My favorite Christmas present was not earrings. Nor clothes. Nor perfume.

It was a ticket. To a basketball game.

On December 29, 2001, I was one of lucky 22,000-plus fans who saw the University of Kentucky play Louisville in Rupp Arena.

For weeks in advance, I read the Lexington Herald-Leader's letters to the editor about Rick Pitino's return to Rupp. The former Kentucky head coach was now coaching at UK's ultimate rival, Louisville Cardinals.

ESPN sportscasters talked about Pitino's return each night on Sports Center the week leading up to the game. Sports Illustrated did a feature on the story.

Kentucky basketball is often in the national limelight, but Pitino's return made the game even bigger.

For Kentucky fans, the game was amazing. They proudly wore their blue, cheered on the Cats and rose to their feet yelling "Tubby" in honor of the current Kentucky head coach Orlando "Tubby" Smith.

You might know the tradition of Kentucky basketball. Rupp's Runts. The seven national championships. The 1992 Duke/UK game with that famous Laettner shot.

In Kentucky, life is basketball, and that Saturday afternoon showed just how loyal Kentuckians are to the Wildcats.

This Saturday, Kentucky will take on a different school. Our University. The Irish.

Unlike Kentucky home games, there will not be 22,000-plus fans. There will only be 12,000.

Unlike Kentucky home games, there will not be fireworks exploding as the starters are announced. The names will simply echo throughout the Joyce Center.

However, on Saturday at noon, I hope the Irish fans come out in big numbers.

I hope Green shirts will be seen throughout the Joyce Center, with a minimal amount of royal blue.

I hope the student section is there early, stays standing, and doesn't give up until the end.

I hope Irish fans will cheer even louder for Kentucky natives Harold Swanagan and David Graves. Let's show UK what we've got and what they missed.

The game is televised on CBS, so we have a chance to show the entire country on Saturday that Notre Dame is more than a football school. We play basketball here. And we play it well.

Go to the game on Saturday. Tailgate if you want. Yell "We Are ND."

Because the Kentucky fans that come here know what basketball games should be like. And I have no doubt we can surpass even their expectations.

• What a basketball game should be