07-1 Preseason Forecast

BIG BLUE FANS FOR

BASKETBALL

2007-08 Season Analytical Writings

02
A LOOK FORWARD TO 2007-08

Just as the failure to address the Tubby Smith coaching situation dominated the fan chatter during the summer of 2006, the chatter during the summer of 2007 has been dominated by the anticipation of the Billy Clyde Gillispie era of Kentucky basketball. This excitement was sparked by first by UK Basketball's very own Independence Day, March 22, 2007, and the spark ignited the kindling on April 6, 2007 when Clyde arrived in Lexington to accept the job of restoring the long and great traditions of UK Basketball.

All UK fans understood immediately that Clyde Gillispie was special. His passion for the game matched the passions of Coaches Rupp and Pitino. He freely embraced the high expectations that characterize the UK Basketball program rather than shy away from the demands that such expectations create. In short, Clyde Gillispie started his tenure at UK by SAYING all the right things.

So, the chatter began on April 6, 2007, and has not died down since. In fact, that chatter became a steady drone by early May as Clyde's early recruiting efforts landed Alex Legion, and turned to a full Wildcat roar when Patrick Patterson elected to cast his lot with Clyde and the UK Wildcats. That Wildcat Roar has only become louder and more sustained through the summer of 2007, especially so as Big Blue Madness approached. In addition, Clyde has secured significant recruiting commitments for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 classes, as his recruiting efforts appear to be a non-stop effort.

Saying the right things is only part of the equation for Kentucky basketball fans, but Clyde has done all the right things ever since his arrival. His ACTIONS have fanned those early embers into a roaring fire of Wildcat anticipation.

There was the infamous Billy Gillispie “Boot Camp” with reports of the impact that this process had upon our players' conditioning, strength, and ATTITUDES. We learned that prior to the Big Blue Madness display for the fans, Clyde ran his team through a rigorous two-hour practice session, an unprecedented move to my personal memories. Subsequent to the Big Blue Madness, we have read and heard reports of the aggressiveness that marks Clyde's practice sessions, characterized this pre-season by broken noses and other bumps and bruises.

Finally, the time has arrived for this group of Wildcats to turn their aggression on for a real opponent, this time in the first Exhibition Game of the unfolding 2007-08 season, Pikeville College.

UK ended the 2006-07 season 22-12 with a loss in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. From that team, UK loses Randolph Morris [NBA Free Agent], Lukasz Obrzut [Graduation], Bobby Perry [Graduation], and Sheray Thomas [Graduation]. These losses will leave UK with Bradley [6-1 Sr.], Crawford [6-4 Sr.], Carter [7-2 Jr.], Coury [6-8 So.], Jasper [6-6 So.], Meeks [6-4 So.], Porter [6-2 So.], Stevenson [6-9 So.], Harris [6-7 So.], and four freshmen, Williams [6-11], Stewart [6-8], Legion [6-5], and Patterson [6-9].

In addition to these 13 scholarship players, Clyde has attracted several walk-on players to supplement the roster and provide greater depth for the upcoming season. Typically, fans regard walk-on players with a collective yawn, and then let them quickly slip from their minds. However, Clyde's history at Texas A&M suggests that this Corps of walk-on players are not simply window dressing. His past suggests that some if not all of these players will get playing time, and many of them will score in games and contribute to the team's success in ways not seen at UK since the days of Coach Rupp. The walk-ons as of today are Matt Scherbenske [6-0 So.], Mark Krebs [6-5 So.], Kerry Benson [6-5 Fr.], and Dwight Perry [6-0 So.].

Just one year ago, the season began amidst fan skepticism because the program was in an obvious state of disarray after the head coach has managed to survive a serious attempt to move him out. What a difference a year makes. This year, the season unfolds amidst the greatest anticipation of any season in a decade.

It is truly Billy G's Town now.

Submitted by Richard Cheeks

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