May's Monday Night News and Views

April is finally behind us after being one of the worst months ever for Kentucky basketball. It all began with the loss to Wisconsin in the Final Four -- still hurts to write that -- followed by Calipari's first strikeout on the spring recruiting trail. We also said goodbye to seven of our all-time favorite Wildcats and the best-dressed assistant coach in all of sports. April was so terrible, you guys. It really sucked. We need a time machine so we can go back and try it all over again. So here's to May, Big Blue Nation. We're four days in and things are looking up for us, simply because it can't get any worse. Derby weekend was a blast and tomorrow we get to eat burritos and drink margaritas for Cinco De Mayo. Life is finally on the right track again. Now let's do this News and Views thing...   Calipari is still looking to add one more player. He was in contact with LaGerald Vick, who recently decommitted from SMU. Vick is a member of the 2016 high school class but UK reached out to him about reclassifying to 2015, according to Rivals.com. He's also heard from several other schools, including Kansas and Louisville. At 6-foot-5, Vick's build is very similar to that of Charles Matthews and Mychal Mulder. He is the No. 17 shooting guard in 247Sports composite rankings. We'll have more on him tomorrow morning. Willie Cauley-Stein changed his middle name to Trill. For the first 21 years of his life, Willie Cauley-Stein's legal name was Willie Durmond Cauley. But after a trip to the courthouse on Monday, he is now Willie Trill Cauley-Stein, officially. The former UK big man went to Fayette District Court to legally change his last name to Cauley-Stein, what we've been calling him for years. The inclusion of Stein in his last name is for his mother, Marlene Stein. But while filling out the paperwork or doing whatever it is people do when changing a name, he decided he would change his middle name, too. Now he is Willie "Trill" Cauley-Stein. Wright State and Illinois State will come to Rupp Arena in late November. Two more non-conference games were revealed on Monday when The Cats Pause learned Kentucky will host Wright State and Illinois State next basketball season. Wright State will travel to Rupp on November 20, while Illinois State will get a shot at Kentucky on November 30. Here's an early and unofficial look at the 2015-16 non-conference schedule as it stands today:

• November 17: vs. Duke in Chicago
• November 20: vs. Wright State
• November 27: vs. South Florida in Miami
• November 30: vs. Illinois State
• December 3: at UCLA
• December 9: vs. EKU
• December 19: vs. Ohio State in Brooklyn
• Late December: vs. Louisville
• January 31: SEC-Big XII challenge game (away)

40-0? Bud Dupree visited his new city for the first time. The new Steeler made his first trip to Pittsburgh and Steelers.com followed him around for the day with a camera. Watch the video here. Derek Anderson apologized to John Calipari, Dakari Johnson and Big Blue Nation, kind of. Over the weekend, Anderson penned a letter to Coach Cal, Dakari Johnson and UK fans and shared it on Cameron Mills' website:

An Open Letter To Coach Calipari, Dakari Johnson & Big Blue Nation First let me apologize to Dakari Johnson if he felt offended by my example of what I meant for players to stay in school is more important than rushing to the NBA. I want the best for EVERY player and person on this earth so my intent was to hopefully bring the awareness of what could happen. I want to apologize to Coach Cal if I offended him as my comments where my opinion in which ALL UK fans and people have made in which they where not meant to be taken personal like some people chose to do. I Love UK to the bone and have been there thru the bad and good times because we are a family. When Noel got hurt, I came! When Alex got hurt, I came! Coach ask me to speak to team, I came! I was speaking my opinion about why “I” thought we lost the last two seasons and it came out harsh in which I apologize for that.  But for people to attack my character is not something I take lightly as I am human and make mistakes. This message is to those that love UK like me, I was wrong and I’m moving on by supporting BBN as always. But if you have a problem with me, then don’t expect me to be kind to you in return. This is a sport and not a place to defame a man’s character in which I never once disrespected anyone’s character. When coach yells at his players and tells them they played bad in front of BBN, I did the same and again, it wasn’t the right thing to do on my part. But NEVER will I allow others to attack me as a Man! I am truly greatful for all the love and support from the University of Kentucky, BBN, and alumni. I am True Blue always!!! #BBN4Life Love, DA

I'm over this whole thing, personally. My only beef with Derek Anderson is he was unable to play in the 1997 title game and he's constantly sharing photos of cars, houses and private jets that clearly aren't his. Other than that, we're all good. Anthony Davis finished fifth in NBA MVP voting. The award went to Stephen Curry in a landslide. I will now use this opportunity to share Chef Curry's top plays of the season because he is so fun to watch. This one should've been included: Next year is your year, A.D. All eyes will be on Wednesday's Kentucky Sports Radio governor debate. Ish just got really real for the debate and for the G.O.P. primary. I did my best to preview the race earlier tonight and then some big news leaked online moments later. Wednesday is going to be big and there's no better place for it than KSR.