Fans come to practice

With all of the hype being around basketball the past few weeks, Rich Brooks found a surprise around his first practice in pads..................fans. Kentucky fans lined three practice fields in which the Cats were performing. Brooks said he was very encouraged how good everyone looked in pads. He thought the pressure of performing in front of fans helped bring out a needed intensity.

With the RB depth looking weak at this point in camp, Brooks & Co. looked to a veteran star to help them out. Enter Trevard Lindley.

Another bright spot early in spring practice is the play of walk-on running back Coshik Williams, a redshirt freshman from Hiram, Ga., and the same high school program that produced star cornerback Trevard Lindley.

"He's a walk-on who Trevard helped us find," Phillips said. "At one of our practices last year, Trevard's brother brought us a DVD, and he looked really good on film. He wasn't being recruited at that time, and we convinced him to come and walk on.

A pleasant surprise to look for in the fall?

April 4th: On this date...

... in 1997, fans lined up outside of Rupp Arena to get a chance to welcome back National Championship runner-up Kentucky. Even though the Cats fell to Arizona, fans flocked to Rupp to see the 1997 runner-up banner raised to the rafters. The Cats, known as the Unbelievables, finished the 1997 season with a 35-5 record, then traitor Rick left.

Mike Pratt on Calipari

Larry Vaught has an in-depth discussion with Mike Pratt, assistant to Mitch Barnhart during the coaching hire. Pratt said the difference between Coach Cal and Billy G. are like night and day:

“He was very well prepared about what was good, bad and ugly about UK now and in the past,” Pratt said. “He asked all the right questions and I could tell he wanted to be there. That got me excited. He was so prepared that it jumped out and screamed at me that he wanted to be at Kentucky.”

Pratt never got that impression from Gillispie, who was 40-27 in his two years at Kentucky.

“I never had that same feeling that Billy was that way. I was not around him that much. I went to his first press conference and never got to meet him. I just watched and listened the last two years,” Pratt said. “I just never felt he was really comfortable with the job.”

That's a wrap

The most important scholarship of the Billy Gillispie era put out some news today. Dominique Ferguson, a top rated player from Indianapolis Lawrence North, is no longer committed to the Cats. This was the only signee I was worried about losing to tell you the truth. He has received plenty of calls from other schools. Two schools he was looking at in the past were Indiana and Louisville. Four of his teammates have committed to Louisville. He would not rule Kentucky out for his future, he simply said Calipari would need to recruit him over:

"Calipari is a great coach and he could fit into that system and excel," Deon Ferguson told The Courier-Journal. "Now, he has to recruit him. Just because he's the coach there doesn't mean he just has to go there. He's going to look at other options."

Coach Cal to take over as football coach?

Thanks Rich. I'll take it from here.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, your new basketball coach stopped by Spring practice today to present an olive branch to the big uglies. Calipari talked at the end of practice a bit about how it was important for everyone involved with UK Athletics to be one big family. PaPaw thanked the new coach for stopping by

"It was very nice for coach Calipari to come over and take the opportunity to introduce himself to the team," Brooks said. "All our players want to go out for the basketball team now.
"It's important for our whole department to work together - that nobody puts themselves above somebody else," Brooks said. "We're all in this together."

Shortly after that, Coach Cal was spotted "making it rain" with hundred dollar bills as he walked out of the Nutter Fieldhouse.

Ashley Judd approves this message

Ashley was on ESPN and the Dan Patrick show today keeping us in the spotlight.
Dan Patrick interview with audio segment.

Cal on Fox Sports South

John Clay's blog says that Cal is going to be featured on Fox Sports South tonight at 6:30 pm. My Tivo is already set.

April 3rd: On this date...

... just last year, over 3,000 fans gathered at Rupp Arena to celebrate the life of one "Mr. Wildcat", Bill Keightley. Mr. Keightley passed away March 31st, 2008, after complications discovered after a fall at Opening Day in Cincinnati. He was eulogized by many friends including Jeff Sheppard, Rick Pitino, Joe B. Hall, and Billy Gillispie. Hall said, "Bill Keightley outgrew his job as equipment manager and he left a void in this program that's going to be impossible to fill." I was actually with a group of friends the following Thursday in Cincinnati when, before the first pitch, they called for a moment of silence in Mr. Wildcat's honor. That says tons about how far reaching this man was to so many. What a great ambassador for the state of Kentucky and the Kentucky basketball program. He will be forever missed.

The First Practice

Eric Lindsey, of Cat Scratches, was able to attend last night's practice in what was mostly a feeling out session. The Cats are allowed to practice two hours/week until April 15 and last night practice went for about an hour and a half. The practice consisted of dribbling and layups. I cannot imagine a better place to start with this team. Here are a few of his observations:

• Coach Cal was intense, but very hands-on. Doesn't teach by yelling, stomping feet, or singling players out. A bit different from his predecessor.
• The first hour was all dribbling. The Cats were sloppy. He mentioned this has to change. Even the big's need to be able to handle the ball.
• Darius Miller will be a freak in this system. Perfect. A Kentucky Mr. Basketball has a new lease on life. From what I can tell Miller and Jon Hood have very similar games. This makes me smile.
• If you can't hit layups in practice, you won't be playing during the season.

Almost forgot. We're a Football School....right?

Spring football practice started April 1st. What a sly move by the man pictured above. He knew the Kentucky sporting world would be turned upside down on this day; therefore he and his boys moved secretly under the radar to get a head start on everyone. After the best recruiting class in my lifetime, PaPaw Brooks says this team should be ready to go come September. He is expecting huge dividends from incoming freshman. The schedule has set itself up to be a doozy though. Some highlights:

• PaPaw was selected for this year's Maker's Mark commemorative edition. You can get one starting Friday April 3.
• Randall Cobb is fully healthy and will take some snaps at QB, but will be used as a WR for the majority of the year.
• Derrick Locke will be available for workouts starting June 8th.
• Practices are open to media and fans. They are at the Nutter Training Facility unless noted otherwise. Practices might be moved inside the Nutter Field House in case of bad weather. Practice schedule.
• The Cats are returning 12 starters and 50 lettermen....lookin' tough......look...in'......tough.

Calipari on Jim Rome is Burning

The UK media blitz continues. Calipari chatted with Jim Rome today on ESPN and mentioned a few things:

• Anyone who wants out of their commitment with UK can leave.
• He will be flying back to Lexington tonight and having a practice with his new team. I'm thinking this will be more like tryouts. Anyone who wants to stay at UK next year, you better bring your "A" game.
• He talked with Daniel Orton and his family within the past 24 hours and the meeting went well. Calipari told the Orton's he was under no obligation to come to UK, but would love to have him.
• Coach Cal also said if he saw Christian Laettner lying on the ground, he would stomp on his chest and feel good about it.

Oh, and 8th grader Michael Avery de-committed as well. Be glad John Calipari is not your boss.

....And Dakotah Euton de-committed today.

Xavier Henry decision postponed

Xavier (pronounced ZAH-vee-ay) Henry has decided to take a visit to the University of Kentucky before he announces where he will play basketball in the fall. Reports had surfaced he would decide Thursday afternoon, but after the McDonald's game last night Henry said:

"We'll probably set up a visit date up at Kentucky and Kansas and we'll meet with everybody and I'll choose a school from there," Henry told reporters at the McDonald's game Wednesday.

Good news for the Cats? Saying you'll at least visit us before you make a decision is better than a decision today.

April 2nd: On this date...

... in 1996, the Best Team in the History of the World-ables returned to Lexington and Rupp Arena to hang banner #6 to a packed house. Following a police escort, the Untouchables drove into Rupp in a motor coach. Mark Pope was first off the bus carrying the NCAA trophy. The nearly perfect season ended without a hitch as the players walked to one end of the arena at the end of the ceremony to hoist the banner forever into Rupp's rafters. If you'd like to relive this magical run, check out the recap from Sports Illustrated's vault. Enjoy.

Yesterday April 1st: On this date...

... in 1996, Kentucky ended an 18 year NCAA Championship drought, by knocking off Syracuse 76-67. Tony Delk, who was named Most Outstanding Player, hit a record-tying seven 3-pointers in the final. Freshman Ron Mercer added 20 points and Walter McCarty had a key tip-in to stretch UK's lead to four coming down the stretch. The '96 team finished the season 34-2, 16-0 in the SEC, including a 27-game win streak. The win streak was ended in the SEC Championship to Mississippi State -- a loss that every single UK fan would say to this day was a good thing. Seriously, go ask someone.

Recruits Beware

So, this is how its going down? Wow. The first 36 hours of John Calipari's coaching tenure has been eventful on the recruiting front. G.J. Vilarino has spoken to the new UK coach and has decided it would not be in his best plans to come to the University.

Konner Tucker (2009), G.J. Vilarino (2009, and K.C. Ross-Miller (2010) have all decided to reopen their recruitment within the last 24 hours.

Here is a breakdown of the current scholarship players, walk ons, and signees.
Scholarship
1 Darius Miller G/F 6-7 223 Fr.
2 Kevin Galloway G 6-7 215 Jr.
3 Ramon Harris F 6-7 218 Jr.
4 Michael Porter G 6-3 198 Jr.
5 AJ Stewart F 6-7 218 So.
6 Perry Stevenson F 6-9 207 Jr.
7 Jodie Meeks G 6-4 208 Jr.
8 Donald Williams G 6-3 205 Fr.
9 Matt Pilgrim F 6-8 233 Jr.
10 DeAndre Liggins G 6-6 202 Fr.
11 Patrick Patterson F/C 6-9 235 So.
12 Josh Harrellson F 6-10 265 So.
Walk-ons
13 Matt Scherbenske G 6-1 178 Jr.
14 Landon Slone G 6-3 188 Fr.
15 Adam Delph G 6-1 161 Fr.
16 Mark Krebs G 6-5 207 Jr.
17 Mark Halsell G 5-11 182 Fr.
18 Dwight Perry G 6-1 173 Jr.
Signees
19 Daniel Orton C 6-10 260 * * * * *
20 Jon Hood G/F 6-6 185 * * * *
Possible New Recruits
21 DeMarcus Cousins PF 6-9/250 * * * * *
22 John Wall PG 6-4/184 * * * * *
23 Xavier Henry SG 6-6/210 * * * * *
24 Will Coleman PF 6-9/230 * * * *
25 Nolan Dennis SG 6-5/185 * * * *
26 Darnell Dodson SF 6-7/215 * * * *

Show us you best Wildcat, Cal!

ESPN just released a report on the incentives in Coach Calipari's newly signed contract.

Cat Scratches also has interviews with Pat, Jodie, and Darius. Good stuff. Pat and Jodie said their decisions should come soon. I'm guessing that to be a good thing.

Give me that Filet-O-Fish

McDonald's All-American game update:
DeMarcus Cousins, who had only verbally committed to Memphis, now has Kentucky as his leader in the clubhouse. Cousins ended with 14 points tonight. Xavier Henry, the other big time Memphis recruit, had 14 as well. Henry will announce his decision Thursday afternoon. Kansas seems to be the front-runner.

The experts are weighing in...

I bet you have been thinking to yourself, "I wonder what Bow Wow thinks of all this?"



You're welcome.

Afternoon Links

You're contract was only for $30 million. April Fool's!

Larry Vaught says the hiring of John Calipari might just help in bringing "the big two" back next year. It's also no lock any of the Memphis guys come east to Lexington.

Matt Jones at KSR lets us know how the scholarship situation breaks down for the 2009-2010 season.

John Clay shows us the Calipari contract and signature (for all the haters.) He's also doing a live chat tonight at 8:00 pm.

Not only did Jon Hood win Mr. Basketball yesterday, he also texted John Wall, letting him know where he thought Wall should go to school.

Xavier Henry and DeMarcus Cousins play in the McDonald's All-American game tonight at 8:00pm on ESPN.

Excuse me Coach Cal, can you pass the Kool-Aid?

Well, that went well. John Calipari was announced as the new coach this morning at a press conference at the Craft Center. He was flagged by the two happiest men on the planet in Dr. Lee Todd and AD Mitch Barnhart. What started as a train wreck last week officially ended in the biggest schmoozefest in 20 years. And to tell you the truth, everything feels right again in the universe.

The only thing Kentucky fans want in their lifetime is to be catered to and have their ego stroked. He mentioned the great tradition, the banners, named a minimum of ten former UK greats, talked about how he'd always wanted to coach here, gave a shout-out to Mr. Wildcat, and gave Alan Cutler hell. John Calipari passed the UK fan test with flying colors this morning. Finally, we have a car salesman leading the UK basketball program again. Mitch Barnhart and Lee Todd should be given as much credit today as they got crap last week. If this marriage doesn't work out, the person to blame is the person staring at you in the morror. This hire was as much about reuniting the UK fan base as it was hiring a basketball coach.

I've been away from the computer for most of the past two afternoons and should be back in Lexington today.