Relive the 2011-12 UK basketball season
with look at the stories that defined it

 

It’s unlikely that any UK fan will forget the 2011-12 men’s basketball season anytime soon. In addition to winning the program’s eighth national championship, the Wildcats featured the first consensus National Player of the Year in program history, set a variety of school, Southeastern Conference and NCAA tournament records and featured as many as six NBA first-round draft picks. You can relieve the season below with like to KyForward’s basketball coverage from June through April. Each link takes you to the story listed by headline. Game recaps are listed in bold.

 

Preseason

John Calipari signs new eight-year contract

 

UK basketball player Jon Hood tears ACL; timetable for return to team is uncertain

 

UK men’s basketball freshmen prepared
to live up to reputation of previous classes

 

Terrence Jones, Doron Lamb return to UK
with hopes of winning national championship

 

Presence of NBA stars around Lexington
offers valuable experience for current Cats

 

Darius Miller prepares for senior season
after witnessing turnaround in program

 

UK point guard transfers work to improve
while waiting to become eligible for Wildcats

 

Jon Hood works to overcome knee injury,
return to court for junior season at UK

 

#WeAreUK: Family atmosphere propels
UK basketball program under John Calipari

 

UK basketball prepares for 2011-12 season
with unconventional identity, talented roster

 

UK men’s, women’s basketball teams
kickoff 2011-12 season at Big Blue Madness

 

New pick-and-roll may be latest wrinkle
in John Calipari’s dribble-drive offense

 

Regular Season

Terrence Jones’ 52 points highlight
offense-heavy Blue-White scrimmage

 

UK overcomes early slow start, runs away
with 97-53 win over Transylvania University

 

UK drops Morehouse in 125-40 romp

 

Wildcats roll through season opener by 50

 

UK basketball player Stacey Poole to transfer

 

Wildcats use early second-half run to earn
10-point win over No. 12 Kansas in NYC

 

Explosive first half leads UK basketball
to blowout 85-47 win over Penn State

 

UK takes lead with late first-half run,
holds on for 62-52 win vs. ODU, tourney title

 

UK rides strong defensive effort
to 88-40 win over Radford, 5-0 start

 

Wildcats post fewest turnovers since 1993
in 87-63 win over Portland in Rupp Arena

 

UK basketball ranked No. 1 in the polls,
but players says they have plenty to prove

 

Possible addition of two conference games
has John Calipari rethinking UK schedule

 

UK freshman Anthony Davis swats Wildcats
into record-book in win over St. John’s

 

Late block, impressive second-half shooting
lead No. 1 UK to 73-72 win over No. 5 UNC

 

Hoosiers hand Wildcats first loss of year
on buzzer-beater in front of raucous crowd

 

UK issues statement saying school won’t
support using state funds for Rupp changes

 

UK earns blowout win versus Chattanooga
but Calipari unhappy with effort, toughness

 

With UK classes out for winter break
Calipari hopes Cats use extra time to bond

 

No Jones, no problem for Wildcats
in 82-50 romp of Samford Tuesday

 

Intrigue about Calipari’s breakfast club grows
as players give conflicting reports about group

 

UK freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist taking
leadership role, bringing intensity to Wildcats

 

Kyle Wiltjer sparks second-half run
to lead UK to 87-63 win versus Loyola

 

Kidd-Gilchrist excels on court despite
mother’s hospitalization prior to Christmas

 

Calipari unhappy with performance, but Cats
take care of business in advance of UofL game

 

Terrence Jones returns from injury vs. Lamar,
but Calipari says he still needs to improve

 

Poor shooting, turnovers, fouls can’t stop
Wildcats in 69-62 win versus Louisville

 

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist continues to step up
with best game of young career vs. Louisville

 

Wildcats overcome dismal first half
for second-half blowout of UALR

 

Terrence Jones, Marquis Teague lead Cats
to 79-64 win vs. South Carolina in SEC opener

 

UK freshman Anthony Davis swatting
his way into UK, SEC record books

 

UK uses late run for road win vs. Auburn

 

For Anthony Davis, blocks come naturally,
despite record-setting pace as freshman

 

Wildcats come from behind again on road
with late run to earn 65-62 win vs. Vols

 

Block party: Davis sets UK record
as Wildcats rout Arkansas 86-63

 

Calipari compares Davis with Marcus Camby,
but stats say UK freshman may be even better

 

Clutch free-throw shooting in final minute
ensures Wildcats earn close win vs. Alabama

 

Wildcats downplay rankings’ significance
as team returns to No. 1 in both polls

 

Sharp first-half shooting helps Cats
earn 20th win with victory at Georgia

 

Wildcats have no problem with LSU
in 24-point win in Baton Rouge

 

Wildcats don’t miss in first 11 minutes,
use stifling defense to blowout Tennessee

 

UK’s Anthony Davis posting historical
rebounding rate, field goal percentage

 

Davis sets SEC freshman block record
as Wildcats rout South Carolina 86-52

 

Hot shooting, stifling defense leads Cats
to 20-point win versus No. 8 Florida

 

Marquis Teague improving play as Cats
hit stride with undefeated SEC record

 

Wildcats turn back second-half rally
to earn 69-63 win versus Vanderbilt

 

Wildcats host nationally televised scrimmage
in hopes of staying sharp before Sat. game

 

Wiltjer, Miller come off the bench to help
Wildcats extend home winning streak to 50

 

Double-digit halftime deficit no problem
for Wildcats in come-from-behind win

 

Behind career game from Anthony Davis,
Cats hold off Commodores in 83-74 win

 

Darius Miller prepares to play last game
at Rupp after helping turn around program

 

Torrid shooting from three-point range
propels Cats to blowout win on senior night

 

Cats beat Gators to close regular season,
finish program’s third undefeated SEC season

 

Anthony Davis named SEC Player of Year;
Darius Miller, John Calipari also honored

 

SEC Tournament

SEC tourney has little appeal for Calipari,
but Cats head to New Orleans planning to win

 

UK escapes first SEC tournament game
with come-from-behind win vs. LSU

 

Second-half run leads UK past Florida
to advance to SEC Tournament final

 

Streak snapped: UK drops first game
since December in SEC Tourney final

 

NCAA Tournament

Wildcats earn NCAA No. 1 overall seed,
will open NCAA tourney play in Louisville

 

Wildcats set to face Hilltoppers in tourney,
hope to build on loss in SEC championship

 

Hilltoppers no problem for Wildcats
in opening win in NCAA Tournament

 

Terrence Jones stepping up for Wildcats
in time for attempt to return to Final Four

 

Three-point shooting, strong defense spur
second-half run to lead UK past Iowa State

 

John Calipari downplays revenge factor
as Cats prepare for rematch with Hooisers

 

Coaches say both teams have improved
as UK, Indiana prepare for rematch

 

Tom Crean, John Calipari friends off court,
but have no qualms about doing battle on it

 

Fast pace, nearly perfect free-throw shooting
helps Cats avenge loss to Hooisers in tourney

 

Current Wildcats’ run together winding down
as team knows some will move on after season

 

Wildcats hoping to run, play fast against
Baylor team that might match athleticism

 

Wildcats use first-half run, strong defense
to blow past Baylor to the Final Four

 

Final Four

Calipari downplaying UK’s status as favorite
in talented, history-laden Final Four field

 

Cats hoping Final Four experience will help
correct mistakes from last season’s loss

 

Wildcats know both teams have changed
since December win versus Louisville

 

From stands to dialysis center, rivalry
captivates fans, but doesn’t affect teams

 

Calipari, Pitino rivalry grown over the years,
but coaches say they have cordial relationship

 

Anthony Davis picks up more hardware,
but teammates impressed as he stays humble

 

Cats ready for physical game vs. Cards,
ready to stop talking, start playing

 

Cats overcome second-half UofL rally,
use late run to advance to title game

 

Darius Miller has chance to play for title,
after big three helps Cats put away Cards

 

Final Four notebook: Calipari not concerned
about Cats recent slump at free-throw line

 

NCAA top players Davis, Robinson, face off
in title game, but likely won’t go head-to-head

 

UK players hoping to write different ending
for Calipari as he faces Kansas for title again

 

Super Eight: Kansas no match for Wildcats
as UK holds off Jayhawks for championship

 

John Calipari happy to win first title,
so topic of not winning is no longer issue

 

Photo gallery: Cats celebrate title

 

Fans fill Rupp Arena for raucus welcome
home of the victorious Cats and their trophy