Feb. 15, 1978, inside the University of Kentucky’s Rupp Arena won’t mean much to most college basketball fans. It was a cold, snow-covered Wednesday, not unlike most other winter days that year in the Bluegrass.
But what happened that night inside Rupp, with Kentucky about to snap a five-game losing streak to bitter rival Tennessee, and by double figures no less, should serve as a warning sign to all those who think legalized gambling on college athletic events couldn’t dramatically change the atmosphere at those games.
Especially when one considers that Big Blue would be cutting down the nets from its fifth NCAA title and first in 20 years exactly 40 days later. Ahead by 19 points inside the final two minutes, UK coach Joe B. Hall emptied his bench. When the game ended, that 19-point cushion had shrunk to 13 points (90-77), and more than a smattering of boos – though well short of an avalanche – were directed Hall’s way as the Wildcats left the court.
The reason for such displeasure: Kentucky was a 13.5-point favorite that night. Winning by 13 meant a betting loss for all those fans who had expected the Cats to cover the spread.
Forty years later, the star point guard on that team, three-time All-America selection Kyle Macy, understandably remembers little about that night.