Tearful Sean Woods explains what Kentucky means to him

Sean Woods admits he gets emotional every time he comes back to Kentucky. (Jeff Houchin/Nolan Media Group)

Sean Woods was an intense competitor during his playing days at Kentucky and someone who never backed down from anyone. He coaches the same way and no matter what adversity he’s hit, he never gives up and he coaches that way.

That’s why the Southern coach was so intense Tuesday night when his team played No. 10 UK in Rupp Arena. He almost looked like a sixth defender the first half when Kentucky had the ball on the end of the court where the Southern bench was.

“I envy my players every day because I wish I could still play basketball,” Woods joked about his actions after UK’s 76-64 win.

However, that led to an emotional response from Woods, who played for coach Eddie Sutton and then coach Rick Pitino and was one of The Unforgettables who has his jersey hanging from the Rupp Arena rafters. He went through the rebuilding process with Pitino when UK was on probation and was part of that heartbreaking 1992 NCAA Tournament overtime loss to Duke.

“I’d give anything to go back and have my experience I had at the University of Kentucky. You know the guys I played with. We went through some things any other player at the University of Kentucky has gone through. It was tough, but it was rewarding,” Woods said with tears flowing.

“It wasn’t just me, John (Pelphrey), Deron (Feldhaus), and Richie (Farmer). It was Reggie Hanson, Johnathon Davis and Jeff Brassow. I tell people all the time, we might’ve won the national championship if (Brassow) didn’t get hurt. You know, he averaged 16 points a game when he got hurt in the first five or six games.

“So every time I get a chance to come here, I just get emotional because I gave a lot of my life and everything I had, and I did everything people asked me to do at this university. And it was very rewarding afterwards. And this university has made me the man and coach that I am today.”

Southern guard Jayden Saddler said Woods never changes his intensity — one thing UK teammates and coaches always liked about him during his playing career.

“Every day, he’s going to be him, and he’s not going to change. You’ve got to be his type of guy to play for him. You’ve got to have that toughness, that grit, that mindset that you’re going to win,” Saddler said.”Everyone’s not his type of guy.

“So, you’ve got to play or you’re going to get exposed. He’s going to challenge you to be the best that you can be. He’s going to push you every day to become a better man. He’s a great Coach.”

And a coach who remains grateful for all Kentucky did for him.