Betting on University of Kentucky Men's Basketball
University of Kentucky basketball consistently offers one of the best and most competitive men's college programs in the US and is a prime focus in Kentucky basketball betting. Entering the 2014 – 2015 basketball season Kentucky lays claim to the most wins in NCAA Division I basketball history (2,147). Kentucky is also first in tournament wins with 116, and NCAA March Madness appearances with 53. They are the second winningest team in college basketball as far as national titles are concerned, winning the NCAA Championship 8 times. Kentucky has also won the National Invitation Tournament twice, making them the only Division I men's basketball team to win multiple NIT and NCAA Championships.
The records do not stop there. Wildcat basketball means the most Sweet Sixteen appearances (40), more Elite Eight appearances than any other college (35), as well as the most total postseason tournament appearances (62). The eRUPPtion Zone in legendary Rupp Arena is where Kentucky students cheer on the Wildcats at home games, and is where actress Ashley Judd can often times be seen hanging out with the coeds and passionately backing the 'Cats. This page is designed specifically for KY Wildcats fans, and will assist you in making informed decisions regarding your involvement with Kentucky online sportsbooks.
Best Basketball Betting Sites for Kentucky Residents
| Sportsbook Name | Welcome Bonus | Accepts KY Players |
| Bovada Sports | 50% Max $250 | Yes |
| BetOnline Sports | 25% Max $1000 | Yes |
| Sportsbetting.ag | 25% Max $1000 | Yes |
| Bookmaker Sportsbook | 15% Max $2500 | Yes |
2014 - 2015 University of Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball program has started the 2014 – 2015 basketball season undefeated. Their 7 – 0 record does not include any conference games played yet. However, in both the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll the Wildcats are the #1 ranked team in the nation. When you are ranked 10th in rebounds per game (44.0) and 22nd in assists per contest (17.1), you are going to win ball games. Averaging 79 points a game, for 36th in the nation, is not shabby either when you consider there are 351 Division I men's basketball teams in the US.
Coming up next on December 5 is a tough Texas team which is ranked #6. But the Wildcats totally dismantled a #5 ranked Kansas team earlier this year by a score of 72 – 40. The Longhorns will be a test for Kentucky, but the Wildcats have 7 players averaging at least 8.0 points per game, 5 players at 4.0 rebounds per contest or better, and the team is shooting 47.7% from the field as a unit. Add 9 steals and 9 blocked shots per game, a very deep bench and head coach John Calipari, and you have a recipe that virtually guarantees a 2015 March Madness appearance.
Adolph Rupp Makes His Mark
Adolph Frederick Rupp became head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats in 1930, when he was just 29 years of age. In 41 years as the Kentucky head coach, he put the team on the basketball map, led the Wildcats to 4 NCAA Championships and tallied a notable list of accomplishments.
• Won the NIT title in 1946
• Led the Wildcats to 20 NCAA tournaments
• Made it to the NCAA Final Four 6 times
• Piloted Kentucky to 27 Southeastern Conference regular season titles
• Won 13 SEC tournaments
• Helped the Wildcats finish the season ranked #1 on 6 different occasions in the AP Poll, 4 times in the Coaches Poll
• Won 876 games (good for 5th place all-time as of 2014)
• Enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969
Just 5 short years after retiring, Rupp died of spinal cancer in Lexington, Kentucky. The night that he passed away Kentucky defeated Kansas, Rupp's alma mater. The Kentucky head coach at that time, Joe B Hall, a former assistant under Rupp, dedicated the rest of the 1977 – 78 season to the legendary coach that had just passed on. The Wildcats used that motivation to win the 1978 NCAA Men's Division I basketball tournament just 4 months after Rupp's death.
Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball Facts You May Not Have Known
• Entering the 2014 – 2015 seasons with the Wildcats have won more than 76% of all the games they played.
• Kentucky head coach George Buchheit perfected, and is considered the founder of, the man-to-man defensive scheme.
• The Wildcats have made at least one 3 point field goal in 908 consecutive games as of November 30, 2014.
• While the great Adolph Rupp won 4 NCAA Championships at Kentucky, coaches Joe B Hall, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith and John Calipari have each added 1 championship.
• Kentucky has retired 31 player jerseys, including Wildcat greats like Jack Givens, Ralph Beard, Dan Issel and Rick Robey.
• Kentucky coaches have claimed the NCAA Division I National Coach of the Year title 12 times.
• 18 players have been chosen in the NBA draft (1998 through 2014).
• The Wildcats won back-to-back NCAA titles from 1947 through 1949. Many of those same players won the gold medal in the 1948 Olympics in London.
• The 1950 – 51 Wildcat team led by Cliff Hagan and Bill Spivey won Kentucky's 3rd title in 4 years. They posted a 14 – 0 record in the SEC, with an overall record of 32 – 2.
• The 1953 – 54 Kentucky men's basketball squad achieved a perfect 25 – 0 regular season record.
• The biggest come-from-behind win in Wildcats history is nicknamed the "Mardi Gras Miracle". Down by a score of 68 – 37, Kentucky outscored LSU 62 – 27 in less than 16 minutes to win by 4 points, 99 – 95.