The long wait is almost over.  Every year (even the last two), by the time October rolls around, Kentucky fans are bouncing off the walls in anticipation of the official start of college basketball season.  I say official because in Lexington, college basketball is really a 365 day-a-year sport.  After April gets here, and the realization sets in that there will be six months time before Kentucky takes the court again, there is only so much blogging and speculation about the upcoming season that can be done. 

Each year, Aquarius enters the sky signifying three things to sports fans across the Commonwealth:

• The Reds have been out of contention for at least 3 months;
• The football Cats have just been blown out by Florida;
• and, Big Blue Madness is upon us.

This year, after two miserable seasons of Wildcat basketball including a break in its streak of consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, after two seasons without a true point guard, after mind boggling home court losses to the likes of Gardner-Webb, San Diego State, and VMI, after four years of frustrating underachievement and early post-season exits, after ten years without a visit to the final four, anticipation is at an all time high in Central Kentucky.

In October 1995 excitement for Kentucky Men’s Basketball was higher than it had been since the late 80’s recruiting scandal that landed the program on probation.  There were several McDonald’s All Americans on that roster.  Tony “The Brownsville Bomber” Delk was entering his senior year.   Antoine Walker was coming off a great freshman season.  There was incoming freshman Wayne Turner, who averaged 36 ppg at Boston’s Country Day Prep and there was the most coveted recruit in the nation, Ron Mercer, who had come to Lexington. 

Additionally, a highly touted transfer from Ohio State, Louisville native Derek Anderson, was ready to hit the hardwood for the Cats.  After losing in late November in its second game of the season to a UMass squad coached by a young coach named John Calipari, the 95-96 Wildcats reeled off 27 straight wins followed by a sixth national championship and a 34-2 overall record.

While every basketball season is eagerly anticipated in Lexington, none since has found fans as hungry for basketball in October as they were during those intoxicating years of UK hoops.  Tubby Smith had some great seasons and some great (contrary to popular belief) recruiting classes.  The number one recruiting class in 2004 that was unveiled at Madness had fans anxious.  Billy Gillispie’s first season had fans abuzz as the Big Blue faithful filled up Rupp Arena to catch the first glimpse of a new UK era.

That said, nothing compares to the excitement which has been building for six and a half months in anticipation of Friday’s Big Blue Madness celebration.  The John Calipari Era begins tomorrow as Coach Cal finally pulls his shiny Big Blue hot rod out of the garage and into public display.  Kentucky fans will see some familiar faces, most notably Patrick Patterson’s, who could not have been blamed for raking in gaudy paychecks at this point after suffering through a couple of disappointing years at Kentucky.  But overall Wildcat fans will see a much different team in terms of personnel, staff, and mindset.

Fans commented the last two seasons on the appearance of fatigue and lack of smiles among the players during games.  Gillispie’s well publicized long, brutal practices led many to wonder aloud if the sessions took a toll on the players’ stamina in games or had anything to do with the rash of injuries suffered by the team.  Maybe just as importantly though, fans began to question whether the players were simply miserable playing for a coach whose main source of motivation seemed to be intimidation.  Many began to take notice that the Cats seldom appeared to enjoy themselves on the court.

One lasting image burned into memory from the two brilliant seasons that began in October 1995 was Derek Anderson’s million dollar smile.  It seems he flashed that smile constantly during that run even while cheerleading from the bench with the knee injury which shortened his senior season.  Pitino has never been accused of being a pushover, yet his teams appeared to have fun on the court.  Then again, I guess wins help to create smiles and talent helps to create wins. 

It is yet to be seen whether this Kentucky team will include a Derek Anderson-caliber smile, but the public has already seen glimpses of players who appear to be having fun.  With excitement for Big Blue Madness at a fever pitch, the Cats could be on the verge of bringing fun back to basketball season.  When Cal takes the stage on Friday, UK players and fans alike will be all smiles, and with the talent he has amassed, wins (and smiles) should continue to pile up throughout the season.  How refreshing.