GETTING INSIDE

More often than not, a coaching change reinvigorates a program.

Even considering that, few teams have undergone the transition Kentucky has made in the switch from Billy Gillispie to John Calipari.

The coaching change led to the reaping of one of the country’s top recruiting classes, headed by consensus No. 1 prospect John Wall, and the change probably brought back Patrick Patterson for at least one more season.

Jodie Meeks, last season’s top scorer, left for the pros … but that should be no concern, given what the Wildcats have on their roster.

Calipari’s arrival also has put new life into returnees such as DeAndre Liggins, who languished under Gillispie, not knowing if he was going to play or sit all night.

“He is inspired to be playing right now,” Calipari told the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Calipari has enough talent in his incoming recruiting class that he probably could start five freshmen and compete in the SEC, but he won’t. Certainly not with Patterson back.

Patterson averaged a tick under 18 points and more than nine rebounds a game last season and is a strong candidate for SEC Player of the Year.

Senior Perry Stevenson probably will hang on to his starting position because of his experience, and Liggins should earn a spot on the wing.

But two freshmen likely will find their way into the starting lineup soon. One is Wall, as long as his eligibility checks out. The other is DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-11 banger up front. But that doesn’t rule out others.

Newcomers may even have an advantage over some veterans.

A booster group asked Calipari if the returnees were fitting into his system.

“Some of them are,” he said, “but some of them are struggling,”

NOTES, QUOTES

• John Wall was the No. 1 recruit in the nation. In many ways, his game is anything but amateur. Coach John Calipari had said his play was more advanced at this stage than Derrick Rose or Tyreke Evans had been a few months into their freshman seasons.

On Oct. 22, a report called into question Wall’s eligibility and the SEC confirmed it has been looking into his status, as has the University of Kentucky. Wall’s AAU coach, Brian Clifton, is a certified agent. Scholarship athletes are prohibited from contact with player agents under NCAA guidelines.

With his amateur status in question, Wall is still allowed to practice with Kentucky. NCAA bylaws suggest a player who received monetary gifts or benefits considered “significant”—unofficial recruiting visits would fall under that umbrella—they will not be reinstated. If any player receives a benefit greater than $101, they could be suspended and asked to repay the gift in full.

Kentucky had no immediate comment on the report and said it wouldn’t comment on the eligibility of any player unless there was a change in status.

• Kentucky virtually played itself out of an at-large bid to the NCAA field last season when it lost five of its last six regular-season games, including the finale at home to Georgia, and then split two games in the SEC Tournament.

• F Patrick Patterson goes into his junior year with 1,002 points despite missing time in each of his first two seasons to injuries. He was the only SEC player to finish in the top five in scoring (17.9) and rebounding (9.4).

• F Perry Stevenson is known more for his shot-blocking and defense, but he scored in double figures in three of Kentucky’s last five games last season.

Last Year:   22-14 overall, 8-8 in the SEC; lost to Notre Dame in the third round of the NIT.

Head Coach:   John Calipari (career 445-140); first year at Kentucky.

Quote To Note:   “We haven’t played a game yet. The mountain we are supposed to climb is going to be very high. We have six new players and six returning players, who think, and rightfully so, it’s their turn to play.”—Coach John Calipari, at a boosters’ meeting, asked about the high rankings for his team.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Where does one begin? Coach John Calipari could very easily start five of his six newcomers and compete very well in the SEC Eastern Division. John Wall, a 6-4 guard, was a consensus pick as the No. 1 prospect in the country and scorned hometown N.C. State to join Kentucky after Calipari’s hiring. Other top backcourt prospects are 6-1 Eric Bledsoe, 6-7 Darnell Dodson (a sophomore junior college transfer) and 6-6 Jon Hood. Joining veteran Patrick Patterson up front will be 6-11 DeMarcus Cousins and 6-10 Daniel Orton. They won’t beat out Patterson, but could push Perry Stevenson.

Key Early-season Games:   Under Billy Gillispie, the Wildcats sustained some rather embarrassing home losses early in the last couple of seasons (Gardner-Webb, VMI). That isn’t likely to happen again, but they do have several tough assignments. They play Cleveland State, which upset Wake Forest in the NCAA Tournament last year, on Nov. 24 in the Cancun Challenge, with either Stanford or Virginia to follow. The Wildcats host North Carolina on Dec. 5, then play Connecticut in New York on Dec. 9 in the SEC-Big East Challenge. A trip to Indiana follows three days later. The annual tussle with instate rival Louisville is Jan. 2 in Lexington.

Program Direction:   How high is up? The Wildcats go into the season as the likely SEC favorite and will challenge for a Final Four spot. Their inexperience might keep them from a championship, but probably not for long if they stay together.

Probable Starting Lineup:   G John Wall, G DeAndre Liggins, F Perry Stevenson, F DeMarcus Cousins, F Patrick Patterson.

Roster Report:  

• G Mark Krebs, a walk-on in the past two seasons, received Kentucky’s 13th scholarship. The senior played in 13 games last season.

•  G Darius Miller could be overlooked, but both he and DeAndre Liggins, his sophomore classmate, should prosper under coach John Calipari.