ATHENS, Ga. — Kentucky's sentimental Senior Day may be expanded to include a Junior Day for Patrick Patterson and Freshman Day for a group of talented first-year players this year. But no one would say for sure after UK beat Georgia 80-68 on Wednesday.
"Each situation is different, but I'll sit down and be honest with each and every one of them," UK Coach John Calipari said when asked if Patterson and/or several freshmen will join the seniors for Sunday's traditional sendoff.
Then Calipari added, "In most cases, you know what I'm going to say because I've done it my whole career."
Calipari noted the changing nature of college basketball in which highly talented players stay in college only one year. He had two such players at Memphis: Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans.
"We better sign four or five more guys," Calipari said. "Hopefully, they're as good as the group we just brought in.
"And after those guys leave, we're try to bring in four or five more. It's a different day and age. You don't have guys going three, four years anymore."
Patterson voiced the possibility that he could be the exception to that rule. He's on schedule to graduate and will fulfill his ambition of playing in a NCAA Tournament this year. So why would he come back?
"A ton of players do it," he said, noting that Tyler Hansbrough won a national championship as a senior with North Carolina.
When it was suggested such players as John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins probably would not be around to try for a NCAA championship next season, Patterson said that Eric Bledsoe and Darnell Dodson would be back.
"Coach Cal, being the great recruiter he is, he'll find players to fill the slots," Patterson said.
Wall tried to be non-committal. When reminded that Calipari said he would wrestle the freshman to make him enter the draft, Wall smiled and looked at the floor.
"This team is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Wall said. "I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts, then make a decision after the season's over."
'Tip-toe shots'
UK players explained their good shooting from the three-point line as not taking any "tip-toe" shots, meaning not taking a jump shot.
Calipari blamed himself for lightening the load in practice, leading to lazy shots.
"I've never coached a team this young," he said. "Two weeks ago, we started doing not as much competitive stuff. In shooting, we were maybe taking tip-toe shots."
Pep rally
The UK Alumni Club will play host to a pep rally on March 12 in Nashville. The pep rally will start 21/2 hours prior to UK's first game in the SEC Tournament. It will be at the Wildhorse Saloon (120 Second Ave. North).
The cost is $12 for pre-registered UK Alumni Association members and $15 for non-members and event walk-ups. Fans can register at www.ukalumni.net/sectournament or by calling (859) 257-7161. Contact Brad Bradshaw at brad@bradshawlitigation.com or Jill Smith at jhsmith@uky.edu or 859-257-8906 for more information.
The Greater Nashville UK Alumni Club will also play host a post-game party after Saturday's SEC Tournament semifinals at the Big Bang, located at 411 Broadway in Nashville. Show your UK game ticket stub for food and drink specials.
Herrmann attends
Pete Herrmann, who coached Georgia's team on an interim basis last season after the school fired Dennis Felton, attended the game.
Georgia's seniors — Albert Jackson, Ricky McPhee and Tyler Whatley — asked Herrmann to attend.
Etc.
Georgia entered the game tied for fifth place with South Carolina. Since both teams lost, the teams remained tied for fifth. That marked the first time Georgia had not been sixth and last by themselves since 2007. ... If this was Patterson's final SEC road game, he made it a memorable one. He had 17 points and 10 rebounds (his ninth double-double of the season and 30th of his career). He also equaled a season high of four blocks.
