Patrick Patterson

Kentucky basketball fans get their first look at highly-touted freshmen Patrick Patterson and Alex Legion tonight during UK's Big Blue Madness at Rupp Arena in Lexington. While most fans assume Patterson could easily be a starter, or at least the first interior player off the bench, and that Legion's scoring is badly needed, new coach Billy Gillispie is a little more non-committal on their roles going into preseason practice. "You would hope that guys can make an immediate impact as freshmen.

LEXINGTON – Kentucky handed East Tennessee State its final loss of the season in the NCAA Tournament last year and gave the Buccaneers their first setback in the season-opener for both teams Friday night at Rupp Arena. East Tennessee returned the core of its lineup from last season, including forward Isiah Brown who had a double-double with 25 points and 14 rebounds in an 88-65 loss to the Wildcats. Brown scored 11 points against DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson a year ago, but maneuvered better inside the post against Terrence Jones, Josh Harrellson and Elroy Vargas.

He knows his opinion won't be popular in Kentucky because the frenzy new coach John Calipari has created for UK basketball again with his top-ranked recruiting class. Yet college basketball analyst Larry Conley thinks losing guard Jodie Meeks to the NBA will impact the Wildcats more next year than others believe. "Don't get me wrong. I think they will be pretty good. The talent is good and John's ability to coach is a given. I think they will have a very good year," said Conley, a former UK player.

LEXINGTON -- Sometimes the Rupp Arena crowd might hurt Kentucky rather than help the Wildcats. Or at least that was the impression UK coach Billy Gillispie left after Wednesday's 73-64 win over Auburn. Several times during the game Kentucky fans voiced their displeasure when Michael Porter, Ramon Harris and Darius Miller passed up open shots even if most came with plenty of time remaining on the 35-second shot clock. "I think that our crowd is always panicky about that and I think that if a player is mentally weak then it would bother them, but it doesn't bother any of our guys," Gillispie said.

Richard Ray: It doesn't take a mental heavyweight to be able to see what's wrong with the Cats again this year. It's simply a huge lack of talent. While Tubby has made obvious recruiting mistakes, namely with Chris Loften and Corey Brewer who both wanted to come to Kentucky, those two mistakes by themselves isn't what has doomed our program. Other than those two, Tubby has recognized where the needed talent was. He just hasn't been able to get any of them. He offered scolarships to half of the North Carolina team, but was turned down by all of them.

Kentucky's next distination in the NIT has been determined. The Wildcats, which handed UNLV a 70-60 loss in the opening round of the tournament on Tuesday at Memorial Coliseum, will take on Creighton in the second round on Monday in Omaha, Neb. The Blue Jays advanced with a 73-71 triumph over Bowling Green Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and will likely be televised by ESPN. Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson is looking forward to extending the season, even if it means playing on the road.

LEXINGTON - Jodie Meeks told Kentucky teammate Perry Stevenson that "he was beat" after Kentucky's win at home over Auburn. He has good reason to feel that way. Meeks has led his team in scoring for Kentucky's last six games, including the 31 points he earned Wednesday at Rupp. Stevenson said he thinks "all the time" about how Meeks and sophomore Patrick Patterson need some help. Even though they make 30 points look easy, he said, it isn't when you do it game after game. Stevenson said he's trying to be that person, and with the 13 points he scored against Auburn, he might be on the right track.

LEXINGTON -- Josh Harrellson wants to be back at Kentucky next year. The problem is he doesn't know if knew UK coach John Calipari will want him on the roster or not. "I plan to be here unless he (Calipari) decides it would be best if I go," said Harrellson, who averaged 3.7 points, 2.5 rebounds and 9.4 minutes in 33 games last year after transferring to Kentucky. "I just have to try to keep impressing him so I can stay. " Harrellson knows Calipari's dribble-drive offense may not suit him. He seldom handled the ball last year and is not a fleet runner in the open court.

Sources have confirmed that the University of Kentucky has reached a deal with John Calipari to be the Wildcats' new basketball coach. No official announcement is scheduled today according to UK officials, but sources indicated Calipari will sign a $4 million per year contract anywhere in length from seven to 10 years. "It looks like eight years is going to be the magic number," said the source. Kentucky recruit Daniel Orton of Oklahoma has not heard from anyone at UK today about who will replace Billy Gillispie, who was fired Friday.

LEXINGTON -- Patrick Patterson helped himself with NBA personnel by the way he took his name out of the draft. The Kentucky sophomore announced last week that he was returning to UK rather than staying in the draft and Monday he noted that he didn't work out for teams because he didn't want to waste their time with his "heart" still at Kentucky. "I thought he did a fabulous job in the press conference," UK coach John Calipari said Wednesday. "I was blown away by his maturity and thought process.