Former UK great and 1978 National Champion Rick Robey gives us some insight into what this year's UK and U of L teams may be going through just hours before tip off.

Robey says the coaches are screening their players from all of the media attention. He says it's likely a good thing, because he said if he knew just how much attention and focus was on him and his teammates when he played, he didn't think he'd be able to play well. Robey also said the first Final Four he went to as a spectator was one that U of L was playing in.

The former NBA Player (Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns & Indiana Pacers) also touched on the biggest change he had noticed so far in the game while he was playing and today's game. He believed that the amount of talent has grown exponentially, saying teams used to only have two or three talented players, where as now entire teams are filled with skill and athleticism.

 

The history-making Final Four matchup between the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville is stirring up the Bluegrass rivalry.  And it's stirring up memories for former UK players like Rick Robey. As number 53, he was part of the Wildcat team that won the 1978 NCAA championship from Duke. Robey a also on the 1975 team that was NCAA runner up.

Though Kentucky's 1978 championship win is most often remembered for Jack Givens' 41-point outburst, Robey's stellar performance (20 points, 8 of 11 from the floor, 11 rebounds) was equally critical to the Wildcats' 94-88 victory.

Robey was the third overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft, selected by the Indiana Pacers.

Robey then played eight seasons (1978-86) in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, and Phoenix Suns. He scored 3,723 points in his career and was a member of the 1981 Celtics championship team.

Here's a link to some great video of the University of Kentucky winning the 1978 NCAA title against Duke.