Pat Riley, 'Rupp's Runts' honored during Kentucky basketball game

Story byRyan Black, Louisville Courier JournalSun, January 11, 2026 at 5:45 PM UTC·3 min readLEXINGTON — It's not often someone who starred for Kentucky basketball becomes an even bigger name after leaving the program. Especially not someone who was an All-SEC performer and a key piece of a team that went to the national championship game. Pat Riley is one of those obvious exceptions. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA star forward on the last of coach Adolph Rupp's six Final Four teams, Riley was the SEC's Player of the Year in 1965-66, pacing the Wildcats in points per game at 21.97. He also netted third-team All-American honors that season, as Kentucky lost in the national title game to Texas Western (now known as UTEP). Riley went on to greater glory in the NBA, where he won four championships as a head coach with the Los Angeles Lakers and another with the Miami Heat. Riley and other members of that 1965-66 squad, known affectionately as "Rupp's Runts," were recognized during halftime of Saturday's game versus Mississippi State at Rupp Arena."One of the greatest experiences I've ever had was to be here in Lexington at the University of Kentucky," said Riley, who addressed the crowd at the end of the ceremony. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe capped his speech by praising the pair he called "the two leaders" of the 1965-66 group, seniors Larry Conley and Tommy Kron."I wish they were here with us tonight," Riley said.