John Pelphrey returned to the "cathedral" he helped build, but Kentucky wasn't in a sentimental mood on the court. After a slow start, the Wildcats exploded for a 104-54 win.
For a few minutes on Wednesday night, basketball felt secondary.
When John Pelphrey walked out of the tunnel at Rupp Arena, the years melted away. The former "Unforgettable," whose No. 34 jersey hangs in the rafters, wasn't the opposing coach of Tennessee Tech; he was family. The ovation from the Big Blue Nation was loud, long, and dripping with 41 years of gratitude for a player who stuck with the program during its darkest days.