Ira D. Combs Syndicated Columnist
Tri State Sports Media Service Inc.

Wow, isn't it nice to be on the winning side again and back in the national spotlight.

The Saturday before last, Roy Williams stepped into the media room under the bowels of Rupp Arena and promptly said, "Let me be honest folks, if John Wall doesn't go down, I doubt we get back in the game."

Gotta love honesty in this day and age even if it is coming from Ole Roy.

Now, I ask you my loyal column followers, did any of you in your wildest fantasies believe when the exhibition season started that Coach Cal and our beloved Cats would be sitting at a perfect 10-0 headed into the holidays?

After the two exhibition games I thought 8-2 possibly, then after the Miami and Sam Houston State games I was hoping 7-3 and would have settled for 6-4 at this juncture.

Shows you what I know about college hoops!!!!!!!!!

Now that Cal's Cats have passed the top ten test of North Carolina, the bright lights and big city test of New York and UConn and the road test of those pesky, overachieveing Hoosiers in Bloomington, Indiana juiced up by a hostile environment it's time to hit the books for some real test of the classroom variety.

It's semester test time this week.

You know the real reason that John Wall and the rest of those high profile recruits are at UK, to get an education, I know, my tongue is firmly entrenched in my left cheek and think whatever you want to but there are players on this roster on schedule and even a couple ahead of schedule to be front and center in the graduation line this coming spring.

Once the players finish their classwork this week, the NCAA mandated 20 hour per week practice rule takes a holiday vacation as well which means Coach Cal and the players can lock the doors each morning to the Joe Craft Center and really get to work on deveolping their individual skills and that all important team chemistry for the conference season and hopefully a deep run in the postseason.

It's cupcake city in the friendly confines of Rupp Arena the next four games with Austin Peay, Drexel, Long Beach State, and Hartford to end the 2009 part of the schedule. Then, the annual Battle of the Bluegrass with Louisville and Rick Pitino kicks off 2010 on Saturday, January 2nd at 3:30 with CBS in town to broadcast it nationwide.

Can you say 15-0 headed into conference play? I can.

That longtime standing and tradition strong mystique UK had in hoops for many years across the SEC that had gone awry the last 4 years is resurfacing each time UK has a nationally televised win with it's new kiddie corps getting props from ESPN and CBS analyst. By the time the conference schedule rolls around, Coach Cal and the Cats will be hated and feared across the SEC in hoops just as much or maybe even more as when Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, and Les Miles are when they bring their teams to Commonwealth Stadium.

I especially look forward to the games in Gainesville, Florida and Knoxville, Tennessee.

Last chance for good bowl tickets this week!!!!!!

The holidays are the best chance at picking up a ticket to watch the Cats at Rupp Arena because the students are away, which opens up a few rows in the student section especially for a weekday game. Also, you can occasionally pick up a single ticket in the lower level during this time of the season even through the UK ticket office because of the travel of folks out of state who normally are in attendance for all home games otherwise. Also, according to the folks in the UK ticket office the tickets are going fast for the Cats Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl appearance in Nashville during the holidays on December 27th. Only a few tickets remain in the lower level of LP Field where the bowl game takes place and also where the Tennessee Titans of the NFL play their home games.

Go online 24 hours a day at www.ukathletics.com and click on tickets for directions on purchasing UK basketball or Music City Bowl tickets in the next two weeks or you can call the UK ticket office toll free at 1-800-257-8000 Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. and ask for the ticket office to purchase over the phone by credit card.

Go to www.combsbrothersonkysports.com for more coverage of the Kentucky Wildcats and KHSAA Sports.