Before I go to bed...

I just have to show some love and much deserved credit to a few more guys on the team and also make a few comments to end the day on. We've talked all about Patterson, Cousins, and Wall....but how about DeAndre Liggins?

When everybody talks about the tremendous job John Calipari has done this season, everyone brings up how well he has handled this superstar freshman class and has kept everyone happy and playing well together. It is very under appreciated how good of a job he has done with the returning players that were already on the team under Billy Gillispie and the amazing improvements they've made under their new coach.

As I have stated before, Patrick Patterson's numbers aren't as high, but he is an overall better and more versatile player under Calipari and has discovered an outside shot. Darius Miller was not much of a factor at all last season and has been a contributor and starter for much of this season. Ramon Harris no longer hurts us, but helps us with his rebounding when he comes into games this year and has also improved his outside shot, and I can even bet you that Josh Harrelson and Perry Stevenson are better players than they were a year ago, but they just happen to play on a much better team and don't get the same minutes and opportunities. However, the most pleasant surprise has definitely been DeAndre Liggins.

Liggins' success this season did not come easily. In fact, he did not even appear in a single minute this season until the Indiana game likely because of disciplinary reasons. However, he and Daniel Orton are now the first two guys off of the bench, almost every game. In the last four games, DeAndre has scored 9, 5, 7, and 8 points respectively in each game coming off of the bench. He also has the team's highest three point shooting-percentage at 10 of 17 on the season. Last year, Liggins' biggest problems were his shooting and attitude- now, they're two of his biggest assets and I guarantee you the difference is the way that John Calipari has positively handled him as opposed to the tactics of his old coach. Under Calipari, practices are all about skills. Under Gillispie, it was all about "toughness". Being tough was more important than developing skilled players under the old regime.

Liggins has not only improved his shot, but he's accepted his new role as a scrappy player off the bench. He gives the Cats a burst of energy every time he comes into the game. He dives for loose ball's and retrieves almost all of them. He doesn't resemble the selfish player he was a year ago in any way, shape, or form and his hard work will pay off next year when he will have a much bigger role on the team. Liggins, perhaps, is the most clear example of why John Calipari is the no-brainer choice for National Coach of the Year. He not only brought quite possibly the best recruiting class in the history of the game to Lexington in his first season, but he has coached them up very well, both the freshman and the returning players.

P.S.- It's absolutely incredible that Pat Forde did not pick Calipari as one of his Top 4 choices for National Coach of the Year, but should we really be surprised? His opinion is worthless. Be sure to check back tomorrow as I will preview the ESPN College Gameday appearance at Rupp!

Adolph Rupp is looking down and loving what he sees!

John Calipari became the first UK coach since Adolph Rupp in 1931 to start out 10-0 in his first season in what is possibly the most coveted job in all of college sports. He's doing it with speed, talent, hard work, focus, and discipline....just how Coach Rupp used to. Also like Coach Rupp, Calipari has a lot of controversey and false accusations surrounding him and his wins. Nobody likes a winner, and when other teams' fans are taking shots at Kentucky, it usually means one thing: all is well in Big Blue Nation.

In this case, it means "weee're baaack"- and win number 2,000 is just two games away!

In the last few years, Rupp probably wanted to roll out of his grave and have a word or two with Billy Gillispie, but now the legendary coach can rest in peace along with his friends, Caywood, and the one we affectionately knew as Mr. Wildcat. The Cats have beaten three schools who have won a combined 12 National Championships in an 8 day stretch, and all is well once again in Big Blue Heaven.

Not only did the Cats beat one of their biggest rivals on the road today in their first true road game to stay unbeaten, but they did it in convincing fashion. Indiana played their hearts out and punched the Cats right in the mouth early with a 9 point lead and Assembly Hall was rockin. They shot over 60% from the field and behind the arc as well in the first half, but UK kept knocking down shots as well, almost like a never-ending game of HORSE, and went into halftime with a one point lead. Indiana had tried to slow the game down and force the Cats to get into their halfcourt offense as opposed to running and pushing the ball up the floor, but the Cats slowed it down just a little bit and their halfcourt offense looked as efficient and well-run as it has all year.

It was probably their best overall performance of the season as a balanced scoring attack defeated Indiana 90-73. Five Wildcats scored in double figures and Darius Miller added a solid 7 points. Eric Bledsoe led the way with 23 points and Patrick Patterson had yet another double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. It was the first great game Bledsoe has had since the very beginning of the season when he was the team's starting point guard while John Wall was sitting out. When both Bledsoe and Wall are playing at their full potential together, on the court at the same time, this team is unstoppable. There simply isn't an effective way to defend these two guys when they are both playing under control and making shots while Patterson and Demarcus Cousins combine for their typical 20 rebounds in the post.

Demarcus Cousins grew up a little bit today too as he was in a situation that could have potentially started a fight. He simply put his hands up and walked away after tangling up with a Hoosier while battling for a loose ball. Even the turnovers were limited to only 13, which is pretty good considering the fast paced offense that we run. Wall had eight assists and only one turnover. There was hardly anything to get upset with today about the Cats' performance. Even Coach Cal was pleased!

"He actually said we were 10-0 today," freshman forward DeMarcus Cousins said. "I guess he was worried about that three game streak. We knew we were a good team but we're trying to prove it to everyone else." Coach Calipari said we would find out where we are as a team after this 3 game stretch. We did, indeed, learn how good this team is and it's probably better than most thought, even with the sky high expectations. It's been a while since we've heard much from Pat Forde. Interesting, huh? Now, the Cats must continue to bring it each night against lesser competition until that January 2nd matchup with "you know who".

Gameday News and Notes

First of all, Happy Halloween, and wear your black tonight at Commonwealth! The official black-out t-shirts can be found all around town. Wish I had a picture of them but they're nice.

Before we get into football, I just want to share with everyone that I seriously think I have more journalism skills in my left pinky finger than Pat Forde has in his entire body. Once again, Forde tried to make something out of nothing out of the John Wall situation. He will miss one exhibition game (against Campbellsville) and one regular season game (against Morehead) and will pay back the money that his AAU coach gave him (while he had no money and his mother was sick).

It was never a big story but Forde tried to make it one. Like Cal said...about 20 players are going through the same thing right now, including a Duke recruit. The funniest part of the whole story was how he tried to blame it on Calipari when the supposed recruiting visits to UK occured in 2007. Ofcourse, Calipari must have known he was going to be UK's coach in a few years. He must have set this all up while he was at Memphis, right? Too bad I'm not best friends with Rick Pitino so he could get me a job at ESPN. Seriously, how do they continue to let someone so biased with an obvious agenda work at a place like ESPN?

Anyway, I wish I could write more about the football game tonight, but it's about time for me to get ready and head out there. I promise I will give a good game recap and summary on Sunday. But for now, here are a few game notes:

• LB Micah Johnson is probable and CB Trevard Lindlay is doubtful. We need the All-Americans 100% healthy by the time we wrap up the season with Georgia and Tennessee. But I have a feeling we are going to need Micah's efforts tonight and will be out there. He may not start though.

• We also need either Fidler or Newton to step up and be the primary Quarterback along with Randall Cobb in the wildcat. Three QB's is just too many and the offense seemed to be a little bit disoriented in the Louisiana-Monroe game with so many changes. I hope Newton steps up, because he is the future, but either one of them needs to step up and if neither does, Cobb may play more often at Quarterback.

• Cobb enters tonight's game with 2 passing touchdowns, 11 rushing touchdowns, 6 receiving touchdowns, and 1 kickoff return touchdown. He is the most versatile player in the nation, and only a sophomore! The next few years are going to be fun, and if Kentucky utilizes him more often in the wildcat, he could get some serious Heisman consideration as a Senior.

• This might be the biggest game of the year tonight. The UK/Miss State game has developed into a game where both teams NEED to beat each other each year to position themselves for bowl season and usually the game is very close, but the Cats seem to find ways to win in this series. Expect it to come down to the wire. Last season, the Cats won off of a missed extra point. I think it will be something similar this year with the Cats winning by less than 7 off of an MSU miscue and Randall Cobb will make some big plays as well to give the Cats a nailbitter victory. Commonwealth will be rockin tonight.

• Will I be able to tick-or-treat in the parking lot? Anyone bringing candy? I've got to go.