There's no reason to push the panic button in Lexington.

Kentucky went through the exact same thing a year ago. The only difference was that it took two games into the season for the Wildcats to fall upset victims to Gardner-Webb.

This time it came against VMI in the season opener, also at Rupp Arena.

Gillispie's Wildcats will be fine, but it will just take time. One thing is for certain, just as was the case a year ago. He'll have the full attention of his players from here on out.

Patrick Patterson (eight points, seven rebounds) may not have had the type of game he's capable of, but he's still working his way back from an injury. Once he gets back up to speed, he'll team with Jodie Meeks - who had 39 points and was terrific - to form a lethal 1-2 punch.

But the key will be at the point guard spot, where Michael Porter isn't good enough and freshman DeAndre Liggins just isn't ready yet.

I still think it's comical that all those Kentucky fans who questioned my decision to omit the Wildcats from the Preseason Top 25 will be awfully quiet now. I do believe Gillispie has enough to work with that he'll have them in the Top 25 later in the season, but they are far from a lock to be in it now - as they showed on Friday.

VMI controlled the entire game and was up as many as 26 points, but Kentucky took its first lead with 4:47 left. VMI immediately tied the game and went ahead on Austin Kenon's 3-pointer with 3:38 remaining.

"I was worried to death," VMI coach Duggar Baucom told me shortly after the game. "I've never been to Rupp and couldn't believe how loud it was."

Baucom said he put in the tape of Gardner-Webb's victory over Kentucky on the six-hour bus ride to Lexington.

"They (Gardner-Webb) came out and dominated that game," Baucom said. "I told the guys that can happen again, but as a coach, I was thinking there's no way that's going to happen."

TEN OBSERVATIONS

- The report that came out on Florida sophomore Nick Calathes running up $600 in on-line poker debt is a complete non-story as it was written. The school investigated and determined there was no wrong-doing. Calathes was not gambling on sports. He did what thousands upon thousands of people across the country are doing - and it's no surprise with Texas Hold 'Em on television practically every night. By the way, Calathes finished with 16 points, seven assists and five turnovers in Florida's win against Toledo on Friday night.

- Pittsburgh senior point guard Levance Fields looked healthy after his status for the season-opening win against Farleigh Dickinson was up in the air until just before game-time. Fields had surgery on his foot in the summer, but he scored 15 points and had eight assists in 25 minutes.
 
- Wake's freshmen didn't disappoint in a rout over North Carolina Central. Talented forward Al-Farouq Aminu scored 21 points and grabbed 10 boards. Fellow frosh Tony Woods had 12 points and Ty Walker, who is a year away from making an impact, had a couple of points. The Demon Deacons were without starting point guard Ishmael Smith, who is out another week while recovering from ankle surgery.

- Boston College has more than just Tyrese Rice. With their star guard suspended, the Eagles started five sophomores. Rakim Sanders who led the way with 24 points and Vermont transfer Joe Trapani finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

- Tennessee Martin's Lester Hudson scored 27 points, had eight steals, seven rebounds and seven assists in a 121-56 rout over Maryville.

- Blake Griffin came out of the gates like a man possessed. The Oklahoma sophomore big man, who is projected to be the top overall pick in next year's NBA draft, scored 24 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in the Sooners' 83-54 win against American.

- Hasheem Thabeet has made another jump. The UConn junior went off for 23 points and 17 rebounds in the Huskies' 81-55 win against Western Carolina. A.J. Price, playing in his first game since a torn ACL last March, was ejected after punching a player in the stomach. Price struggled and was scoreless in 25 minutes with four assists and five turnovers.

- It was a good thing that Barack Obama didn't make it to watch his brother-in-law's first game as the coach at Oregon State. Craig Robinson, who took over the Beavers program this past offseason, played at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and wound up losing, 47-45.

- Davidson's Stephen Curry didn't miss a beat in his first game as a point guard. Curry had 29 points, 10 assists and nine steals - but it did come against Division 3 Guilford.

- It's going to be a long season for Arkansas. The young Razorbacks, who lost all five starters, needed overtime to get past Southeastern Louisiana. Michael Washington finished with 30 points and freshmen Cortnet Fortson (18) and Rotnei Clarke (17) put up numbers.