[honestjchsfan]

What years or years was it that Rupp refused to play in the tourney and we went on to win the NIT?
We could have and should have been national champs that year.

Rupp won his only NIT title in 1946. In 1949 Kentucky also participated in the NIT tournament but was upset in the quarterfinals by a underdog Loyola of Illinois. This was the "Point Shaving" game. Rupp was cheated out of his place in histroy, he could have been the first coach to win the NIT and NCAA title in the same year, probably would have been invited in the 1950 NCAA tourney, and had a good shot to win it, PLUS the 1954 UK team would have been able in play in 53' perhaps winning 2 more titles. Rupp was pretty much screwed out of 3 or 4 titles , then he had bad luck, like the flu bug before the 66' title game and he lost Mike Casey for the season, which probably cost him the 1970' title. RUPP was a better coach than John Wooden, you can take that to the bank! Rupps guard around offensive system was light years ahead of anything that Woodon was doing. BTW Rupp was 3-0 all-time vs Wooden, and would have probably won the title in 1974 had UK not forced him to retire.