It’s hard to pull off firsts at the program we’re at, but I think we may have pulled off a Kentucky first on Friday. We had our first home visit from South America.

That’s right, Big Blue Nation. On Friday, in between my Dominican Republic preparation for the semifinals of the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, I was in a United States home south of the equator. What?!

Friday was the beginning of the fall contact period, and even though I won’t be home for a few days, we were still in the home of a possible future Wildcat. Since I couldn’t be there in person, I had Kenny Payne make the in-home visit while I was on speakerphone.

If our Dominican Republic team wouldn’t have succeeded, I would have been home by today. Well, we did well, and that’s great for the Big Blue Nation. I’ve learned so much from this team and from this style of basketball that are going to pay major dividends when I get back to Lexington with my team. I’ve picked up a ton of things from FIBA basketball that can make the Dribble Drive Motion Offense even better, and it’s been a valuable coaching experience for me, Orlando Antigua and Rod Strickland working with a future Hall of Famer in Del Harris.

I’ll be back in the United States on Tuesday and will immediately hit the ground running. I’ve already got a couple of in-home visits scheduled. I’ll be in Lexington for a day late next week, but I’ll be on the road recruiting the rest of the time as the contact period heats up. Kenny will continue the in-home visits the next two days in the meantime.

—————————–

I hope all of the Big Blue Nation takes some time Sunday to reflect on everything we lost on Sept. 11.

I still remember exactly where I was on that day 10 years ago. We were at the practice facility at Memphis and I had planned a recruiting trip for that afternoon. We obviously canceled that when we heard what happened.

For the rest of the day, I was plastered to the TV just like everyone else and trying to figure out what in the world was happening. I was stunned.

All those who perished in the dastardly act, we will never forget them. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their family members, the brave firefighters and policemen, and anyone that was affected by the tragedy.

Never forget what happened that day.