With the recent resurgence of Kentucky’s men’s basketball program, the KY Prime Network team has decided to start a new series. In this series, we’ll take a closer look at all 8 teams that achieved the ultimate goal: winning a national championship at The University of Kentucky. The goal is to end the season (and the series) by discussing Kentucky’s 9th national title, which we hope will come under first-year head coach Mark Pope.

Before diving into our first team, let’s take a quick look at Kentucky as a whole. With 8 national titles, Kentucky holds sole possession of 2nd place all-time in NCAA championships. The Wildcats also boast the best all-time winning percentage at .760%. Additionally, they lead the NCAA in all-time wins with 2,398—something many fans will remember from the iconic UK2K shirts. Kentucky’s pedigree of winning has earned the program the title of “The Greatest Tradition in the History of College Basketball,” a claim that’s tough to dispute. Four legendary coaches have led Kentucky to these 8 championships. Adolph Rupp built a dynasty in the 1940s and 1950s, claiming titles in 1948, 1949, 1951, and 1958. Joe B. Hall led Kentucky to another championship in 1978. Rick Pitino took over in the 1990s, leading the Wildcats to a national title in 1996. Tubby Smith brought home the title in 1998, and after a long dry spell, John Calipari revitalized the program, winning Kentucky’s 8th national championship in 2012.

Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s look back at Kentucky’s first national title, won in 1948.

The 1948 National Championship Team

Adolph Rupp was in his 18th season as head coach of Kentucky, having already led the Wildcats to a Final Four appearance. The 1947-1948 season, the team finished with an impressive record of 36-3 and went undefeated in the SEC, finishing 9-0.

Key Players: The Fabulous Five

The 1948 team earned the nickname “The Fabulous Five.” This iconic group consisted of center Alex Groza, guards Kenny Rollins and Ralph Beard, and forwards Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones and Cliff Barker. While these five stood out, the entire team contributed to the success. Groza and Beard led the way in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game. Other contributors like James Line (7.0 PPG) and Dale Barnstable (4.6 PPG) helped round out a talented roster.

Regular Season

The Wildcats dominated their early competition, regularly winning by double digits. They defeated Fort Knox 80-41 and Tulsa by scores of 72-18 and 71-22. Other victories came easily against teams like DePaul, Cincinnati, and Xavier. However, on December 20, 1947, Kentucky suffered its first loss of the season to Temple. The Messenger-Inquirer described the game: “A field goal by Nelson Bobb with ninety seconds to play shattered the Kentucky University basketball invincibility myth as Temple whipped the Wildcats, 60-59.”

Coach Rupp quickly got the team back on track, guiding them to 11 straight wins, including a 65-54 victory over SEC rival Tennessee, where Groza scored 16 points, and both Wah Wah Jones and Ralph Beard added 11 points each. However, the Wildcats suffered another setback in February, losing to Notre Dame in a hard-fought game. The AP reported, “The Notre Dame-Kentucky game was a hard-fought contest, with the lead changing 12 times in the first half.” Notre Dame’s Kevin O’Shea outscored Kentucky’s Groza, with O’Shea scoring 25 points to Groza’s 23. Despite this loss, Kentucky bounced back, winning their next 16 games—including a 20-point revenge win over Temple—on their way to a National Championship.

SEC Tournament

Kentucky finished the SEC regular season with a perfect 9-0 record and entered the SEC tournament as heavy favorites. The tournament took place over three days in early March. On March 4, Kentucky dominated Florida, winning 87-31, with a halftime lead of 48-12. The next day, the Wildcats defeated LSU 63-47. Kentucky wrapped up the tournament with two wins on March 6, beating Tennessee 70-47 for the third time that season and defeating Georgia Tech 54-43 to claim the SEC title.

NCAA Tournament

In the 1948 NCAA Tournament, only 8 teams participated. On March 18, Kentucky faced Columbia in their opening game, winning 76-53. The AP reported, “‘Wah Wah’ Jones was ejected midway through the second half after scoring 21 points, but Kentucky’s superior size and experience helped them pull away.”

Kentucky advanced to face Holy Cross two days later. The AP described the game: “Kentucky assumed the lead early and led almost all the way. The Wildcats were fueled by big Alex Groza and All-American Ralph Beard.” Groza scored 23 points and dominated the boards, while Beard played a steady and crucial role for Kentucky.

On March 23, Kentucky faced Baylor for the national title at Madison Square Garden. Baylor struggled to contain the height and skill of Alex Groza, who scored 14 points on the way to victory, earning tournament MVP honors. Groza, Beard, Jones, and Rollins all contributed significantly, leading Kentucky to a 58-42 victory and their first national championship.

Post-Season Honors

At the conclusion of the season, the Wildcats received numerous postseason honors. Ralph Beard earned 1st team All-American and 1st team SEC tournament honors. Alex Groza collected several accolades, including 2nd team All-American, Final Four MVP, and NCAA Regional MVP. Wah Wah Jones earned 3rd team All-American honors and 1st team SEC tournament recognition. Kenny Rollins was named to the SEC First Team All-Tournament, and Cliff Barker was honored with 2nd team SEC All-Tournament honors.

After the season, the “Fab Five” returned to Kentucky, with the exception of Kenny Rollins. Before the next season began, the entire group was selected to represent the United States in the 1948 Olympics in London. Under the guidance of Adolph Rupp as an assistant coach, the team went 8-0 and won the gold medal. Groza led the team in scoring, averaging 11.1 points per game.

This 1948 championship team, with its blend of talent, determination, and leadership, marked the beginning of Kentucky’s storied basketball legacy.