1996 NCAA Championship Kentucky vs. Syracuse

Who is here watching the head head coach pope? In 2024!

Kentucky from 92-99.. 7 elite 8s, 4 final 4s, 3 title games, 2 championships... that's quite an 8 year run.

Man do I feel old watching this

RIP Billy Packer. I really enjoyed your call on this game.

The 1996 Kentucky Wildcats had their opponents beat in the warm ups. Arguably, one of the greatest college basketball teams of all time.

for kentucky it was all business. that mentality was building in the program since the haunting losses of ‘92 and ‘93. they weren’t going to be denied. they actually didn’t play a great final four. they missed free throws, easy shots, and the games were called closely. uk got more than their fair share of calls, it just wasn’t conducive to their style. but they couldn’t get tired, couldn’t get into foul trouble, and were too athletic. they were a bunch of tweeners. at 34-2, having beat everyone on their schedule, with both losses to eventual final four teams, and being deeper than maybe any team ever, they were one of the most superior teams to ever do it. unselfish and relentless. kentucky’s greatest team.

1996 Kentucky Wildcats was loaded all those lottery picks they we're basically a NBA team in college

Those Kentucky Teams of the late 90s were like the Alabama of College Basketball👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿

This was a good Syracuse team, but they had the misfortune of running into a great, loaded Kentucky team. Delk had a huge shooting night for Kentucky with those seven 3-pointers, but least we forget, freshman Ron Mercer scored 20 points for Kentucky in this game coming off the bench.

The Pope 1:36:35 the play he’s talking about

That UK team was a beast in 96,97 and 98.

I’ll always appreciate and care for Coach Pitino. He did so much for UK. Everyone is human, so I don’t care about the small stuff. We all have done things we’re not proud of. I was in my early 20’s at the time of this chip, and I was always so proud Pitino was our coach.

This Kentucky team has been named as the best college team of all time

This SU didn’t have the talent that this UK team did, but they played with a lot of heart.

Great teams can have great players with off nights and still dig down the bench to find a way to win. Glad you guys showed the post game activities!!!

john wallace's senior year at syracuse, capped off by leading his team to this championship game, turned out to be the highlight of his basketball career. sometimes it's better to stay in school!

This was the last time a Final Four was held in an NBA/NHL arena .

1996 kentucky team best ever

MAYBE THE GREATEST TEAM EVER! THE NEXT YEAR THEY LOST THE CHAMPIONSHIP IN OT THE NEXT YEAR WON IT AGAIN THIS TEAM WAS BEYOND!!!

2:28 for the theme that doubles as an intro to prelude to a championship