| # | Name | Pos | Class | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (School) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Paul Adkins (L) | C | Sr. | 6-2 | - | Williamsburg, KY | (All-Southern Forward as chosen by the Atlanta American.); |
| - | William King (L) | F | So. | 5-11 | 140 | Lexington, KY (Senior) | - |
| - | Basil Hayden (L) | G-F | Sr. | 5-11 | 165 | Paris, KY (High) | - |
| - | Bob Lavin (L) | G | Sr. | 5-7 | 140 | Paris, KY (High) | - |
| - | William Wilkinson | F | Fr. | 6-0 | - | Lebanon, NH | - |
| - | William Poyntz | F | So. | 5-11 | - | Covington, KY (Holmesdale) | - |
| - | Kenneth King | F | So. | 6-0 | - | Louisville, KY (Manual Training School) | - |
| - | Fred Fest | C | Jr. | 6-2 | - | Martins Ferry, OH (High) | - |
| - | James Wilhelm | C | Sr. | 6-1 | - | Paducah, KY (High) | - |
| - | A. T. Rice | G | So. | 6-1 | - | Paris, KY (High) | - |
| - | Gilbert Smith | G | Jr. | 6-1 | - | Lexington, KY (Senior) | - |
| - | Lawrence Burnham (L) | G | Jr. | 5-9 | - | Paducah, KY (High) | - |
| Schedule | Player Statistics |
 |
1921-22 Squad |
Front Row (l to r): Paul Adkins, Lawrence Burnham, Bobby Lavin, William King, Jimmie Wilhelm, Gilbert Smith |
Season Review - At the End of the First Half of the 1922 Basketball Season by J.A. Estes (Kentuckian)
When William S. King tossed the foul goal that defeated the University of Georgia in the final game of the Southern intercollegiate basketball tournament one night late in February, 1921, Kentucky reached the climax of her basketball history. The Wildcats had won the championship of the South - the first official championship of the South. The student body of the university became an aggregation of hero worshipers, and the Blue and White quintet became the acme of things basketball.
Nineteen twenty-two came and the Wildcats had a championship to defend. Every member of the 1921 squad returned for another campaign, while a number of other stars were available, and the pre-season statistics indicated that Kentucky would have a path paved with roses and leading right up to another victory in the tournament at Atlanta.
Things went on smoothly in the Wildcat camp, except that Basil Hayden and Sam Ridgeway, indispensable members of the machine that won the championship last year, were forced to leave the squad, Hayden on account of a bad knee and Ridgeway because of illness.
Georgetown's Tigers were carded to yield up their basketball scalp on the night of January 14, the first game. What the Yellow and Black quintet from Scott County did to the Wildcats that night was looked on as a miracle. They soaked us, 26 to 17. Fighting like demons against the cool machinery of the Blue and White organization, they tore up the orderly attack of the Wildcats and in the second half drew away to leave the university team gasping under the most unexpected defeat it has ever suffered.
January 17 the Wildcats defeated the University of Louisville, at Louisville, 38 to 14. That was satisfactory to the Wildcats and the fans, but it didn't mean anything.
The next night the Wildcats suffered their second defeat in three games when they lost to the Vanderbilt quintet at Nashville, 22 to 12. The Blue and White players were roughly handled in this contest and came back declaring they would be able to smack Vanderbilt for a row of empty tomato cans if they met at the tournament.
Louisville came down on January 21 for another beating, and got it, 29 to 22. The Cardinals were disciples of the hypothesis or whatever it is that distance lends enchantment, and they made goal after goal from distances that were almost preposterous, but they finished to the rear despite their remarkable efforts. Basil Hayden was back in the game on this occasion.
Mississippi A. and M., which nourished a grudge against the Wild Feline's for a beating in the tournament of 1921, dropped into the Kentucky gymnasium on January 26 with a highly touted team. Right there Kentucky began coming back. In fact, they recoiled so forcibly as to knock the Aggies flat, and the MississiDpians accepted the alibi side of a 28 to 21 score. This was a great game. The Wildcats were playing like real champions again.
The following night the Wildcats slaughtered the Big Green of Marshall College, 34 to 12.
Saturday, February 4, Coach Buchheit's men battered the Centre College quintet into submission at Danville, 28 to 21. After that Georgetown was the only undefeated college team in the running for the state championship.
The second Georgetown game was played at Georgetown on February 6. The state basketball title was at stake, and the Tiger gymnasium was packed with two high-strung armies of vociferous humanity. Never did two teams battle amid wilder enthusiasm and never did two teams so satisfy the demands of an insistent audience. At the end of the half the score was 10 to 10, and both sides were still confident of victory. At the end of the game the score was 26 to 17 in favor of the Wildcats. This was one of the greatest games in the history of Kentucky basketball, even as the first game of the season had been of the greatest in Georgetown's memory book.
The Wildcats' next venture was into the East, where they defeated Washington and Lee on February 8 in a sensational contest by the score of 21 to 20. On the following night they once more tasted defeat when they were nicked by the Virginia Military Institute outfit, 37 to 32. Kentucky scored 24 points in the second half, and was making the V. M. I. team look like a high school team when the final whistle blew.
Kentucky's record of victories and defeats may not be quite as clean this year as in 1921, and the Wildcats may not make as meteoric ascent to the Southern championship as last season, but nevertheless the Blue and White squad of 1922 probably has been the greatest in the history of the institution. The players have been the truest of sportsmen and the games have been clean. The team is ranked among the best in the country and in defeat or victory it has shown the spirit of which Kentucky is proud, rather than of the mere exultation of victory.
PAUL ADKINS donned his first Wildcat uniform in 1921, and his consistent work throughout the season, which reached its highest point in the Southern tournament, won for him the center position of the mythical All-Southern. Adkins' forte is a phenomenal aptitude at scoring goals from difficult angles, and his ability along this line touches the uncanny.
"BILL" KING is another All-Southern who sports the Blue and White. "Bill" always carries his head around with him, besides a keen eye for the basket and an unusual ability on the floor. King probably has been in the game more than any other member of the squad for the last two years, and his work has been an indispensable part of the Wildcat machine.
CAPTAIN "BOBBY" LAVIN, the least of the All-Southerns, is playing his fourth and final year with the Blue and White. Robert E. has been a great player and a great leader for the Cats. For four years he has been little, but for years his ability as a running guard has been second to none in the state, and last year to none in the South.
LAWRENCE ("DUTCH") BURNHAM has been one of the most consistent men that ever stood guard over a Wildcat goal. Kentucky has two standing guards this season, bolh of unquestioned ability, and when Sam Ridgeway became sick and was forced to leave the squad, Burnham and the position became inseparable.
KENNETH KING, forward, a product of the Manual Training School of Louisville, became a star almost simultaneously with his appearance in basketball togs this year. The freshman was used in the early games to fill the position left vacant by Basil Hayden, and his work was of the highest caliber.
BILL POYNTZ has been on the varsity for two years, and whenever he has had a chance to show his mettle he has always put up a creditable performance. Bill is a comer, and in the next two years is likely to make one of the best forwards in the South.
GILBERT SMITH, guard, is a player with a head - and some very able accessories. Smith can creditably fill any position on the team, and has proved one of the most valuable men on the squad for three years. Smith's work is of the highest type and on the defense can be excelled by few.
JIMMIE WILHELM has stuck by the Wildcat squad through thick and thin for three years. He plays guard and center, and his performance at either position makes him one of the most valuable subs on the squad. Nothing less than All-Southern competition could keep James off the first-string team.
FREDDIE FEST, center, has had to compete with an All-Southern for the last two years, and the race at times has been very close. Fest, like Adkins, possesses an unusual ability at the goal, and is big and rough enough to take care of almost any opponent. He is another dawning planet.
WILLIAM WILKERSON is another freshman who has weathered all of Coach Buchheit's discriminations. Wilkerson has a knack of making the ball go through the iron hoop that is expected to land him a position on the Wildcat first team before he is much older. His work is that of a coming star.
