SEC Basketball Preview: Kentucky Wildcats
November 12, 2009
By Shipley00
2009 Kentucky Wildcats (22-14)
Head Coach: John Calipari
After taking Kentucky to the NCAA tournament for all ten seasons of his tenure, but failing to make it to the sweet 16 in his last 3, UK decided on a change and hired head coach Billie Gillispie. Two seasons later and only one NCAA tournament game played (a loss), Kentucky went big. They lured John Calipari away from the University of Memphis. During his nine year tenure with Memphis, he posted an NCAA record four consecutive 30 win season along with another record, a 38 win season. Calipari does come with some baggage, with the coach leaving shortly after NCAA violations at UMass and Memphis, but Kentucky is pulling out all the stops in an attempt to return to prominence.
Key Players gone:
Kentucky looses 2 starters and two would be Seniors in Michael Porter and Jodie Meeks. Meeks led the Wildcats in scoring (23.7 ppg), 3pt % (.406) and FT% (.902). Porter played in all 36 games, averaging over 23 minutes per game. UK lost 6 other players, of which only two were Seniors.
Key Returners:
Kentucky returns 3 starters from the 09 season providing some much needed leadership in Seniors Ramon Harris, Perry Stevenson and Junior Patrick Patterson, the teams 2nd, 3rd and 4th leading scorers (in reverse order) from last season. Patterson should be the focus of the team as the teams leading returning scorer and rebounder (17.9 ppg and 9.3 rpg). Including the starters, UK returns 4 others.
Newcomers:
New head coach, Calipari, wasted no time making a splash in recruiting, hauling in the #1 recruiting class in the nation with four 5-star recruits. He also wasted no time on controversy when the #1 player in the nation (John Wall) was under investigation by the NCAA for his relationship to his AAU coach. Wall was cleared recently to play but must sit out two games. Wall is an excellent ball handler, with good moves to the hoop but needs work on his jumper. Calipari also landed the #2 player in the country, PF Demarcus Cousins from Mobile. Most will remember Eric Bledsoe, 5 star recruit from Birmingham.
09-10 Season Outlook
Most schools would have tempered expectations if they lost their leading scorer, had a new coaching staff, and loaded with mostly younger players. Kentucky isn’t most schools and their new coach is a definite upgrade. Add a top recruiting class with the top two players in the country and it’s easy to see why they’ve received a preseason #4 ranking. Kentucky will not be short of talent, but will be somewhat short of experience and leadership. While they have 3 returning starters, the younger guys will get plenty of chances to impress the new coach.
A successful season, in Kentucky terms, is a trip to the NCAA tournament and past the second round. Kentucky reaches this by featuring their returning scorer and rebounder Patterson. Patterson has the ability to lead the league in rebounding and double-doubles, but, make no mistake, this team will live and potentially die by the much heralded freshmen. With Florida expected to have a “down” year, UK looks to compete with Tennessee for the east crown. UK has 6 warm up games before a huge test at home against UNC.
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