The team was a member of the Southeast Conference and played their home games at Alumni Gymnasium.

They won 36 of 39 games in their conference, earning them the 1948 NCAA basketball tournament championship.

[2] [3] [4] Though the Fabulous Five referred to the whole team during the 1947–1948 season, five players stood out in particular: Ralph Beard (guard), Alex Groza (center), Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones (forward), Cliff Barker (forward), and Kenny Rollins (guard).

[2][1] Following the successful 1947–1948 season at UK, all five competed as a unit and won gold at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.

Coach Rupp then retired the jerseys of Barker, Beard, Groza, Jones, and Rollins.