Calipari's 2009-10 Kentucky Wildcats #4 in first AP and #5 in ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls

They need to give out an award every year called the MIT (Most Improved Team).  I feel pretty confident that UK would win that award this season.  John Calipari coming in with the #1 recruiting class on any planet on any universe.  Yes, I checked.  The Cats are playing loosey goosey and are having fun while playing fast and usually good basketball for pre-Halloween.

The polls just came out this morning and UK is ranked #4 by the Associated Press {including 3 first place votes} and #5 on the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.  Not bad for a team that played in the NIT last year.


Associated Press Poll 2009-2010

1. Kansas (55)
2. Michigan State (5)
3. Texas (1)
4. Kentucky (3)
5. Villanova
6. North Carolina (1)
7. Purdue
8. West Virginia
9. Duke
10. Tennessee
11. Butler
12. Connecticut
13. California
14. Washington
15. Michigan
16. Ohio State
17. Oklahoma
18. Mississippi State
19. Louisville
20. Georgetown
21. Dayton
22. Georgia Tech
23. Illinois
24. Clemson
25. Minnesota



2009 USA TODAY/ESPN Top 25 Preseason Coaches' Poll
Outlook by USA TODAY's Jack Carey.

1. Kansas (27-8)
2. Michigan State (31-7)
3. Texas (23-12)
4. North Carolina (34-4)

5. Kentucky (22-14)
Outlook: Coach John Calipari's arrival in Lexington has already paid dividends with a standout recruiting class, led by backcourt prodigy John Wall and post player DeMarcus Cousins, although Wall's eligibility for the start of the season is in question. F Patrick Patterson is back to pace the veterans. There should be no NIT talk around the Bluegrass State this season. Opens: Nov. 13 vs. Morehead State (ESPNU, 6:30).

6. Villanova (30-8)
7. Purdue (27-10)
8. Duke (30-7)
9. West Virginia (23-12)
10. Butler (26-6)
11. Tennessee (21-13)
12. California (22-11)
13. Washington (26-9)
14. Connecticut (31-5)
15. Michigan (21-14)
16. Oklahoma (30-6)
17. Ohio State (22-11)
18. Minnesota (22-11)
19. Mississippi State (23-13)
20. Georgia Tech (12-19)
21. Georgetown (16-15)
22. Dayton (27-8)
23. Louisville (31-6)
24. Clemson (23-9)
25. Syracuse (28-10)

Download the 2009-2010 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Schedule in Microsoft Excel

Every year I always like to not only have UK's basketball schedule, but have it in Excel so I can add columns to it.  I've done this again this year. The only difference this year is that I am sharing it with others.  For FREE no less.  That's how us UK fans are, right? 

Just click on the image below to download the UK's basketball schedule in Microsoft Excel:

Enjoy the schedule and the season.

I need a new jack-o-lantern design for this Halloween

I need your help. I need a new design for this year's jack-o-lantern for Halloween.  I don't think my wife would like a Calipari jack-o-lantern, so that's out.  Anyway, I would like any of your suggestions.  My previous designs are below.

This is the first design that I did in '04 and '05. I was going for the big scary face. After two years I moved on.

In '06 I did this one. I turned the degree of difficulty up a little. The little kids seemed to really like the bat.

In 2007 I did the most difficult so far, "The Headless Horseman". I felt I had to throw in the bat again. It's all about the kids.

So, if there are any suggestions you could give me, I would greatly appreciate it. I am open to about anything, so bring it on. Maybe jack-o-lanterns you've done or others you have seen. You can send me pictures, patterns, or even your own description of great ideas. Thank you.

Calipari unleashes CoachCal.com, new Facebook page and book

from wildcatdcorner.com

UK Coach John Calipari is proving to be the busiest man in sports. He is not only recruiting and coaching, but he is seems to be techno savvy and is everywhere on the internet. I mean everywhere. Not only does the prolific tweeter have almost half a million (as of today) on Twitter, but he now has a website and a new Facebook account. Oh, did I mention he has a book coming out soon.

The new website coachcal.com contains articles, videos and a blog. It is free, but it has various memberships to sign up for which does cost money. The proceeds will benefit the Calipari Family Foundation For Children. When the season starts it ought to be a great place to learn all things UK basketball.

Become a fan of Coach Calipari's Facebook page. There are almost 20,000 fans of that page already.

Lastly, he has a book coming out on Sept. 1 called Bounce Back: Overcoming Setbacks to Succeed in Business and in Life.

Like myself you probably can't wait for basketball season to start. With the about outlets you can get your Calipari fix in many different ways.