The long dreadful off season is about to end again. We have seen the signs of the return. First there is the traditional Camp Wildcat for the privilege of being first in line to get tickets for Big Blue Madness. This year, we witnessed first year coach John Calipari participate in the Camp Wildcat in new and meaningful ways, as he continued to learn what it means to be the head man of the Big Blue Nation. Then we celebrate the Madness. Of course, we hang on every word we can read or hear from the mouths of the UK coaches and players, and this year, Coach Calipari gave us all many great words from which we can hang our hopes and dreams for 2009-10.

Finally, there is the annual Blue-White game which we witnessed last night on TV with over 14,000 in attendance at Rupp Arena for a team scrimmage. Again, just as Coach Calipari placed his unique imprint upon Camp Wildcat and the Big Blue Madness experience, he treated the Blue-White game as just another coaching clinic and teaching opportunity for his young players.

Coach Calipari is unlike any coach I have had the privilege of watching in my experience. Admittedly, my view of Coach Rupp at work was virtually non-existent, and reports of his coaching methods are legendary.

This last pre-cursor of the new season occurred on Wednesday evening, October 28, 2009. For the record, the Blues beat the Whites twice, as Coach Calipari juggled the team assignments after the first 20 minute game, and reset the score to 0-0 for a second 20 minute game. Now we all know it is time for basketball, and that means the first game against a real opponent, the first of two exhibition games.

The Cats invitied Campbellsville to participate in this annual ritual, the season's first exhibition game, and these teams will face off at Rupp Arena on Monday, November 2, 2009.

As noted at the beginning of recent basketball seasons, no one doubts which team will win these exhibition games. At issue in these games is an opportunity for the team to demonstrate its readiness for D1 opponents. It should be clear that these exhibition games, first against Campbellville, and the November 6, 2008 match up against Coach Calipari's Alma Mater, Clarion, must be viewed through the proper prism, but when so viewed, they can provide some insight into the season that will follow. My experience has been that these games will provide a positive indication for the season when UK's offensive efficiency exceeds 1.050 ppp for the two games combined, and the UK defensive efficiency is less than 0.605 ppp for the two games. With respect to pace, the season average will be significantly slower than the pace of these games. If UK is serious this season about increasing the pace of play, that should emerge in these games as a pace in excess of 100 possessions per game for the pair of games.

On the basis of these “hoped for” results in the exhibition games, I “predict” a UK win over Campbellsville by a score of at least 105 [Ky Minimum]-57 [Campbellsville Maximum], with UK to have at least 100 possessions.

Let the games begin.

First Half Summary:

Due to NCAA eligibility issues, Freshman John Wall cannot play in the exhibition game against Campbellsville or the regular season opening game against Morehead State. Calipari starts Freshmen Bledsoe, Cousins, and newcomer Sophomore Dodson with returning Sophomore Miller, and returning Junior Patterson. Two Freshmen, Two Sophomores, and one Junior. It will be interesting to see which of these players yield their starting spot for Wall in Exhibition 2 later this week.

The Cats open red hot, making their first 4 shots. Orton and Hood both entered the game during the initial segment. Four different Wildcats scored baskets, including a 3 pointer by Dodson. Defensively, CU made its one of two 3 point attempts, but only managed one other shot in the opening segment, turning the ball over 4 times. The Cats committed 3 early turnovers, the only negative aspect of this early segment of the game, and the Cats take an early lead, 9-3. The Cats expanded the a 36-11 halftime lead as CU only scored one more field goal after pulling to within 3 points at 9-6 at the 15 minute mark of the first half.

The Cats won the game 74-38.

UK scored its 74 points in a total of 87 possessions for the game, and CU scored its 38 points on a total of 90 possessions.

Kentucky dominated the boards, with a rebounding edge 43-33, but lost the battle of the offensive glass 13-14. The Cats used their second chance possessions with greater efficiency, winning the second chance points battle 17-7. CU had an offensive efficiency of 0.408 ppp on its 76 first chance possessions and 0.500 ppp for its 14 second chance possessions. UK had 0.770 ppp on its 74 first chance possessions and 1.308 ppp on its 13 second chance possessions. With respect to the offensive rebounding, UK grabbed a strong 40.6% of its misses as offensive rebounds while CU was able to convert 31.8% of its misses into bonus possessions with offensive rebounds.

UK hit well from the free throw line in this game, making 15-20 [75.0%]. CU made 8-15 [53.3%] for the game. Field goal shooting for UK was 28-56 overall [50.0%] and only 3-14 from long range [21.4%]. For CU, their field goal shooting from inside the arc was a poor 6-31 [19.4%] and from long range, CU hit 6-26 [23.1%].

Turnovers were in great supply in this game. The Cats committed a whopping 23 turnovers, one for every 3.8 possessions. The Cats forced 25 CU turnovers, one for every 3.6 possessions.

Post Game Analysis:

As noted prior to this game, UK's performance in these two exhibition games can provide an important glimpse into what may be in store for this team this season. The criteria I presented were:

• At least 1.050 ppp offensive efficiency for the two games combined. Tonight, the offensive efficiency was 0.831 ppp

• No more than 0.605 ppp defensive efficiency for the two games combined, and tonight the defensive efficiency was 0..427 ppp

• A Net Game Efficiency of at least 0.445 ppp for both games combined, and tonight the NGE was 0.404 ppp.

• At least 100 possessions for the game, and tonight, the Cats only had 87 possessions for the game.

Next Game On Schedule: Friday night, again at Rupp Arena, the Cats will take on Clarion in the second, and last exhibition game of the 2009-10 season

Submitted by Richard Cheeks