He'll get his second chance to experience Rupp Arena on Saturday when the Commodores (11-3) open Southeastern Conference play against the Wildcats.
Ogilvy, who averages 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, is anxiously awaiting for his second game in Rupp and another matchup with talented UK sophomore Patrick Patterson.
"My family was here just before we went to Rupp last year and they were disappointed they didn't get to go and had to make the trip back home because they wanted to see it. It was tough to put in words and tell them what it was like," Ogilvy said.
When last season ended, some speculated that both Patterson and Ogilvy might take their skills to the NBA rather than return for their sophomore seasons.
"I came back because I knew the team we could have. Coach (Kevin Stallings) talked to me and we decided maybe I could raise my play and help my draft by coming back. I was also excited about our incoming freshmen class and the year I still think we will have," Ogilvy said.
"I don't know why he (Patterson) made the decision he did, but I know he's fun to play against because he plays so hard. There's nothing dirty or mean. He just comes right at you."
Stallings knows his team must give Ogilvy help inside with Patterson.
"He is a great competitor. He carried himself the way I appreciate players carrying themselves last year," Stallings said. "That is not overly demonstrative or talking or running his mouth. I thought he did everything in kind of a professional way. Then throw on top of that how good he is and I liked him a lot."
A solid challenge
Vanderbilt is coming off a 78-48 win at Massachusetts, but Stallings says Patterson and teammate Perry Stevenson present a difficult rebounding matchup for his team.
"They are so athletic and long even at their other positions, too. We are longer and more athletic than we have ever been. But it is a good challenge. They are a good offensive rebounding team," Stallings said.
"We have some real challenges with Kentucky. Rebounding certainly will be one of them. But that's what happen when you face good teams on the road, and Kentucky is a very good team."
Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie feels the same about Vanderbilt, which has a 5-1 record against UK the past three years and has won two of its last three games in Rupp Arena.
"Vandy has a really good point guard (Jermaine Beal) who lead the league in assists-turnover ratio last year. He is really shooting the basketball well from behind the 3. He has dramatically improved," Gillispie said.
Beal is shooting 47.1 percent from 3-point range this year and is ranked among the SEC statistical leaders in seven categories. He's also an 86 percent free throw shooter, has a team-high 48 assists and has 22 steals.
Ogilvy has also impressed Gillispie.
"He is one of the better centers in the league. I believe he averaged more points that Patrick last year," the Kentucky coach said. "He is really good player. He can play beyond the three and is a load inside. They do a really good job getting him the ball, too."
