Insider @ YDF: UK Student-Only Practice

Calipari has done it again: Holding a student-only practice at Memorial Coliseum to give UK students a look inside his self-proclaimed "classroom." Before the practice began, Coach Cal came out and gave a 5 minute speech/instruction for everyone to turn off their cell phones and remain quiet during practice, or he will call you out. 

Then he put down the mic, and "On on U of K" began to play. Needless to say, it got real hype. Assistant Coaches (no big deal) Tony Delk, Rod Strickland, Scott Padgett and another, assumed to be UK recruit Doron Lamb were the first to walk out and received a standing ovation. However, there were no chants for Lamb because that turd sandwich Pat Ford* would probably go write a shitty article about rule violations.

Then the team came running out and everyone in the place got goosebumps. All I could think about was this team coming out of the tunnel at Rupp here in a few weeks; and then in Madison Square Garden, Knoxville, Gainesville, Rupp for UNC AND Louisville AND Senior Day, Catlanta, and then in Indianapolis at the FINAL 4. Lexington is going nuts this winter and I can't wait. 

You have to be hype about a starting line up that boasts: 3 NBA Lottery Picks (Wall, Big Cuz, P-Pat), 5 star PG (Bledsoe), and U-20 Team USA member (D.Miller). Then the first three off the bench are 5 star Center (Daniel "Nighthawk" Orton), 5 star Small Forward (Liggins) and the ambidextrous top ranked JUCO Player (Dodson). Add to the mix a big white guy hitting 3's (Jorts), KY's own white boys (Hood and Krebs) and some senior leadership on the bench (Razor and Perry) and  that's why we are going to win the title and probably go undefeated. Seriously, this team is so sick.

***5 star ratings based off Rivals.com, not stupid ass ESPN who had John Wall as the #5 overall player.

A few notes from the practice:

• This team is really fast and they dunk ALOT, like everytime down the court, mostly with alley oops....off the backboard
  
• Cal told all the players to look at Patrick to see how hard they should be running. He is the anchor and his jersey will be retired in Rupp one day.
  
• Almost all the drills included full court sprints with a lay up at the end. One drill that stood out for me was the full court touch passes between Big Cuz and Daniel Orton. These big guys definitely have soft touch and great passing ability.
• John Wall and Bledsoe WILL start together. They are sick. Get Ready.
• This team's defense is going to be SMOTHERING to say the least. During the 4-on-4 half-court defensive pressure drill, P-Pat, Big Cuz, Wall, and Bledsoe were on the same team aaaaaannndd it was awesome.
• Not much 3 point shooting in the practice, but I think Dodson, Miller and Harrelson will step up this season and consistently knock down 3's.
• Our assistant coaches are great, Orlando Antigua stays crunk.
• John Wall and P-Pat are definitely the leaders. John Wall stepped up in front of the team before one drill and demanded chest bumps when they finished. 
• Coach Cal is positive with everything he says. He said, "If you run slow, I won't get mad at you, you will just go again. So if you want to go 7 times in a row, slack off and don't run your hardest. We need players pulling this team forward everyday in practice, not pulling  backwards dragging us down."
• D. Miller looks like he has been in the weight room all summer
• John Wall is UNREAL 

It's going to be a great season, there's a lot of work to do, but we have enough talent to make it to the Final Four. Calipari is the Grand Poo Bah. GO BIG BLUE!