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Kentucky basketball fans probably were not enamored by ESPN’s Jeff Borzello when he dropped the Wildcats out of his updated “Way-Too-Early Top 25” college basketball rankings.
However, it’s going to happen based on the youth of John Calipari’s roster barring the return of Antonio Reeves and maybe a late addition of a transfer center.
Borzello noted that UK was “one of men’s college basketball’s biggest offseason stories” but not for the normal reasons. This time it’s because UK had four players enter the NBA draft, four more enter the transfer portal and Reeves still contemplating where he will play next season.
Kentucky has only two returning players and seven incoming freshmen — and one of the highest rated freshmen, Aaron Bradshaw, is dealing with an injury that could potentially sideline him for weeks or maybe months.
“With the statuses of Reeves and Bradshaw up in the air and a lack of impact additions in the pipeline (for now), we’ve dropped Kentucky out of the top 25. There’s plenty of talent (see: a top recruiting class), but a severe lack of size and experience. It could be a slow start to the season in Lexington,” Borzello wrote.
He does have four SEC teams in his top 25 — Tennessee at No. 6, Arkansas at No. 14, Alabama at No. 18 and Texas A&M at No. 19. Kentucky actually comes in at No. 26 with Florida 27th and Auburn 29th.
I know another national publication that has decided to take Kentucky out of its top 25. But if you want a reason for optimism, pay attention to what Yahoo/Rivals national basketball writer Krysten Peek thinks.
“Kentucky fans should go into the season cautious. There are always growing pains for any college freshman,” Peek said. “But I want to encourage Kentucky fans to be patient with this group because if they buy into what the coaches want, I think they can win a lot of games.
“I know Kentucky fans are frustrated but with the amount of talent this team has it is way too early to write off Kentucky.”
13 Responses
UK has become a football school.
UK basketball has diminished to the sideline activity that occurs in February and March between the bowl game and spring football.
Thank you John Calipari and Mitch Barnhart.
North Carolina was pick to win it all last year base on they had everybody back from previous year and didn’t even make it to the NCAA tourney. All base on how the refs calls the game and the the way the ball bounce with luck during March madness.
Cats 79 you are way to sensible. Cal haters don’t want sensible, they want his head. They are going to be more disappointed that Ky Doesn’t fail this year and Cal is still here.
I have some doubts about cal myself, but I’m confident he will get the job done. with today news that Reeves is back on campus and expect he’ll be wearing blue and white this fall that’s a bonus.
Ky will be in top 10 preseason how stupid is this guy!!!
So long as Calipari’s goal remains to have UK as the station for boarding passengers on the NBA Express rather than the proper goal to have the UK program succeed on the national stage, Calipari will continue to allow the inmates to run the asylum and this program is done.
Cats now has the balance of a top rated team . If they come out hungary watch out !
Should come out motivated Rick
It doesn’t take a bunch of 5 stars or NBA WANNA BE’s to win a National Championship. It takes Teamwork, Dedication to keep getting better, and the ability to "put the biscuit in the basket" at crunch time.
Let’s hope this year’s edition of the Wildcats demonstrates those qualities better than the last few editions.
Go Cats!
WEll said StillWalking
Nothing is more irrelevant than a pre season poll!
That is true but it is also an indicator of the national perception of a program … and unranked is new territory for Calipari
Well of course it goes hand and hand. ESPN management will give him a pat on the back for those comments they barely even cover any teams from Red states anymore. ESPN=CNN
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