| # | Name | Pos | Class | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (School) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Cliff Hagan (L) | C | Sr. | 6-4 | 200 | Owensboro, KY (High) | All-American [Consensus (1st), AP (1st), UPI (1st), NABC (1st), Converse (2nd), Helms (1st), Look (2nd), International News Service (1st), Tempo (2nd), Colliers (1st), Newspaper Enterprise Assn. (1st) ]; All-SEC [First Team (AP)]; |
| #30 | Frank Ramsey (L) | G | Sr. | 6-3 | 185 | Madisonville, KY (High) | All-American [Consensus (2nd), AP (2nd), UPI (2nd), NABC (2nd), Converse (1st), Look (1st), International News Service (2nd), Helms (2nd), Tempo (2nd)]; All-SEC [First Team (AP)]; |
| #16 | Lou Tsioropoulos (L) | F | Sr. | 6-5 | 200 | Lynn, MA (Classical) | All-SEC [Second Team (AP)]; |
| #42 | Billy Evans (L) | F-G | Jr. | 6-1 | 170 | Berea, KY (HIgh) | - |
| #20 | Gayle Rose (L) | G | Jr. | 6-0 | 170 | Paris, KY (High) | - |
| #44 | Phil Grawemeyer (L) | F | So. | 6-7 | 180 | Louisville, KY (Manual) | - |
| #33 | Linville Puckett (L) | G | So. | 6-0 | 165 | Winchester, KY (Clark County) | - |
| #22 | Jerry Bird (L) | F | So. | 6-6 | 200 | Corbin, KY (High) | - |
| #66 | Bill Bibb (L) | F | So. | 6-4 | 190 | Owensboro, KY (High) | - |
| #34 | Hugh Coy (L) | F | So. | 6-1 | 185 | Richmond, KY (Madison) | - |
| #19 | Willie Rouse (L) | G | Jr. | 6-0 | 160 | Lexington, KY (University High) | (Sat out after knee surgery for most of season.); |
| #73 | Dan Chandler | G | So. | 5-11 | 160 | Versailles, KY [Darlington Prep School, Rome, GA] | - |
| #35 | Jess Curry | G | So. | 5-11 | 167 | Portsmouth, VA (Woodrow Wilson) | - |
| #77 | Harold Hurst | C | So. | 6-7 | 190 | Waltersville, KY (Powell County) | - |
| #32 | Clay Evans | G | So. | 5-9 | 165 | Flemingsburg, KY (Fleming County) | - |
| #25 | Pete Grigsby | G | So. | 5-10 | 165 | Martin, KY (High) | - |
| Schedule | Player Statistics | Game Statistics |
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1953-54 Squad |
Front Row (l to r): Head Coach Adolph Rupp, Linville Puckett, Jess Curry, Gayle Rose, Clay Evans, Willie Rouse, Dan Chandler, Pete Grigsby, Assistant Coach Harry Lancaster |
Season Review - Basketball (Kentuckian)
Yes, the Cats were back-and how!!
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The previous season, the Cats were" dismissed" from the conference, all N.C.A.A. play and forced into dormancy. However, the Cats were by no means idle. Rupp continued practice, polishing his already great ballplayers, teaching his neophytes a few tricks of the trade, and preparing for the coming season which was to be a virtual slaughter of all challengers.
There were going to be some red faces among conference officials and the coaches who voted to throw the Cats out. At times during the season, when the Cats approached the 100 mark Coach Rupp, trying to save the faces of opposing coaches, would send in reserves. But the subs showed equal or better polish than the opposition.
Yes Colonel, it was again Kentucky's season.
A tremendous, but short-lived scoring record set the Cats on the way to their undefeated 25-game season -- and what a tremendous start it was ! All American Cliff Hagan set a new S.E.C. record with a 51-point total, showing the Conference officials and N.C.A.A. officials the Cats had not been idle during their most conspicuous absence. They were out for some hides. Kentucky 86, Temple 59.
Later, the "Show Me" boys from Missouri really were shown a few things, when they fell before the Cats 71-59. It was the first Cat win over the Billikens in four games in previous seasons. The St. Louis fans were shown another thing when Asst. Coach Lancaster revolted against the poor sportsmanship of the St. Louis fans. Definitely not southern hospitality.
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The Big Blue took no rest for the Christmas holidays and won the first Kentucky Invitational Tournament, winning over Duke and powerful LaSalle. While other teams were idle, the Cats continued their winning and gained the national spotlight. Now take a look Mr. Bernie Moore.
Later came the one most of us had been looking forward to the first S.E.C. contest since suspension. The Wrecks from Georgia Tech dropped their zone defense and tried to run with the Cats-it cost them dearly. After taking out Hagan, Tsioropoulos, and Ramsey early in the fourth period, Der Baron slipped in his subs to try and hold the score down, but to no avail. Kentucky 105, Georgia 53.
After a 94-43 drubbing by the Cats, Tulane coach Cliff Wells described the Kentucky team as aptly as anyone could have. After the game, when asked what he thought of the Wildcat team, he replied, "That Kentucky team-Whew!!"
With the trampling of Florida 97-55, the Cats took the Conference lead. Now only Kentucky and Duquesne remained undefeated in the nation. Hagan was again. top man with 27 points, followed by Ramsey and Tsioropoulos.
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Ole Miss showed considerable more strength than the Cats had seen in preceding weeks. Hagan tied his own Memorial Coliseum record of 17 field goals for a total of 38 points in leading the Cats over Ole Miss 88-62. Again the Wildcats exhibited their extreme versatility against the tight Ole Miss zone defense, with Hagan hitting consistently from the corners; with Ramsey, Tsioropoulos, Evans and Grawemeyer driving and rebounding.
In the final home game for the Big 3-Hagan, Ramsey and Tsioropoulos-the Cats hit the magic number in whipping Vanderbilt 100-64. It was 22 straight wins with two more games to play, and the Ruppmen were looking toward at least a tie with L.S.U. for the Conference Championship. These boys had definitely proved the old axiom that "All you have to do is put the ball through the hoop." Each of the Big 3 was a master in his own right. Hagan with his smooth hook short of his two-handed over-head shot from the corner; Ramsey with his driving crips and dead eye from the outside; and Tsioropoulos with his aggressive rebounding and superb defensive play. These boys, along with Billy Evans, "Cookie" Grawemeyer, Linville Puckett, Gayle Rose, Willie Rouse and others combined to make this season Kentucky's greatest.
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