# 1987–88 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team

The 1987–88 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented University of Kentucky in the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Eddie Sutton and the team finished the season with an overall record of 27–6. However, the team forfeited three of their games to finish 25–5.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| November 28* | No. 5 | Hawaii | W 86–59 | 1–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| December 1* | No. 5 | Cincinnati | W 101–77 | 2–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| December 5* | No. 2 | vs. No. 5 Indiana Big Four Classic | W 82–76 $^{OT}$ | 3–0 | Hoosier Dome Indianapolis, IN |
| December 12* | No. 1 | Louisville Rivalry | W 76–75 | 4–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| December 18* | No. 1 | Miami (OH) UK Invitational Tournament | W 85–71 | 5–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| December 19* | No. 1 | UNC-Charlotte UK Invitational Tournament | W 84–81 | 6–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| December 28* | No. 2 | Alaska-Anchorage | W 100–58 | 7–0 | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| December 31 | No. 2 | Vanderbilt | W 81–74 | 8–0 (1–0) | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| January 2 | No. 2 | vs. Georgia | W 84–77 | 9–0 (2–0) | Atlanta, GA |
| January 6 | No. 1 | Mississippi State | W 93–52 | 10–0 (3–0) | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| January 9 | No. 1 | Auburn | L 52–53 | 10–1 (3–1) | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| January 13 | No. 5 | at Alabama | W 63–55 | 11–1 (4–1) | Coleman Coliseum Tuscaloosa, AL |
| January 16 | No. 5 | Tennessee | W 83–65 | 12–1 (5–1) | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| January 20 | No. 4 | Florida Rivalry | L 56–58 | 12–2 (5–2) | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| January 23 | No. 4 | at LSU | W 76–61 | 13–2 (6–2) | LSU Assembly Center Baton Rouge, LA |
| January 27 | No. 9 | at Vanderbilt | L 66–83 | 13–3 (6–3) | Memorial Gymnasium Nashville, TN |
| January 31* | No. 9 | vs. Notre Dame | W 78–69 | 14–3 | Freedom Hall Louisville, KY |
| February 3 | No. 10 | Ole Miss | W 94–65 | 15–3 (7–3) | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| February 6 | No. 10 | at Mississippi State | W 83–59 | 16–3 (8–3) | Humphrey Coliseum Starkville, MS |
| February 10 | No. 10 | at Auburn | W 69–62 | 17–3 (9–3) | Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum Auburn, AL |
| February 13 | No. 10 | Alabama | W 82–68 | 18–3 (10–3) | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| February 17 3:00 p.m., JPT | No. 9 | at Tennessee | L 70–72 | 18–4 (10–4) | Thompson-Boling Arena Knoxville, TN |
| February 20 | No. 9 | at Florida | L 76–83 | 18–5 (10–5) | O'Connell Center Gainesville, FL |
| February 24 | No. 12 | LSU | W 95–69 | 19–5 (11–5) | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| February 28* | No. 12 | No. 10 Syracuse | W 62–58 | 20–5 | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| March 2 | No. 8 | Georgia | W 80–72 | 21–5 (12–5) | Rupp Arena Lexington, KY |
| March 5 | No. 8 | at Ole Miss | W 78–71 | 22–5 (13–5) | Tad Smith Coliseum Oxford, MS |
| SEC tournament ||||||
| March 11* JPT | (1) No. 6 | vs. (8) Ole Miss SEC Tournament Quarterfinals | W 82–64 | 23–5 | LSU Assembly Center Baton Rouge, LA |
| March 12* 12:00 p.m., JPT | (1) No. 6 | vs. (4) LSU SEC Tournament Semifinals | W 86–80 | 24–5 | LSU Assembly Center Baton Rouge, LA |
| March 13* ABC | (1) No. 6 | vs. (7) Georgia SEC Tournament Championship | W 62–57 | 25–5 | LSU Assembly Center Baton Rouge, LA |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| March 18* | (2 SE) No. 6 | vs. (15 SE) Southern First Round | W 99–84 | 26–5 (win vacated) | Riverfront Coliseum Cincinnati, OH |
| March 20* | (2 SE) No. 6 | vs. (7 SE) Maryland Second Round | W 90–81 | 27–5 (win vacated) | Riverfront Coliseum Cincinnati, OH |
| March 24* | (2 SE) No. 6 | vs. (6 SE) Villanova Regional Semifinals | L 74–80 | 27–6 (loss vacated) | BJCC Arena Birmingham, AL |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. SE=Southeast. ||||||