High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 2008–09 Kentucky Wildcats men`s basketball team represents the University of Kentucky in the college basketball season of 2008–2009. The team`s head coach was Billy Gillispie, who was in his second year as coach. The Wildcats play their home games at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The team`s season started with a controversial early Midnight Madness event on October 10, 2008 which is not the traditional date for celebration that coincides with the first day of NCAA-sanctioned regular practice sessions that occurred on October 17, 2008.