03/12/1995 SEC Final: #5 Arkansas Razorbacks vs. #3 Kentucky Wildcats

[@WARMACHINE2013]

The game in Fayetteville earlier that year was a classic as well. God I miss the days of this being a rivalry and Arkansas basketball being great. Hell, I just miss college basketball being this good.

[@coachemup8185]

That was actually the same year.... The Scotty Thurman shot from the wing? It was February of 95.

[@michigan2400]

@@coachemup8185 it was not ..that was 94 versus Duke

[@coachemup8185]

@@michigan2400 No sir, shot I'm talking about was after the championship season.... it was Superbowl Sunday. Scotty Thurman hit a jumpsuit over Jeff Sheppard from Kentucky as the clock ran down. Secured a 93-92 win.... game was on CBS. This miss was similar to his make on that day.

[@michigan2400]

@@coachemup8185 Oh ... I missed that ...

[@jamedlock83]

@@coachemup8185 Do you mean in the National Championship Game? If so, then no. . That was April 4, 1994 vs Duke.

[@jamedlock83]

I'm a UK fan, born and raised in Arkansas (never been to the State of Kentucky). This was the best game EVER in the history of college basketball.. .. . .

[@claymang]

An Arkansasian of culture, I see. Go Big Blue!

[@walterlv01]

Jimmy Dykes is still the ESPN commentator on SEC basketball to this day

[@thacozzman89]

I was only six years old at the time, but I heard that the game in Fayetteville was a great one earlier that year. You're right, the Arkansas-Kentucky rivalry was one of the best, with both teams consistently utilizing the three-point shot. Arkansas was a great team during that time period and also, College Basketball was at its BEST before that "one-and-done" bullcrap...SMH.

[@jamedlock83]

I was 12. . I always look forward to Arkansas vs Kentucky. This upcoming basketball season, they will play twice in the regular season. Look forward to that.

[@shakazulu1322]

That last shot by Thurman was ridiculous

[@bbryant9455]

A shame he never got the chance to go to the NBA 💯 great shooter. Consistent AF.

[@billisaacs702]

Ah... Those were the days. When you could count on the players to leave it all on the floor. I watched this one at the clubhouse on a golf course in Fairfield CA. I remember some local smartass saying to my two brothers and I "sorry about the loss..." when Rhodes missed those free throws. We walked out later and didn't give him the time of day. Back when the Cats wouldn't let you down.

[@claymang]

We're back, now, brother! HOPE IN POPE!

[@WARMACHINE2013]

Yea, I really wish the rule was like football where you have to wait three years. The sport would be so much funner to watch.

[@WARMACHINE2013]

I hope so, I got faith that Mike will get us back. Just have to start winning on the road.

[@jerrycollins2079]

Looks like the Muss bus is getting it rolling so far he is getting all of them big time in state recruits I really like the way that it's going at this point I just wish that there would be some kind of sports going on

[@aaroncoleman5337]

Mike was a great coach for Arkansas, he had a great team when we lost in the second round against a North Carolina team that ended up winning the championship.. we were up late but it just slipped away from us.. we had a team that was capable of winning against anyone that year. If he wins one or two more NCAA tournament games he would probably still be our coach. But considering what Mussleman has already accomplished in his short time here I am NOT complaining! I liked Mike Anderson a lot, he was a great person! But I'm absolutely IN LOVE with Eric Mussleman!! He has that it factor about him that every school is looking for in a basketball coach!!

[@jeffingram8143]

R.I.p Georgia dome

[@Hooch_is_crzy]

My favorite uniforms ever. These and the road ones from the previous season. So glad the checkerboard is gone.

[@thacozzman89]

Yup...Plus, with Kentucky's upcoming recruiting class coming in...The rivalry should be interesting.

[@seanhennsey2605]

I watch this as a kid biggest choke job I've ever seen n it led to the loss in the final four this was posed to b n all time great team to win back to back still breaks my heart to this day

[@jamedlock83]

Arkansas did not lose in the Final Four. They absolutely got outplayed by UCLA in the Championship Game

[@seanhennsey2605]

@@jamedlock83 they was took cocky and underestimated Ucla with they point guard was hurt too I watched they interview Corliss Williamson guarantee they repeat also Scotty Thurman said in a press conference that they ain't played a good game all tourney and they would blow uncle out if they did after they beat north Carolina they thought it was a gonna be a cake Walk

[@kevint9702]

Does anyone have the UK vs ul from 12/14? Why was it removed as I was watching it. The ucla game was also removed. Also, there was 39 games played by UK that season, does anyone have the rest, or a link to them?

[@zt1053]

This game also aired in syndication by the SEC announcers.

[@theloverswineverytime1625]

I remember the general consensus was that this game was gonna determine who, of the two, would get the 1-seed in the Southeast Region. So, UK won the game and got the 1 in the SE while Arkansas ended up a 2-seed in the Midwest behind Kansas.

[@rbryant100]

Interesting, I forgot about that. Probably would have been a deeper NCAA run *if* they lost to Arkansas in the NCAA and were the #2 in the MW. Having a #2 seed UNC, with Stackhouse and Rasheed Wallace, was not an easy region.

[@brettg9481]

The SEC title got resigned to ESPN2.

[@Phoenix21Health]

UK had not had a national title since 1978 so they were very thirsty for those SEC titles in the 80s and 90s. This team did go on to win the 1996 Title.

[@darrellray5337]

When they showed the starters they had Mark Pope as a starter. I don’t know where they got their information from. Hahahahaha. I remember when I saw that when I was watching it live I freaked out and was wondering what happened to Andre Riddick. Was relieved immediately when he went to the foul line after the first sequence.

[@JoeKnows44]

Pope took his job that year. Riddick got benched as a senior for Pope.

[@jaxjr121]

Those Kentucky jerseys..........#Hidious!!

[@JoeKnows44]

They are. At the time, I loved them though.

[@isaiahevans001]

Lol ur crazy

[@mitchellwright2943]

They had 2 barn burners that year. 2 deep teams full of future pro's.

[@nlwilliams31]

You just don’t get hands like these anymore! Seasoned upper class men who KNEW how to play.

[@Mudcat3434]

Arkansas is the only team/fan base to ever or that will ever challenge Kentucky in the SEC. Florida’s team challenged them but their fans are shit and don’t travel. UK fans used to dominate the SEC Tournament and still do, but when Arkansas was Elite they split it with them. This atmosphere was amazing. Unfortunately Arkansas will never be back to this level. It’s a shame cause it is one of the few schools that consistently cared about basketball in this conference and if we are honest is a basketball school. It is the sport they can be elite in out of the two major ones. But bad coaching hires has absolutely demolished this once proud program into an unrecognizable “has been”.

[@therealslingblade108]

Mudcat3434 our baseball team is elite and will be that way for awhile

[@sharifs649]

@@therealslingblade108 bump Arkansas is back

[@nateman79]

Was this game not on cbs? I remember watching it live and I'm almost positive it was cbs

[@mgb4692]

Sure you're not thinking of the game in Fayetteville on Super Bowl Sunday? This was on at the same time as the Nova/UConn Big East final on CBS (their last one).

[@walterlv01]

+nateman79 This was not on CBS - this was the last season that CBS televised the Big East tournament final and they started showing the SEC the following season. This was also in the early days of ESPN2 when the "Worldwide Leader" would put their most marquee matchups (UNC-Duke, this game) on ESPN2 to try to convince cable companies to carry the channel.

[@mgb4692]

+walterlv01 That shit pissed me off so bad, when one of those games was (go fig) Arkansas/Kentucky from Rupp

[@SingMeSomethingGood]

It was also on the Jefferson Pilot Network. Tom Hammond was on play-by-play and Larry Conley did color. Depending on what region you were in, it indeed could've been on a CBS affiliate. In the Lexington area, it aired on CBS-27, by Jefferson Pilot. I know this because I still own the tape, and have watched it about a gazillion times, lol.

[@SingMeSomethingGood]

It was also on the Jefferson Pilot Network. Tom Hammond was on play-by-play and Larry Conley did color. Depending on what region you were in, it indeed could've been on a CBS affiliate. In the Lexington area, it aired on CBS-27, by Jefferson Pilot. I know this because I still own the tape, and have watched it about a gazillion times, lol.

[@smokintempt909]

Classic

[@thacozzman89]

Sounds most definitely true.

[@zt1053]

Losing this game actually put Arkansas in an easier bracket.

[@yourmom-qq4tq]

Arkansas would have played kansas in kansas city but they got upset. Kentucky lost to UNC in birmingham in elite 8

[@bbryant9455]

I miss the old ESPN lettering from back then. The fonts that made it look street/graffiti lol.

[@Felipepavzin92]

Classic espn2 in '95

[@twjohnson1203]

Rodrick Rhodes was just inconsolable. Pitino couldn’t put him back in even if he had wanted to. I remember watching and thinking Rhodes didn’t look comfortable at the line. Then Anthony Epps on his knees, little did he know in about 20 minutes he’d step to the line and put the game away. I thought it over when Arkansas jumped out to that lead though. Pitino made the biggest mistake of his coaching career by not staying at KY. I’ve often wondered how many titles UK could have had.

[@bensawesomemixchannel7220]

rhodes was ran out of town this year. they lost to sheed stackhouse unc, mercer and a sophmore replaced him.

[@jamedlock83]

dude stop! Rod was under pressure. You couldn't hit 2 free throws under pressure. . . . . neither could i

[@Shahmar]

Wildcats strapped in those 90's baggy stripes.

[@patrickbama1234]

Awesome game, I believe Arkansas can get back up to the top ten games in ncaam in the next few years.

[@Causel12]

I think Arkansas Razorbacks can make to it March Madness this coming season. They almost made it last year.

[@atgee01]

How did Arkansas blow this?

[@26michaeluk]

Kentucky was good.

[@JoeKnows44]

Awful coaching.

[@zackschooley5858]

Arkansas would go on to play for another national championship

[@ukhistorian]

Yeah. With Anderson coaching,bayou guys, it may come back.

[@JoeKnows44]

Arkansas was so poorly coached. Nolan Richardson recruited very well, but couldn't coach to save his life. No excuse not to win at east three national titles from 1990-1995 with that talent.

[@JoeKnows44]

@Jeffery Preece, What Arkansas had from 1990-1995 was at least as good as what Kentucky had from 1993-1998 and they won two titles and made five final fours.

[@theloverswineverytime1625]

Duke wasn't even doing that and they got to the Four five str8 seasons. But i guess the black head coach has to be better than the best to get any credit. Yeah, i went there. But, so did you.

[@JoeKnows44]

@@theloverswineverytime1625 You'll have to let me know where I said anything about Nolan Richardson being black. Arkansas had crazy levels of talent consistently in that span. And depth like nobody else except Kentucky. Richardson never made adjustments. Go look at any of the games that got them eliminated from the NCAA tournament in that span. A whole lot of watching and hoping.

[@tumbleweedconnection7906]

@@JoeKnows44 uk made 4 final fours in that span not 5... still a great run

[@baldaopimenta5283]

Espn2 college hoops fever

[@jaxjr121]

Roderick Rhodes was a weak link......

[@pinarerdogan7263]

The black-and-white lamb provisionally welcome because helen globally tie onto a unsuitable south korea. nostalgic, verdant peak

[@joseyeastwood]

Those kentucky uniforms were trash.

[@tommyrhodes8594]

I hate Kentucky