Big Blue Madness Ushers in New Season

Billy G's Second Season Additions

After enduring a turbulent first season as head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, Billy Gillispie feels he has begun to piece together a winning team in Lexington after a hectic off-season on the recruiting trail. While luring top prospects like DeAndre Liggins and home-grown swingman Darius Miller was a major focus of Gillispie and his coaching staff, securing immediate-impact players was also high on the wish list.

Junior college transfers Kevin Galloway and Josh Harrellson certainly fit the bill, as both were highly sought after this off-season. Galloway is a point-forward who looks to pass first and can create plays off the dribble, while Harrellson is a proven center with great hands and knowledge for the game who can fill a void in the middle for the Cats.

More Players = More Competition

There is no doubt that the Wildcat basketball team faltered down the stretch last season, and a major reason for that breakdown was the collective health of the squad. With injuries plaguing some of the team's most important playmakers and general fatigue affecting the entire team, Billy Gillispie was forced to contend with a heavily depleted roster.

This year figures to be the complete opposite, as Gillispie has assembled the most expansive roster in all of college basketball, featuring twenty players at the moment. While he readily admits that it may not be the most talented roster in the nation, Gillispie is quick to point out that the roster is full of long, lean athletes, a class of player that has been sorely lacking in recent years for the Wildcats. And with such a glut of players, there is ample hope that several players will step up their effort and develop into quality players throughout the season.

New Uniforms Provide New Look, Attitude

In that this year marks the 35th anniversary of Secretariat's Triple Crown victory, and considering that the University of Kentucky is situated in the heart of Thoroughbred country, it is only fitting that the Wildcats unveiled new uniforms that pay homage to the state's horse racing legacy and tradition. The new uniforms, designed and produced by Nike, feature a subtle checkerboard pattern similar to that found on the jockey strip worn by Secretariat during his historic Triple Crown run.

The new equipment also implements Nike's alterations to the traditional basketball uniform, in that the shorts are much longer and baggier, while the jersey have a slim, tight fit throughout. Along with a color stripe along the side and back of the jersey, this new "slim-fit" jersey is designed to give the players a quicker, more athletic look; a look that runs parallel to the style of play Gillispie hopes to install in this year's Wildcats.

Rupp Arena and UK Basketball

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