# 1981–82 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team

The 1981–82 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented University of Kentucky in the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Joe B. Hall and the team finished the season with an overall record of 22–8.

## Schedule and Results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular Season ||||||
| November 28, 1981* | No. 3 | Akron | W 83–64 | 1–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| December 5, 1981* | No. 2 | Ohio State | W 78–62 | 2–0 | St. John Arena Columbus, Ohio |
| December 8, 1981* | No. 2 | No. 10 Indiana Rivalry | W 85–69 | 3–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| December 12, 1981* | No. 2 | Kansas | W 77–74 $^{OT}$ | 4–0 | Allen Fieldhouse Lawrence, Kansas |
| December 18, 1981* | No. 2 | Jacksonville | W 107–91 | 5–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| December 19, 1981* | No. 2 | Seton Hall | W 94–78 | 6–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| December 26, 1981* , NBC | No. 2 | No. 1 North Carolina | L 69–82 | 6–1 | Brendan Byrne Arena East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| December 29, 1981* | No. 4 | Notre Dame | W 34–28 $^{OT}$ | 7–1 | Freedom Hall Louisville, Kentucky |
| January 2, 1982 | No. 4 | Georgia | W 68–66 | 8–1 (1–0) | Stegeman Coliseum Athens, Georgia |
| January 6, 1982 | No. 3 | Auburn | W 83–71 | 9–1 (2–0) | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| January 9, 1982 | No. 3 | Tennessee | L 66–70 | 9–2 (2–1) | Stokely Center Knoxville, Tennessee |
| January 13, 1982 | No. 6 | Ole Miss | L 65–67 | 9–3 (2–2) | Tad Smith Coliseum Oxford, Mississippi |
| January 16, 1982 | No. 6 | No. 13 Alabama | W 86–69 | 10–3 (3–2) | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| January 20, 1982 | No. 9 | Florida | W 91–76 | 11–3 (4–2) | O'Connell Center Gainesville, Florida |
| January 23, 1982 | No. 9 | Vanderbilt | W 67–58 | 12–3 (5–2) | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| January 25, 1982 | No. 9 | LSU | W 76–65 | 13–3 (6–2) | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| January 27, 1982 | No. 7 | Mississippi State | L 51–56 | 13–4 (6–3) | Humphrey Coliseum Starkville, Mississippi |
| January 30, 1982 | No. 7 | Georgia | W 82–73 | 14–4 (7–3) | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| February 3, 1982 | No. 9 | Auburn | L 81–83 $^{OT}$ | 14–5 (8–3) | Memorial Coliseum Auburn, Alabama |
| February 6, 1982 | No. 9 | No. 16 Tennessee | W 77–67 | 15–5 (9–3) | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| February 10, 1982 | No. 12 | Ole Miss | W 56–49 | 16–5 (10–3) | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| February 13, 1982 | No. 12 | No. 10 Alabama | W 82–72 | 17–5 (11–3) | Memorial Coliseum Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
| February 17, 1982 | No. 10 | Florida | W 84–78 | 18–5 (12–3) | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| February 20, 1982 | No. 10 | Vanderbilt | W 73–69 | 19–5 (13–3) | Memorial Gymnasium Nashville, Tennessee |
| February 24, 1982 | No. 7 | Mississippi State | W 71–54 | 20–5 (14–3) | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| February 27, 1982 | No. 7 | LSU | L 78–94 | 20–6 (14–4) | Maravich Assembly Center Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| SEC Tournament ||||||
| March 4, 1982 , TVS | (1) No. 15 | (8) Auburn Second Round | W 89–66 | 21–6 | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| March 5, 1982 , TVS | (1) No. 15 | (4) Ole Miss Semifinals | W 62–58 | 22–6 | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| March 6, 1982 , TVS | (1) No. 15 | (3) No. 18 Alabama SEC Championship | L 46–48 | 22–7 | Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||
| March 11, 1982 | (6 ME) No. 15 | (11 ME) Middle Tennessee Second round | L 44–50 | 22–8 | Memorial Gymnasium Nashville, Tennessee |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. SE=Southeast. ||||||