President Barack Obama had just addressed the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team by phone, and the buzz had barely worn off when UK spokesman DeWayne Peevy stood in front of reporters in Columbia, S.C., and opened the floor for questions. Were there any, he asked that afternoon, for Wildcats coach John Calipari? Or for junior forward Patrick Patterson, the only UK player seated next to Calipari for the presidential phone call? “Or for any of the other teammates?” Patterson added quickly.
