By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
The stage is set and Kentucky is ready to step into the limelight.
The Wildcats officially ushered in the new season with the annual Big Blue Madness Friday night, introducing the men’s a women’s basketball teams to thousands of fans. Many of those in attendance filled the street and lot surrounding Memorial Coliseum, known as “Tent City” earlier this month to score tickets for the yearly event.
The event also serves as a major recruiting tool for Kentucky as several 2018 targets were on hand and hip-hop performer Drake made an appearance and served as an honorary coach, much to the delight of those in attendance. Virtually unknown, Drake first made an appearance at the event 2009.
“If you want to emulate excellence, yet maintain humility and loyalty, emulate Drake,” Calipari said. “If you want to emulate a strong drive, embracing the biggest stage and the goodness of a compassionate heart, you emulate Drake.”
Sporting a “Kentucky Dad” hoodie, Drake also briefed the crowd prior to a 10-minute scrimmage. Drake said has has turned down invitations to attend similar events in the past.
“I’m a ‘Wildcat’ through and through,” he said.
During his speech, Calipari asked those in attendance and Big Blue Nation if they were ready to embark on “our next journey together.”
“Our goal remains to raise a ninth championship banner into those hallowed rafters as another group of players chase their dreams,” Calipari said. “We will and we do embrace everything that this program and this stage have to offer.”
Drake, along with former Kentucky players joined Calipari and the current team on the court for a “family photo.”
The Wildcats welcome eight freshmen who will be counted on to fill the void left by five starters from last year’s team that finished 32-6 and lost to North Carolina in the NCAA Elite Eight. The current freshman class includes highlty-touted newcomers, including Quade Green, Kevin Knox and P.J. Washington.
“We embrace high expectations,” Calipari said. “We embrace playing on the biggest stage in the game, having every game and even practices on national TV. We embrace being every single opponent’s Super Bowl and we embrace having the largest, most passionate fanbase in the world having our backs every step of the way. There’s no other place like this.”
Kentucky women’s basketball coach Matthew Mitchell provided his usual antics and performed the wobble at mid-court with members of the women’s basketball team prior to a 10-minute scrimmage. Mitchell also was joined by his 6-year-old daughter Saylor Mitchell and said his team isn’t in rebuilding mode despite losing starters Makayla Epps and Evelyn Akhator.
“We’re not going to be outworked this year,” Mitchell told the crowd.
Keith Taylor is sports editor for Kentucky Today. Reach him at keith.taylor@kentuckytoday.com or twitter @keithtaylor21.