You can’t hurry love, but evidently a 35-3 season you can speed the process.

Telling ESPN Music, “I’ve got a lot of love for (Coach Calipari]” best-selling hip-hop artist, Drake, confirmed there is something in the air tonight – and every night – when it comes to his affection for Kentucky Basketball and the Big Blue Nation. (In the same interview, he also imagined a world where Coach Cal “listens to Phil Collins and lights candles in his office.)

Coach Cal, with Drake and former Cat, Tayshaun Prince

Coach Cal felt the love and said it seems like another day in paradise knowing Drake is in his corner.

“To have Drake say those things about me and our program, that means a lot,”  Coach Cal said on Sunday from his office at the Joe Craft Center. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know him and getting to see him in concert in the Spring, I really appreciated how hard he works and what an incredible talent he is.

“But I do want to clear up one thing: I do like Phil Collins, but I don’t light candles,” Coach Cal said. “Ellen likes to light candles, but not me!”

Drake, whose No. 1 Album “Thank Me Later” should certainly get some air time in Rupp this season, is already looking forward to following his Cats this upcoming season, ensuring at least one more night of Drake in his UK gear, sitting close to the court. “I’m hoping to get out to some games. . .” Drake told ESPN. “. . .I only saw Kentucky games last year, so I’m going to make my way around this year and try and be more involved with college basketball overall.”

Phil Collins? Maybe. Candles? Nah.

“When I first met him and told Erin, Megan and Brad about it, the were absolutely convinced I didn’t not know Drake,” Coach Cal said. “They all love Drake and when they found out I really did know him, they were like, ‘Wow, not bad Dad!’”

Drake was one of several A-List celebrities who attended a Wildcat game last year, both at Rupp Arena and on the road. It’s a list that included Ashley Judd,  LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin.

Coach said he looks forward to when Drake gets back into the recording sssstudio (sorry) and hopes Grammys will rain down on him.

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Coach Calipari spent Sunday catching up on some work at the office and then working out with Bradley. He also peeked in at the volleyball team’s blue-white scrimmage. “We were working out and we heard all this noise from Memorial (Gymnasium),” Coach Cal said. “Now I see why we are ranked #14 in the country in volleyball. Great atmosphere and a really passionate crowd. Coach Skinner is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen in the profession.”

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Coach Cal will be filming some Ball Homes spots on Monday morning and hopefully getting some down time before classes start and the paperback “Bounce Back” tour begins on August 31st (see EVENTS tab for more info).

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Exciting opportunities to win Coach Calz Crazy Bandz forthcoming across all Coach Cal social media platforms. Stay tuned!

-RTL-