The Comeback Cats...1998 NCAA National Champions!!





Welcome to my tribute page for the 1998 NCAA Basketball Champions..The Kentucky Wildcats. We know them as the Comeback Cats. This team had heart all the way through the tournament lastyear. With Jeff Shepherd, Cameron Mills, Nazr Mohamed and company the Wildcats brought home their 7th National Championship in school history, second only to U.C.L.A which has 11. Sit back and relax and enjoy the Comeback Cats as they became the Comeback Cats.
Alamodome or Bust.

The Wilcats lastyear finished with a record of 33-4. The Cats had to grow during the year during last season as they struggled through most of the year. The Cats trailed at the half numerous times but always found ways to win games. Like the last second shot by Nazr Mohammed against Vandy, a comeback over the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge for the victory. Lastyear the Cats won on heart and if you have that you cannot lose.
The cats claimed yet another SEC Championship and became the first College Basketball team to win 1700 games all time. The cats have won more SEC Titles that all the other teams in the league combined. The Cats won their 21st SEC Tournament title a year ago at Rupp Arena South, the Georgia Dome. The Cats showed that they were ready for the run to the title in the SEC Tournament by beating Alabama by 10 and then smoking Arkansas and South Carolina moving on to the number 2 seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament.
The South Region!

In the opening round of the tournament the Wilcats took on South Carolina State. The game was not too bad considering it was a 2 seed versus a 15 seed. SC State played hard and was right with the Cats most of the game but the Cats with too much strength and depth went on to win the game 82-67.
The second roung saw the Cats vs St Louis in a game that everyone thought would be somewhat close. Not to be, the Cats dominated the whole game and destroyed the Billikens 88-61.
Game 3 saw the Cats vs UCLA, number one all time in national titles against number two all time in national titles. It is going to be an all out war. UCLA is going to prove to Kentucky who is really number one....NOT. The Cats really put it on the Bruins winning 94-68. Oh well I guess we know who is tops and who sucks.
Now on to the elite eight and the Cats would have to square off in a game the Kentucky program and fans have waited a long time for, The number 1 ranked Duke Bluedevils. Remember the Christian Laettner shot..how can we forget. Well this time the Cats would hope to turn the tide. By watching the first half and the first part of the second half the Cats looked as if they were going to get killed, down 17 with just over 9 minutes left in the game the Cats began to earn the name the Comeback Cats. The Cats scratched and clawed and before you knew it the Cats had the lead. It was 84-81 and the Devils inbounded the ball to William Avery and Avery dribbled up the court with time running out and threw up a shot from half court that saw nothing but backboard and the Cats beat the Devils 84-81 to move on to their 3rd final four in as many years.

Click Alamodome for the Final Four.