by Zach Rosen
Junior Senior
On March 7th, 2010, the University of Kentucky’s men’s basketball will be suiting up for their final home game of the season. Traditionally this is known as senior night, an event in which seniors on the team are recognized for their dedication to the school and team. Undeniably this years senior class as been through more than any other, starting their careers here under the grandfatherly tutelage of Tubby Smith, suffering under the abusive dictatorship of Billy Gillispie, and now arriving here, riding the tidal wave of excitement and success that has become the first year of the Calipari era. These seniors include Ramon Harris, Perry Stevenson, and Mark Krebs; all carving out a unique spot in annals of the story of UK’s decline and subsequent revival. Harris and Stevenson both have started more than 40 games in their careers and any fan of Kentucky basketball can at least remember a moment in which they contributed. And Krebs? Krebs has followed in a long line of mop-up players (or “human victory cigars”) that receive loud cheers for every point they get. You can deride that role all you want, but when you see Mark tear off those warm-up pants and enter the game, you always hope that every one of his shots go in.
But one other player will be receiving their degree this spring, one that will undeniably go down as a UK legend and one of the sole reasons that the program didn’t fall into complete collapse.
That man, of course, is Mark Coury.
HA. See what I did there? But I kid. The real man, the titan of the Bluegrass, is the unforgettable Patrick Patterson. Coming in as one of the mostly highly touted recruits since Jamal Mashburn, he proved to everyone beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is capable of putting an entire team on his back. From a monstrous freshman year in which he averaged 16 points and seven rebounds a game to almost averaging a double-double the next (18/9), he has seen his numbers go down slightly this year (15/8) but his influence is undeniable; he is a leader and a rock on our team. He is already one of the most popular players of this millennium, if not ever, and his family is one of the most respected in all UK circles.
But this is not a piece on why you should like Patrick Patterson. He has done more on that front than any writer could try to convince you. This is an attempt to honor him and lobby for an nontraditional, yet fully earned, act of recognition for everything he has contributed to the program. Patrick Patterson should be honored at senior night on March 7th. Patterson’s three years here has seen as tumultous unlike any other in that time period, save for the end of the Eddie Sutton era, and he has proven to be a class act and a true Kentucky athlete. He never doubted the program or a coach, even when everyone else was. And the entire time, he was keeping his nose buried in the books, allowing him to graduate in three years.
Patrick Patterson will be receiving his degree and will officially be an alumni; he is also projected to be a Top 10 pick . Every indication would point to the idea that he should leave and continue his career at the next level, and he is expected to succeed there as well. When a student earns enough credits, he is categorized as a senior and should be honored as such, regardless of the time it took to get there. The man that this year’s team calls “Black Kool-aid” sits at 20th all-time in scoring and 22nd in rebounds, and projects to move up that list by the end of the season. Impressive numbers for any career, but in three years the numbers are astounding. He deserves a heroes send-off, and I say we give it to him.
Paul’s note: Great points by Zach and I agree — something should be done to honor Patterson. I know that Tru and company over at A Sea of Blue started a pretty good discussion on this topic the other day. I understand that to introduce Patrick would break with tradition … but Patrick is a once a decade player. What do YOU think? Should UK honor Patrick on Senior Day or not …. or find another way to express appreciation. Use the poll on the upper right side of the blog and let’s see what the BBN thinks.
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