’98 front line.
18. “Wah Wah” Jones (’48, ’49) – Core forward of the back-to-back “Fabulous Five.”
19. Doron Lamb (’12) – 22 in the title game; spacer/shot-maker for the ’12 champs.
20. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (’12) – Elite defender/connector on the ’12 title squad.

Next up: Walter McCarty (’96), Jamaal Magloire (’98); Kenny Rollins/Cliff Barker (’48–’49)

All era. No recency bias.

AI assisted




bigbluehistory.net?


*If you didn't win a Championship, you can't be on the list. Hence, no Issel.

Was No. 11, Jeff Sheppard not on the '96 Untouchables as well? Coulda sworn he was. It was '97 that Pitino redshirted him, not '96, right?

[Semi-OldEvilleCat]

Was No. 11, Jeff Sheppard not on the '96 Untouchables as well? Coulda sworn he was. It was '97 that Pitino redshirted him, not '96, right?

Right. Box score has him for 7 minutes & 2 points in 96.

[blueheretic]

T. Jones., Scott Padgett, McCarty..


Who comes off I don't know? Still these players made a impact even if the stats don't show it.

Yet, a top 20 list can only have 20 names. lol

[SportsFan]

Yet, a top 20 list can only have 20 names. lol

Make it a top 25. Problem solved.

[blueheretic]

Make it a top 25. Problem solved.

Do it!

[SportsFan]

Do it!

Alright.

The list you provided, plus

- Scott Padgett (redshirt in '96, standout on '98 national champion and high scorer in championship game)
-Walter McCarty ('96 national champion)
- Terrence Jones ('11 FF and '12 championship team)
- Derek Anderson ('96 champs and would have led them to a repeat in '97 if he had been healthy)
- Allen Edwards (played on both '96 and '98 championship teams)

[UKWildcats1987]

Just shows me we have had a lot of important players during our title runs. The guys that won 2 titles are impressive n the 40s and 90s.

[davtay]

Interesting list. My only question would be why Davis would be higher that Goose? I know Jack wasn't National Player of the Year, but multiple Final Fours would trump that, IMO. I can see an argument for Delk, but still...

I also think those with multiple championships and final fours should be higher than they are. AD was awesome, and I love that team but when you say "ranked by program impact/UK production/title-stage contribution" he was still here only one season.

[SportsFan]

Interesting list. My only question would be why Davis would be higher that Goose? I know Jack wasn't National Player of the Year, but multiple Final Fours would trump that, IMO. I can see an argument for Delk, but still...

I also think those with multiple championships and final fours should be higher than they are. AD was awesome, and I love that team but when you say "ranked by program impact/UK production/title-stage contribution" he was still here only one season.

I have to wonder how much a player's NBA career plays into how fans rank them on their college career. Jack Givens really didn't have a successful NBA career, while Davis has. Had Anthony Davis been a bust in the pros, would UK fans still rank him as highly and hold him in such high regard? Who knows....but I can't help but feel like it plays a pretty significant factor.