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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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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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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The Louisville Courier Journal had a little write up about Coach Calipari and his practices at UK.  The paper reports that according to the workout that was open to the media last week, it appears that Coach Cal is stressing speed and is giving his players time to adapt to his system.  He told the guys, “It’s different.”

Can I insert a big, heart felt  THANK GOD right now?

In the workout, the Wildcats focused mostly on full-court transition and layups.  Don’t let word drift up to Tubby or he’ll pass out, but they didn’t spend any time on half-court offense or defense.

Coach Calipari wants a faster pace?  Bring it on!  He told his players, “Fifty layups a  game.”

He also told his players that everything he’s doing in the early workouts is to teach them to go “full-bore.”  He’d get onto players for taking short strides toward the basket and stopped the workout any time he thought a player had driven to the rim with the intent of passing.  He reminded them, “We are shooting layups.”

He also stopped practice when he wanted to praise his players.  Once when Darius Miller and Jodie Meeks had pleased their new coach, he blew his whistle and said, “That’s how we play!”

Is it too early to get excited for next season?  Oh, forget I asked.  It’s too late…. I’m already there.

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Sorry, but it’s hard to type when your nose is pressed against the tv screen while one ear is turned to sports radio.  There was also the issue of my laptop refusing to bring up any page except ESPN.

I bleed blue, you see, and this is beyond HUGE to all of us UK fanatics.

I’ve actually wanted Calipari at UK since Pitino left.  (Loved him too, you know.)  When Tubby left, I was screaming Coach Cal’s name from the mountain top – so when they went with whatshisname, I fell off of that mountain top and rolled to the bottom.   Kind of like we fell off of college basketball’s radar!  And the rankings, and the newspapers, and the tournament….

I remember back then, when the news was announced that they’d hired Gillespie, I kept asking my husband, “Who is he??  Why him??  Are they crazy??”  He told me where he came from, what he’d done, and that, yes, possibly they were crazy.

Eh, that’s all in the past now and the sun is definitely coming up on the horizon.  And the beautiful thing is, it’s blue!

Cue the dance music, baby.

P.S.  The dancing figure insisted that I create a category for UK Basketball again (yes, yes, I deleted it halfway through Gillispie Gate) AND he suggested I create a category for Coach Cal.   Check!

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Speaking of proud fans, further congratulations are in order for the University of Louisville Cardinals!  They’re in the Sweet 16 and I’m not the only one who expects them to win it all.  Coach Pitino is one of the top 3 coaches in the country.  Personally, if I were listing them in order, I’d place no one above him.

I’m probably one of the few people who honestly consider themselves to be a fan of EACH of the Kentucky schools.  I’ll be honest, when one of them is playing UK, my blood bleeds blue.  Even this year. What can I say, they’re my Cats and I support them win, lose, in the top 25 or out of the top 100.

I will say this, it’s sad to see the program so off its groove.  Tubby shouldn’t have been run out of town, period.  He should have been MADE to improve his offensive staff, I agree – but I’d give just about anything to have him back.

Oh, well, U of L’s still fighting and I honestly hope they win the whole thing.

My favorite time of year is about here, though, so it’s all good.  It’s time to start thinking about baseball (St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball!), grilling out, exploring Kentucky, visiting Land Between the Lakes, etc.  Fun times are right around the corner, fellow UK fans.  And there’s always next year?!

If you’re looking for tickets to the Sweet 16, click the link below and see what kind of a sweet deal you can find.  I hope U of L has scads of fans there to support them.  If you go, be sure to deck out from head to toe in red.  Dye your hair, paint your shoes, do this thing right.

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Last night, the Wildcats played an exhibition game against Ouachita Baptist and won 94-72.  I actually wasn’t on the sideline (or sofa) coaching during this game, so I’m not sure if the lack of blowout means…

1.  They were merciful – so they didn’t run up the score.
2.  They didn’t get “up” for this team – so they were unable to blow them away.
3.  They just don’t have it together – so they did the best they could.  A sign this may be another long season for us.

From what I’ve read, the officiating was pretty rotten, too – so, maybe we should all just forget this game ever even happened.

Now what game were we talking about?….

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He plans to make his decision by the end of the weekend.

Click HERE for the full story.

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Click HERE for a great article on Sporting News.com about the upcoming UK and U of L game. It’ll be interesting to see what our Kentucky schools have this season. Fingers crossed…

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