WINNERS 1948 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP

Published in Clair Bee's Basketball Annual 1949 Edition, pg. 32-33.

By Adolph Rupp

LAST SPRING the Kentucky Wildcats played the Phillips Oilers (six times National A.A.U. Champions) in New York City. They beat us 53-49. The two clubs arranged a series of three exhibition games in order to help other teams in their finances for the Olympics.

The first of these games was played in Tulsa and Kentucky lost 60-52. We then went on to Kansas Crty and before another large crowd played the second game of this series. We got away to a very bad start and, at one time, were trailing 14-5. Our boys were playing good ball but our shots were not dropping. Kentucky staged a rally which tied the score at 16-16 and wenr ahead to where we were leading 35-30 with one minute in the first half remaining. At the half the score was 35-33, Kentucky's favor.

In the early part of the second half the lead see-sawed back and forth and, with about four minutes to go, Kentucky was leading by 7 points. Then, with just seconds to go in the regulation game, we recovered a ball off the Phillips' board and were clearly away for a scoring opportunity when someone in the stands threw a lighted firecracker which exploded over the scoring table.

Play was stopped, everyone thinking that the game had ended. However, there were still seven seconds remaining according to the clock. Kentucky had been stopped in what might have been a sure victory. The game ended 6l-6l.

In the first overtime period, Kentucky quickly scored two baskets and it looked as though we were away again to certain victory. With just seconds remaining in the overtime, and Kentucky leading 66-65, Barnstable of Kentucky and Carpenter of Phillips committed a double foul. Barnstable missed his and Carpenter made his, and we went into another overtime.

The University of Kentucky Wildcats plus two outsiders prepare for the N.C.A.A. Olympic Fund three-game series with the Phillips 66'ers. From left to right (Back row); Wallace 'Wah Wah' Jones, Vince Boryla, Alex Groza, Joe Holland and Dale Barnstable. (Front row); Ray Lumpp, Kenneth Rollins, Jim Line Cliff Barker and Ralph Beard

With about two minutes of the second overtime having been played, Barksdale of the Phillips team, crashed in for a basket. We fouled on the play and the score was 69-66 after Barksdale's conversion. With a minute and a half remaining, Groza scored. It was 68-69 in favor of Phillips and they starred freezing rhe ball. Kentucky fouled twice trying to get the ball and Phillips took the ball out of bounds. With six seconds remaining, Holland knocked the ball away from one of the Phillips' players and, with no one close to him, started to break for the basket. As he was within twenty feet of the basket, another firecracker exploded and Holland thought, as did everyone else, that the game was over. His first impulse was to take the ball and throw it in the stands. He slowed down and took a half-hearted shot which went in just as the regulation gun went off with Kentucky winning 70-69.

I had experienced my greatest thrill in basketball.

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