In his first few months on the job, new Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has re-energized the Wildcat fanbase and raised his program’s profile with recruits.  That’s the positive.  The negative is that UK still has a long way to go when it comes to roster-building.

Just ask the coach:

“Obviously we need help at every position.  We need to improve across the board.  But what stands out to me right now is the skill positions, both on offense and on defense.  We need to get a lot better in the secondary and we need to get better at wide receiver…

We really need a lot of help in every area.  So I feel like we need help across the board, but we need to continue — it’s hard to say, because we need help everywhere, but we certainly need some help in the skill positions like I mentioned.  I think really at defensive back and wide receiver, we really need to upgrade there.”

Ex-Wildcat coach Joker Phillips has to love reading quotes like that.

Only time will tell if Stoops can do a better job of stocking UK’s shelves with talent than this predecessor.

According to The Lexington Herald-Leader, that city’s Urban County Council is expected to give a thumbs-up to a pair of measures today that would allow Lexington to receive $2.5 million in state money to begin the planning and design phase of the current Rupp Arena complex.

Opened in 1976, Rupp lacks some of the modern amenities — meaning luxury suites — that more modern facilities enjoy.  Knowing the value of suites for Wildcat basketball, University of Kentucky officials had hoped for a new arena altogether.  Instead, the city has decided to go the renovation route which would improve the basketball arena, move part of the connected convention center, and improve entertainment and retail venues around the site.  All told the price could go as high as $350 million.

According to plans developed by an architect in 2011, the upper arena would be: “renovated almost in total, including replacement of all the bench seats with chair seats.  The concourse becomes the location for suites and loge seating.”

The trick for UK is to add enough suites to make huge coin — and the school would definitely do that — without taking away too many “everyman” seats that are currently filled by a rabid Kentucky hoops fanbase.

If the crowd of 50,000 on hand for Kentucky’s spring game wasn’t enough to get your attention, check out these numbers:

First — 35,342.  Second — 21.4%

The first number represents how many football season tickets Kentucky has already sold for the 2013 football season.  The second number represents the expected increase in season-ticket sales over the 2012 season, Joker Phillips’ final year as the Wildcats’ coach.

When new coaches take over programs, there is usually a revival in interest in the program.  Indeed, Kentucky, Arkansas, Auburn and Tennessee — all with new coaches this season — all finished among the top five in SEC spring game attendance.  (Defending BCS champ Alabama also placed in the top five.)

Kentucky seems to be feeling more than just new-coach zeal, however.  Mark Stoops has certainly raised expectations and raised the Cats’ profile on the recruiting trail, but his choice of offensive coordinator has played just as big a role in renewed fan interest.

In December, Stoops named 33-year-old, ex-UK player Neal Brown as his coordinator and quarterbacks coach.  Brown is a proponent of the up-tempo, throw-it-all-over-the-yard style taught by the coaches he played under in Lexington — head coach Hal Mumme and assistants Mike Leach and Tony Franklin.  As a result, the UK athletics department has wisely taken advantage of the return of the “Air Raid offense” in every way imaginable, including in this Super Bowl ad trotted out in the Commowealth State this past February:

Judging by the season tickets sold to date, that air raid siren is being heard loud and clear by Wildcat fans.

Well this one won’t surprise many folks.  Kentucky star and freshman All-American Nerlens Noel is leaving UK and entering the NBA draft:

“I have loved my time at Kentucky, but I feel that I’m ready to take the next step to the NBA.  I’ve learned so much here at UK and am thankful for Coach (John) Calipari, the staff and my teammates for all of their support.  I especially appreciate the Big Blue Nation and all of the support, prayers and well-wishes I’ve received from them during my rehab and decision-making process.  I’ll always be a Wildcat!”

Noel was having the kind of season that would have won him SEC Player of the Year honors before tearing his ACL in a February contest at Florida.  Despite the injury he is expected to go in the first few picks in this summer’s NBA draft, likely first overall.  If he does go first, he’ll be the third Wildcat to go #1 in the four years since Calipari took over in Lexington.

As for the “I’ll always be a Wildcat!” line, Noel arrived on UK’s campus in mid-August.  Eight months later he’s decided to depart.  Welcome to life in a one-and-done universe.

Last week, Kentucky basketball signee Marcus Lee made his goal for the 2013-14 season crystal clear — perfection.

“I think that’s what we’re all thinking right now.  One of my goals is to go flat-out undefeated.  That is my goal — to be the best team out there, hands down…

I think my class is just a team full of non-quitters.  They just refuse to lose and refuse to quit, especially with the twins (Andrew and Aaron Harrison), Julius Randle.  They just refuse to lose.”

Sounds good, but you have to wonder how the holdovers from UK’s 2013 class will react to those words.  Were some members of that class “quitters?”

Randle, another one of the six McDonald’s All-Americans John Calipari is adding this offseason answered “Why not?” when asked if 40-0 is a goal for Kentucky next season.

Well, what else is he going to say?  Trying to win every game should be the goal of every team in the country.  Randle also added that he and his fellow signees “haven’t done anything or proven anything” yet.  The aforementioned Aaron Harrison said his team would “proclaim” that a national title is on the way, “but it is not about words…. it is about what you do out there on the court.”

That’s a better approach than Lee’s.  Especially considering that UK’s last class of guaranteed winners didn’t guarantee on-court wins at all.  In fact, a first-round NIT loss at Robert Morris served as the ultimate comeuppance for a group that never seemed to realize that listening to Calipari is part of what helped Kentucky’s three previous teams reach the Elite Eight, the Final Four, and then the national championship.

That loss at Robert Morris should also serve as a scarecrow moving forward.  It should ward off the slightest bit of overconfidence.  Hell, it should be the first thing Calipari shows his new recruits when practice starts later this year.

All that said, for Lee and for Big Blue fans who are already dreaming of a perfect season, just how realistic are the Wildcats’ chances?

If you go by history… not very.

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The nation had fun at Kentucky’s expense on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats, less than a year removed from winning the NCAA tournament, had just lost on the road to Robert Morris in the first round of the NIT.

“Kentucky lost to a guy named Bob Morris?” opposing fans joked.

Another popular jab at the Wildcats: “One and done has a new meaning in Lexington.”

Fans had several other responses that were clever and witty as they took joy in watching Kentucky and coach John Calipari deal with embarrassment on a national stage.

Calipari has established his ability to bring in the nation’s top talent every year, only to see many of them stay in college for one season before opting for the NBA. The Wildcats are getting what they deserve for gambling on their roster each year, fans thought.

But that will change next year. Kentucky has the nation’s top signing class and it’s about to get better.

Forward Julius Randle from Dallas, Texas, announced his commitment to Kentucky on Wednesday. Randle is the sixth five-star prospect to join Kentucky’s 2013 class, giving the Wildcats what many analysts are calling the best recruiting class ever.

Of course, that’s on paper. Kentucky’s class won’t receive full credit until it has success on the court.

“Our class isn’t going to be judged until you see how we play in college,” Randle told reporters following his announcement. “And our goal is to win it, go undefeated, whatever we want to do. Once we do that, then you can judge our class. But right now, we’re just great recruits.”

Randle’s correct. His class hasn’t accomplished anything in college, which will lead to debates over whether this is an Anthony Davis-type class or just another 2012 class full of disappointment.

Expect the former. Randle is only the latest addition to a class that already featured twin brother guards Aaron and Andrew Harrison from Richmond, Texas, center Dakari Johnson from Brooklyn, N.Y., and forward James Young from Rochester, Mich.

Kentucky has six McDonald’s All-Americans for the first time ever. The Wildcats have the nation’s top-rated point guard, shooting guard, power forward and center. And they will join a roster that’s expected to include at least a player or two from last year’s class (Nerlens Noel is the only player sure to leave).

How good is Kentucky’s class? It can’t be compared to other classes around the nation. It has to be matched up against the all-time greats, according to Dave Telep of ESPN Insider.

“We’re not comparing Kentucky’s recruiting class to No. 2 Memphis or No. 3 Kansas anymore,” Telep wrote. “Really what we’re talking about here is UK 2013 versus Michigan 1991, the ‘Fab Five.’”

And with that comparison will come greater expectations. That’s expected though as Kentucky continues to out-class its competition when it comes to recruiting.

Randle could have chosen any other school but decided to sign up with what he sees as the best players in the country.

“I felt like this was the best situation for me at the end of the day,” Randle said.

And Kentucky will again be one of the nation’s top title contenders at the beginning of next season.

Louisiana lineman chooses Florida

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Forbes magazine has released its annual list of the most valuable college basketball programs in America.  Not surprisingly a team from Kentucky tops the list… but it ain’t the Wildcats.  According to Forbes’ calculations, Louisville actually turns a bigger profit in hoops than any other school in the country.  And by a healthy margin.

Much of Louisville’s profit can be traced to the three-year-old KFC Yum! Center in which it plays.  Tickets sales, concession sales, parking revenue, etc, are all up.  As the city of Lexington and UK bicker over what to do with Rupp Arena — refurbish it or replace it — expect the numbers tied to Louisville’s new arena to be kicked around often.

UK finished fourth on the overall list behind the Cardinals, Kansas and North Carolina.  Only other SEC program even made the top 20 list and it’s not the program that’s won a pair of national titles in the past decade.  While Florida ranked outside Forbes’ list — behind the likes of Kansas State, NC State and Xavier — Tennessee actually came in at #14.  Having a 21,000-seat arena certainly helps on the profit front.  With back-to-back NIT trips, however, it’ll be interesting to see how Tennessee’s numbers chance from this year to next.

Below is a look at the full list:

At MrSEC.com we field a lot of questions — from emailers and talk radio hosts — about the SEC’s strength in football and it’s lack of strength in basketball.  We believe it has to do with investment.  SEC programs spend more on football and they typically pay more to lure quality coaches into the league and then keep them.  The investment isn’t the same in basketball — outside a handful of programs — and return on investment is also lower.

For comparison’s sake, Forbes’ most recent ranking of college football’s most valuable programs listed LSU (#4), Georgia (#5), Alabama (#6), Florida (#7), Auburn (#8), Tennessee (#9), Arkansas (#10), and South Carolina (#17).

One of high school basketball’s most celebrated recruits has made his college decision.  Just moments ago on ESPNU, Julius Randle, a Dallas, Texas area forward, picked up the hat of the University of Kentucky.

Randle’s four finalists were Kentucky, Kansas, Florida and Texas although many believed it was a two-horse race between UK and KU.

John Calipari already had six five-star commitments in his 2013 class. Jerry Meyer of 247Sports.com said before the announcement “If Randle were to choose Kentucky, I think it makes this Kentucky class a no-brainer for best recruiting class in the history of college basketball.”

Randle did and history has apparently been made.

It’s always basketball season in Lexington, but a disappointing first-round NIT exit combined with the anticipation and excitement surrounding this recruiting class, next season can’t get here soon enough for UK fans. Randle, a 6-foot-9 forward and ranked the No. 3 overall prospect by ESPN, only adds to the buzz.

First, if you needed further proof that the SEC was down this year, the University of Kentucky’s loss at Robert Morris last night is the smoking gun.  A UK roster stacked with future pros should have been able to beat the Colonials just by exiting their team bus.  It didn’t.

The SEC could have gotten four teams into the NCAA Tournament, but there’s no strong argument that it should have.  And for all the barking that this or that SEC team was better than La Salle or MTSU, the fact is a team that tied for second place in the conference just lost to Robert Morris in the NIT.

Now, what does that loss mean for Kentucky hoops moving forward?  Probably not a lot.

John Calipari has landed four signing classes in a row that were historically good.  The first three helped him lead the Wildcats to an Elite Eight, then to a Final Four, and then to a national title.  This year’s class never jelled — even before Nerlens Noel’s season-ending injury — but that’s not going to change UK’s build-it-up-tear-it-down-build-it-up approach.  Calipari already has another deep, stellar class on the hook.

Some have suggested that this year’s team lacked the leadership provided by one or two veterans, something last year’s banner-raising squad had in sophomores Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb.  Senior Darius Miller was in many ways last year’s team’s glue.

With the Wildcats’ lack of success this year, Kentucky might have a more few returnees than expected next year and that could provide the experience this year’s squad lacked.  At least that’s the theory.  While Noel is still expected to be a top five NBA pick even with his ACL tear, guys like Alex Poythress, Willie Cauley-Stein and Archie Goodwin said after last night’s loss that they don’t feel ready for the next level.  So there you have it.

But if several players do return and Calipari inks five or six new all-everything players, who’ll get the minutes next season?

Before yesterday’s game, UK’s coach said he wasn’t worried about that:

“This may be a group of four-year players.  There’s nothing wrong with that.  Why is everybody panicked?  So they’re four-year players?  So?  You move, you get another group and now you have a nice big team and you take on the world.”

But when asked specifically if some of the players who didn’t listen and didn’t play well this year might be shown the door, the coach said:

“Well, we’ll sit down and all that stuff when the time is right and that’s when the season is over.”

Shockingly, the season is now over just one game into Kentucky’s NIT run.  Who returns and who signs will be the most followed story in the Bluegrass State this offseason.  Calipari could find himself in a bit of a pickle on that front.

If the coach runs some of this year’s players off, it might make some star five-star players leery of joining his program in the future.  And if he keeps everyone and simply buries a few players on the bench, you can bet that rival coaches will tell future recruits that Lexington no longer provides a guaranteed path to the National Basketball Association.

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Thanks to Kentucky’s Open Records Act, the Louisville Courier-Journal has obtained more than 250 emails sent last fall regarding the football program at Kentucky. The emails sent to A.D. Mitch Barnhart reveal that several people wanted Bobby Petrino to replace Joker Phillips in Lexington.

According to the paper, Barnhart received more than 60 emails about Petrino with the vast majority of them supporting the hire.  About a dozen opposed the move. Here’s one mail from a Petrino supporter:

“I am praying night and day that you hire Bobby Petrino. He has made mistakes in the past, but who hasn’t? The Bible says that we are ALL sinners in need of forgiveness. … We are not trying to hire a minister or a social worker. We are hiring a FOOTBALL COACH. … PLEASE Mitch. Be our hero!”

The first email supporting the hire of Mark Stoops showed up in Barnhart’s inbox in October – weeks before Phillips was fired.  A 13-year old fan was the first of two emails backing Stoops.

“I have been to 78 straight UK home games,” wrote the teen, whose name and contact information were redacted by the school. “Please don’t right (sic) me off, I know my stuff.”

Former Kentucky governor John Y. Brown Jr. also got in the act, originally supporting former North Carolina coach Butch Davis.  In one email, he even went so far as to attach Davis’ coaching credentials and references.

“Your selection is a great opportunity to have a new start after nine straight losing coaches and fifty years of losing.  You got a chance to be a hero again so go get the best and give our fans something to be proud of.”

Brown sent another email to UK Board of Trustees Chairman Britt Brockman who forwarded the message to the university president.

“No disrespect to coach (former UK coach Rich) Brooks. He brought a lot of pride to the program, but second-class bowls are not the agenda for my school. … Confidence and attitude and self-esteem are so important for a state, and sports has a lot to do with that. You see what Calipari has done with basketball. It’s just lifted the whole state.

“I think having a great role model as coach and a winning program has more effect than who the governor is.”

Later, Brown appeared to back off his support for Davis, saying the coach’s troubles at North Carolina were “more serious than I was aware.”

A list of minority candidates suggested to Barnhart by the Black Coaches and Administrators included former Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell and former Western Kentucky coach Willie Taggert.

Barnhart replied to few of the emails sent his way but one name that did catch his eye was former Texas A&M offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who’s now the head coach at Texas Tech.  It’s clear that Barnhart liked what he read.

“Impressive. Just getting started. Your letter gives me some insight into Kliff. May reach out to you to get a number for him.”

The emails cover the period from October 1 through mid-November. Kentucky made the hire of Mark Stoops official on November 27th.