Photo gallery by ESPN photographer Joe Faraoni at the bottom. We will have a second photo gallery shortly from UKathletics.com photographer Britney McIntosh of the players.

BRISTOL, Conn. — Da na na, na na!

The Kentucky Wildcats received the experience of a lifetime Friday at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn. Just a short drive away from Uncasville, Conn., where UK will play in the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament this weekend, the Cats got an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the “Worldwide Leader’s” campus.

The team arrived in Bristol Friday morning and practiced at ESPN’s brand-new gym. After finishing up around 12:30 p.m., the team ate lunch in the gigantic ESPN café before taking an hour-tour through the back halls of ESPN.

Split into three groups, tour guides took the Cats backstage and explained the history and evolution of ESPN, the work that goes on behind the cameras, and how what they see on TV gets from Bristol to their television set.

Without a doubt, the coolest experience for the players was sitting on the sets of SportsCenter, SportsNation, NFL Live and Baseball Tonight, in addition to meeting countless ESPN personalities, including John Buccigross, Chris McKendry, Rick Reilly and Andy Katz.

For a bunch of guys who are considered celebrities and role models to the Big Blue Nation, it was intriguing to the reactions of the players when they walked on the sets and talked to the people they grew up watching. They were nothing short of awestruck.

Since words aren’t adequate to describe the experience, we’ve got a photo gallery from ESPN photographer Joe Faraoni. Faraoni captured John Calipari’s tour as he went through the ESPN “car wash.” UK Athletics superstar photographer Britney McIntosh is also providing CoachCal.com with some fantastic photos of the players in a little bit.

Kyle Wiltjer, who is video blogging his first road trip with the team, will have an entry from his experience at ESPN later, and next week we will have a behind-the-scenes video that you will find nowhere else. Here is also video of John Calipari’s appearance on SportsCenter.