(This year's Big Blue Madness will be the center of college basketball on Oct. 16th)
The anticipation of October 16th, a date whose importance is growing ever larger is now just fifteen days away. With only weeks left, Big Blue Madness will be upon us and basketball season will officially begin. There will no doubt be thousands of eyes focused in on the city of Lexington that night as the new look Kentucky Wildcats will take the Rupp Arena floor for the very first time.
The anticipation for many of the Cats fans out there has to do with new head coach John Calipari and what he has done to turn around a faltering program. It has been the main headlines in college basketball for half a year now and it will finally become a reality. Kentucky has its history; no doubt about it, but I’m starting to realize that to be relevant in sports, it’s what have you done for me lately that comes up. UK hasn’t been relevant in basketball for several years, dating back to Tubby Smith’s tenure. All of that changed the day John Calipari said he was taking the Kentucky head coaching job.
The program was indeed faltering, whether some would have admitted it then or not. The recruiting was mediocre, bringing in talent that really was not capable of playing major-SEC college basketball. It isn’t a knock on the kids in any way, but instead of the coaching staff that watched from the sidelines. Former head coach Tubby Smith’s time here spilled over to Billy Gillispie’s and that lead to even more disaster. Player/coach relationships were in shambles, the fans were becoming restless, and University of Kentucky administrative officials were starting to cringe every time their new coach would do anything.
We stand here now, with another new head coach, only two years after Gillispie. He’s had his fair share of criticism and in-house problems in recent months but no one coach and no one situation could bring the kind of feeling that John Calipari has brought to UK. The fans are abuzz and amped up for Big Blue Madness and what Calipari’s past has presented is quickly forgotten for thoughts of better things to come. As Cats fans; young, old, college and graduated alike, stand outside of Memorial Coliseum waiting for BBM tickets, it couldn’t feel any better to have basketball season ahead of us because the ’09-’10 seasons are going to be special.
Football is fun, but let’s not kid ourselves. It really is a hold-over until basketball season starts. That’s just the way it is.
Comments
Please Tubby Smith did just fine at UK. Billy would have done just fine however, the crazy administration and fans wanted him gone. CAL will not do any better. The media just blows everything up. Tubby is doing just fine where he is at now and Billy will land another position and do even better. I am a former UK fan.
I know the people camping out there are now strong and smelly because they have not had any baths. Crazy
I'm from Kentucky. I'm not to excited about this season. I'm so sick of this John Calipari. Billy would have done a lot better if it wasnt for the crazy fans and the rich boosters. Im glad he is getting the help he needs and I hope he gets better. I wouldnt want those UK tickets if they give them to me. I'm getting tired of you haters dogging Billy. Sink Big Blue!!!
GO CATS GO !!! A new era is just beginning for UK. Pay no attention to the naysayers.
I thought Tubby was a great coach, trust me. But this is a totally different feeling than any UK fan has felt in years. The last time it was even close was in '05 when UK lost to Michigan St. I wouldn't be a 'former' UK fan this year because it's all about to change.
Wow. You get some interesting comments. Why would a "former" UK fan be reading stories about UK? I'm not aware that the "crazy fans" tried to lock Jode Meeks in a bathroom stall at halftime of a game..
The "former UK fan" was never really a UK fan because real UK fans never and I mean never turn their backs on the school. Real fans know what I mean. And also, doing just fine sounds like "just getting by" when striving to improve and be the best is what everyone in any endeavor should do. Coach Cal right the ship.
Melodie and April must be on crack; Did you not hear? We have the greatest recruiting class in basketball this year, and possibly of all time! Bring on the competition. These guys are men, not college freshman! I cannot wait to see how the country reacts when KY dominates teams this year.
Kentucky basketball is the reason the world goes around.
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