While the fired Billy Gillispie was filing a lawsuit, Kentucky was assembling a roster that had many experts predicting a Final Four appearance in Calipari's first season.
Calipari, who led Memphis to the 2008 national championship game and three Elite Eight appearances in his last four seasons, has tried to temper expectations. He points out that none of his players has ever played in his dribble-drive system.
"It's not going to happen overnight at Kentucky," Calipari said. "We've got guys coming back that never played this way. I know everybody thinks we're winning the national title and winning every game by 20. Ain't happening. This is going to be a rough go of it."
The energized Kentucky fan base is starved for success. The Wildcats had a streak of 17 straight NCAA Tournament appearances snapped last season, and they haven't been to the Final Four since 1998, the third of three consecutive trips. Kentucky has also gone four years without winning the SEC, the longest drought since the program was saddled with probation in the late 1980s.
The roster is full of talent, despite SEC leading scorer Jodie Meeks (23.7 ppg) turning pro early.
Power forward Patrick Patterson (17.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg) is arguably the best big man in the SEC, and perhaps the best post player Calipari has had since Marcus Camby at UMass in the mid-1990s. Patterson is the league's most reliable inside scorer and the junior has been one of the SEC's top rebounders the past two seasons.
Calipari could go with Darius Miller or signees DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton and Darnell Dodson in the frontcourt. Miller, a streaky shooter, is an athletic wing who could average double figures. Cousins was rated by some as the No. 2 player in the country. Orton was a top-15 rated center, while Dodson was one of the nation's top junior college shooters.
Calipari hopes heralded signee John Wall can do for Kentucky what Derrick Rose did as a true freshman for Memphis—lead his team to the Final Four.
If Wall proves to be as productive as Rose, Kentucky should have a great team. Many anticipate that Wall, like Rose, will be a one-and-done player.
Wall will be joined in the backcourt by Miller, sophomore DeAndre Liggins or signees Eric Bledsoe or Jon Hood.
With so much talent, Kentucky fans haven't been so excited since Rick Pitino's heyday. Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart, who signed Calipari for almost $4 million a year, admitted he made a mistake by not hiring Calipari in 2007 over Gillispie.
Unlike Gillispie, who appeared uncomfortable in the spotlight, Calipari has embraced the Kentucky job.
"I'm just going to have fun with it," he says. "I'm not going to be overwhelmed by it. This is not life or death to me."
But it is for many Kentucky fans.
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