With the announcement of Tim Duncan's retirement, the first memory that came to my mind was his only game against Kentucky when he was a member of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. The game was more than 20 years ago, but it was memorable because it featured Tim Duncan and the '96 Kentucky Wildcats. Both legendary.
March 23, 1996.
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
NCAA Midwest Regional Finals.
No. 2 Kentucky vs No. 13 Wake Forest.
Rick Pitino had a juggernaut as 2nd-ranked Kentucky Wildcats in 1996 were considered by many to be the team to beat even though an upstart named John Calipari (the name seems familiar) led his UMass Minutemen to the #1 ranking in the country and an early season beating of Kentucky
An SEC Tournament Final loss to Mississippi State a few weeks earlier had the Wildcat faithful furious, but gave Pitino and his team a much-needed rejuvenation to go into the 1996 NCAA Tournament, where they would steamroll towards their ultimate goal.