BTI's Rants and Ramblings: What Makes a UK Legend?

You know, a common topic of conversation amongst UK fans, especially in the summer months, is about who might be next to go up into the rafters at Rupp Arena.  I feel like there is a general consensus that will likely be Tony Delk.  But whoever it is, they will become the 37th player to earn that honor.  But, what has generally made a UK legend?  Below, I have split the 36 retirees into different categories to see if there has been any common feature amongst the players.  You'll find some interesting trends I think: HOME STATE Kentucky (20): Hayden, Spicer, Sale, DeMoisey, Rouse, Rollins, Beard, Jones, Hagan, Ramsey, Evans, Rose, Bird, Grawemeyer, Hatton, Cox, Givens, Feldhaus, Pelphrey, Farmer Indiana (4): Barker, Dampier, Macy, Woods Ohio (2): Groza, Grevey Georgia (2): Spivey, Walker Louisiana (2): Nash, Robey New York (2): Riley, Mashburn Massachusetts (1): Tsioropoulos Texas (1): Burrow Illinois (1): Issel Pennsylvania (1): Bowie What's interesting to me is that 16 of the first 21 UK players to have their jersey retired were from the state of Kentucky.  Since that time though, only 4 of 15 players who have seen their jersey into the rafters are from the state, and 3 of those were from The Unforgettables.  Tayshaun Prince and Tony Delk are probably the next 2 to go up there, which will take care of California and Tennessee.  Keith Bogans is from Virginia.  But what's clear is that the quality of high school basketball in Kentucky has dipped to such a level over the last 25-30 years that UK just can't rely on recruiting the state heavy. POSITION Guard (10): Rouse, Rollins, Beard, Ramsey, Rose, Hatton, Dampier, Macy, Farmer, Woods Guard/Forward (4): Hayden, Evans, Barker, Pelphrey Forward (11): Spicer, Tsioropoulos, Bird, Grawemeyer, Cox, Riley, Grevey, Givens, Walker, Feldhaus, Mashburn Forward/Center (6): Sale, Demoisey, Jones, Nash, Robey, Bowie Center (5): Groza, Spivey, Hagan, Burrow, Issel (Positions determined by Jon Scott's website) ERA 1920's: Hayden, Spicer 1930's: Sale, Demoisey, Rouse 1940's: Rollins, Groza, Beard, Jones, Barker 1950's: Spivey, Hagan, Ramsey, Tsioropoulos, Evans, Rose, Bird, Grawemeyer, Burrow, Hatton, Cox 1960's: Nash, Dampier, Riley, Issel 1970's: Grevey, Givens, Robey, Macy 1980's: Bowie, Walker 1990's: Farmer, Feldhaus, Pelphrey, Woods, Mashburn Those 1950's were sure filled with a lot of UK legends.  Same amount of titles as the 1940's and 1990's, but many more legends.  Ok. TITLE WINNERS 2 Titles: Groza, Beard, Jones, Barker 1 Title: Rollins, Spivey, Hagan, Ramsey, Tsioropoulos, Hatton, Cox, Givens, Robey, Macy No Titles: Hayden, Spicer, Sale, Demoisey, Rouse, Evans, Rose, Bird, Grawemeyer, Burrow, Nash, Dampier, Riley, Issel, Grevey, Bowie, Walker, Feldhaus, Farmer, Pelphrey, Woods, Mashburn Interesting that 22 of 36 retirees did not win titles at UK.  I don't know why, but I thought that the majority of them would have.  But UK went from 1959 to 1995 winning only 1 title, so when put in that context, it's understandable. Follow me on twitter at @BryantheIntern or @mysports790.  And if you would like a non-UK sports blog to mess around with each day, I would highly recommend The Sports Pit.