The Kentucky Wildcats defeat the Delaware State Hornets 71-42 bringing them to a 1-2 record.

Yes, that’s right.

UK starts off the 2008-2009 Season 1 W and 2 Ls.  Losses coming against UNC and………VMI.  Yep.  The Virginia Military Institute out of Lexington, Virginia.  The Keydets defeated the cats in the home opener at Rupp Arena 111 to 103.  I know.  The Cats score 103 points and lose.  Doesn’t seem possible.

Billy Gillispie isn’t starting off the season with much promise.  Even so, if this team gets it’s PG problems sorted out.  If Liggins matures fast enough.  Porter develops into a bit more than a moderately skilled role player or the Harris Point Forward experiment pans out.  Who knows.  It might be a good season.

The talking heads at ESPN and Sports Illustrated are saying that this is a down year in the SEC.  The UK OOC schedule is pretty light.  The Cats will have plenty of cupcakes to use as a learning curve.  The question.  Will UK have enough OOMPF to the schedule to make the NCAA Tournament at seasons end?  Gillispie will not make any friends if UK misses the NCAA tournament.

I’m hoping that UK turns it around.  Patterson gets in the Game and starts scoring as he did in his pre-injury Frosh days.  Meeks learns about shot selection.  Liggins and Miller can bring it and not let being Freshman get in the way of valuable contributions.  Harrelson and Galloway can translate some of those numbers from the JUCO ranks to the DIV 1 side of the house.  Harris matches intensity with offensive output and brings that fabled summer game to the season with him.

This can be a good year.  I’m hoping for the best.  It will only get better from here.  I hope.