Coming out of a West Virginia high school in 2007, he was projected as a redeemer of the Big Blue, who were sagging under former coach Tubby Smith, except the Wildcats have not reclaimed their throne in college basketball with Patterson. He hasn't even played in an NCAA tournament game in his two years there.

Kentucky is a humdrum 40-27 the last two seasons, including losses to VMI and Gardner-Webb, programs UK should wrestle to the ground with one arm.

Patterson suffered a serious ankle injury toward the end of his freshman season, and his coach, Billy Gillispie, was run out of town at the end of his sophomore season.

Patterson has been far from an abject failure — he averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds last season. Still, Pdpatt (his Twitter name) wants much more. "There has been a lot of hardships, a lot of tough things to go through, not just for me, but for my teammates and the whole state," he said earlier this fall. "There's a lot of stuff still on my plate that I want to accomplish before I leave."

One of those things is to unchain himself from the post. He does not want to have to feel for the rim as a back-to-the basket scorer but actually see the rim facing the basket. NBA scouts, who stand under the basket to get a more accurate measure of a player, consider Patterson closer to 6-8 than 6-9, and they want to see him face up with what they consider small forward length.

They will have their chance with new coach John Calipari's dribble-drive offense. Patterson said Calipari has not told him specifics, but he will be allowed to roam and drive and has been practicing three-pointers (he is 0-for-4 in his career).

"I think the dribble drive and the wide-open game with Coach (Calipari) is going to be very good for him, I've wanting him to show that other side of his game," said Buster Patterson, his father. "He's been playing the '5' since he was knee high."

Patterson needs to vacate the lane for another reason: a traffic jam. The addition of 6-10 freshman Daniel Orton and 6-11 freshman DeMarcus Cousins, prep All-Americans, give the Wildcats legitimate low-post threats. Before they arrived, Patterson had to drop anchor in the paint and do a lot of the heavy work.

Cousins is 260 pounds but can step away from the basket and hit some jump shots.

It remains to be seen what Calipari does with his two new lead guards. Point guard John Wall, 6-4, is considered a one-and-done talent. Eric Bledsoe, a 6-1 guard from Alabama, is also top shelf. Can they play together in a two-guard front?

There is a lot of attention on the incoming freshmen — Cousins, Orton, Wall, Bledsoe — but what about Darius Miller? The 6-7 sophomore is the one legitimate returning wing guard on the team and played in 36 games last season.

The Wildcats also bring in junior college transfer Darnell Dodson, a 6-7 wing who originally committed to Pittsburgh but did not meet academic requirements.

The issue of Calipari's trouble at Memphis — the Tigers had to vacate wins from their Final Four season in 2007-08 — could dog the 'Cats on the road, but the voluminous talent might make moot any road hazing.

"You have to be able to handle the ball with Coach Calipari and his offense," Patterson said. "It's all about driving to the basket and finishing with layups, whether it is an alley-oop or finishing at the rim or kicking it to a teammate. He is all about running, and he likes the press as well … Being in shape is definitely a good thing."

Patterson got in better shape by spending six weeks this summer in San Francisco with fitness guru Frank Matrisciano. There were pushups and pull-ups and running.

"The car I have, it stalls sometimes," Patterson said. "If I had it out there, Frank would have had me pushing that for a workout when it stalled. When you're doing it you keep asking yourself, do I really want to stay. People have quit in the program."

Patterson said the most effective workout was running through the sand, which strengthened his ankles. He will not have to wear the clunky brace and that should improve mobility and lessen worry over injury.

There were also segments during the day with Bob Hill, a veteran NBA coach. Patterson was diligent in working with his left hand, as well as shooting jump shots.

Patterson drives a Grand Cherokee with a passenger-side window that does not work, windshield wipers that malfunction, and has to rely on the car radio for tunes because the CD player does not work.

The purple vehicle had a radiator leak and a tire leak before his dad, ex-Navy, patched things up.

Mid-first round money in the 2009 NBA draft could have secured Patterson a new ride, but he said it wasn't worth it, especially with a diploma within his grasp. Patterson is taking 18 hours this semester and will need another 18 in the spring to graduate, a remarkable three-year diploma if he can pull it off.

The idea of playing for Calipari and expanding his game, along with the lure of getting his diploma next spring in just three years made the decision much easier to return to UK. "I want to go down as one of the greatest players here at Kentucky and one of the best ambassadors for the program," Patterson said. "I want to put another banner up on the wall and help my teammates be remembered as well."

***

KENTUCKY WILDCATS ROSTER

Enlarge By Matt Goins for USA TODAY Patrick Patterson will be able to return to his natural position with the arrival of freshmen DeMarcus Cousins and Daniel Orton at Kentucky. "There's a lot of stuff still on my plate that I want to accomplish before I leave," Patterson says.