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Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

The buzz is back.

That may as well be the slogan for Kentucky Wildcats basketball 2009-10.

After what have been, by UK's regal historical standards, four straight mediocre seasons, the arrival of a charismatic new coach and a lavishly hyped influx of new players has the Kingdom of the Blue on fire with anticipation.

What I call "Buzz Teams" — squads around which a fevered level of pre-season excitement form — are hardly unique in UK basketball history.

Let's use our "Buzz Evaluator" to examine how this year's Cats compare to other hyped teams from UK's modern history.

Season: 1983-84

Buzz Generator: The return of Sam Bowie after two missed seasons due to leg injury; the addition of highly touted freshmen Winston Bennett and James Blackmon. They joined a deep roster that included Melvin Turpin and Kenny Walker up front with Jim Master and Dicky Beal in the backcourt.

Outcome: The Cats went 29-5, swept the SEC regular season and tourney championships and made the Final Four. There, a puzzling 3-for-33 shooting performance in the second half caused a loss to Patrick Ewing and Georgetown.

Buzz Evaluator: Final Four meltdown left a bad taste.

Season: 1987-88

Buzz Generator: Return of star forward Winston Bennett from a knee injury and addition of a No. 1 recruiting class that included Eric Manuel and LeRon Ellis. They boosted returning guard standouts Rex Chapman and Ed Davender.

Outcome: Kentucky won both the SEC regular season and tournament titles, but Eddie Sutton's third UK team was upset in the NCAA round of 16 by Villanova (subsequently, UK's NCAA participation and its SEC titles were vacated due to rules violations).

Buzz Evaluator: Team that was ranked No. 1 in the country early in the season did not live up to its hype when it mattered.

Season: 1995-96

Buzz Generator: The addition of McDonald's All-Americans Ron Mercer and Wayne Turner plus Ohio State transfer Derek Anderson to a loaded roster that already had Tony Delk, Walter McCarty and Antoine Walker.

Outcome: Rick Pitino's team was dominating, going 34-2 and winning Kentucky's first NCAA title in 18 years.

Buzz Evaluator: A case when the reality exceeded the pre-season praise.

Season: 2001-02

Buzz Generator: UK stars Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans took their names out of the NBA Draft. Kentucky added highly touted outside shooter Rashaad Carruth and power forward Chuck Hayes to a roster — Prince, Bogans, Jason Parker, Marvin Stone, Erik Daniels, Gerald Fitch — that was the most talented of the Tubby Smith era.

Outcome: Parker hurt a knee and didn't play. Stone transferred to Louisville. After being beset by toxic team chemistry and off-the-court disciplinary issues, the remaining players became known as Team Turmoil.

Cats finished 22-10 and lost in the NCAA round of 16.

Buzz Evaluator: A train wreck. One of the most disappointing teams in UK history.

Season: 2004-05

Buzz Generator: Arrival of Tubby Smith's most-touted recruiting class — Rajon Rondo, Joe Crawford, Ramel Bradley and Randolph Morris — plus the addition of Western Kentucky transfer Patrick Sparks. The newcomers joined returning forward standouts Chuck Hayes and Kelenna Azubuike.

Outcome: Went 28-6 and won the SEC regular season title, but lost to Michigan State in double overtime in the NCAA Elite Eight.

Buzz Evaluator: A good team that let the Final Four trip Tubby really needed slip through its fingers in the first OT against Michigan State.

Season: 2009-10

Buzz Generator: The arrivals of new coach John Calipari with uber-recruits John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe. The decision of star forward Patrick Patterson to stay in school for his junior season.

Keys to a positive outcome: Can new (six newcomers) and old (seven returnees) mesh? Can anyone consistently make outside shots? With as many as three players (Patterson, Wall and Cousins) likely to turn pro after this season, will there be enough basketballs to go around?

Buzz Evaluator: By March, Calipari needs to have a Final Four-caliber team. But my guess is that the fans will give him a one-year honeymoon period even if UK doesn't make the final weekend in 2010.