‘I was dreading this day.’ Joe B. Hall remembered by his Kentucky Wildcats family.

For a few seconds Saturday afternoon, a packed Rupp Arena fell silent.

Before the starting lineups for the Kentucky-Tennessee game were introduced, a video honoring the life and legacy of Joe B. Hall was played for those in attendance. During the moment of silence that followed, nearly 20,000 stood solemnly as a spotlight shined on the former UK coach’s retired jersey in the Rupp rafters.

Hall passed away Saturday morning. He was 93.

The Cynthiana native began his college playing career at UK before transferring to the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., but he later returned to serve as an assistant coach under Adolph Rupp for seven seasons and ultimately succeeded him as the Wildcats’ head coach.

Hall held that position — the only Kentucky native in modern history to do so — for 13 seasons, leading the Wildcats to three Final Four appearances and the 1978 national championship. He was a fixture around the UK basketball team in recent years, his popularity among the fan base growing as he served as a mentor to current coach John Calipari and a smiling, welcoming face to the young players who passed through the program he loved so much.

“Coach Joe B. Hall — my friend, my mentor, and an icon in our state and in our profession — took over a program and carried on the winning tradition and legacy of excellence of Kentucky basketball,” Calipari said in a statement shortly before tipoff Saturday. “He made it the job it is today with his hard work, his ingenuity and his great basketball coaching.

“Coach Hall always met me with a smile, including two days ago when I went to see him and hold his hand. He understood everything that was said, and as I prayed for him, he squeezed my hand tight. Coach Hall is beloved by everyone. What makes me happy on this extremely somber day is that before he left this earth, he knew how much all of us appreciated and loved him. I would ask that everyone keep him and his family in your prayers.”

Calipari had Kentucky start the game against Tennessee with a 1-3-1 zone — a signature Hall defense — and began the day on the sidelines with a rolled-program in his hand, another nod to the legendary UK coach.

The Volunteers scored against that 1-3-1, which Calipari said he hadn’t prepared his team to play beforehand, but those two points were inconsequential under the circumstances.

“I was going to do it, knowing they would probably score a basket. But, so what?” Calipari said after the game. “This was a celebration for Coach Hall. The rolled-up program, which I will bring out to every game this year, to finish it out. I loved the video. The greatest thing in all of this — he knew what people thought and how much he was appreciated and beloved before he passed. He knew.”

Honoring Joe B. Hall

Remembrances from former players, colleagues and rivals flowed in Saturday morning.

Jack Givens, the star player on the 1978 national title team, was able to visit with Hall on Friday and spoke emotionally on the UK pregame radio show Saturday about that experience and his relationship with a former coach who became a great friend once Givens’ playing days were over.

He called Hall’s passing “a tough loss” but said he’d been thinking about the great moments they’d had together since receiving news of his death that morning.

“And the thing that I know — and the reason that I’m celebrating — is I know how happy he was in the latter years of his life,” Givens said. “It has been just a wonderful, wonderful relationship, with a guy who is surely going to be missed.”

UK great Kenny Walker called Hall a “mentor” and a “father figure,” and talked of the former players who were able to visit him for his 93rd birthday on Nov. 30.

“Just an all around good guy that everyone seemed to love more in his later years,” Walker said. “Kyle Macy and Jack Givens were coming in when I was leaving. We will all carry on his legacy.”

Walker added that it was fitting Kentucky would be hosting Tennessee on Saturday.

“I’m sure there is no team in the SEC he wanted to beat more than Tennessee,” he said.

The Wildcats delivered, showcasing one of their best offensive efforts in years, steamrolling Tennessee by a score of 107-79. That spotlight shined bright on Hall’s jersey in the Rupp rafters for the entire afternoon.

UK’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder, Dan Issel, called Hall a “wonderful man” and a “great influence” on his life.

“I was dreading this day. I’m going to miss him,” said Kevin Grevey, another one of the Wildcats’ legendary players.

Yet another UK great, Sam Bowie, called Hall a “great man” and his passing a “huge loss for Big Blue Nation.”

“He got me when I was an 18-year-old kid who needed discipline and respect,” Bowie said. “He is a big part of who I am today. The fact that I was in a cast for two years, I got to spend a lot of time with him off the court. Fishing. Learning about sinkers and hooks and bobbers.

“It’s a great loss to the Commonwealth and a huge loss to Sam Bowie.”

Long after his coaching career was finished, Hall co-hosted a local radio show with former Louisville head coach Denny Crum. Fishing was a regular topic of conversation.

Hall was also remembered by fellow coaches Saturday.

Florida State Coach Leonard Hamilton, a longtime UK assistant during the Hall era, said he was glad he was able to share some recent video calls with his former boss. He was happy to be able “to tell him how much I loved him” and express how much Hall had meant to his career.

“My condolences go out to Joe B. Hall’s family and the entire University of Kentucky nation,” Hamilton said. “My heart goes out to them. We have all lost an icon in Kentucky Basketball history.

“Joe Hall, in my opinion, was one of the strongest guardians of Kentucky basketball. He will forever be in all of our hearts. He loved Kentucky with a passion like no other. We are going to lift everyone up in our prayers.”

Detroit Pistons Coach Dwane Casey, who played under Hall at Kentucky and later served on his staff, credited Hall with getting him into the coaching profession.

“Always had great advice about my teams. Always started with talking about being better defensively,” Casey said. “Great leader of men! Consistent with his approach. Understood what Kentucky Basketball meant. Always said there will be different people (as the head coach) but the program will go on. ‘It’s about the program.’”

One of Kentucky’s greatest rivals over the past few decades, former Louisiana State head coach Dale Brown, offered his condolences Saturday morning.

“Joe was a very good man, excellent coach and always a gentleman,” he said.

There were words of praise and remembrance from UK President Eli Capilouto and UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart, as well as statements from elected officials — including Gov. Andy Beshear and Sen. Mitch McConnell — that further showed how big of a mark Hall had left on his home state, both on the basketball court and beyond.

“Coach Joe B. Hall was not only a remarkable basketball legend, he was also a kind, generous leader who made an impact on his players and everyone who knew him,” Beshear said.

After Saturday’s game, Calipari reminisced about his time spent with Hall, a frequent visitor to the Wildcats’ practices. The current coach, who visited Hall for the final time Thursday morning, spoke fondly of his regular meals with his predecessor — the breakfasts at Wheeler Pharmacy and the lunches at Immanuel Baptist Church — joking that Hall would always pay.

“I’m just going to miss him,” Calipari said. “And I’ll say this: until the very end, he smiled. He smiled. Ninety-three good years. That’s all I can say.”