Interview with John Pelphrey, October 30, 2019
Project: University of Kentucky Athletics: Men's Basketball Oral History Project
Interview Summary
John Pelphrey talks about growing up in Paintsville, Kentucky in a competitive sports environment. He talks about his high school basketball career and his recruiting process, during which the University of Kentucky was only mildly interested in him. He talks about his ultimate decision to sign with UK and talks about being a red shirt during his freshman season and talks about cheering for the team from the sidelines. He talks about the University of Kentucky being put on probation and facing NCAA sanctions due to accusations of bribes being sent to various recruits. He talks about the transition between Coach Eddie Sutton and Coach Rick Pitino. He talks about their first experiences practicing under Pitino and his emphasis on physical fitness and speed. Throughout the interview, Pelphrey describes many memorable games and teammates leading up to his final game in his senior year: the East Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament against Duke University. He speaks in detail about his mental state during the game, specific plays during the game, and Duke's game-winning last-second shot. He talks about his coaching career after graduating from UK, first under head coaches Eddie Sutton and Billy Donovan, then as a head coach himself at University of South Alabama, University of Arkansas, and Tennessee Tech.Interview Accession
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Pelphrey, John Interview by Kyle Macy. 30 Oct. 2019. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Pelphrey, J. (2019, October 30). Interview by K. Macy. University of Kentucky Athletics: Men's Basketball Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Pelphrey, John, interview by Kyle Macy. October 30, 2019, University of Kentucky Athletics: Men's Basketball Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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