Has the “off season” dragged on or what? It’s finally time to break out those blue and white sweatshirts, hoodies, and even pom poms if you’ve got ‘em!

The traditional Blue and White Scrimmage is tonight (Tuesday, October 26, 2010) at 7:00.  For more information and to check out this season’s schedule, see UK Athletics.com.

The only way I could be more excited is if… if……. Okay, it’s official.  I couldn’t be more excited!

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The University of Kentucky men’s basketball team’s three exhibition games in Windsor, Ontario will begin on August 15th. I, for one, am more than ready to see UK Basketball back in swing!

The exhibition games will be televised in the Owensboro area on channel WTVW.

Be sure to check your local television channels for details in your area.

The Wildcats play the University of Windsor at 6 pm on August 15, the Western Mustangs at 5 pm August 16, then face a rematch with Windsor at 10 am on August 17. All games will be played at the St. Denis Center in Windsor.

The 2010-2011 Wildcats have the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class as announced by ESPN Recruiting, Rivals.com, and Scout.com. The class includes freshman Terrence Jones, Enes Kanter, Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb, Stacey Poole Jr., and junior college transfer Eloy Vargas.

Lots of new faces, numbers, and names to memorize but I’m pretty sure Big Blue Nation is up for the task. I’m sure that you, like my husband and me, will have your guide ready. We’ve got the drill down in our household:

• Popcorn with M&M’s
• Coke and Diet Coke
• The player’s guide
• UK t-shirts
• Game faces on!

You can feel the excitement building around Kentucky – not only for the college basketball season, but for our guys in the NBA as well. The upcoming months will be filled with fun, excitement, drama, and blue.

And popcorn. Lots of popcorn.

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Last night’s win avenged a 61-60 overtime loss to Georgia in January and stretched the Wildcats’ SEC win streak to eight. It was Georgia’s first loss to a ranked opponent this season.

It has been so frustrating – I look every night, hoping to find the ladies on television. Something should be done about it, really. How cool would it be if there were an ESPN channel ALL for women’s sports?! Nothing but women’s softball, basketball, tennis, golf, pool, figure skating, gymnastics, and so on. Then those of us who are dying to follow teams like UK women’s basketball (or UConn’s amazing season…. well, every season is amazing for the lady Huskies – it’s funny ESPN keeps telling us about their wins and I’m always like, “Show us their wins!“).

If we can’t have an ESPN channel for female athletes to call home, couldn’t one of the many ESPN channels show more ladies hoops? Honestly, you should see some of the men’s teams they show each night – teams I never even heard of! Don’t get me wrong, I love men’s college basketball to distraction and I don’t miss a UK game (or U of L when I can find them on) – I’d just like to see the girls, too, you know.

Irregardless of how unfair and frustrating it is, I am super proud of this team and its coaches, head coach Matthew Mitchell and his staff: Kyra Elzy, Matt Insell, and Shalon Pillow. With all of the (VERY understandable!) excitement about John Calipari, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Joker Phillips, the cheerleading squad (sheer domination) and our outstanding basketball and football teams – the ladies and their remarkable success is being overshadowed. These girls don’t belong in the shadows! I just wanted to go on record as saying I’m extremely proud of all that they have done, are doing, and will continue to do.

In other UK womens’ basketball news, signee Jennifer O’Neill (a 5-6 guard from Saint Michael Academy and Bronx, N.Y.) has been selected to play in the super prestigious 2010 McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Game on March 31, 2010 in the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio! This game, of course, features the top 24 high school players around the country – representing teams from the East and West. And, get this, it will be aired on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m. EST. Thank you, ESPN! Jennifer O’Neill will play for the East.

O’Neill, a consensus national top-30 player, becomes Kentucky’s first incoming freshman to earn McDonald’s All-America honors. Another sign of a program that has been turned around but good.

The UK women’s basketball play their next game at Vanderbilt Sunday night.

The women’s SEC tournament begins in early March – I hope they have the largest turnout of any team there. If you can go – GO and wear UK blue from your head to your toes!  Give this team the support and recognition they deserve.  They might just shock the world.

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We’re pulling out all the stops in our house – the entire place is slowly becomming blue and white… like the good old days.

I’m loving the UK gift bags at Kentucky Collectibles.  Throw a red bow on them and you’re good to go with Christmas wrapping. My favorite bag may be the one above, but there are others. There are also countless other UK goodies, you’ll have to go to the site and check them all out.  They’ll blow you away.

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Wildcats Logo -Fathead Wall Decal

Buy at AllPosters.com

I’ll take one for the home office, one for the living room, one for the kitchen, one for each bathroom, one for the garage….

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Ticket City has tickets available for the Alabama at UK basketball game on October 3.  I know I don’t have to tell you how hard it’ll be to get basketball tickets for University of Kentucky basketball games this year.  Can you believe the excitement?!?!

I’d honestly recommend grabbing a couple of these at your earliest convenience – like say now.  This is the season the number one basketball program in the country takes it’s rightful position (and reputation) back, it just doesn’t get any better.

Grab your tickets while you still can.  If you don’t, someone else will.

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Sources say that the nation’s number one prospect, John Wall, has narrowed his choice down between UK and Miami. “It’s down to the two of them, no question about it,” one source said. “It is Kentucky and Miami. The kid is leaning toward Kentucky. There is a little bit of a concern with the people closest to him that if he goes to Kentucky that they’re going to lose control.” Click HERE for more.

The Courier Journal  reports that the University of Kentucky is looking at replacing Rupp Arena.  I think most of us have mixed feelings about that.  So much history!  But a larger building, allowing for more fans (per chance louder, rowdier fans?!?!) would be great.  Click HERE for this story.

The Courier Journal also has a great article about one of my all-time favorite cats, Patrick Patterson.  Apparently he’s  as eager to play for Coach Calipari as we are to watch him play for Coach Calipari!

Why can’t the season just start tomorrow?!

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It’s a great read – see what you think: John Calipari and Rick Pitino: Twin Sons  of Different Mothers?

By the way, do you Tweet?!  Below are a few Twitter IDs you may want to follow:

Mike Sigers – Co-owner and photographer for Genuine Kentucky:  @mikesigers

Coach John Calipari’s OFFICIAL twitter:  @UKcoachcalipari

Mine! – @JoiTaniaSigers

I previously had a Twitter ID for another web site, but I got a new one with my very own name.  If you don’t Tweet, get yourself to http://www.twitter.com and sign up NOW.  It’s incredibly fast and even more fun.  Be sure to follow me, I’ll follow you right back!

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We’re all excited about Coach John Calipari’s first season at the University of Kentucky. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE baseball season and want to enjoy every single inning – but I’m definitely looking forward to college basketball. Calipari and Pitino in the same state… wow!

Apparently, Coach Calipari is going to have to hit the court running because ESPN announced yesterday that UK will face the Huskies on Dec. 9 in the SEC/Big East Invitational at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The programs’ only meeting was an 87-83 UConn victory in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament, but we really don’t want to talk about that, do we?

The game, and chance at redemption will be shown on ESPN 2. I have a feeling that Coach Cal’s Cats will be shown on television a lot. Let’s hope.

Tickets for the game are expected to go on sale early this summer. For information visit www.secbigeastinvitational.com.

In other University of Kentucky news, the UK men’s basketball program has been recognized for their APR score (Academic Progress Rate score).  The NCAA made the announcement yesterday.

UK received the award for placing in the top 10 percent of the nation’s Division I men’s basketball APR scores.

The APR marks are a four-year composite that measures academic eligibility and retention of student-athletes. The current APR covers the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years.

UK was the only SEC men’s basketball team to receive public recognition.

The University of Louisville received top-10 recognition in men’s indoor track and women’s softball.

Just a side thought, since I’ve mentioned the University of Louisville – I want to go on record as saying that my thoughts are with Rick Pitino and his University of Louisville program.  I’m sure you’ve read the whole soap opera-ish scenario.  Karen Sypher, estranged wife of Rick Pitino’s longtime friend and equipment manager Tim Sypher decided to air her dirty laundry in public (I’m assuming the laundry included another man’s pants).

So, she decides that the “burden” of her little secret is too much for her and she must go public.

WHY would anyone in their right mind place the scarlett letter on their own forehead?  Unless of course they wanted to draw a line down the middle of it – I don’t know, something like this:  $ or this: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

No amount of money is worth announcing to the world that you have as much class as a retired school teacher. Make no mistake about it, the same could be said for anyone else involved in this. I’m just saying, it isn’t the players’ fault and it’s a shame that the University of Louisville has to deal with this right now.  Rick Pitino and his family’s personal life should be able to stay just that -  personal.  He has, twice, brought programs in our state back from the brink.  (Have you ever wondered where either would be without Coach Pitino?)

The only good thing is that this is coming out now instead of later – maybe it can all blow over before next season starts.

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DeMarcus Cousins, who has chosen to play at UK has made the highly esteemed USA Today All USA 2009 High School Boys Basketball Team.

The other players on the First Team are:

Derrick Favors from South Atlanta – College Choice, Georgia Tech.

Avery Bradley from Nevada – College Choice, Texas.

Renardo Sidney from Los Angeles – College Choice, Southern California

John Wall from North Carolina – College Choice, Undecided (Considering:  North Carolina State, Kansas, Memphis, Duke, Baylor, Miami – Florida)

I love all the Q & As with the players the newspaper conducted.  Below are a few of DeMarcus Cousins’ answers:

Position:  Center

Favorite Food:  Lemon pepper chicken

Biggest Basketball Influence:  “My mother.  She played back in the day, but her biggest influence is she’s such a hard worker and makes me want to work hard.”

How did you get into basketball?  I was a quarterback, but I got too tall for football in the seventh grade. The coaches really wanted me to play basketball.

And, of course the best answer of all…

College Choice:  Kentucky

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