Kentucky basketball fan: Elite Eight teams since the Wildcats last went to the Final Four

The Kentucky Wildcats are in the Final Four for the first time in 13 years. That is the biggest Final Four gap in Kentucky history. The next biggest is nine years.

Here are the Elite Eight teams since their last trip to the Final Four.

Year: 1998-99
Coach: Tubby Smith
Record: 28-9
Key Players: Wayne Turner, Scott Padgett, Tayshaun Prince

Kentucky was on a good run but ran into future NBA player Morris Peterson and Michigan State. He scored 19 points in the game and grabbed 10 boards. Peterson was named the Midwest Region's Most Outstanding Player. The Wildcats led at the half but the Spartans took over to win the game 73-66.

2002-03
Coach: Tubby Smith
Record: 32-4
Key Players: Gerald Fitch, Erik Daniels, Keith Bogans

Kentucky had no shot at winning the Elite Eight game when they faced Marquette. The Eagles had some guy named Dwyane Wade. Wade put up a triple-double in the game. It didn't help that Keith Bogans suffered a sprained ankle in the Sweet 16 game and wasn't at full strength but it likely wouldn't have mattered. The story of the game was Wade who made some ridiculous circus shots and scored 29 points. They also had big games from Robert Jackson and Steve Novak.

2004-05
Coach: Tubby Smith
Record: 28-6
Key Players: Randolph Morris, Patrick Sparks, Chuck Hayes, Kelenna Azubuike

Once again, the Wildcats had to deal with Michigan State in the Elite Eight. Patrick Sparks sent the game into overtime with a three at the buzzer that seemingly hung on the rim forever. In overtime, the Cats scored the first four points to go up 79-75 but Michigan State came back to tie. The period ended when Kelenna Azubuike failed to get a shot off as time expired. The Cats kept it close in the second overtime but Michigan State pulled it out in the end.

2009-10
Coach: John Calipari
Record: 35-3
Key Players: John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson

Kentucky had at least five NBA players in the game but they had a bad shooting night. They bricked 28 three point attempts in the game going 4-32 from behind the arc. Some would say they couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat that day. Anyway, losing to a weaker team was a very disappointing end to a great season.

2010-11
Coach: John Calipari
Record: 29-8 (so far)
Key Players: Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones, Josh Harrellson, DeAndre Liggins, Darius Miller, Doron Lamb

For the first time since 1998, Kentucky won an Elite Eight game. Kentucky beat North Carolina to advance to the Final Four where they will take on Connecticut.

Go Cats!

Having grown up in Kentucky, I am a lifelong Kentucky Wildcat fan. You can follow me on Twitter here. Still want more? Go to my blog.

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