Kentucky debuts new uniforms, struggles offensively in Big Blue Madness drill
Updated: October 11, 2008, 12:36 AM ET
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A year ago, Kentucky's Big Blue Madness was about showing off a new coach.
This time, it was about showing off a new look.
Billy Gillispie's Wildcats donned their new blue and white uniforms with a checkerboard pattern as the nation's all-time winningest program kicked off its preseason preparations Friday night in front of 23,000 of their closest friends.
While fans arrived before 9 p.m., it wasn't until 11:18 that the second-year coach finally made his appearance.
Last year, four large banners descended from the rafters, and when they finally dropped, there Gillispie stood, waving to the crowd.
This time, the banners fell while pyrotechnics filled Rupp Arena, but Gillispie was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he entered moments later, jogging through the crowd in his gray jumpsuit, dishing out high-fives along the way.
"I know they're excited to be here," Gillispie, already seemingly short of voice, said of his players. "They love being here at Kentucky."
Gillispie's entrance was far humbler than that of women's coach Matthew Mitchell, who appeared riding on a fire truck.
The men's team first took the court with a dunk contest that
Ramon Harris clinched with an off the backboard follow that he jammed home.
Then, there was a defensive-minded scrimmage, in which both sides took more than three minutes to score. It was a troubling reminder of the team's slow starts at times last season, which ended with a loss to Marquette in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Although the checkerboard pattern on the new uniforms is subtle, those who designed them for Nike said they were intended as a nod to jockey silks representing the state's signature industry, horse racing. Penny Chenery, who owned 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, received an honorary jersey from Gillispie at midcourt during the festivities.
They also feature a shoulder patch that says "Mr. Wildcat." The reference is a tribute to longtime equipment manager Bill Keightley, who died earlier this year at 81. A lasting memorial to Keightley was painted on the Rupp Arena floor in front of his familiar spot on the bench.
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ESPN - Kentucky debuts new uniforms, struggles offensively in Big Blue Madness drill - Men's College Basketball
University of Kentucky introduces new Nike basketball uniforms ? NikeBlog.com