CANNONSBURG — UK fans turned out in force, wearing the school’s trademark blue and white, for their No. 1 team’s first game in the NCAA Tournament Thursday evening.

Jim Nichols and family arrived at RJ Kahuna’s Sports Bar & Grill about an hour before tip off. Nichols said he was confident the Cats would do well.

“They’ll blow them out,” he said with a confident smile, then added, “The next game will be rough and tough.”

As a fan, Nichols testified, “This has been the best season we’ve had since Rick Pitino left.” Nichols predicted the final four for the 2010 NCAA battle will see Kentucky, Villanova, Georgetown and Syracuse on the court, although he declined to say who he predicted would be the champion on the bracket he filled out at work.

Longtime UK fan Amanda Trusty and her son, Chad, 13, found a spot away from the crowd at the main bar to get a good view of one of the sports bar’s many other big-screen television sets. With pride in her voice, Trusty said she has watched every game this season.

“It’s been exciting,” she said of the current UK Wildcat basketball season. “I like the games that are close and keep you on the edge — like that last one (against Mississippi State).”

Trusty said John Wall is her favorite member of the team.

“I think he’s the best player even though he doesn’t get all the points. He makes the right play at the right time,” she observed.

While she didn’t fill out a bracket in any pool, Trusty said she should have because of an impressive personal record of picking the winners. For this year’s championship, she predicts it will come down to “definitely us and Kansas ... maybe Tennessee. Kansas is our biggest threat. We haven’t played them yet and I’ve watched them. They’re good at shooting.”

Trusty said the sports bar at Kyova Mall in Cannonsburg has definitely become “THE place” to watch UK basketball with people who share her passion for the team. “It adds to the experience,” she said, describing the enthusiasm of the crowd during tight games. “It’s just exciting to share with 50 or 60 other fans. And, I don’t have to clean up after them.”

Jeff Robinson said he believes the Wildcats have what it takes to win, but only if they live up to their full potential.

“They’ve got the talent to go all the way — if they deliver,” he said, later adding the team is blessed to have “a lot of freshman talent that is NBA bound.”

On his bracket, Robinson said he choice was simple, “Kentucky all the way.”

Refinery worker James Sissem of Michigan said he has been drawn into Kentucky’s basketball action during his time here.

“I tell you, I’m converted,” he said with a chuckle as he explained attending his first UK game at the local sports bar and finding himself to be the only person in the place not wearing blue and white.

“I got a Kentucky shirt for the next game,” he said, noting he had to find himself a whole new set of UK apparel for the team’s tournament action.

“I would put UK and Syracuse in the championship game. From what I see they’re hitting on all the right cylinders at the right time,” he said.

With the combination of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, Sissem said “I feel they can go all the way.”

Cousins is a favorite player on the team, Sissem said, explaining “he keeps the work ethic that championship basketball and Kentucky is all about,” pausing before adding, “Now, if he can hit some free throws ...”

Still counting Michigan State as his favorite team, Sissem said he expects that team will be defeated by Kansas.

Sally Dyer and a table of friends also agreed they enjoy watching UK games among friends and friendly strangers at the sports bar.

“It’s just great to be out amongst them. I just enjoy seeing all our friends,” she said. As a fan, Dyer said she especially enjoys the performance of DeMarcus cousins.

Across the table, UK student Andrea Dyer said she was a fan of the school’s football team, but has found herself caught up in the excitement of basketball this season.

Now, the atmosphere is amazing, especially with Wall and Cousins,” she said, explaining she had previously considered the team’s play “kind of slow.”

“I have heard many people say if Cousins wasn’t on our team they would hate him,” she said.

At the same table, Lena Reese said her third-grade teacher, Mrs. Jones at Ponderosa Elementary School, is likely responsible for her love of UK basketball because the educator would always wear blue and white and be all worked up on game days.

Speaking of the current season, Reese said she has heard plenty of enthusiasm about the team’s freshmen members as well as the performance of hometown player Patrick Patterson. Reviewing her prediction for the final four, Reese received a bit of grief from her companions before concluding, “I think Kentucky will take it, but I think Kansas is going to have a good run at it.”

Despite all the theories and history going into the 2010 NCAA Tournament, everyone waiting for Thursday’s tip off needed only two words to sum up their feelings — “GO CATS!”