In three days, it all begins.
Since John Calipari was hired as men’s basketball coach at Kentucky on April Fool’s Day, his impact on the program has been no joke.

From the time he was hired until practice began nearly a month ago, Calipari has taken the state from one end to the other by storm. He enters his first season with a lot of hype an expectation. It’s the kind of eagerness that has been lacking from program in more than a decade.
Although the Wildcats have had success in spurts since that time, Kentucky hasn’t been to a Final Four since the school’s national championship run in 1998. It’s the longest drought in more than three decades.

Kentucky fans are thirsty for a successful season, and more importantly a return to the national stage. It’s no secret Caliapri’s Cats are poised for a return to the top.
Big Blue Nation wants Kentucky to be relevant again and have a say in who wins the national title this year. That’s the way Kentucky fans have always wanted it. It’s what Calipari wants. The coach, the players, the administration and the faithful followers are on the same page.

The Calipari era officially begins Friday night when the Wildcats take on Morehead State at Rupp Arena.
As soon as he was hired, Calipari went out and recruited the best players available. What he got was an all-american candidate in John Wall, another point guard in Eric Bledsoe and a big man in DeMarcus Cousins.

Calipari entered the Bluegrass one of the nation’s top recruiters and quickly showed how he earned that reputation. Iit didn’t take him long to get the players he needed to help take the team to the next level.
Patrick Patterson decided to stay for another season, while sharpshooter Jodie Meeks departed Lexington for  Milwaukee. At the time, Meeks was considered a big loss, but Darnell Dodson has proved that he can shoot the basketball and should help ease the departure of Meeks when it comes to launching shots from long range.

Calipari’s first cast featuring Daniel Orton and Cousins gives Patterson more freedom to roam outside the paint, which will expand his range and help take his game to another level.
The return of Darius Miller, along with veterans Perry Stevenson and Josh Harrellson, make this Kentucky team one of the deepest the team has had since its national championship run in 1996. The mixture of veterans and the freshman recruiting class provides Calipari with a good mixture of talent entering his first season with the Wildcats.

Kentucky is getting back to fun again on the basketball court and it looks like good times are ahead.