1998 NCAA Championship Kentucky vs. Utah

1998 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship

Kentucky vs. Utah March 30, 1998 – San Antonio , Texas

Trailing at half-time, Kentucky ’s Wildcats were hard pressed to maintain their new nickname, “The Comeback Cats.” No team had won the final with a trailing margin of more than 8 points throughout the history of the tournament, and Kentucky was behind by 10.

The Wildcats accomplished what no other team had done in a final game before. Finding new life in the second half as the Utes were wearing down, Kentucky won by 9 for a final score of 78-69. Kentucky Coach Orlando “Tubby” Smith earned not only his first title, but also was named NCAA’s winningest first-year coach at any school. Jeff Sheppard, University of Kentucky , was named Most Outstanding Player.