Kentucky denies backing out of scheduled game with UTEP

The Kentucky Wildcats denied claims made by UTEP head coach Tim Floyd that they backed out of their scheduled game in 2016, according to Buzz Baker of UK Sports

The Kentucky Wildcats denied claims made by UTEP head coach Tim Floyd that they backed out of their scheduled game in 2016, according to Buzz Baker of UK Sports Radio. 

The game would have marked the 50th anniversary of the legendary NCAA tournament final where UTEP (then Texas Western) defeated Adolph Rupp and Kentucky with the first African-American starting five. The game was reportedly to be held at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House, the same location as the 1966 title game.

Floyd said Kentucky reneged on an agreement to play next season.

"Just backed out, said that there were a lot of people up there that didn't want the game to be played, for whatever reason, so I don't want to throw them completely under the bus, but that's ok, we'll just stay with a 1-0 record against the Kentucky Wildcats in college basketball. If they never want to play again and act like the game never happened, for the reasons why it occurred are significant, then we'll never play again," said Floyd via NBC Sports El Paso. 

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Baker responded to the allegations by saying the two schools had preliminary talks about playing the game, but never reached a firm agreement. He also said Kentucky would be open to playing them in the future.

There were discussions about the possibility of playing, but they never materialized past that. It just didn’t work out.

— Dave Buzz Baker (@buzzbaker) January 15, 2015

We’re still looking for a couple of games at home, but we didn’t have room in the schedule for what we had discussed earlier.

— Dave Buzz Baker (@buzzbaker) January 15, 2015

We would be open to playing them in future seasons.

— Dave Buzz Baker (@buzzbaker) January 15, 2015

Kentucky is the No. 1 ranked team in the country with a perfect 16-0 record. UTEP is 11-5 this season.

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- Jack Jorgensen