Simply The Best: The Story of the 1995-96 Kentucky Wildcats (Documentary)

Huge thank you to @FunchesterTeevee for supplying several videos for this documentary. Check out their channel for a tremendous collection of full length Kentucky games.

In 1995, I had a copy of ESPN's 1995-96 college basketball preview (Tony Delk on the cover) that I brought to school daily to study, when I had free time in class. A publication that had UK ranked 2nd (behind Kansas) btw. But nonetheless the magazine had a detailed breakdown of ESPN's top 64 teams. In the pre-internet days, this magazine is where I first discovered Derek Anderson, Ron Mercer, & Wayne Turner. As I continued to read this magazine, and breakdown every team's starting 5 & bench, I began to think that these 3 newcomers were gonna be the additions we needed for Kentucky to win it's 1st National Championship in my lifetime. I began to tell anyone that would listen about the 3 newest additions to the Cats' arsenal. Way before guys on national television were talking about them. Once April came I looked like a sports genius to my friends and family. A perk I've always felt I owed to Derek, Ron, Wayne....and maybe even that ESPN magazine. Even though they had UK ranked #2! Fast forward to 2013, I'm beginning a brand new sports show (The Homers Show) on a local ESPNradio affiliate. The big talk as always in this state was Kentucky basketball. I wanted to make an impression for the 1st show. I swing for the fences, so I reach out to my favorite player from my favorite team, Derek Anderson. The NCAA & NBA Champion didn't have to even bother reading the email from an unknown radio show host, let alone actually go out of his way to appear. But just like everything else about Derek, and the other Untouchables my expectations were exceeded tenfold. Derek not only appeared on the show, he treated me with the same respect that he had showed legends like Dick Vitale. His appearance MADE THE SHOW. Getting a UK LEGEND on a debut show in Owensboro, Kentucky was all we needed. Since that 1st show, I've been able to not only cover events at Rupp Arena, but rush the court at Rupp covering the Owensboro Red Devils' KHSAA State Title in 2015. I've guest hosted Kentucky Sports Radio & have also had the opportunity to shine a spotlight on countless local athletes since 2013. It's not forgotten that Derek's appearance was a HUGE part of that success. So not only are the 1996 Wildcats my favorite team ever. My favorite player from the team has helped me personally & professionally.
1996 was a CRAZY year in basketball: The Olympic Dream Team 2, possibly the best NBA draft class ever, & the Michael Jordan led Bulls began their 2nd set of 3-peats & were all over the local & national news. For me in 1996, the only basketball I cared about was Kentucky basketball. I named my dog "Nazr" after watching Nazr Mohammed live here in Owensboro for a UK JV game. I was ALL IN. They've been called Champions, Untouchables, as good as some NBA teams, too good, and even too talented. I call them 'Simply The Best'

#Kentucky #Wildcats #BBN #NationTitle #1996 #TheUntouchables #NCAA #basketball

[thomasfilmer]

I’m a Hoosier fan first, but I can honestly say I highly enjoyed watching this Kentucky team. You could just expect a steal every possession on defense. The deepest bench ever, and in my opinion the greatest college basketball team start to finish in the history of the game.
I’m not sure the 1976 undefeated Hoosiers could have beat this team with their depth, 3 point shooting, and pressure defense. I hope no Hoosier fans read this lol.

[Wetrockstah]

Greatest college basketball team in history.

[leecrump]

The greatest Kentucky basketball team in my life time and just so much fun to watch the way basketball was made to be played run and gun

[brucebrantley]

Very well done my friend. I can recall as a child, I knew some people that had rooms dedicated to UK Basketball. I can remember getting on the bus on Monday morning, and every child was discussing the current ranking of the Kentucky Wildcats. My mother would only make liver and onions for dinner, when I was a child, on the nights that Kentucky would play. Refusing to let me watch the game without eating my liver and onions. They were always eaten. One the weekends, dad was always working on restoring an old car, and in the background Cawood Ledford (although I have known that name most of my life I never tried to spell it before), would be calling the game. In my teen years, I met a man that told me about his son that was in the Vietnam War, and the biggest request from his son, was recorded audio of Kentucky games. I can recall being Desert Shield and staying up until 3 am to listen to the only game I was going to here that year. I can remember UK loss at Kansas, Pitino's first year, when the loss was 145 to 95. I did not look that up. I remember it. It took a long time for that hate to fade. I also have a print of the 79' team that has been the only ornament displayed on the wall of every place I have lived, until I finally bought a house. Now we have plenty of German pieces, due to our extended time there. I have been drinking, so I may have a problem with stopping. So, there is an apocryphal story, that I want to tell you. In the late 1940's there was this pilot flying across Kentucky at about 2 am in the morning, and he noticed that the lights were on in almost every house that he flew over. He relayed to ground control, wondering if something was wrong. Ground Control responded, "No, Kentucky is playing a game in Hawaii."

Drunk as Fuck but writing correctly. When you have a great teacher, you get it right no matter how fucked up you are. See, everything is correct. No need to respond, you can see that I got sidetrack, and probably will not remember even posting this tomorrow.

[justinmoore]

at 17mins shows how passionate uk fans are it starts early and i would have to say tony delk as my fav player

[williamcondra]

Pitino should have stayed at Kentucky. He would have overshadowed Krzyzewski and ranked right up there with John Wooden. What he said after the UMass game about not taking your foot off the gas and waiting for the clock to run out was prophetic about Calipari. Couldn’t tell you how many games he has lost by doing that.

[kentuckyman]

Back when the AD And Basketball coach liked each other.

[shawnlong]

What a fantastic compilation documenting the greatest college basketball team ever, the 1996 Kentucky Wildcats! This had to really take some great effort to compile all of this together! It was a great treat to watch this and stroll down memory lane and reminisce on that historic season!

[wramsey]

Rick can flat out motivate and coach, that speech after the UMASS game was awesome.

[matthewb]

Pitino was a great coach for Kentucky! 🔵⚪️

[UKBLUE]

THANKS for helping me get to next season and reliving one of my favorite UK years. They undoubtedly are the best team.. ALL TIME! The only thing this video missed was the Robert Goulet video. " get off the bus and kick a little tush" 😁

[michaeluk]

Thank you for the memories brother, i truly appreciate it.

[shawnoandrew]

Loved this team. There will never be another Untouchables!

[Greatone]

I was fresh out of high school when the 1996 team won the ncaa championship..it was a great team..odds on favorite at the time to win it all, and they did.. they was fun to watch..i loved it..thanks for posting this

[chuckstearman]

The 1995.96 Kentucky Basketball Team was The best Team of All time 💙🏀 Go Big Blue Forever 🏀💙🙏

[RLS-bubj]

I was in the SAC for this season. It was such a joy to watch them play. They made it look easy and flawless. Thank you to the players on the team

[DRoseinKY]

Thanks for making this!! Back in the ole days !! When It was about the team & not the NBA….

[ngarcia]

I was only 3 in 1996... and didn't officially become a UK fan until 2011... but as I've gotten more and more into UK basketball, everyone in BBN has told me that I needed to watch those 90s Kentucky teams - especially this one - when I got a chance.

[StayleyStarrAIC]

859 in the house!!! Keeping it real in Richmond!!! Just discovered your channel tonight & I love it!!! Would love to see the AIC documentary. It keeps playing Limp Bizkit when I play it. Love the videos bro. Especially the greatest college basketball team of all time!!! I was 22 when they were tearing up the college circuit. Was In Rupp welcoming them back at the end of the video. Love it!!!

[earvinwiblums]

We've had 4 coaches since 1989. 3 of them won title and appear in this video. Go Cats.