[WideRight05]

A lot of people forget about the 1954 team at Kentucky. While it's obvious that the 1996 cats and the 2012 cats would bury this team, I always like to put them in the group when talking about the best team to come through Kentucky. Led by Frank Ramsey, Cliff Hagan, and Lou Tsioropoulous, all seniors, the 1954 team went 25-0 but was ruled ineligible to compete for the national championship by the NCAA. The three players got their degrees in 1953 and took graduate courses in the 1953-54 school year since they were granted the extra year of eligibility due to the point shaving scandal that prevented Kentucky from playing basketball in the 1952-53 season. The 1954 team flat out dominated their opponents. This team holds the second or third highest scoring margin in NCAA history in games, around 27 points per game. They beat the national champion that year, LaSalle, quite handily. However, due to having already graduated, Hagan, Ramsey, and Tsioropoulous were ruled suddenly ruled ineligible for the tournament and Kentucky declined the invitation to play. This rule was eventually changed. An example that would apply to this time would be Patrick Patterson. He got his degree in 3 years, and would have been able to play an extra year and get his master's had he decided to stay. However, back then he would have been ruled ineligible. But had this team played in the NCAA tournament, there is no doubt they would have won. Adolph Rupp called this team his best team during his time at Kentucky. And again, I know this team would not be able to dominate like they did in today's world. Their tallest player was Cliff Hagan at 6'5. Doron Lamb would have been playing power forward for them! But for their time, they were really, really good and I feel should at least be mentioned when it comes to talking about the best UK teams. I feel that they were screwed by the NCAA.