| 12 November 2009
If you do not read Danny Jett daily, then you have no idea what you are missing. Danny Jett's site is a MUST read for University of Kentucky sports insight. We recently contacted DJ and performed an interview regarding what to expect from the Kentucky Wildcat's basketball program this season.
I was impressed with Danny before the interview, but must say that coming out of it, have a higher respect for him. Unlike other commentators that we have interviewed in the past, DJ dodged NO questions and gave us his take ... even to the questions regarding Coach Calipari's coaching history and World Wide Wes ... in this day and time, that is very rare. Trust me, we've asked others and could barely get a 'no comment' out of them no matter how the question was phrased.
Danny, Thank You for the opportunity to interview you regarding the Kentucky Wildcats basketball program.
First, I'd like to thank SEC Rivals for asking me to do this interview. As far as myself, my name is Danny Jett Jr. and I am currently a Special Education teacher for Paris Independent Schools in Paris, Kentucky. I also run the University of Kentucky blog Danny Jett's Inner Circle which is found at www.dannyjett.com. I'm a former manager under head coach Orlando 'Tubby' Smith and Mr. Bill Keightley, so my website is dedicated to everything Kentucky basketball. Check it out!
The hiring of Coach Calipari seems to have energized the entire UK fan base ... describe what this hiring has meant to the Wildcat Nation when compared to previous coaching administrations.
I feel that the hiring of Coach Calipari is just what the doctor ordered for an ailing Big Blue Nation. The previous coaching administration was not only tough to watch, but it was tough to understand. Coach Billy Gillispie failed to connect with the fans and the university, and isolated himself from the beginning. As far as Coach Tubby Smith, he is a great coach. Many Cat fans grew tired of 'Tubby' ball, but they didn't truly understand how great he was for the players. To him they were more than just basketball players, they were like his kids, and he wanted success in all facets of their lives. I will never have anything bad to say about the man, especially since he helped to hang banner #7. Having served under him, he was definitely a great basketball mind. Coach Calipari on the other hand fits the Rick Pitino mold. He not only has a great basketball philosophy, but he has the gift of public relations skills. He communicates with the fans, plays an exciting brand of basketball, and fits the position perfectly.
In previous coaching stops at UMass and Memphis, Coach Calipari has been accused of 'grey area' recruiting practices. Working these grey areas in the recruiting wars is similar to what Coach Lane Kiffin's staff is doing with the Tennessee Volunteers football team. While no violations have ever been discovered at any portion of his coaching career, do you see any cause for fans to be concerned with rival basketball coaches 'going after' Kentucky through the NCAA?
I don't worry about Coach Calipari and past stops. Nobody knows the specifics or details of what happened at UMass and Memphis. The NCAA cleared Coach Calipari of any wrongdoing, and I trust their decision. If we begin to doubt the NCAA and their ability to make appropriate decisions, we essentially undermine college basketball. I know that there will be fans that are apprehensive, but I say we give him the chance he deserves. The UK administration felt he was the best hire they could make, and I trust their decision-making. I believe it serves no purpose to worry about future events, as we must concentrate on the here-and-now. We also have a great compliance department, and they will see to it that everything is done the right way.
The Kentucky Wildcats have added several highly rated Freshmen to their team this season. These Freshmen obviously figure prominently in UK's plan for this season ... what level of contribution do you see coming from these young players?
This year's freshmen class is one of the most touted groups to ever be assembled, with the exception of Michigan's Fab Five. I believe that each freshman will play critical roles on this team. Obviously, John Wall is going to be a star, and a central figure on the squad. DeMarcus Cousins is a beast. I think that he may be the most surprising of all of our freshmen. Orton, Hood, and Bledsoe will probably become key role players depending upon the game. However, Kentucky will go as far as Patrick Patterson takes them. The freshmen still have to grow and mature. This isn't high school anymore.
John Wall was a pre-season Second Team All-SEC nominee at the guard spot. Give our readers an update on Wall's status.
I think that Second Team All-SEC is conservative. Wall could very well end up SEC Player of the Year. He's that good. I think that he will end up being a 1st or 2nd Team All-American. I believe that this nomination was just for safety since he is a freshman. Nobody is really sure how freshmen will adjust once they hit the big stage, but from what I've seen he is as good as advertised, if not better.
John Wall is notorious for his ability to change directions in mid-stride while going full speed, who have you seen in the past that you could compare Wall's athleticism to?
I see Wall as a Rajon Rondo type of player. Both are exceptionally quick, deceptive in transition, and defensively explosive. However, I believe that Wall is more developed and polished offensively at this point. I see flashes of the same player though, but Wall is more refined than Rondo was as a freshmen.
How many problems will SEC teams have with Coach Calipari's dribble-drive offense?
I think the SEC will have some difficulty with the dribble-drive motion offense this season, but I believe that it won't be as crisp as it will be in the coming years. There are still a couple of players on this team that are holdovers from the Tubby Smith era. Once Calipari gets his system to take root, then I believe you will really see some SEC teams struggle. Until then, it is a work in progress.
Patrick Patterson was convinced with Coach Calipari's system enough to come back for his Junior season ... what will this mean to Kentucky's program by the time March Madness rolls around?
Even though Patrick hasn't played in an NCAA tournament game, his in-game experience will be crucial come March. I think that Patterson is one of the better players to suit up for the Blue and White in several years, and he will prove instrumental. What I like about him more than anything else is the fact that he is a classy kid. He carries himself very well, and truly bleeds blue.
According to the SEC Record Book, Patrick Patterson has 21 career double-doubles to his credit. With the additions to the UK team, do you see many opportunities for Patterson to extend this amount?
I think that Patterson can really excel in Calipari's offensive system, but I think it will take time. Patterson will have to adjust to new talent, and better players surrounding him. This will be a process, but over the course of the season you'll see him grow and fit in very nicely. His career double-doubles will definitely increase. He's a great player.
Other than Wall, what players do the fans need to keep an eye on this season?
Fans should definitely keep an eye on Darnell Dodson, DeMarcus Cousins, and Darius Miller. As I mentioned earlier, Cousins is a beast on the inside. He has a great college and NBA career ahead of him. Miller, if he becomes a little bit more aggressive on offense, could blossom into a star. Dodson at this point looks like a pleasant surprise. He can definitely shoot the basketball.
World Wide Wes is an enormous figure among Nike schools in college basketball. Wes has been a long time friend to Coach Calipari. Like Coach Calipari, Wes has never been discovered of doing anything illegal ... is the Calipari-Wes connection a 'good thing' for UK basketball?
College basketball is full of connections. Networking is how everything works. There are so many interconnections in basketball, it is unbelievable. However, I wouldn't put too much stock into this.
Kentucky is the preseason favorite to win the SEC basketball title this season. Do you believe UK would have been picked in this spot if a coaching change had not been made?
Absolutely not. It would have been a long year without a coaching change. There was too much negativity.
Where do you believe the Wildcats would have been predicted to finish if it had not been for the coaching change?
My guess is that UK would have finished somewhere in the middle of the SEC pack, possibly even lower. The NIT might have even been a stretch.
There you have it ... straight from a solid Kentucky basketball commentator who knows his team. Like I said earlier, if you need solid information on the UK program, go no further than Danny Jett's Inner Circle site.
