A Sea Of Blue, a Kentucky Wildcats community

"I say this very humbly, and I mean it," Pitino said. "There's not a doubt in my mind that I would not have won a championship with that basketball team. I didn't think it was a championship-caliber team."

The least-highly regarded of any player on this squad as far as the recruiting services are concerned, G.J. Vilarino (unranked Scout, Rivals, ESPN) probably had one of the best all-around performances of any of the 2009 high school players, which should give Kentucky fans some room for optimism that help is on the way.

• Daniel Orton is down to six schools — Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Kansas, Ohio State and Kentucky. The Wildcats are his early favorite. "I'm really interested in Kentucky and their program," said Orton. "I've known the coaches for a long time. Coach (Billy) Gillispie recruited my brother, and (Assistant) Coach (Glynn) Cyprien coached him at Oklahoma State."

Derrick Favors is the top prospect on the 2009 US team, but he’s looked average at best in the opportunities we’ve had to evaluate him. Their point guard GJ Vilarino has been a nice surprise, though.

# The University of Kentucky men's basketball staff has put together another Elite Camp, this one a one-day affair that will take place this Wednesday. It will be interesting to see who will make the trip for the Elite Camp. I assume because such a late notice to the kids there won't be a large number of players. But will Daniel Orton be there?
# If you read the story on UConnreport.com about Orton at the Connecticut Elite Camp is makes mention to another pending visit to UK. I assume that is for this elite camp.

I just this hour got back from Lexington. I watched the pickup games Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The guys are very, very fast. It's been a long time since we had a team this fast.

Scouting report on Patrick Patterson-

The University of Kentucky Wildcats have a player named Patrick Patterson. Here is a scouting report from the NCAA Hoops department here at TFDS who just happens to have some inside info:

Patrick Patterson is old for a college athlete, and has nearly zero vertical leap, and shoots free throws so bad he makes Shaq look automatic. He also smokes a pack or so a day, and rather than wearing the usual blue and white has been seen exclusively in Silver and Black.

Oh wait, thats me. Hopefully, my namesake can be a good player for the ‘Cats and help them make some noise. I’ll make him a deal, I’ll stay off the NCAA hardwood if he doesn’t try to take over TFDS.

In other news, Gillispie said that Jodie Meeks (sports hernia) and Patrick Patterson (stress fracture in left ankle) are "moving along very well" in recovering from injury.

Patterson is "way ahead of where anyone would have expected him to be," Gillispie said. Meeks is further along.

"For the first time in a while, Jodie's getting close to having no soreness," Gillispie said. "He's been back for a while playing and lifting and conditioning."

During a SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday, Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie declined to talk about the academic clouds hovering over his program.

The extend of my devotion to UK is a little scary. I still can't watch Christian Laettner's shot without freaking out (I'm only a little comforted by the fact that he did nothing in the NBA). I could never date Erin Andrews because she went to Florida, a huge character flaw. And I wasn't surprised by Tony Delk's 50-point game in the NBA.