# | Name | Pos | Class | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (School) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#77 | Bill Spivey (L) | C | So. | 7-0 | 230 | Warner Robins, GA (Macon Jordan) | All-American [AP (3rd), UPI (3rd), Helms (3rd)]; All-SEC [First Team (AP)]; All-SEC Tournament; |
#25 | Jim Line (L) | F | Sr. | 6-2 | 185 | Akron, OH (North) | All-American [UPI (3rd)]; All-SEC [First Team (AP)]; All-SEC Tournament; |
#19 | Walter Hirsch | F | Jr. | 6-4 | 180 | Dayton, OH (Northridge) | All-SEC [Second Team (AP)]; |
#38 | Bobby Watson (L) | G | So. | 5-10 | 155 | Owensboro, KY (High) | - |
#11 | Shelby Linville (L) | F | So. | 6-5 | 200 | Middletown, OH (High) | - |
#18 | Dale Barnstable (L) | F-G | Sr. | 6-3 | 175 | Antioch, IL (High) | - |
#32 | Lucian Whitaker (L) | G | So. | 6-0 | 170 | Sarasota, FL (High) | - |
#7 | Guy Strong (L) | G | So. | 6-0 | 165 | Irvine, KY (High) | - |
#31 | Leonard Pearson (L) | G | So. | 6-1 | 180 | Chicago, IL (Senn) | - |
#22 | Read Morgan | F | Jr. | 6-4 | 200 | Milwaukee, WI (Rufus King) | - |
#13 | Roger Day | F | Jr. | 6-2 | 170 | Frostburg, MD (Beall) | - |
#33 | Garland Townes (L) | G | Jr. | 6-0 | 170 | Hazard, KY | - |
#16 | Walter Whittaker | F-G | So. | 6-5 | 180 | Rockville Centre, NY (Southside) | - |
#66 | Roger Layne | C | Jr. | 6-7 | 185 | McKamie, AR (Stamps High) | - |
#34 | Arlan King | F | So. | 6-3 | 185 | Madison, IN (Saluda) | - |
#35 | C. M. Newton | G-F | So. | 6-2 | 190 | Fort Lauderdale, FL (High) | - |
| Schedule | Player Statistics | Game Statistics |
1949-50 Squad |
Seated (l to r): Head Coach Adolph Rupp, Dale Barnstable, Leonard Pearson, Garland Townes, Arlan King, Skippy Whitaker, Guy Strong, Bobby Watson, Gus Stergeos Assistant Coach Harry Lancaster |
Season Review - Basketball (Kentuckian)
This ran the Baron's victory total while at UK to some 409 wins as against only 77 losses and the prospects for the next few years should make for even a better record.
The late 1940's saw the era of great UK powerhouses under Rupp. It was during this time that his team ran up a record of 64 straight conference wins, seven straight SEC titles (still unbroken) and 84 consecutive wins at home also unbroken to date). During this period he developed All-Americans practically by the carload including, of late, Alex Groza, Ralph Beard, Wah Jones, etc.
Rupp learned his basketball at the University of Kansas under Phog Allen and he learned it well. His teams have long been the scourge of the nation. In 1944 he received probably his highest tribute with election to the Helms Foundation basketball Hall of Fame.
Big Bill Spivey readies his hook shot in the Indiana Central basketball game which opened the 1949-50 UK season and which the Cats won handily | Dale Barnstable, 1949-50 captain of the Kentucky Wildcats, lays up a shot good for two points in the Indiana Central game. Dale was the steadying influence on the Cats last year. |
It looks as though he's even with the basket and he probably is. It's Bill Spivey tipping one in against Indiana Central. The big fellow scored 578 points this season. |
The Cats opened the season with wins over Indiana Central and Western Ontario but suffered their first loss of the year to St. John's at Madison Square Garden. They added wins over DePaul and Purdue before capturing the Sugar Bowl title at New Orleans. Sophomore Guard Skippy Whitaker provided the spark while Jim Line hit timely points as the Cats stopped Villanova and then Bradley in the finals, 71-66.
Wins over Arkansas, Mississippi State and North Carolina followed before the Cats were finally defeated in SEC play by Tennessee. Previously the Cats had won 64 straight conference games. After winning over Georgia Tech, Georgia stopped the Cats. The Ruppmen slaughtered DePaul at Chicago but were dropped by Notre Dame.
The Cats won their next 11 games scheduled during the season by whipping Xavier, Mississippi, Alabama, and Vanderbilt twice, and also Georgia, Tennessee and Georgia Tech. The win at Alumni Gym over Vandy was a great game, the Cats overcoming a 12-point halftime deficit.
Kentucky captured the SEC tournament, mowing down Tennessee in the finals, 95-58, as Bill Spivey hit for 37 points.
Accepting a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, the Cats were smothered by CCNY, 97-50, for Coach Adolph Rupp's worst defeat of all time but, all in all, it was a very satisfying season.
Walt Hirsch is all set to score against Indiana Central with Capt. Dale Barnstable setting up the block for the shot. Walt tallied 297 points this season. | It's Bill Spivey again hooking in another one of his deadly hook shots. The Georgia lad hit better than 36 percent of his shots from the field this year and averaged 19.3 per game. |
Garland Townes dribbles out of danger in the closing minutes of the Western Ontario game early in the season. Also in the picture for Kentucky are Guy Strong (#7_. Roger Day (#13), C.M. Newton (#35) and Walt Whittaker (#16). |
C.M. Newton -- 'Fig' is the six foot-three guard and forward from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He didn't see much service this season, but along with the rest of the sophomores, promises well for seasons to come. He is a good shot from out on the floor and works well under the boards.
Bobby Watson -- This five foot-ten sophomore won a starting berth with his dazzling speed and deadly shooting; it was his set shots that helped penetrate tight opposing defenses this season. He can hit from practically anywhere and did so to the tune of 32 percent. He's 175 pounds of fighting guard and he can be found matching bumps with the biggest of the big boys and coming out with the rebound repeatedly.
Read Morgan -- A talented sophomore who became eligible at mid-term and played in only seven games, but in doing so he displayed the fighting spirit and all-round hustle that brought him to UK. Read is big -- six feet-four and 200 pounds -- and is terrific on rebounds as well as clever in handling the ball.
Walt Hirsch -- Likable Walt was third in scoring with 297 points, hooking in 127 from the field for a percentage of 28. His left-handed shot was consistently good, but it was not his scoring that made him the standout he was -- it was his ball hawking. Time after time he stole the ball for much needed lay-ups. The six foot-four junior from Dayton, Ohio, is 20 years old and will captain the Wildcats next year.
Bill Spivey -- The year's big question mark turned into an exclamation point -- a big one; in fact seven feet-one quarter inch of ballplayer. "Grits" led all scorers in the conference this season, amassing a total of 578 points for an average of 19.3 for his 30 games. The lanky sophomore, past pupil of Al Groza, used the maestro's technique to advantage in breaking the individual scoring record for the SEC by hitting 40 against Georgia Tech. Bill was named on the All-SEC season's team.
Garland Townes -- "Spec" is a fast, slick, six foot, 180 pound junior from Hazard. One of the best defensive men on the team, Townes looked better this season than ever before. He is rough on the floor and can be depended upon to give his best when it comes to guarding a man. He is a specialist at tying up his man.
Walt Hirsch | Bill Spivey | Garland Townes |
Dale Barnstable -- Barney captained the young Wildcats in his senior year and was valuable in aiding the Cats compile their enviable record. He was fifth high scorer for the team this season getting 179 points on 71 field goals and 37 free throws. Perhaps his top game was the Cat-Candy game played at Alumni Gym when he tossed in 18 points.
Jim Line -- One of the two seniors on the young team, "Lefty" helped provide the steadying influence needed to get the club rolling at the onset of the season. Jim blasted the nets for 37 points in the opener against Indiana Central and had he not fouled out, undoubtedly would have set an all-time Kentucky record. he wound up the season with an average of 13 points per game. Jim won a first-team berth on the All-SEC team and honorable mention on several All-American teams.
Lucian Whitaker -- "Skippy" is the race horse style of ballplayer. He's fast, a classy ball handler and a very good shot. "Skippy" hit a one-for-three clip this season and showed some might fancy floor play. In the Sugar Bowl tourney it was Skip who provided the spark that carried the Cats through to the championship.
Shelby Linville -- An exceptionally good man on the boards, "Shelb" is the most effective at center and therefore provided much needed relief for Spivey. A regular ball hawk and a good shot, Linville hit for 104 points in his semester of play for a field goal average of 31 percent. He weighs 210 and hails from Middlesboro.
Len Pearson -- "Whitey" to one and all. This six-foot-one lad, who hails from Chicago, is a scrapper, in the real sense of the word. The good-natured speed merchant is deadly from the floor and hit for 30 percent of his shots in his service at the guard position. A good team man, Pearson is the type ballplayer that can spark a team or go for a red-hot night himself.
Roger Layne -- Layne is the six foot-seven junior center from Arkansas. He transferred from Magnolia A&M and seemed to improve as the season developed. The 185 pound cager is handy with a hook shot and a "go-getter" on the boards. His height should help the Cats plenty next season. In the ten games in which he played this year, Roger shot only 18 times and hit five from the field.
Shelby Linville | Len Pearson | Roger Layne |