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Fringe Appeal: The alternate universes of Kentucky Wildcat basketball

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First, I have to give a disclaimer that I support every former Kentucky Wildcat basketball player that decides to pursue their dream and go for the NBA draft.  It’s the American dream to succeed on the highest level  and if these former players feel that they are equipped to chase their dreams, so be it.  But so far this season, I am hearing lots of grumbling about “who left too early” and “what this team could be like if everyone stayed”.

And all fans do it and play the “what if” game.  I do it.  We all do it.  And those that have followed this site that I am a huge fan of the Fox show “Fringe” and it’s alternate reality storyline and it got me to thinking…. “What is there was an alternate Big Blue Nation and everything over there was a bit different but pretty much the same.  Let’s take a look at a couple of the Big Blue alternate universes that may be existing without our knowledge.  As we know from “Fringe”, everything is similar but a little different.

SCENARIO ONE – THE ONE MORE YEAR FOR BILLY GILLISPIE-VERSE

Encouraged by the Kentucky basketball team that bonded together to win five straight games and the NIT Tournament, Kentucky Athletic Director Cliff Hagan (yes he is still there and that Emory envelope never opened) decided to give Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie “one more year” to return Kentucky to the previous glory of the Eddie Sutton era (no envelope means no Pitino).  Upon hearing the news, Patrick Patterson and Jodie Meeks immediately declare for the NBA draft and because of the signing of point guard GJ Vilarino, John Wall and Eric Bledsoe join John Calipari at Memphis, where they lead the Tigers to a third straight title.  Seeing the void on his team, Gillispie has Michael Avery take a special placement test which allows the eight grader to bypass high school and have immediate eligibility.  Unfortunately, Avery develops performance anxiety as he has never played in front of 100 fans or so and he averages 2.3 points a game and plays his games in a specially designed camo uni so he can feel that “no one can see him”.  The season is a disaster but Kentucky salvages some redemption by beating Tom Crean’s Hoosiers in the CIT Finals.

SCENARIO TWO – JODIE MEEKS RETURNS TO KENTUCKY SCENARIO

In this alterna BBN-verse, Jodie Meeks pulls his name out of the NBA Draft when John Calipari is named coach at Kentucky.  When Calipari comes, the recruits follow as John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins are the crown jewels of the class.  John Calipari was looking for some back court depth, but Eric Bledsoe commited to Florida when Meeks announced his return.  The basketball Cats started out 23-0 until player of the year candidate Jodie Meeks tore his ACL and was lost for the season.  Faced with no back court depth, Kentucky goes into a slide and ends up getting bounced in the Swet 16 by Gonzaga.  Bledsoe on the other hand thrives in Billy Donovan’s offense and leads Florida to the Final Four.

As we can see, nothing is guaranteed even in alternative universes.  And I know that it is tempting now to second guess Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton’s decisions to leave Kentucky for a shot in the NBA, especially since Patterson is taking up residence in the D-League and Daniel Orton appears to have knee problems yet again.  But regardless, it’s pointless to complain about Patterson and Orton not being on this team now.  So the best thing to do is to support the players that we have now, and wish the ones that have gone away the best.  There’s no use in spending wasted energy on wishing for what we have lost.  We have to move forward and make the best of what we have.

And keep in mind patience is a virtue and we never know what the future holds.  Consider this future look at a Kentucky Wildcat’s team that could very well be a reality … in every universe.

THE FUTURE  SCENARIO

Things seemed bleak after the Enes Kanter appeal was denied but Calipari’s Cats pulled themselves together and advanced to the Elite Eight for the second straight year.  Due to the pending NBA lockout, only one player, Terrence Jones, decided to test his luck in the NBA.  During the May period, John Calipari landed commitments from Trevor Lacey and DeAndre Daniels.   Those players, along with Teague, Davis, Wiltjer, and Gilchrist meshed perfectly with returning players Knight, Lamb, Poole, Hood, Miller, and Liggins, Vargas, and walk on Polson.  Calipari’s 2011 squad breezed through the 2011 Tournament and brought home elusive Title number 8.

So you see Cat fans.  It’s not a matter of if Calipari returns us to greatness … it’s when.  Quit worrying about who is not here and enjoy the ride.  Trust me, you don’t want to miss this.

Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans