Kentucky Basketball: The 12 Most Hated Wildcats of All Time

With power there is great responsibility.

When you are a school with 2,000 + career wins and seven national championships, there are plenty of reasons for hating you. But, it is how you respond to the hate that makes or breaks you.

Over its illustrious history, Kentucky basketball has responded with a program worthy of appreciation. The team's consistency, rooting back to 1902, is unlike any other in college basketball history.

For this reason and this reason alone, fans across the globe seep with a sticky form of jealousy. But we also shouldn't ignore Kentucky Wildcat fans and their biases.  

Playing in Kentucky blue can be a daunting task. With lofty promises comes high expectations, and these expectations can cause a ruckus fan base to either celebrate you or hate you.

This duplicitous hatred, both from the UK fan and the opposing fan, is what makes these twelve individuals so special. 

Adolph Rupp

When one closes their eyes and thinks of college basketball, two names come to mind: John Wooden and Adolph Rupp. 

While one is celebrated with vigor across the globe, the other is seen as an infamous villain. 

The coach at Kentucky Wildcat blue from 1930 to 1972 is fourth on the coaching-wins list with 876 wins, but he's better known as a hard-nosed coach who called his players names.

According to Bill Spivey, a Wildcat team member in the 1950s, "He wanted everybody to hate him and he succeeded. He called us names some of us had never heard before." 

Rick Pitino

Rick Pitino is an immeasurable coach who has led four different schools to the Final Four. He's done so on the back of nearly 600 wins—all with class and patience.

But what hasn't he done? Stay put.

And that is the reason fans of Kentucky Wildcats basketball hate the charismatic leader with a passion.

After leading the team to a championship in 1996, Pitino suddenly jumped ship to the pros, unsuccessfully coaching the Boston Celtics for four years.

On his return to the college game, Pitino did the unpardonable by signing with cross-state rival Louisville. Now he is officially a satanic figure with a Bostonian's accent. 

Deron Feldhaus and John Pelphrey (the Men Guarding Laettner)

In order to play defense, you have to use your hands, your feet and your brain.

Yes, I know—as crazy as that sounds, though, it's absolutely true.

Unfortunately for Wildcat fans, two powder puff defenders chose not to show up on the largest of stages during one of the school's most epic moments.

Long known as "the shot," Grant Hill's miracle pass leading to a fall-away Christian Laettner jumper was not so miracle. 

It "thread" the needle because two men at that moment decided it best if they played defense like the Sugar Plum Fairy from The Nutcracker.

Had one person lightly fronted Laettner to clip the ball, the game would have been over. 

Eddie Sutton

Eddie Sutton has been to three Final Fours in his coaching career.

Over five decades, the man totaled 804 wins. 

But while his numbers speak loudly, the man's integrity doesn't.

When in Lexington Sutton's career was clouded with scandal and investigations, further leading to a three-year probation and—most notably—a two-year ban from postseason play. 

John Wall

As celebrated as John Wall was, the man was the brunt of plenty of hatred.

Not only was he touted at a level unlike many in the history of college hoops, but the one-and-done former Wildcat chose to play for the ethically questionable John Calipari.

If the young kid wanted to impress everyone with his NBA-ready talent, then according to most of America, he should have chosen anywhere other than Lexington. 

DeMarcus Cousins

Then Calipari did it again, picking up phenom brute DeMarcus Cousins—a strong, athletic 6'8" aggressor with the personality of Derick Coleman.

What made fans across the country resent Cousins was his genetic make-up: Not only was the man superior in size, but he knew it and mocked his opponents while on the court. His show-boat style of play was the straw that broke the camel's back for most of America. 

Seeing Cousins lose brought many people a sad form of relief. He was the bully on everyone's playground who actually had the ability to back his junk up. 

John Calipari

Everywhere John Calipari goes, he's clouded in scandals. 

Yet from great school to great school, the man with over 500 wins in his coaching totals leads the charge, receiving praise while doing so.

Under his tenure, current NBA superstars Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans and John Wall were born. Also under his tenure, however, two teams have had their Final Four appearances removed because of Calipari's shady recruiting practices. 

Ashley Judd

Yes, Ashley, I am Juddging you.

This celebratory Ashley Judd garbage is getting old.

Who cares if a good-looking, piss-poor actress adores the Kentucky Wildcats? I sure as hell don't.

It is like asking Pam Anderson what her favorite color is. "The color is teal, Luke. Teal."

Next time I see the lady rooting for her Wildcats with that cheery face and over-exuberant smile, I'm tossing guacamole at the TV screen. 

Saul Smith

Saul Smith. Seriously?

Watching the rangy guard fire away three-point bomb after three-point bomb with his curly mop hair and athletically inferior style of play was worse than Roseanne in a pair of tights.

And all because he was the coach's kid. I mean, if you're reading this and you're wanting to find a way to be hated for the rest of your life, then pay attention to Saul Smith.

Step one: Shoot when you can't.

Step two: Ask your ridiculously wealthy father at Christmas for a starting job on a Final Four team.

Step three: Suck the entire time but get bailed out by incredible teammates.

Step four: Cut down nets.

Step five: Live in hiding and collect trash cans full of hate mail.

Randolph Morris

According to this forum, many U.K. fans resent Randolph Morris for leaving before his senior year at Kentucky. 

The 6'11" Morris had slowly grown into a successful center. With him at the helm of a roster including Joe Crawford, Derrick Jasper, Jodie Meeks, Patrick Patterson and Michael Porter, special things could have taken place.

But when Randolph optioned for the pros, things went to crap.

He now plays in a mid-level professional league in China. 

Richard "Master Blaster" Madison

The man was a god in a uniform, built like a brick wall with the leaping strength of a hyena.

Richard "Master Blaster" Madison is long known as THE biggest bust in Kentucky Wildcat history.

A top-five player in the nation and an All-American, Madison came into Lexington with a myriad of fans and hopes of turning pro.

But as strong as he was on the outside, the man was even softer on the inside.

Over his uninspiring four years, Madison limped through with numbers like 5.5 points and 4.0 rebounds. 

Rashaad Carruth

It seems Lexington lovers are still stewing over Rashaad Carruth. 

The All-American with a ton of upside came highly recommended and touted his freshman season. Although he showed flashes of brilliance, the 18-year-old was better known for his cancerous personality.

Ultimately, Carruth was kicked out of Kentucky after his freshman season in 2002. He then transferred to Oklahoma, where the same thing happened.

After his second ousting, the troubled Carruth found a taker in 2004 with Southern Mississippi. Playing his only year with Southern Miss, the guard showed some promise, finishing second on the team in scoring. 

But following his "sophomore" season, Carruth was incarcerated for selling methamphetamine.