University Of Kentucky Basketball Encyclopedia

A guide to the University of Kentucky men's basketball program traces its history, profiles coaches and notable players, describes major games, and offers statistics and other details.

The Kentucky Wildcats are the winningest program ever in the history of college basketball, and The University of Kentucky Basketball Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive book ever assembled on the history of the team. Written in a unique, easy-to-read style that brings to life the exploits of Wildcat teams and players, the book includes details about The Fabulous Five, The Fiddlin? Five, Rupp?s Runts, The Unforgettables, Jamal Mashburn, Rex Chapman, Melvin Turpin, Kenny Walker, John Wall, and more. Coaching greats Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and John Calipari are also featured, as are each of their seven NCAA championships. This is a must read for all Kentucky basketball fans.

The Kentucky Wildcats are the winningest program in the history of college basketball, and this newly revised edition of the University of Kentucky Basketball Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive book ever assembled on the history of this extraordinary team. Written in a unique, easy-to-read style that brings to life the exploits of Wildcats teams and players, this definitive source includes details about “The Fabulous Five,” “Rupp’s Runts,” “The Unforgettables,” Jamal Mashburn, Rex Chapman, Melvin Turpin, Kenny Walker, John wall, and so many more. Coaching greats Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, and John Calipari are also featured, as are each of their eight NCAA championships. Without a doubt this is a must-have for any Kentucky fan! Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

The stories and accounts of Kentucky basketball's players, iconic coaches, and epic games have been told and retold, but lesser known are the stories of the arenas and venues that have been home to the Wildcats—buildings that have witnessed the sights, sounds, and shared spirit of the Big Blue Nation for over a century. In House of Champions: The Story of Kentucky Basketball's Home Courts, author Kevin Cook combines archival research and numerous interviews with players and coaches to reveal the rich history and colorful details of the structures that have hosted University of Kentucky basketball. A number of fascinating backstories are uncovered, including the excitement of Alumni Gym's opening night in 1925, the problematic acquisition of Black community land for the building of Memorial Coliseum, and the painstaking inscription of nearly ten thousand names of Kentucky's World War II and Korean War heroes to be displayed along the Coliseum's pedestrian ramps. The account concludes with a compelling overview of the development of historic Rupp Arena: its inner workings, the prominent figures involved, and how the initial conversation to build it began over a slice of Jerry's pie in 1968. This insightful and entertaining history reveals how the impact of sporting facilities extends far beyond game night as they continue to shape and influence the social, economic, and political landscapes of Lexington and central Kentucky.

“Deeply researched and clearly written . . . a wide-ranging and detailed account of Kentucky’s society, economy, and politics during World War II.” —John W. Jeffries, author of Wartime America When World War II broke out in Europe in September 1939, Kentucky was still plagued by the Great Depression. Even though the inevitably of war had become increasingly apparent earlier that year, the citizens of the Commonwealth continued to view foreign affairs as a lesser concern compared to issues such as the lingering economic depression, the approaching planting season, and the upcoming gubernatorial race. It was only the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that destroyed any lingering illusions of peace. In Committed to Victory: The Kentucky Home Front During World War II, author Richard Holl offers the first comprehensive examination of the Commonwealth’s civilian sector during this pivotal era in the state’s history. National mobilization efforts rapidly created centers of war production and activity in Louisville, Paducah, and Richmond, producing new economic prosperity in the struggling region. The war effort also spurred significant societal changes, including the emergence of female and minority workforces in the state. In the Bluegrass, this trend found its face in Pulaski County native Rose Will Monroe, who was discovered as she assembled B-24 and B-29 bombers and was cast as Rosie the Riveter in films supporting the war effort. Revealing the struggles and triumphs of civilians during World War II, Holl illuminates the personal costs of the war, the black market for rationed foods and products, and even the inspiration that coach Adolph Rupp and the University of Kentucky basketball team offered to a struggling state.

The tradition of college basketball excellence that reigns at Indiana University can only be matched by a handful of other elite programs, while the fierce devotion of IU basketball fans has been selling out arenas and inspiring generation after generation of Hoosier fans for over a century. The Indiana University Basketball Encyclopedia captures the glory, the tradition, and the championships, from the team's inaugural games in the winter of 1901 all the way through the 2003-04 season. The most comprehensive book ever written about IU basketball, this encyclopedia covers every season and every game the Hoosiers have played throughout their illustrious history, including all of the program's Big Ten Conference championships and NCAA championships. It is a must-have for the library of every devoted IU basketball fan and a fitting guide to one of the most storied traditions in all of college basketball.