1985–86 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
{{short description|1985–86 season of University of Kentucky men's basketball team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|sport=Basketball
|year=1985-86
|team=Kentucky Wildcats
|image=Kentucky Wildcats logo (1984-2005).png
|image_size=150
|conference=Southeastern Conference
|short_conf=SEC
| CoachRank = 4
| APRank = 3
|record=32–4
|conf_record=17–1
|head_coach= Eddie Sutton
|hc_year = 1st
|arena= Rupp Arena
|champion= SEC regular season champions
SEC tournament champions
|tourney= NCAA tournament
|tourney_result= Elite Eight
}}
{{1985–86 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1985–86 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented University of Kentucky in the 1985–86 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Eddie Sutton{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/kentucky/1986.html|title=1985-1986 Kentucky Wildcats Roster and Stats|accessdate=6 November 2013}} and the team finished the season with an overall record of 32–4.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/kentucky/1986-schedule.html|title=1985-1986 Kentucky Wildcats Schedule and Results|accessdate=6 November 2013}} After winning the SEC Tournament the Wildcats were invited to the 1985 NCAA Tournament as a #1 seed. Kentucky advanced to the Elite 8 with victories over Davidson, Western Kentucky and Alabama. But their season came to an end after losing to the #11 seed L.S.U. Tigers 59–57.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1985|team=Kentucky Wildcats|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=James|last=Blackmon|link=y|alt=James Blackmon Sr.|num=10|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=180|class=JR|home=Marion, IN|high_school=Marion HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Leroy|last=Byrd|link=|num=12|pos=G|ft=5|in=5|lbs=145|class=SR|home=Lexington, Kentucky|high_school= }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Paul|last=Andrews|link=|num=14|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=180|class=JR|home=London, Kentucky|high_school= }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ed|last=Davender|link=y|num=15|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=SO|home=Brooklyn, NY|high_school=Boys and Girls HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Roger|last=Harden|link=|num=23|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=165|class=SR|home=Valparaiso, Indiana|high_school= }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Winston|last=Bennett|link=y|num=25|pos=SF|ft=6|in=7|lbs=210|class=JR|home=Louisville, KY|high_school=Louisville Male HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Irving|last=Thomas|link=y|num=30|pos=PF|ft=6|in=8|lbs=215|class=FR|home=Miami, FL|high_school=Miami Carol City HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kenny|last=Walker|dab=basketball|link=y|num=34|pos=SF|ft=6|in=8|lbs=205|class=SR|home=Roberta, GA|high_school=Crawford County HS}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Rob|last=Lock|link=y|num=44|pos=PF|ft=6|in=9|lbs=220|class=SO|home=Reedley, CA|high_school=Reedley HS}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=Eddie Sutton ({{college|Oklahoma State}})
|asst_coach=
|roster_url=
|accessdate =
}}
Schedule and Results
{{CBB schedule start
| rank =
| gamehighs =
| attend =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Kentucky Wildcats}}| Non-Conference Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 22, 1985
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Northwestern State Demons|title=Northwestern State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 77–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 26, 1985
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 10
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Chaminade Silverswords |title=Chaminade}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = McCabe Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Honolulu, Hawaii
| gamename =
| score = 89–57
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–0
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 27, 1985
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 10
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Hawaii Rainbow Warriors|title=Hawaii}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Neal S. Blaisdell Center
| site_cityst = Honolulu, Hawaii
| gamename =
| score = 98–65
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 3, 1985
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 9
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Cincinnati Bearcats|title=Cincinnati}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 84–54
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 7, 1985
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 9
| opponent = Indiana
| opprank = 19
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 63–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 14, 1985
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 9
| opponent = Kansas
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = Allen Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Lawrence, Kansas
| gamename =
| score = 68–83
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 20, 1985
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 13
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=East Carolina Pirates|title=East Carolina}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 86–52
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 21, 1985
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 13
| opponent = Pepperdine
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 88–56
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 28, 1985
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 13
| opponent = Louisville
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 69–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 30, 1985
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 12
| opponent = VMI
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 93–55
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–1
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Kentucky Wildcats}}| SEC Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 4, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 12
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Vanderbilt Commodores|title=Vanderbilt}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Memorial Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Nashville, Tennessee
| gamename =
| score = 80–71
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–1
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 6, 1986
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = Auburn
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Auburn, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 56–60
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–2
| conference = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 8, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Ole Miss Rebels |title=Ole Miss}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 75–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–2
| conference = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 11, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = Alabama
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 76–52
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–2
| conference = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 15, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Mississippi State Bulldogs|title=Mississippi State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Humphrey Coliseum
| site_cityst = Starkville, Mississippi
| gamename =
| score = 64–52
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–2
| conference = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 18, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Florida Gators|title=Florida}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Stephen C. O'Connell Center
| site_cityst = Gainesville, Florida
| gamename =
| score = 72–55
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–2
| conference = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 23, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Georgia Bulldogs|title=Georgia}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 74–69
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–2
| conference = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 25, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Tennessee Volunteers|title=Tennessee}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 74–57
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–2
| conference = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 29, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 8
| opponent = LSU
| opprank = 17
| site_stadium = Maravich Assembly Center
| site_cityst = Baton Rouge, Louisiana
| gamename =
| score = 54–52
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–2
| conference = 8–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 31, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 8
| opponent = Auburn
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 81–71
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 18–2
| conference = 9–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 2, 1986
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 8
| opponent = NC State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Reynolds Coliseum
| site_cityst = Raleigh, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 51–54
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 18–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 5, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 12
| opponent = Vanderbilt
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 73–65
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 19–3
| conference = 10–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 8, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 12
| opponent = Ole Miss
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tad Smith Coliseum
| site_cityst = Oxford, Mississippi
| gamename =
| score = 62–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 20–3
| conference = 11–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 13, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = Alabama
| opprank = 18
| site_stadium = Coleman Coliseum
| site_cityst = Tuscaloosa, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 73–71
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 21–3
| conference = 12–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 15, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = Mississippi State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 88–62
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 22–3
| conference = 13–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 19, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 8
| opponent = Florida
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 80–69
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 23–3
| conference = 14–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 22, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 8
| opponent = Georgia
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Stegeman Coliseum
| site_cityst = Athens, Georgia
| gamename =
| score = 80–75
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 24–3
| conference = 15–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 27, 1986
| time =
| tv = LSN
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 5
| opponent = Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Stokely Athletic Center
| site_cityst = Knoxville, Tennessee
| gamename =
| score = 62–60
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 25–3
| conference = 16–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 1, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 5
| opponent = LSU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename =
| score = 68–57
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 26–3
| conference = 17–1
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Kentucky Wildcats}}| 1986 SEC men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 6, 1986
| time =
| tv = LSN
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 3
| seed = 1
| opponent = Ole Miss
| opprank =
| oppseed = 9
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename = SEC Tournament Quarterfinal
| score = 95–69
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 27–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 7, 1986
| time =
| tv = LSN
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 3
| seed = 1
| opponent = LSU
| opprank =
| oppseed = 5
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename = SEC Tournament Semifinal
| score = 61–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 28–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 8, 1986
| time =
| tv = NBC
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 3
| seed = 1
| opponent = Alabama
| opprank =
| oppseed = 3
| site_stadium = Rupp Arena
| site_cityst = Lexington, Kentucky
| gamename = SEC tournament championship
| score = 83–72
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 29–3
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Kentucky Wildcats}}| 1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 14, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 3
| seed = 1 SE
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Davidson Wildcats men's basketball |title=Davidson}}
| opprank =
| oppseed = 16 SE
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename = First round
| score = 75–55
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 30–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 16, 1986
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 3
| seed = 1 SE
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1985|sex=men|team=Western Kentucky Hilltoppers|title=Western Kentucky}}
| opprank =
| oppseed = 8 SE
| site_stadium = Charlotte Coliseum
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename = Second Round
| score = 71–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 31–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 20, 1986
| time =
| tv = CBS
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 3
| seed = 1 SE
| opponent = Alabama
| opprank =
| oppseed = 5 SE
| site_stadium = The Omni
| site_cityst = Atlanta, Georgia
| gamename = Southeast Regional semifinal – Sweet Sixteen
| score = 68–63
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 32–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 22, 1986
| time =
| tv =CBS
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 3
| seed = 1 SE
| opponent = LSU
| opprank =
| oppseed = 11 SE
| site_stadium = The Omni
| site_cityst = Atlanta, Georgia
| gamename = Southeast Regional Final – Elite Eight
| score = 57–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 32–4
}}
{{CBB schedule end
| rank =
| poll = AP poll
| timezone =
| region = SE
| regionname = Southeast
| notes =
}}
{{cite web |title=2019-20 Kentucky Men's Basketball Record Book |url=https://ukathletics.com/documents/2019/10/13/0340_19_20_MBB_CPR_Record_Book_Complete.pdf |format=pdf |page=200 |publisher=University of Kentucky Athletics |access-date=October 18, 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1985-86 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team}}