John Calipari is putting together a 4 team “Champions Classic” type of tourney in 2014-2015

In order to be competitive in any of those games next season, depending who stays and goes after this season, the 2014 recruiting class is of the utmost importance. Yes, I know recruiting has never been an issue with Calipari but many are speculating that the 2014 class won’t be anywhere near his best, but who knows really. Big Blue Madness was host to a bevy of important recruits in 2014 including James Blackmon, Jr, Trey Lyles and Stanley Johnson (#3). Of those the most important would be Stanley Johnson who tore up the summer AAU circuit and is highly coveted by Coach Cal. Bleacher Report has a list of the “Players Who Could Make or Break the 2014 Class.”

"James Blackmon, Jr. If Kentucky wants to fill the shooting void expected to be left behind by James Young and Aaron Harrison, James Blackmon is the answer in 2014. Blackmon is arguably the best shooter in the class and one who would benefit in Kentucky’s offensive system. On top of that, Blackmon is the son of former Kentucky player James Blackmon Sr., who played in Lexington from 1984-87. The younger Blackmon is deciding between Kentucky, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan and Michigan State. Trey Lyles The importance of Trey Lyles committing to Kentucky comes down to much more than his talent. It’s because Lyles has his list cut to two teams. One of those teams is the Kentucky Wildcats. The other team is Louisville. After missing out on arguably the top point guard in Emmanuel Mudiay and having Cliff Alexander, the No. 1 player in the class, take Kentucky off his list, John Calipari and the Wildcats need to land another top-10 player to help replace those expected to leave after this season. Besides the obvious reason of losing a top recruit to their rival, Kentucky needs Lyles to decide on the Blue and White to be the go-to scorer for the Wildcats in 2014-15. The Indiana native is a big-time scorer who can help stretch the floor with his height. Stanley Johnson In order to have an extremely strong recruiting class, it comes down to one player’s decision. That player is Stanley Johnson from California. Rivals.com ranks Johnson as the third-best player in the class of 2014 and the best small forward in the class. For an extended period of time, Johnson was the only small forward Calipari even offered a scholarship to. Much like Lyles, it seems to be a two-team race to land Johnson. However, this time it is Sean Miller at Arizona going against Calipari at Kentucky. Johnson is also considering USC, UCLA, Oregon, Florida and Kansas, but expect it to come down to Arizona and Kentucky."

As for going undefeated in 2013-2014,Vegas odds makers aren’t exactly sold on the likelihood. Frankly neither are most people but there is a chance and it is a legitimate one.

"Nick Bogdanovich was sitting at his desk at the William Hill Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas on Thursday when a customer approached the window with a question the veteran bookmaker wasn’t expecting. The customer wanted to know the odds preseason No. 1 Kentucky would go unbeaten this college basketball season. Happy to accommodate the bet but unsure how to determine what the odds should be, Bogdanovich asked the customer to wait for 10 minutes while he and a colleague perused Kentucky’s schedule and came up with a number. The odds Bogdanovich and his colleague settled on were 400-1 that Kentucky’s latest cast of immensely talented freshmen could become the first team ever to finish 40-0. “There was a little math, a little gut, and we studied their schedule pretty closely,” Bogdanovich said Friday. “When you’re talking about a number that high, it’s pretty arbitrary. It probably could be anywhere from 200-1 to 5,000-1. We decided on 400-1, and if those kids jell early, who knows? He might get his money.”"

John Calipari’s 2013 Coaches Clinic begins this morning.  All the information is below.

"Online Registration LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s basketball program has announced the date for the 2013 John Calipari Coaches’ Clinic. This year’s Coaches Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm EST at the Joe Craft Center on the campus of the University of Kentucky. The day-long event, intended for male and female coaches, gives a unique look into the coaching philosophies and strategies that Coach Calipari uses in guiding the 8 time NCAA National Champion Kentucky Wildcats Men’s basketball program. Included in this unique clinic will be a chance to tour the Joe Craft Center and the New Wildcat Coal Lodge with staff members available to answer questions. Attendees will be given exclusive access to watch Coach Cal conduct two practice sessions with the 2013-14 Wildcats and be given opportunities to ask questions of Coach Cal and his staff. Check-in for the coaches’ clinic will be from 7:30 – 9:00am in the lobby of the Joe Craft Center on Oct. 26. Cost of the clinic is $75 for advance registration and $100 for walk-up registration. Parking will be available ONLY in the E lot located directly in front of the Joe Craft Center. Attendees MUST park in a legal parking spot in the E lots only (Parking in R lots is NOT permitted). Please note that recruitable age participants (males or females currently in the 7th-12th grade, junior college, or prep school) are NOT permitted to register for or attend the clinic. Registration is available online and any clinic related questions can be called into the Men’s Basketball Camp line at 859-257-9457 or 859-257-1916. John Calipari Coaches Clinic Date: Saturday October 26th, 2013 Time: 9:00 am- 4:30 pm (Lunch Break on your own from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.) Check-in: 7:30-9:00 am Location: Joe Craft Center Cost: $75 and $100 for walk-ups Clinic Schedule (Subject to Change) 7:30 – 9:00 am Check-in/Registration 9:00 – 9:15 am Welcome/ Coach Calipari Introduction 9:15 – 9:30 am Pre-Practice Warm-up/ Stretch 9:30 – 11:30 am 1st Practice 11:30 am- 12 pm Q&A with Coach Calipari and Staff 12:00 – 1:30 pm Lunch (On your own)/ Wildcat Coal Lodge and Joe Craft Center will be open for tour 1:30 – 2:00 pm Pre-Practice Warm-up/ Stretch 2:00 – 4:00 pm 2nd Practice 4:00 – 4:30 pm Q&A with Coach Calipari and Staff/ Closing"