Calipari’s arrival leads to change of style

John Calipari is not bringing just 445 wins with him to Lexington, he’s also bringing change to the men’s basketball program. For some, like the case of DeAndre Liggins, that’s a good thing, but for others, like Josh Harrellson, that can mean something completely different.

It has been well-documented Calipari runs the Dribble-Drive Motion, a fast-paced offense designed to play with four perimeter players and a post player. It’s something Liggins, a rising sophomore who saw an up-and-down freshman campaign, can’t wait for.

In fact, he’s waited an extra year for Calipari and his system. Liggins was recruited out of high school by Calipari while he was at Memphis.

And with rumors swirling this off-season about Liggins potentially transferring, he had an answer before Wednesday’s practice to put those rumors to rest.

“100 percent I’ll be back,” Liggins said. “(Calipari) is a good coach. I like his offense. I’m ready to play for him.”

While Liggins is ready to play for a new coach, Calipari couldn’t help but think about the possibilities of what type of player Liggins can turn into with the DDM.

“He’s doing better than when we first started,” Calipari said. “He’ll keep learning and getting better and soon people won’t even realize that it’s him out there playing.”

However, the same can’t be said for Josh Harrellson, a rising junior who transferred to UK before the 2008-09 season from Southwestern Illinois College.

Harrellson, who is 6-foot-10, averaged 3.6 points per game in his first season with the Cats. However, it’s the up-tempo style of Calipari that has Harrellson contemplating a change of scenery.

“I don’t know if I fit in this system yet. I hope I get used to (the DDM) so I can stay,” Harrellson said. “Me and Coach Cal haven’t talked yet, but it will be my decision.”

Another big man who is already seeing the effect of Calipari’s system is Perry Stevenson. The rising senior from Lafayette, La., is 6-foot-9, but weighs only 207 pounds.

Stevenson, who has battled down low with players weighing nearly 30 to 40 pounds more than him, is getting used to something he’s never done — beating players off the dribble.

“I see myself not banging with guys hundreds of pounds more than me, which will make it a lot easier,” Stevenson said. “I’m not going to be shooting over people anymore, so I have to find a way around them, meaning I have to work on my ball handling.”

Patterson declares for draft

Despite a new head coach and a promising recruiting class coming in, sophomore forward Patrick Patterson has decided to enter the NBA draft.

Patterson announced his decision to the media before practice Wednesday. He will throw his name in the hat and work out for NBA teams, but he will not hire an agent. The decision not to hire an agent leaves the door open for Patterson to return to UK should he withdraw his name from the draft by June 15.

Patterson said the decision was his, but his family and Calipari both supported the decision. Patterson also said if he stays another year under Calipari, he knows he could improve his overall skill set.

“I know a year under Coach Calipari would help a lot,” Patterson said.

Patterson also said that NBA teams’ trend of drafting younger players over upperclassmen played into his decision.

“The longer you stay in college, the less likely you’ll be drafted,” Patterson said.

Patterson joins junior Jodie Meeks in declaring for the NBA draft. Calipari said he supports both their decisions, and said the one thing that will help both of them is not participating in the Chicago and Orlando pre-draft workouts. He said if you go and don’t have a good workout, people remember that and it’s hard to battle back, using Marquette guard Dominic James as an example.

“I really hope to coach them both,” Calipari said. “But, they have to do the right thing for them and their families.”

Calipari also said players declaring early is something that shouldn’t scare the Big Blue Nation, and, in fact, fans should get used to it.

“Each year we’re going to go through this,” Calipari said. “Someone will be here for a year and declare for the draft, but we’ll go find someone else that will come in for a year, and some guys that will stay here for all four.”

Cousins signs to play for UK

Just over two weeks after signing his contract, new UK head coach John Calipari has signed his first recruit.
DeMarcus Cousins, a sought-after power forward from Mobile, Ala., signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play for UK next season. Wednesday marked the beginning of the late signing period, which runs until May 20.

Cousins had committed to play for Calipari at Memphis, but he rescinded his commitment after Calipari resigned to coach at UK. Before committing to Memphis, Cousins agreed to play for UAB but did not sign a letter of intent because he was not granted a clause in the letter that would have released him from his commitment if UAB head coach Mike Davis left the school.

Cousins averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds in his senior season at LeFlore High School, earning McDonald’s All-American honors along the way. Rivals.com ranks Cousins as the No. 2 overall prospect in the country and No. 1 at the power forward position.

— James Pennington