Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
They could just retire this picture, because it never gets old.
The jersey-retiring business is an arduous one at the University of Kentucky, and rightfully so. There’s only so much room in the rafters, and with so much talent coming through the greatest tradition in college basketball, a certain measure of selectivity has to be implemented when having this conversation.
That said, it might be time to throw some up there.
After last season, there was a lot of talk about whether, and whose, jerseys and/or numbers should be retired. Folks mentioned Tubby, Tayshaun, and others as “old school” guys who contributed enough to merit the honor, while younger generations (like me and a lot of the KSR crew) debated between Darius Miller (solid four-year player) and Anthony Davis (stellar one-year phenom). I was of the opinion that, if it came to it, Darius’ jersey should be retired before Anthony’s, because of his ties to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and tenure with the program during one of its roughest patches. Davis, while unbelievable, was only here a year, and who retires a freshman jersey?
Well apparently, the case for Davis just got a lot stronger after Syracuse decided to retire Carmelo Anthony’s jersey and hang it from the rafters. Melo, like AD, spent only a year in college, and left batting 1.000 on championships. Also like Davis, Melo picked up Most Outstanding Player for the 2003 Final Four. However, Anthony one-ups Melo in the Naismith race, after becoming only the second freshman to win that PoY award (first was KD, natch).
I’ll never say that we should do something just because Syracuse is doing it. How Plebeian. But this goes to show that if UK did decide to retire the jersey of arguably the best player in school history, it wouldn’t be the first big-time program to bestow the honor in the modern era.
Anthony Davis: 1; Empty Rafter Spot: 0.
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January 19th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
There are a few former Wildcats whose jerseys should be retired before Anthony Davis. What’s the hurry on Davis?
January 19th, 2013 at 1:08 pm
I love Darius, but his jersey has no business up there…the unforgettables was a nice gesture too but other than mashburn none of them, farmer namely, deserve to be there. However, tony delk, Keith bogans, tayshaun prince, and non four yr guys like AD, Walker, chapman, do belong
January 19th, 2013 at 1:10 pm
I love Darius Miller and the way he played while he was here, but does he really deserve to have his jersey retired. Yes, he was a solid 4 year guy and is from Kentucky. But in my opinion he didn’t do enough to have his jersey retired. I’m not saying that Davis necessarily deserves to have his retired either though. Although I would retires Anthony’s jersey before Darius’.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:11 pm
I never liked the idea of the Unforgettables jerseys being hung in the rafters in the first place. I loved that team and they stuck it out and brought UK back from the brink but they do not deserve a spot with all the other greats.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
It’s a bad idea to retire jerseys so soon after the player leaves. Notice that Syracuse waited 10 years. I think when Texas retired Durant’s jersey, they were definitely taking NBA success into account, and I think Syracuse is with Melo as well….Hypothetically if its 10 years down the road Davis, flames out in the NBA (not that i think he will) and UK has a couple more championships since then, will people be as keen to see his jersey retired?
January 19th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
I think it should be reserved for first team All Americans.Any player that is named first team All American should have their jersey retired.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:14 pm
why not have Retired Jerseys for those who meet the criteria, and a Ring of Honor for others like Wall, Davis, MKG, etc.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:23 pm
seriously, you think UK should retire the 6th man of a championship team over everyone else? let alone, best player on the team/nation? wow….
January 19th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
I would retire all six jersey’s from 2012 championship. This team put together one of the best seasons of all time and they currently hold the record for most wins in a season.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
5 – Waiting on Davis is probably best. When I said “it might be time,” I really meant for Tubby and those guys. I think looking back in 10 years, the case for Anthony will be just as strong as it is right now, if not more so.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
Rec Chapman totally deserves the honor.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:29 pm
TONY DELK. Conversation over.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Not till after prince and Hayes.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
I 100% agree with #2.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Anthony davis was the best and most dominant player to ever wear the kentucky uniform. WITHOUT QUESTION his jersey should be in the rafters. I love darius but davis was WAYYY better
January 19th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
Next to Davis’ jersey, they should puta picture of wes and a picture of 250K. Without them, Davis ends up at Illinois.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
I think we wait, but ultimately retire Davis’s jersey. I just don’t see much of a case for Miller as a retired jersey. Being a UK basketball player, being treated like a God in Lexington, getting a free education while “sticking it out” is not grounds for retiring a jersey. The difference with Davis is (1) he was a first team AA, (2) he was the #1 overall pick in the NBA, (3) he won a championship at UK, (4) he won the MOP in the Final Four, (5) he won a gold medal in the Olympics [all in one year] and (6) he will continue to rep UK in the pros.
I think retiring jerseys at UK should involve a little more than just what they did while attending UK, but should take into account how much UK continues to be mentioned later in their careers or what they give back to UK after they leave. Examples include Pat Riley, Rex Chapman, Jamal Mashburn (huge scholarship donation), etc.
I do like the idea of having both retired jerseys and a ring of honor.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:48 pm
Picture never gets old. As great a defender as Noel is, I think Davis has more range. He just seems to be a bit longer.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Dumb post. No conversation about Davis or anyone else until TONY DELK is up there.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:57 pm
OH #2 you said it. Can’t think why those “Unforgettables” are hanging in rafters when GREAT players still are not. All they did was play a great season, but won what? Oh yeh I “forgot”, they won the hearts of fans. NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!! Those four need to be taken down, Farmer, Woods, Feldhaus and Phelphry to make room for those that really deserve it. When I found out those four Jersey’s were hanging in Rupp with the likes of Kyle Macy I was stunned. REALLY?? Who voted for them?
January 19th, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Is it just my imagination or does UNC get a lot of calls? I thought dUKe did until I watch the UNC Maryland game.
Ring of honor is a good idea. Retiring jersey not so much
January 19th, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Next year will be an exciting year, UK should j/ make up for lost time and start retiring jerseys like crazy. Starting w/ TD and ending w/ Davis. W/ a lot more in between.
January 19th, 2013 at 1:58 pm
Farmers should come down and never should’ve went up in the first place. I’m from ky too. That should have no bearing on whether to retire a jersey. Delk, Prince, Tubby, Rex, Hayes, Davis, Cousins, Wall are all deserving. First team AA should be automatic. National player of the year instantaneous! How many of those do we have again?
January 19th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
Delk Sheppard Padgent Prince Bogans and Hayes. Should be retired before anyone from the post-tubby smith era.
January 19th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
Agree with 20 and 19 where is Tony Delk. Move over Unforgettables.
January 19th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
My reasoning Delk – the greatest of the untouchables
Shappard Padgent- sparked the comebacks for the comeback cats
Prince – 7th all time scoring and kept UK a national powerhouse
Bogans – 4th all time scoring
Hayes – Gave everything he had while in a UK jersey much like the memebers of the unforgetables
January 19th, 2013 at 2:09 pm
WOW this Corey Nichols guy is a idiot!!!!
January 19th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
One thing I think we can all agree on- it’s been WAY too long since we put a jersey up in the rafters, and there are MULTIPLE people who should be up there.
I understand UK has a particular procedure set up before jerseys can be retired, but it takes too long, to the point of absurdity. If they’re worried about breaking the rules/criteria, then they need to CHANGE their rules and criteria, because they are unwieldy and just plain Stupid.
January 19th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Every player in that picture is now in the NBA. What a game that was.
January 19th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
My jersey should be retired as well. I represent the Kentucky University with the utmost class and respect. You should all be proud of me.
January 19th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
Sorry I thought you meant Fab Melo when I first read the headline and I was about to faint out of disappointment. What didn’t AD do in his one season here? If he had Jon Hood-ed his first three seasons and then had last year, then there would be no doubt that his jersey is retired. Do we really want to hold it against him that he did in one year what ANY player would take in four years combined? I like Darius, but not sure he should go up there first. I would also like to see Tubby and some of the 96 and 98 stars. Tubby won a NC here…you can’t take those for granted – even here. You never know when you’ll get one again. Just ask IU, UL, Butler (came SOOO close twice in a row), UCLA (won a ton, then went dry).
January 19th, 2013 at 2:53 pm
Since when do we make decisions based on what another team does? You suck Corey
January 19th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
24 & 26. Lol at “padgent”
January 19th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
Gotta love all the people hating on Miller. What a bunch of morons and I’m willing to bet that the ones hating on the Unforgettables aren’t old enough to remember what those guys did. Sorry but if they don’t stick around, UK doesn’t take that next step. That is a fact.
January 19th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
@34. Who cares what they, the unforgettables did since they didn’t win a title or anything else worth talking about. Tell me exactly what it is they did? Get those Jersey’s down from the rafters. They are forgettable.
January 19th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
The Unforgettables are known for losing to me. I guess thats a good reason to retire a Jersey.
January 19th, 2013 at 4:32 pm
What you fail to mention is the $3 million Carmelo has donated to Syracuse. If AD gives back like that his jersey has a better chance to hang above.
January 19th, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Take down Republican crook Richie Farmer’s jersey.
January 19th, 2013 at 5:46 pm
I’m not a fan of retiring jerseys of one-and-dones in general, but a consensus National Player of the Year isn’t exactly a general occurrence.
January 19th, 2013 at 7:52 pm
I know it is not the norm to retire the jersey of a one year player and UK has yet to do it, but the names in the rafters also represent some of the very best to coach/play for the university. I don’t think there is anyone who can dispute Davis fits that bill. The guy won every player of the year award possible, a championship, Most Outstanding Player of Final Four, and a gold medal in the Olympics. I’m all for his name being up there.