LSU Basketball history: LSU vs Kentucky one game playoff for NCAA tourney 60 yrs

ago yesterday.

Interesting story how this situation materialized.Of course until the 1975 season only the conference champion or 'designated conference representative' could go to the NCAA tournament. So, through the 1973-1974 season it wasn't that unusual for a conference to have a one game playoff as Indiana and Michigan did in '74 to determine the Big 10's representative.In their 'round robin format', the Hooisers and Wolverines had split their two games. In the same season, Vanderbilt and Alabama tied for first, but Vandy swept the Tide to receive the SEC's berth.

But in 1953-1954 LSU and Kentucky did not play one another in conference play.Because of point-having allegations surrounding the Wildcats after the 1952 season, the SEC suspended Kentucky from playing any SEC games yet could play 'non conference games'. Yet once the NCAA got drift of UK's plans for a 21 game schedule, they 'strongly advised' teams considering playing Kentucky not to so.They didn't so Kentucky did not play anyone during the 1952-1953 season. At the time the SEC had 12 teams and LSU was part of a travelling pod-so to speak-with Tulane,Miss State and Ole Miss (whom the Tigers played home and home). During the 1951-1952 season LSU played Kentucky in Lexington.When Kentucky resumed play for the 1953-1954 season, the SEC decided to basically move back one season the 'rotating schedule' when playing Kentucky.Vandy,Tennessee and Tech played UK home and home so it was a non-event. The original SEC schedule had LSU and Tulane,Miss State and Ole Miss all playing Kentucky even though their last meeting against the Wildcats was in Lexington. All four protested vehemently saying it was Kentucky's turn to come play them.For most teams in that era the Kentucky home game was their most attended game. A game in Lexington was almost a guaranteed loss. And, in LSU's case the Tigers roared through the 1953 season unbeaten in league play and felt they were good enough to repeat as SEC champion and it was only fair that UK play in Baton Rouge.

Kentucky didn't see it this way and no compromise was met. Tulane,Ole Miss and Miss State relented and reluctanly agreed to go to Lexington.LSU stood firm and said Baton Rouge or forget it.Kentucky (and the SEC) said,okay,forget it.LSU and Kentucky wouldn't play that year.

But the idea of a shared title never crossed anyone's mind.Kentucky picked back up where they left off and went unbeaten not only in SEC play but overall play including a lopsided win over eventual NCAA champ LaSalle.LSU went unbeaten in SEC play,but did have two other losses. Nonetheless,both LSU and Kentucky finished league play without a loss.

The two met at Vanderbilt's three year old Memorial Gymnasium for the right to represent the SEC in the NCAA tourney.Kentucky was ranked #1 in the nation while LSU was ranked #7. Before a sell out of 7,500 (with 95% UK fans according to the Nashville Banner)Kentucky stormed out to a 10-1 lead. But behind Bob Pettit, LSU settled down and cut it to 32-28 at halftime. LSU tied the game up at the end of the third quarter and actually took a brief lead,the first time Kentucky had trailed in the second half all season. But behind a full court press, UK came back and won, 63-56.

Still, LSU was the SEC's NCAA representative. Kentucky's three big scorers and stars, Cliff Hagan, Frank Ramsey and Lou Tsioropoulos were ineligible to play in post season since they had cpmpleted their undergraduate degrees. Kentucky had appealed in January to no avail. Immediately after the game Adolph Rupp declined the bid saying the conference should send the most representative team and without those three,UK was a much lesser team.However,this was something Rupp had known since early January of '54 and since LSU and Kentucky were both declared "co-champions" regardless of playoff result,its curious why Rupp elected to play the game anyway.



Bob Pettit (50) for LSU blocking Cliff Hagan (6)