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closeWednesday, Nov. 04, 2009
Comments (0) |No. 7: Kentucky 76, Syracuse 67
Mark Story recounts UK's 25 most memorable basketball games since the 1983-84 season.
Herald-Leader Sports Columnist Mark Story has looked back at Kentucky basketball games since the 1983-84 season, when the Herald-Leader began its electronic archive, and has selected his top 25 most memorable games. One game will be revealed each day until Nov. 11. Check each day to see where your favorite game was ranked.
No. 7: Kentucky 76, Syracuse 67 (NCAA Tournament championship game: April 1, 1996 Continental Arena, East Rutherford, N.J.)
Mark Story's comment: Tony Delk hit seven three-pointers and scored 24 points, and freshman Ron Mercer came off the bench to score 20 to allow Rick Pitino to put the exclamation mark on his epic rebuilding job at UK by leading the school from probation to its first NCAA title in 18 years.
Charles Bertram | Staff - UK players celebrate at the end of the game in the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J. UK defeated Syracuse 76-67.
Charles Bertram | Staff - Anthony Epps and Derek Anderson pressure Syracuse's Lazarus Sims during first half action1996 NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J. UK defeats Syracuse 76-67.
Charles Bertram | Staff - UK coach Rick Pitino reacts to action in the first half of the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J. UK defeated Syracuse 76-67.
Charles Bertram | Staff - Derek Anderson displays his jersey to the crowd while cutting down the net after the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J. UK defeated Syracuse 76-67.
Charles Bertram | Staff - Coach Rick Pitino and the team celebrate after defeating Syracuse 76-67 in the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J.
David Perry | Staff - Syracuse's John Wallace grabs a rebound in front of UK's Antoine Walker in first-half action in the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J. UK defeated Syracuse 76-67.
David Perry | Staff - UK's Mark Pope cuts down the net after Kentucky defeated Syracuse 76-67 in the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J.
David Perry | Staff - Tony Delk (on floor) is mobbed by teammates after he was fouled after hitting an NCAA Final Four record tying seven three-point field goals in the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J. UK defeated Syracuse 76-67.
David Perry | Staff - Tony Delk puts up a shot over Syracuse's John Wallace in second-half action in the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J. UK defeated Syracuse 76-67.
Charles Bertram | Staff - UK basketball players leave the interview area at the Meadowlands after the 1996 NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J. Derek Anderson carries Ryan Pitino. Behind them are Walter McCarty, left, and Antoine Walker. UK defeated Syracuse 76-67.
David Perry | Staff - UK's Ron Mercer dunks in the NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game April 1, 1996 in East Rutherford, N.J. UK defeated Syracuse 76-67.
- Photo Gallery: Most memorable games, No. 7: UK 76, Syracuse 67
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Men's basketball:
» Game story archive: Look up any UK basketball game story written by the Herald-Leader, dating back to 1983.
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Excerpt from the original game story: Syracuse's zone defense took away UK's patented inside game, so the Cats simply shifted to the three-pointer. And in a delicious irony considering the ignoble way UK limped out of last year's tournament against North Carolina, the Cats beat Syracuse 76-67 with a crisp, efficient three-point attack.
"I think we're national champions because of the North Carolina game," UK Coach Rick Pitino said. "I brought that game up to the team - not 1,000 times - but 500. We took 27 three-pointers. I can honestly say 27 were great shots. And that's rare."
Mark's previous picks
No. 25: Kentucky 76, Louisville 75
No. 24: Gardner-Webb 84, Kentucky 68
No. 23: Kentucky 74, Houston 67
No. 22: Louisville 65, Kentucky 56
No. 21: Kentucky 60, Louisville 58
No. 20: Kansas 150, Kentucky 95
No. 19: Kentucky 51, Auburn 49
No. 18: Kentucky 70, Florida 55
No. 17: Kentucky 79, North Carolina 59
No. 16: Kentucky 85, Louisville 51
No. 15: Kentucky 90, Tennessee 72
No. 14: Michigan State 94, Kentucky 88 (2OT)
No. 13: Kentucky 95, Arkansas 93 (OT)
No. 12: Marquette 83, Kentucky 69
No. 11: Kentucky 82, Louisville 62
No. 10: Michigan 81, Kentucky 78 (OT)
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