1937-38 Squad

Season Review -Basketball (Kentuckian)

Adolph Rupp	S.A. Boles

Opening with a 69-35 win over Berea College, the 1937-38 version of the Wildcat basketball machine launched upon one of the most ambitious schedules ever carded for a Kentucky net team and when the season had been curtained, one of the most enviable records ever attained by a Blue squad had been registered.

Captain Walker

Defending champions of the Southeastern conference, the Cats, led by Captain J. Rice Walker, recorded four straight wins before their mad rush was temporarily stymied by a disastrous Northern trip that sent the Cats home licking the wounds of three straight losses.

The highlight of the 1937 portion of the year was the Sugar Bowl victory over Pittsburgh on December 29 in the basketball feature of the Midwinter Sports Association Carnival held in New Orleans. Pitt, as Eastern Intercollegiate League champs, came South with one of the best teams in the history of the school but were decisively trampled by Kentucky, led by Opper and Hagan, for the first win ever attained by a Southern team since the series was inaugurated three years ago.

Immediately after classes convened following the Christmas holidays came the Northern jaunt and first a 43-38 loss to Michigan State, then Detroit University scalped the Wildcats by 34-26. followed by a 47-37 loss to Notre Dame. Failure to cash in on foul shots cost Kentucky the game with Michigan State. During the game the Cats were granted 15 free chances at the goal and made but four good. The entire offensive burden was carried by Hagan who put seven field goals over the rim.

Off to a slow start in the Detroit encounter, Coach Rupp's pupils were never able to catch within eight points of the fast-passing Northerners, who played their best game of the year. Hagan again was the scoring end of the team with 16 points.

The third straight loss, an all time high since Coach Rupp moved into the basketball front office, was suffered when Johnny Moir, the Irish contribution to the All-American team, led a deadly shooting Notre Dame five to a 47-37 win. With Hagan temporarily stopped, Thompson took over the offensive responsibilities and added 15 markers.

Then a short conference victory was made with Tennessee falling victim to the Cats by 52-27 and Alabama's mighty Crimson Wave being reduced to an anemic ripple with a 57-31 riot. Vanderbilt was the next victim before a 42-19 onslaught.

The fourth defeat was felt after a journey to Cincinnati to engage the Xavier Musketeers, who won over the listless Cats by 35-29. Next Michigan State invaded Alumni gym for a return bout and were humiliated by 44-27 as Opper and Hagan combined to score from all angles during the last half.

Another revenge victory came Kentucky's way when Xavier made their local appearance and received e 45-29 lacing for their travel. Hagan led the scorers with 12 points but the defensive play of Rouse, sensational sophomore guard, was the outstanding phase of the fray.

Hagan

The season's most thrilling game was taken by the Cats with a 35-33 win over the strong Marquette University team, conquerors of Notre Dame, when Hagan sank a looping long shot from the center of the floor as the game ended. Trailing by 33-31 with but one minute to play, Opper knotted the count with a long shot from the side, when Hagan came through with his climaxing shot. As the shot burned its way through the net, a capacity audience of over 4,000 burst from the confinement on the stands to engulf players of both teams.

From the spot which Hagan made the winning flip, Governor Chandler drove a nail into the floor as a remembrance of the occasion.

The conference schedule was closed with an unblemished slate as Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Alabama were each again defeated.

In their first engagement in the annual tournament, before a scant crowd in Louisiana State's huge coliseum, Kentucky was eliminated by the combination of a band of inspired Tulane Oreenies and the whistle conscious referees, who called fouls on the bewildred Wildcats for every rule infraction in the book. Unable to get their high pressure offense started because of the rigid arbitration, Kentucky was helpless. Bernard Opper, who was later selected as new captain of next season's team, was named to a guard post on the All-tournament honor team picked at the tournament, while "Red" Hagan was picked for the second team.

The season marked the end of the trail for three graduating seniors, Capt. Walker, Hagan, and Charley Combs, all of whom received letters for their services to the squad.

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