With the season inching ever closer, Kentucky Coach John Calipari is working hard to figure out a rotation and to solve the myriad chemistry issues that come from having a roster with 12 players who would start or merit major minutes at most D-1 schools.

He has his work cut out for him, but Coach Cal is optimistic about his chances. Here are some comments he made to reporters this week:

On the team’s depth:
“I thought in one way I like to play nine guys, eight or nine guys and maybe even a 10th guy in a game. But this may be a team where I play eight guys and then I bring in the other five guys to play about four or five minutes a half. That way you play them all. We have no bad players on the team, so I could do that.”

On the challenge this year:
“I have had teams where I have had to walk in and had to take over programs but they have never been like this. They were never a team that had a chance to really win. They were teams that you were wishing would win some games. This is a little virgin territory for me as a coach, too, I’m going to be learning. I’m going to be learning the whole way through. So it’s not set in stone, and I don’t have all the answers and some of this is going to be guessing and if I don’t guess right, I’ll change.”

On his coaching style:
“The only thing I try to do is let players play. So I think guys look at it especially from the outside they say, ‘wow.’ But I’m going to tell you early on, guys are going to be angry with me because I’m going to make them do things and feel ways they have never felt before. And they won’t know how to respond to that. The first way is to pull a tantrum. Because you don’t know what to do, I’ve never felt this way. That’s how it’s going to be, but after they get going they will say that he is making me do things I have never done and I’m feeling good about it. That’s when you have a team, but that takes time.”

With comparisons between this year’s roster and the ‘95-’96 team sure to be made, we thought we’d take a few short moments to recognize the uncanny talents of Rick Pitino’s national title winning squad of 13 years ago.

This montage reminds you of what Kentucky is trying to get back to.

Don’t be mistaken. The BBL is not attempting to make our own comparison between Coach Cal’s Cats and the team dubbed the “Untouchables.” There is a long way to go before this year’s group can come anywhere close to that.

But at the very least, it’s a welcome sight to have the talent level back to where it was in the Ricky P era.

Seeing how the Wildcats adapt to the Dribble-Drive Motion Offense should be one of the more interesting developments to watch this season in Lexington. The BBL gives you a closer look at this trendy offensive strategy created 12 years ago by JUCO coach Vance Walberg.

The Dribble Drive Defined
In essence, the DDM is an uptempo variation of the Bobby Knight-style motion offense with several wrinkles. The philosophy is predicated on relentless dribble penetration where a ballhandler drives the lane and then has three options. He can finish, dump the ball off in the post, or kick it back out to the wing, where another player more or less starts the same process over again.

Typically, a successful DDM offense needs four wings and one post player. It does not rely on screen and rolls or a heavy amount of cutting without the ball. It is an aggressive attacking offense that commonly results in high scoring affairs and, with the right personnel, a liberal dose of highlight reel plays.

Keys to Execution
There are three primary keys to the DDM–ballhandling, spacing and shooting ability. Because the offense is built around consistent dribble penetration, a team running it needs at least four men on the court who can be counted on to drive the lane. In particular, the DDM flourishes with a rangy athletic PG who can fearlessly take the ball to the rack.

Spacing is critical as players must be aware of where they stand on the floor in order to open driving lanes for the ballhandler. Good spacing will also allow athletic teams to crash the offensive glass hard in the DDM. As for shooting ability, the bulk of the scoring in the DDM comes from shots off of kickouts, so at the very least, a good midrange shooting game is a prerequisite for success in this offense.

Why UK Fans Should Be Excited
The speed and quickness of John Wall and Eric Bledsoe make them ideal for this offense. If you need evidence of how athletic PGs can thrive in the DDM, look at Coach Cal’s last few Memphis teams, where NBA lottery picks Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans first made their names. Look for UK’s dynamic backcourt duo to continue that legacy.

In addition to UK’s phenomenal guard talent, Darius Miller, Deandre Liggins, Darnell Dodson, John Hood and Ramon Harris, all over 6-6, make ideal combo guys who can play the 2, 3 or 4 positions in the DDM set.

Why UK Fans Have Cause for Concern
There are some major potential stumbling blocks. For one, UK’s big men are mostly back to the basket scorers. It will be tough to keep two of them on the floor at once without requiring some perimeter ballhandling.

But more concerning is UK’s search for an outside shooter. If a reliable midrange or deep threat does not emerge, opposing defenses will be able to pack up the interior and essentially shut off driving lanes, leaving UK’s guards to single-handedly create the majority of the offense–but that might not be the worst thing in the world, given these guys’ ability.

BBL Prediction
Calipari has said that no offense is better than the DDM at “unleashing” players. With a roster this rich in talent, that can only be a good sign. But we firmly expect some early struggles, particularly in conference play. By March this squad should be running the DDM as well as the Memphis teams of the recent past.

As part of our series of snapshot previews of UK opponents, the BBL takes a first look at Billy Donovan’s Florida Gators.

Backcourt
Florida lost leading scorer Nick Calathes and Walter Hodge, the last remaining holdover from its back-to-back titles in ‘06-’07. Expected to replace that production is freshman sensation Kenny Boynton. More of a combo guard than a true point, Boynton can score from anywhere on the court. He’ll be teamed in the backcourt with Erving Walker, a 5′8 fireplug who averaged 10 points a game last year. Ray Shipman is the only other guard on the roster with significant experience, but the Gators also added Nimrod Tishman from Israel, who they are counting on to add depth. Overall, Florida will be thin and inexperienced in the backcourt.

Frontcourt
6-9 Alex Tyus and 6-10 Dan Werner are both reliable scorers who can rebound and hold their own in the paint. They are backed up by 6-9 Chandler Parsons who averaged 9 points and 6 boards and can shoot from the perimeter. Florida’s biggest impact low-post player probably comes in the form of 6-9 Georgetown transfer Vernon Macklin. Macklin is a warrior type who will battle hard under the goal. Kenny Kadji is a big body with little experience backing up the other four.

Freshmen
Boynton looks to be one of the top Frosh in D-1. It wouldn’t surprise us if he was UF’s leading scorer as a true frosh. Erik Murphy is a 6-10 Matt Bonner type who can shoot it from deep and mix it up underneath due to his size.

Outlook
In a loaded SEC, this group might not be more than a borderline NCAA tourney team. They have so many question marks in the backcourt it’s hard for us to expect them to do much better than 8-8 in the SEC. But Boynton will be fun to watch.

BBL Take
UK should handle these guys this season. Billy D has fallen on hard times since Florida’s championship seasons, and early departures have really hurt continuity. Florida-Kentucky has been a great SEC rivalry in recent years, but due to matchup advantages, the balance has shifted back to the north.

According to Pat Forde of ESPN, Kentucky’s prized recruit John Wall, already widely considered one of the nation’s top players, still faces serious eligibility issues.

Forde reports that SEC Commissioner Mike Slive stated that Wall is eligible to practice but is not currently eligible to play.

This is the first time that anyone has commented publicly that Wall’s eligibility is in question.

Sources close to the program have so far denied that any issues exist. “My understanding is that all 13 players on our roster are eligible at this point,” UK media relations director DeWayne Peevey told reporters.

Read the ESPN story here: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4586311

We would like to note that Forde, a long time reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal, has shown a penchant for calling UK’s tactics into question. He has published several pieces in recent months that cast doubt on the methods of coach John Calipari.

The BBL will be paying close attention to this development.

Occasionally, we at the BBL like to take a quick look back into the treasure trove that is UK hoops history.

Azubuike had a breakout year with Golden State last season, averaging nearly 15 points and 5 rebounds per contest. He looks primed to carry on the mantle of great former UK products in the NBA.

And don’t forget about leaper extraordinaire Jeff Sheppard, who made scenes like this a regular occurrence in the late ’90s.

As we all know, Sheppard led the Wildcats to their 7th and most recent national title that year before having an NBA cup of tea with the Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors between 1998-2000.

We present our first look at Darrin Horn’s South Carolina Gamecocks.

Backcourt:
Devan Downey might be the most underrated guard in D-1. He is virtually uncheckable in transition and in the open court. He has a rare combination of speed, athleticism and ball skills. Downey will get his 20 and 6 every night. The other SC guards are good in their own right. Brandis Raley-Ross is a decent scorer while Evaldas Baniulis hit an uncanny 48 of 100 3-point tries last season. Watch out for a good incoming crop of long and strong wings.

Frontcourt:
Dominique Archie is a highlight reel jumping jack who gets out on the break as well as anybody in the SEC. He can play on the wing defensively, too. Juniors Mike Holmes, Sam Muldrow and Austin Steed will offer solid complementary post play.

Freshmen:
SC’s 3 incoming combo guards are impact players right away in the SEC. It appears Horn’s up-tempo system is luring skilled athletes to Columbia. Stephen Spinella, Lakeem Jackson and Ramon Galloway are all big, athletic and capable of scoring from the wing or off the bounce. Incoming JC transfer Johndre Johnson is long and lean and adds depth inside.

Outlook:
This squad has the potential to be USC’s best college hoops team since the Eddie Fogler Days. They are a serious darkhorse Sweet 16 group. They are balanced, experienced and deep. Of course, the SEC East figures to be a mine field where anything can happen.

BBL Take:
USC swept UK last season and its frontline flat out humiliated Patrick Patterson in Columbia. Expect war when they match up this year. An epic battle between John Wall and Downey looms.

The BBL’s quick and dirty take based on the Big Blue Madness scrimmage.

Patrick Patterson
Looks totally reborn. Healthy and jumping out of the gym. Had a couple rebound dunks where he was looking at the goal. Already graduated so this will be his last season at UK.

John Wall
An absolute blur. Long arms. He dribbles the ball too high but covers ground like few can. May surprise with his shooting stroke. He squares his body every time. Jumps much better off his right leg in transition.

Eric Bledsoe
Best ballhandler on the team. As fast as Wall but without the same skils to finish around the rim due to being smaller. But he can sky and had a couple of crazy dunks in transition. There may not be another player in the SEC who can penetrate like him. Was the most impressive player of the freshmen.

John Hood
This kid is the real deal. He gets to the rim in traffic and can catch back door lobs off two feet. Needs time in the weight room but will be a very special player by the time he is a junior. Might not see a lot of time this season, but he is really good. Very good midrange shooter too.

DeMarcus Cousins
An absurd talent. Definitely the least coached player on this team, and Calipari is going to have to reign him in. Wants to bring the ball up the court like a PG. He might be the one guy to cause chemistry issues based on his on-court demeanor. But he is special. Needs some work in the weight room on his lower body. If motivated, probably can’t be stopped.

Daniel Orton
He is the most fundamentally sound player on the team. Rebounds with authority and throws a picturesque outlet pass. He is going to be a beast on the offensive glass. Just has a nose for the ball. For those who didn’t know, he can jump out of the gym, too.

Josh Harrellson
Primed to make a major impact this season. Is a deadeye three-point shooter and in the DD offense, will be a monster on kick outs and the pick and roll. Reminiscent of Scott Padgett. He made 5 or 6 three pointers and many were from deep. Makes you wonder why Billy G was not giving him more minutes. Might average 8 points in 10 minutes a game.

DeAndre Liggins
Looked explosive athletically but isn’t the penetrator that Wall and Bledsoe are. Hard to figure out as far as what position he should play. If he shoots well enough, he’ll play behind Miller on the wing.

Darnell Dodson
He is going to play and play a lot. He needs work in the weight room but is an above average outside shooter with a quick release. Might get the bulk of minutes at the 3 if Miller/Liggins don’t shoot well.

Darius Miller
Smooth. But his problem seems to be lack of killer instinct. Nasty athletically but plays carefree. Versatile, multi-skilled player. Will need to shoot well from behind the 3-point arc.

Ramon Harris
The BBL loves Ramon but he is the 11th or 12th man. Unless he sees extensive time for his defense, he won’t get many minutes. Represents the last vestige of the 2-star players Tubby consistently brought to UK.

Perry Stephenson
Has really improved his perimeter shooting. Because of his experience and ability to block shots, he’ll see 10-12 minutes a game. Is clearly not the physical equal of Orton or Cousins, and he can’t shoot like Harrellson.

BBL’s Take
The hype is justified. This roster has absolutely stunning talent. Calipari’s challenge will be finding a way to get all these thoroughbreds to buy into the system and handle limited minutes. One thing to keep in mind; the boundlessly talented ‘96 championship team was led in minutes played by Antoine Walker, who averaged only 26 per game.

The John Calipari era kicked off in grand style this weekend with UK’s Big Blue Madness, which attracted thousands of crazed fans to Rupp Arena for a night of pomp, pageantry and a little bit of basketball.

The ceremonial event, which represents the first official practice of the new college hoops season, featured celebrity cameos (rapper Drake), former UK standouts (Tayshaun Prince, Kenny “Sky” Walker) and a team scrimmage. Festitivies kicked off with this highlight video.

No part of the night was more show-stopping than Coach Cal’s rousing introductory speech, during which he exhorted the Wildcat faithful and promised to get Kentucky “back to its rightful place atop the mountain.”

One of the most interesting questions going into the season will be how Calipari handles the expectations and how long the honeymoon lasts. On the heels of a Twitter-induced fan frenzy and vows to get the program back into elite standing, admiration for coach Cal has reached Beatlemania levels in the Commonwealth.

There is only one way to placate this kind of enthusiasm…and it involves hanging a banner.

For UK basketball fans, the day of October 16th, 2009, represents a new lease on life.

With Big Blue Madness kicking off tonight, the ceremonial start of the college basketball season has arrived and there is a feeling of excitement and joy in Lexington unlike anything seen in 10 years.

Goodbye Recent History
UK hoops has struggled to remain relevant for a decade. After reaching dynasty status in the mid and late 90s, the program meandered off course. Gone were the household names, top five recruiting classes and preseason Final Four expectations. Gone was the voice of Dickey V screaming about UK running, pressing and dunking teams out of the gym. Gone were the days of highlight reels and SportsCenter catch phrases.

But with the arrival of Coach John Calipari, along with one of the greatest incoming recruiting classes of all time, UK hoops has experienced another tectonic shift.

Waking up in the morning as a UK fan once again feels great. Hope provides a healing foundation for a deeply fragmented fan base, desperate after years of subpar finishes, culminating in the Cats missing the NCAA tournament last season.

A Watershed Moment
The BBL is salivating at the thought of seeing John Wall in a UK jersey for the first time during the Blue-White Scrimmage, which will be televised nationally in HD on Fox Sports South this Saturday. And we’re not the only ones. Thousands of fans camped outside Memorial Coliseum for the past 10 days hoping to get tickets to see Big Blue Madness.

That passion and exuberance did not go unnoticed by Coach Cal. Check out his commentary about the fanbase as told to Larry Vaught:

“We are going to do more than we have ever done at a Madness. If people can stay out there seven days in the cold and rain to enjoy this night, we are going to do things we have never done before,” Calipari said.

“We are going to have special guests that will be co-coaches from the sports world to entertainers at this event. You know why? For the fans. If they are going to camp out for tickets, we are going to show them a good time.”

It’s hard not to appreciate the love Calipari is showing for the program.

Glimpse Into the Future
Here is the list of expected recruits in attendance to witness the rebirth of UK basketball:

2010
Kyrie Irving (Rivals #9)
Tobias Harris official (Rivals #5)
CJ Leslie (Rivals #14)

2011
Michael Gilchrist (Rivals #1…likened to Lebron James athletically)
Quincy Miller (Rivals #3)
Achraf Yacoubou (Rivals #76)

We’ll sum it up with this comment from Vaught: “Both DeMarcus Cousins and John Wall talk about wanting this to be a historic season at UK. They talk about undefeated, championships, etc. And Cal said he embraces that feeling”

Ladies and Gentleman, get ready for something special. And make sure you program your DVR to capture The Blue-White Scrimmage starting at 4:30 EST Satuday on 646 on DIRECTV. Where is Cawood Ledford when you need him?