Editor’s note: Winchester Sun sports editor Keith Taylor covers the Wildcats and writes about UK junior Patrick Patterson’s play against Rider Saturday.

By KEITH TAYLOR
ktaylor@winchestersun.com
LEXINGTON — Patrick Patterson just knew he was going to get another opportunity.
As time was winding down during Kentucky’s 92-63 win over Rider Saturday at Rupp Arena, Patterson got excited as teammate John Wall re-entered the contest. Patterson needed one more rebound to eclipse his career high. He needed one more after that to make it even more memorable.
“I was like he (coach John Calipari) has got to put me back in there, especially when John went back in,” he said with a smile. “I was like, ‘I need two more, just two more.’ I really wanted 20, but unfortunately, they didn’t bounce my way at the end. I was shooting for 20.”
Patterson recorded a double-double with 19 points and 18 rebounds. The effort on the boards matched his career high. The Kentucky junior snagged 18 rebounds in a won over Auburn last season. Patterson has tallied double figures in points and rebounds in three of the team’s four victories this season.
Patterson said he was feeding off the pre-game shoot around, which he said was the “best one we’ve had this season.”
“Everyone was focused (and ready to play),” he said. “Luckily at the beginning, they (the rebounds) were bouncing my way.”
At the break, Patterson had already recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
“Starting off, I just did everything I could (to get rebounds),” Patterson said. “Coach Cal wanted us to dominate on the glass and that’s what we tried to do.”
Calipari applauded Patterson’s effort and wasn’t surprised by the junior’s final numbers.
“I love the fact that Patrick went crazy rebounding the ball,” he said. “That’s what he needs to be for us. He should be able to get 20 or 22 rebounds. He did great today.”
Calipari said Patterson’s presence on the wing is an added bonus and makes him more than a one-dimensional player.
“We are not taking away from his inside game,” he said. “We are just adding that he can play from the perimeter, too.”
Calipari also likes using the combination of Patterson, Daniel Orton and DeMarcus Cousins on the floor at the same time and experimented with the lineup at various stages of the game against the Broncs. Calipari said he will use the combination more frequently as the season progresses.
“I am going to play those boys together because Daniel and DeMarcus deserve minutes and Patrick has to play,” the Kentucky coach said. “There is only one way to make that happen and that is to play them together and I am fine with that.”
So is Patterson.
“It makes it a lot easier, because they draw a lot of attention and because of their size and their ability to score down low,” he said.
Orton predicts big things from all three post players in the future and likes playing with Patterson and Cousins at the same time.
“DeMarcus, Patrick and I (are) such good passers, so that’s going to be something you’re going to see a lot throughout the year,” he said. “Us being so big, you have to go inside and destroy teams, and in doing that, it’s going to open the outside for the guards to get open shots.”
Patterson said the team made strides on the defensive end, a sign the team is maturing.
“He wanted us to talk and communicate more and we did that tonight,” he said. “We saw a bunch of our mistakes (against Sam Houston State) and we worked on it. “

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