UK Notebook: Cal says this is Patterson's last year

Coach plans for forward to go to NBA after junior year

Jerry Tipton / Herald-Leader Staff Writer

Kentucky Coach John Calipari told a group of high school coaches on Friday that star big man Patrick Patterson will be playing his final season for the Wildcats in 2009-10.

Speaking to the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches, Calipari said his first UK team's experience consisted of "three seniors and Patrick Patterson, who will leave this year. Hopefully he'll be a top-10 pick."

That Patterson might leave after his junior season comes as no surprise. But it was interesting that Calipari gave himself no wiggle room.

Patterson averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds last season as a sophomore. He recorded 15 double-doubles, topped the 1,000-point career scoring mark and made the All-Southeastern Conference first team.

Although projected as a first-round NBA Draft choice, Patterson chose to return to UK for this coming season. He said he wanted to improve his perimeter skills while acknowledging that at 6-foot-9 he would be unlikely to be a consistent scorer in the low post against NBA competition.

That Calipari declared Patterson gone after this season suggests either the player has shown plenty of improvement on the perimeter or other factors played a part in the decision to return this season.

Calipari made Patterson sound like something other than a finished product as a perimeter ball-handler and creator.

"I better teach him how to play out (on the floor)," the UK coach told his audience before adding, "But I'm trying to win, too."

As he had said before, Calipari noted how Patterson would be stationed in the low post at the end of close games.

"I tell Patrick, 'Play like a guard,'" Calipari said. "When the game's on the line, (his teammates) will all be saying, 'Get under the goal, Patrick.'"

Patterson, a native of Huntington, W.Va., came to UK as the long-sought-after power forward. He was a McDonald's All-American after leading Huntington High to three straight West Virginia 3A state championships.

Patterson goes into this season still seeking to play in an NCAA Tournament. An ankle injury ended his freshman season, and he watched from the bench as the Cats lost to Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

UK failed to receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament last season.

Cousins 'a beast'

Even if Patrick Patterson leaves after 2009-10, Kentucky's restocked front line could absorb the blow.

John Calipari re-recruited Daniel Orton, who originally signed with former Coach Billy Gillispie. Calipari also brought in highly regarded freshman DeMarcus Cousins.

In his talk to the high school coaches, Calipari suggested that he might have some issues with Cousins regarding the big man being around the basket or on the perimeter.

In a recent scrimmage, Cousins had at least 20 points and 20 rebounds, Calipari said. That prompted the coach to tell the freshman, "You were a beast. ... Are you that good? Because if you are that good, it's starting to get scary."

After Cousins thanked the coach, Calipari said he added, "But your body language (stunk)."

Cousins then explained. "It's how you're playing me," he told the UK coach. "You know my skills are out on the floor."

To which Calipari told the coaches, "He thinks that's what people want to see from a 6-11, 270 (player)."

Calipari offered a compromise.

The UK coach kiddingly (?) told his audience, "I may tell him 'With every 10 rebounds, I'll let you go to the top of the key and go crazy.'"

Slone update

Former walk-on Landon Slone hopes to meet with John Calipari as soon as this week to ask about the possibility of rejoining the UK team.

Support for such a move appears to be growing as evidenced by an emerging Facebook page.

"I thought it was funny at first," Slone said. "Then it got a little more serious."

Several hundred people joined the Facebook page one night, Slone said.

Slone, a former star at Paintsville High, is seen by some as a surrogate for the many Kentuckians who dream of playing basketball for UK.

"It's pretty obvious this kid has loved Kentucky basketball all his life," said Ben Adams, a reader from Pineville. "... I just think Coach Cal needs to look in his heart and ask this boy to be back on the team."