Kentucky Basketball has a long and storied history in Madison Square Garden dating back almost eight decades. Adolph Rupp led the Cats to their first national title in the old Madison Square Garden in 1948. Almost 30 years later in the new building, Joe B. Hall’s Wildcats won the 1976 NIT, beating UNC-Charlotte 71-67. Rick Pitino’s squads returned to the Garden for the ECAC Holiday Festival in 1992 and 1995. Tubby Smith took the Cats to New York for the Preseason NIT in 1999 and the Coaches vs. Cancer IKON Classic in 2000. The connection between the most famous arena in basketball and college basketball’s winningest program has only gotten stronger during the John Calipari era.
Kentucky at Madison Square Garden: Which Wildcat will shine under the bright lights?
