As Kentucky fans know, the Southeastern Conference has never been as easy as it seems from the outside. People may laugh at John Calipari's "everybody's Super Bowl" comments, but it's true. Does a team like Auburn sell out games unless they're playing UK...or Alabama? What about Georgia...it's just UK and Georgia Tech, right? They put EVERYTHING into playing UK. And it isn't just the fans and players. Coaches define their legacies by their results in the Kentucky games.
Which SEC coaches have had the most (and least) success against our Cats? Glad you asked...
MOST SUCCESSFUL:
1) RAY MEARS (TENNESSEE)
Record against UK: 15-15 (.500)
Years: 1962-1977
Faced: Adolph Rupp (8-12 vs. Rupp), Joe B. Hall (7-3 vs. Hall)
Memorable: He infuriated Rupp with everything from his hideous orange clothing to his deliberate style of play to his success, even winning four in a row against UK in the late '60s.
2) BILLY DONOVAN (FLORIDA)
Record against UK: 17-27 (.386) at Florida, plus 0-2 at Marshall
Years: 1997-2015 at Florida
Faced: Rick Pitino (0-2 vs. Pitino), Tubby Smith (10-12 vs. Smith), Billy Gillispie (2-2 vs. Gillispie), John Calipari (5-11 vs. Calipari)
Memorable: Had a 7-game winning streak against the Wildcats from 2005 through 2008, the same timeframe during which his Gators won two national titles. Also beat UK three times in a single season (2014), the same year Florida became the first team to go 21-0 in the SEC. UK matched that feat in 2015.
3) DON DeVOE (TENNESSEE / FLORIDA)
Record against UK: 11-14 (.440) including 11-12 at UT, 0-2 at Florida
Years: 1979-1990
Faced: Joe B. Hall (9-6 vs. Hall), Eddie Sutton (2-6 vs. Sutton), Rick Pitino (0-2 vs. Pitino)
Memorable: Beat UK for the 1979 SEC Tournament title in Birmingham.
4) ROY SKINNER (VANDERBILT)
Record against UK: 14-18 (.438)
Years: 1959-1976
Faced: Adolph Rupp (9-15 vs. Rupp), Joe B. Hall (5-3 vs. Hall)
Memorable: One of the main reasons we now speak of "Memorial magic," as the Commodores had a "mysterious" way of pulling out victories during his era in Nashville.
5) NOLAN RICHARDSON (ARKANSAS)
Record against UK: 7-12 (.368)...but he was 6-5 during the regular season
Years: 1992-2002
Faced: Rick Pitino (4-6 vs. Pitino), Tubby Smith (3-6 vs. Smith)
Memorable: Won his first four regular season games against UK...but also lost his first six SEC tournament games against us.
HONORABLE MENTION:
Wimp Sanderson (11-18 against UK at Alabama)
Dale Brown (18-33 against UK at LSU)
Tommy Bartlett (6-8 against UK at Florida)
Mark Gottfried (5-8 against UK at Alabama)
Kevin Stallings (12-23 against UK at Vanderbilt)
Mike Anderson (3-4 against UK at Arkansas)
And the LEAST SUCCESSFUL?
1) RED LAWSON (GEORGIA)
Record against UK: 0-15 (.000)
Years: 1952-1965
Faced: Adolph Rupp
Memorable: Six of his first seven games against UK were lost by 30+ points, including a 143-66 annihilation in 1956.
2) EMMETT LOWERY (TENNESSEE)
Record against UK: 1-25 (.038)
Years: 1948-1959
Faced: Adolph Rupp
Memorable: Lowery had the unfortunate task of facing UK during Rupp's most successful years, and was thrashed repeatedly. His teams lost four SEC tournament games to Rupp in Louisville, with margins ranging from 15 to 39 points.
3) JAN VAN BREDA KOLFF (VANDERBILT)
Record against UK: 0-12 (.000)
Years: 1994-1999
Faced: Rick Pitino (0-8 vs. Pitino), Tubby Smith (0-4 vs. Smith)
Memorable: Gave up a combined 221 points in two blowout losses against the 1996 national champion Wildcats.
4) OLE MISS COACHES...
Bonnie Graham: 0-14 from 1950-1962
Lee Hunt: 0-9 from 1983-1986
Bob Weltlich: 1-14 from 1977-1982
Rod Barnes: 1-10 from 1999-2006
Andy Kennedy: 2-12 from 2006-present
5) AUBURN COACHES...
Jeff Lebo: 0-6 from 2005-2010
Tony Barbee: 0-5 from 2011-2014
Cliff Ellis: 1-13 from 1995-2004
Joel Eaves: 2-11 from 1951-1963
DISHONORABLE MENTION:
Floyd Burdette (0-10 against UK at Alabama)
Harry Rabenhorst (0-14 against UK at LSU)
Press Maravich (1-11 against UK at LSU)
Bob Polk (3-23 against UK at Vanderbilt)
Lon Kruger (2-13 against UK at Florida)
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