FAYETTEVILLE - Deron Feldhaus spent five years playing basketball alongside John Pelphrey at Kentucky, but he learned one thing very quickly.

"He hated to lose," Feldhaus said. "He was probably the most fierce competitor I've ever been around."

Arkansas fans got a taste of Pelphrey's competitive fire last season - his first as coach at Arkansas - when he led the Razorbacks to a 23-12 record and their first NCAA Tournament victory since 1999.

Monday night at Fayetteville Town Center, a host of celebrity roasters poked some fun at Pelphrey, but also let Arkansas fans know his passion extends to life beyond the basketball court. The event benefited Pel's Pals, a foundation formed recently by Pelphrey and his wife, Tracy, to generate financial support for children's charities with an emphasis on education and support for neonatal care. The Pelphreys lost their infant son, John Patrick, to a rare blood disorder five years ago.

"That's just John Pelphrey," Feldhaus said of the foundation's formation. "He's a caring and giving person. There's nothing you can say bad about John Pelphrey."

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Pelphrey and Feldhaus were part of a four-player group who came to be known as The Unforgettables by the Kentucky faithful. Both players signed to play for Coach Eddie Sutton and redshirted their first seasons.

They were joined the following year by Richie Farmer, and the following season by Sean Woods. By that time, Sutton had been replaced by Rick Pitino and the Wildcats had been banned from TV appearances and postseason play.

The four players remained, however, and led a dramatic turnaround that culminated with a run to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight in 1992. Duke defeated Kentucky in overtime in that game, getting an improbable last-second shot from Christian Laettner, but The Unforgettables had earned their spot in Kentucky lore.

Less than a month later, their jerseys were retired and lifted together to the rafters of Rupp Arena.

"Obviously, there was something we did to deserve it because they don't just stick anybody's jersey in the rafters there... but as time goes by you become more able to appreciate it" said Farmer who also attended Monday's roast. "You dream of scoring 50 points in a game, you dream of hitting game-winners, you dream of big things, but don't you ever dare dream of having your jersey retired by the University of Kentucky."

Farmer currently serves as Kentucky's Agriculture Commissioner, while Feldhaus runs a family-owned golf course in Kentucky. Woods, who was unable to attend, most recently was an assistant coach at TCU.

Pelphrey said the bonds they created at Kentucky have led them to stay in close contact, and they enjoy as many of these sorts of reunions as possible.

"When you're young, you never really think it's going to end, and inevitably, it does, so it's great to have a really good excuse to get back together," Pelphrey said. "It doesn't take us any time at all to go back like we're 18 years old again."

Those days, it seems, are unforgettable.