UK vs UNC – State of the union address this Saturday

December 5th, 2009…..This date has been on everyone’s mind in the Big Blue Nation.

Dec. 5th, 2009…..this is the day that the Big Blue Nation gets to see 1st hand how their UK basketball program stacks up against the current elite programs.

We're playing Kentucky on Saturday? I'm going to need some rolaids!!

Dec. 5th, 2009…..this is the day that the UK mens basketball team squares off against Roy Williams and his North Carolina Tarheels.

This game is much bigger than just one game.  This one game is bigger than the rivalry between two of the most storied college basketball programs of all-time.  This one game is supposed to be the benchmark of this year’s program and of things to come for John Calipari and his Kentucky Wildcats.  This ONE game is supposed to right the ship for Kentucky basketball and bring the program back to prominence.  A win against North Carolina will let young prospects know that Kentucky is again relevant, and will once again reign as a national powerhouse to be reckoned with.

The Big Blue Nation has been waiting for this day since John Calipari landed this #1 ranked recruiting class.  Being embarrassed by missing the NCAA tournament for the 1st time in 17 years, Kentucky has much higher expectations this season.  With six new players and a new coach who is one of the best recruiters and embraces the notoriety, the Kentucky Wildcats have been touted as a team to watch.  With pre-season rankings as high as #2 in the country by some, many are ranking the team by pure talent alone.  It’s hard not to….they grabbed 5 of the top 50 prospects in the country, and with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins they landed the #1 & #2 prospects in the country.  If you’ve watched the Wildcats play this year, you’d understand if I say that I think the ranking is slightly inflated, solely based on talent.  BUT, this team will get better….MUCH BETTER.  They’ve showed signs of what they’re capable of doing.

These aren't your oridinary Wildcats Grandma!!

On Dec. 5th, 2009, John Calipari has a chance to undo all the negative that former coaches Tubby Smith and Billy Gillispie has tainted the program with in the last 10 years.  Tubby Smith’s lackluster recruiting and Billy Gillispie’s failure to get into the tournament can get swept under the rug with a great performance on Saturday.

Do you think Billy Gillispie would have landed me? Child pleaze...

A win against UNC on Dec. 5th will reaffirm UK’s spotlight in college basketball.  Although the winningest college basketball program, the last 10 years have been a Final-Four drought for the Big Blue Nation.  As Kentucky Basketball fans, we remember, we embrace & promote the success UK has attained.  BUT, to college basketball prospects, the history is there to see, but nothing significant has happened since they began playing the sport.  To put it in perspective, this year’s high school senior was 7 or 8 years old the last time UK played in the Final Four.  Don’t get me wrong, John Calipari is going to bring in big name talent on his own.  By making UK an immediate powerhouse will only make life easier for Coach Calipari and put the Big Blue Nation at ease.

A highly ranked UK basketball team coached by John Calipari that could defeat the North Carolina Tarheels would make a lot of the elite high school talent stand up and take notice.  That would be the perfect storm…..