As a member of the 2008 redeem team. Check out the suit.
Tayshaun Prince inducted into Naismith HOF
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As a member of the 2008 redeem team. Check out the suit.
It is exhaustingly beyond time for it. If we aren’t going to retire his jersey we might as well just take them all down because apparently it is no longer an honor we bestow.
Beast on both ends who has represented UK well since leaving
I don’t know. But it’s time for a few guys to go up.
Delk went up in 2015, Pratt in 2023.
We have a weird history with this. According to Jon Scott's site, we retired a bunch of jerseys back in the 40s and 50s, didn't do a single one for over 30 years, retired a bunch from throughout our history between 87 and 02, then quit again. Only have retired the two previously mentioned since then. We again have a good handful of players who imo deserve to be up there. I seem to cast a wider net than many who only want guys who made FFs but imo guys like Prince and Bogans deserve to be there. Looking at guys who've been named All Americans (again, thanks to Jon's site):
- Mercer: AA, SEC POY, Champion, FF - hang it
- Prince 2x AA with an SEC POY - hang it
- Bogans AA, top 5 in all time scoring - hang it
- Meeks: Borderline maybe, but AA and holds record for single game scoring. A lone bright spot in a dim era.
- Wall: Consensus 1st team AA, won 1 national POY award, and had a Mashburn-like effect on program. I say he's in.
- Cousins: Weaker argument. 2nd team AA in his 1 season.
- Davis: Lock of all locks.
- Gilchrist: Like Cousins, fairly weak argument.
- Randle: 3rd team AA, did make a FF but not that strong a case for him.
- WCS: Consensus 1st team AA, DPOY, 2x FF - he's in.
- KAT: Maybe the 3rd one and done to get in?3rd team AA, FF... stronger case than Cousins, Gilchrist, Randle, but by no means a lock.
- Ulis: Consensus 1st AA, SEC POY, SEC DPOY - I put him in
- Murray: 2nd team AA, 1 and done, he's below the Cousins/Randle level
- Monk: Another weak case, 2nd team AA in his 1 year
- PJ: Stayed 2 years and got a 3rd team AA, not a strong case
- Oscar: NPOY, a lock
- Reeves: 3rd team, nah
You just have to accept that this is reality. Otherwise, you're never going to honor some of the best and most impactful players of all time.
Davis is the best player to ever suit up in a Kentucky uniform. Yes, better than Issel. The most decorated single season in the program's history. A national champion. Final Four MVP. What did you expect him to do, return?
Not saying you have to like it, but it's just today's reality. My opinion, anyway.
It's OK for people to say only one year hurts your chances but to completely eliminate all of them is overreacting. Davis has to go up.
Randle at 100 percent for the championship game and we cut down the nets on his back. Not saying I think he goes up but he seems to be kinda forgotten for the beast he was here.
Yes
- Mercer: AA, SEC POY, Champion, FF - hang it
- Prince 2x AA with an SEC POY - hang it
- Bogans AA, top 5 in all time scoring - hang it
- Wall: Consensus 1st team AA, won 1 national POY award, and had a Mashburn-like effect on program. I say he's in.
- Davis: Lock of all locks.
- KAT: Maybe the 3rd one and done to get in?3rd team AA, FF... stronger case than Cousins, Gilchrist, Randle, but by no means a lock.
- Randle: 3rd team AA, did make a FF but not that strong a case for him.
- Gilchrist: Like Cousins, fairly weak argument.
- PJ: Stayed 2 years and got a 3rd team AA, not a strong case
- Meeks: Borderline maybe, but AA and holds record for single game scoring. A lone bright spot in a dim era.
- Cousins: Weaker argument. 2nd team AA in his 1 season.
- WCS: Consensus 1st team AA, DPOY, 2x FF - he's in.
- Oscar: NPOY, a lock
- Reeves: 3rd team, nah
- Murray: 2nd team AA, 1 and done, he's below the Cousins/Randle level
- Monk: Another weak case, 2nd team AA in his 1 year
- Ulis: Consensus 1st AA, SEC POY, SEC DPOY - I put him in
There needs to be a clear set of guidelines put in place for what criteria needs to be met.
Personally I feel you need to play at UK for at least three years, I know that negates guys like Davis, but this is about retiring the jersey for the university not the team. I also think you need to have at least one title on your resume and then have so many stats that qualify whatever that may be.
I could see a no name university like Tennessee retiring popular guys like wall and Davis but I feel you need to give that accolade to someone like miller instead…
Personally I feel you need to play at UK for at least three years, I know that negates guys like Davis, but this is about retiring the jersey for the university not the team. I also think you need to have at least one title on your resume and then have so many stats that qualify whatever that may be.
I could see a no name university like Tennessee retiring popular guys like wall and Davis but I feel you need to give that accolade to someone like miller instead…
The following then have no shot:
Anthony Davis (NPOY, SEC POY, DPOY, SEC DPOY, FF MVP)
Tyler Ulis (First team AA, SEC POY, SEC DPOY)
Oscar Tshiebwe (NPOY)
John Wall (NPOY, SEC POY)
I think you just have to take into account three years is an eternity now. If you're going to do it based on "guys who were here a long time" you're really watering it way down.
So you feel that Kentucky legends like Jamal Mashburn, Kenny Walker, Sam Bowie, Kevin Grevey, and Dan Issel don't deserve to have their jerseys retired?
Great college career and pro career. That Detroit squad was one of the great stories in sports.
He was a unique talent and kind of the first generation of a skill set that came to dominate the game.
Tall, long, lanky multi position dudes who can handle and shoot.
He was a unique talent and kind of the first generation of a skill set that came to dominate the game.
Tall, long, lanky multi position dudes who can handle and shoot.
For some of your rules, it’s just too late. You’re effectively arguing we have to take jerseys down.
UK fans "its about national titles and final fours"
Also UK fans "you don't deserve the Rafters for being too good at basketball and only winning me 1 title and 1 final four n 1 season. How dare you take a pay raise to be the best in your profession"
It's comical with some of you. What did prince win n 4 seasons? I missed the title and final four run he took UK on. I'm being a devils advocate and 100% support prince being up there but it's mainly due to individual stats and not team success. AD would be both team and individual. Clearly deserving.
Also UK fans "you don't deserve the Rafters for being too good at basketball and only winning me 1 title and 1 final four n 1 season. How dare you take a pay raise to be the best in your profession"
It's comical with some of you. What did prince win n 4 seasons? I missed the title and final four run he took UK on. I'm being a devils advocate and 100% support prince being up there but it's mainly due to individual stats and not team success. AD would be both team and individual. Clearly deserving.