University of Kentucky basketball player DeAndre Liggins has overcome a lot to get where he is today.

Now this is College sports at its best. A wonderful essay from the point of view one of the losing teams of this year's NCAA Basketball Tournament. As a Kentucky fan, I find myself and others in total agreement with both the spirit and the analysis of this essay.

Big Blue Madness, the annual opening practice of the University of Kentucky's basketball teams, occurred before a huge crowd in Rupp Arena on October 15, 2010 for the 2010-11 season.

Many University of Kentucky basketball fans are already camped out on September 29, 2010 for tickets for the first preseason practice, "Big Blue Madness," that will be given out on Saturday, October 2, 2010.

The University of Kentucky men's college basketball program got a commitment from Kyle Wiltjer of the class of 2011 on Saturday, August 28, 2010. UK will likely have the best recruiting class in the country in 2011 for the third year in a row.

"Anthony Davis, a 6-foot-10 forward from Chicago, committed to the Wildcats on Friday, his father said Friday,

August 13, 2010.

The University of Kentucky women's basketball team upset #1 seed Nebraska in a regional seminal of the NCAA tournament.

University of Kentucky women's basketball player Lydia Watkins is a mother of a nine-month-old in addition to being a student athlete.

"President Obama plans to give the University of Kentucky men's basketball team and Coach John Calipari a presidential high-five for their 'Hoops for Haiti' fundraiser"

in January 2010.

"University of Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari and his undefeated team raised more than $1 million in about five hours Sunday afternoon [January 17, 2010] at a 'Hoops for Haiti' telethon."

John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins may become the University of Kentucky's first basketball players to turn pro after only one year at UK.

A North Carolina fan, SB Nation's Andrew Sharp, writes about his experience watching Kentucky and North Carolina play basketball on Saturday, December 5, 2009.

I think Andrew Sharp uses a significant amount of hyperbole -- but as a University of Kentucky basketball fan I enjoyed the article and loved his positive, upbeat approach.

"Sagarin looked back at the past 72 years of the sport to spit out Kentucky as No. 1, two percentage points ahead of UCLA."

University of Kentucky men's basketball fans were allowed to begin lining up on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, for tickets to the men's basketball team's first practice on October 16.

Tickets won't be given out until October 3.

A 2009-10 college basketball preseason All-American list is out from Jeff Goodman of FOX Sports. Kentucky's John Wall is named "Player of the Year."

Gillispie checked himself in the John Lucas After Care Program in Houston, Texas

according to a September 8, 2009 report by WKYT, Lexington, Kentucky's CBS television affiliate.

"Jodie Meeks was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, 41st overall in Thursday's NBA Draft."

Rivals.com's analysis of college basketball recruting of the 2009 high school class ranks the University of Kentucky #1 thus far. This article lists Rivals.com's ranking of the top 25 colleges for recruiting thus far this season.

Bledsoe committed to the University of Kentucky on May 6, 2009.

Bledsoe -- who now holds Rivals.com five-star status -- also elevated his standing as the No. 23 prospect nationally among the Class of 2009 and the No. 3 point guard recruit in the country.

Parker coach Maurice Ford said last Friday Bledsoe was waiting on his latest ACT score before he makes his decision. He did not think Bledsoe would sign this week.

He shared Kentucky is highly involved in the process. They've offered and new coach John Calipari made a Birmingham visit to check on Bledsoe on April 17. Ford also said Memphis offered and was very much in the hunt for his signature on a grant-in-aid scholarship along with Florida, Cincinnati and Alabama.

Three top high school seniors are considering Kentucky.

A source "told Yahoo! Sports" that Kentucky's Jodie Meeks will "enter the NBA draft" without an agent.