GARY B. GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Just as Drake appeared to draw the biggest cheers at Big Blue Madness, the rapper introduced Kentucky coach John Calipari and the noise then became a roar.
The Wildcats men’s team gave a sold-out Rupp Arena crowd plenty more reasons to cheer with a fast-paced and sometimes-physical scrimmage Friday night that figures to ratchet expectations for a ninth national championship.
Kentucky returns six regulars from last year’s NCAA tournament runner-up squad and has added four high school All-Americans, giving Calipari a 12-deep roster he plans to use with a two-platoon system. The Wildcats went 5-1 using the strategy during a summer tour of the Bahamas.
Perhaps mindful of last year’s struggles with a freshman-laden squad, the coach was also cautious, saying, “this is going to be a process.”
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