Lexington, KY (My Sportsbook) - The college
basketball season got off to a big start Friday night, with teams allowed to practice for the first time, and that included Kentucky taking the floor with a positive outlook from new head coach John Calipari.
Kentucky's "Big Blue Madness" event Friday evening began with a speech from Calipari, who spent the past nine seasons at Memphis, but decided to leave a program he built into a national contender for one of the most prestigious and historic in college basketball annals. He takes the reins in Lexington following a rocky break from ousted head man Billy Gillispie.
"We all see the history and the tradition and the nearly mystical quality of Kentucky basketball at every game and in every season. And we also know what it's like to come here as an opponent, where everything - and I mean everything - turns blue all around you," remarked Calipari, flanked by his family and players.
"I'm excited, I'm humbled and I'm honored to be your coach, at your university. Tonight though, we turn the page from anticipation to preparation as we move forward into the 2009-10 season with these special young men and all of you special fans."
Defending national champion North Carolina kicked off its start to the season with an extravaganza dubbed "Late Night with Roy 2009." Coach Roy Williams and the 2009-10 Tar Heels opened their night at Dean E. Smith Center with ESPN personality Stuart Scott, who emceed the event and is a UNC alumnus. Players performed skits acknowledging the five different years UNC has won the NCAA championship before the annual scrimmage.
Down "Tobacco Road" in Durham, the Duke Blue Devils and coach Mike Krzyzewski took part in the "Countdown to Craziness" with the annual Blue/White game, player introductions by noted announcer Michael Buffer and a slam dunk contest. Former Duke standouts Bobby Hurley and Christen Laettner served as guest coaches for the team's scrimmage.
Not to be outdone, NC State completed the triangle of madness with its first ever "Red Rally."
Meanwhile, Kansas celebrated the 25th anniversary of "Late Night in the Phog" with 16,300 people packing Allen Fieldhouse to catch their first glimpse of the 2009-10 Jayhawks. The team scrimmaged following an appearance by coach Bill Self and the team, which performed skits for the crowd. Also unveiled Friday was the more than $50 million in renovations to Allen Fieldhouse in the offseason.
Louisville and embattled coach Rick Pitino held practice Friday night as well but the coach was all business following an offseason that featured an ugly and very public extortion case with allegations of sexual assault heading into his ninth season guiding the program.
"We had a very intense three hour practice," said Pitino. "Our guys fought through it and gave great effort. A lot of work lies ahead, but we have a lot of potential."
