After starting the season ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25, Kentucky didn’t obtain a single vote on this week’s ballot amid a 1-3 begin to SEC play marked by an embarrassing 78-52 loss at Alabama on Saturday which was adopted by a 71-68 loss to South Carolina on Tuesday that snapped a 28-game successful streak at Rupp Arena for the Wildcats. At No. 46 in the NET with an 0-4 report in Quad 1 video games, the Wildcats are a profound disappointment after returning nationwide participant of the yr Oscar Tshiebwe together with different key gamers corresponding to Sahvir Wheeler and Jacob Toppin from a 26-8 group.
On the heels of a surprising upset loss to No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s in the first spherical of final yr’s NCAA Tournament, frustration with 14th-year coach John Calipari is at an all-time excessive inside the UK fanbase. The program’s final win in the Big Dance got here in 2019, and it abruptly seems as if there are not any ensures that 2023 will carry one.
But two months stay till Selection Sunday and Kentucky nonetheless has time to show issues round. Five-star freshmen Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston have every proven encouraging flashes and may solely enhance as the season progresses. Sharpshooting guard CJ Fredrick also needs to return from a finger damage in some unspecified time in the future throughout league play.
The vary of outcomes for the Wildcats stays huge, and the saga of Calipari’s tenure reaching a important juncture figures to seize the sport’s collective consideration for weeks to return. For this week’s version of the Dribble Handoff, our writers are providing their projections for how the remainder of Kentucky’s season will play out.
Cats a bubble group, however makes Big Dance
- Predicted convention report: 10-8
- Predicted NCAA Tournament seed: No. 9
Kentucky has been unimpressive all season and would not appear on the verge of turning issues round. The Wildcats simply received blasted at Alabama by 26 factors. They’re 3-3 of their previous six video games, nonetheless in possession of zero Quadrant 1 wins and right down to forty fifth in the NET, 56th at BartTorvik.com and 62nd at KPI.
UK appears to be like like a doable bubble group.
At this level, I’m skeptical the Wildcats will ever dwell as much as the preseason expectations that had them ranked No. 1 at KenPom.com, in the high 5 mainly all over the place and labeled as SEC favorites — however I nonetheless suppose they will land on the proper facet of the bubble and make the NCAA Tournament. And then … who is aware of? A yr in the past, UK had an ideal regular season adopted by a horrible NCAA Tournament. This yr may conceivably be the reverse — a disappointing regular season adopted by a pleasant NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats nonetheless have the reigning CBS Sports National Player of the Year (Oscar Tshiebwe) and a projected lottery decide (Cason Wallace). It’s not the most gifted roster John Calipari has ever assembled, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a extra gifted roster than most coaches have. Now it is only a matter of figuring some issues out, doing sufficient to make the area of 68, after which seeing if issues can break the proper manner when that single-elimination match will get underway. — Gary Parrish
UK’s season stays bumpy however massive wins will come
- Predicted convention report: 11-7
- Predicted NCAA Tournament seed: No. 9
Though UK sits at 1-2 in the SEC — I count on it to be 2-2 after beating South Carolina at house on Tuesday evening — that convention goes to be too robust to moderately count on the Wildcats to drag off something higher than a four-game successful streak between now and the postseason. There are seven highway exams, plus a house sport on Jan. 28 towards No. 2 Kansas in the ultimate version of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. So, the losses will stack periodically. However, I count on Kentucky to search out some resolve and stiffen its protection.
I count on it to notch a number of important Quad 1 victories and guarantee it will dodge bubble speak by the second week of March. This goes to wind up being like the group in 2014 that was in the 8/9 sport. Because with 5 losses already and possibly not less than one other 5 coming between now and Selection Sunday, it is optimistic to say Kentucky will earn a single-digit seed. I’ll say it does narrowly, although, due to exhibiting in the SEC Tournament. And: Kentucky’s going to beat Kansas later this month. — Matt Norlander
Wildcats hit stride by February
- Predicted convention report: 13-5
- Predicted NCAA Tournament seed: No. 6
There is little question that Kentucky has underperformed relative to preseason expectations and even relative to relaxed in-season expectations after struggling early prompted a tough reset. A ten-5 begin to the season is flat underachieving at Kentucky even should you’ve received critical issues. There’s causes for cautious optimism, although. This is quietly one among the finest 3-point taking pictures groups Calipari has fielded at UK, and Oscar Tshiebwe, for all his struggles, has continued to be nails pounding the offensive glass and producing second-chance alternatives.
Some minor tweaks for participant roles and an elevated deal with doing what it does properly — launching 3-pointers, feeding Cason Wallace alternatives to set the desk and getting Tshiebwe into favorable spots — could possibly be sufficient to show issues round. There’s nonetheless some stuff on the margins that want important enchancment — this group is terrible at taking pictures free throws and it persistently runs into late-clock hero ball on offense — however I’ve seen sufficient positives to suppose it may be a No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament and work its manner again into being a top-15 degree group by the finish of the regular season.. — Kyle Boone
UK in First Four, one among final groups in Big Dance
- Predicted convention report: 9-9
- Predicted NCAA Tournament seed: No. 12 (First Four)
Kentucky performs an antiquated offensive fashion that’s outlined by a methodical tempo and restricted flooring spacing. Without an elite protection that may persistently create transition alternatives, UK is getting slowed down in half-court units and struggling to discover a rhythm or construct momentum. Schematically talking, Calipari simply would not have it in him at this level in his profession to drag the strings essential to unlock the potential of this roster.
The SEC’s backside feeders will be certain that the Wildcats decide up a good variety of league victories. But UK doesn’t get a regular-season rematch with No. 4 Alabama, which places a heavy emphasis on two video games towards No. 5 Tennessee and two video games towards No. 15 Arkansas. Outside of these contests, a single sport with No. 21 Auburn and a Big 12/SEC Challenge sport with No. 2 Kansas signify Kentucky’s solely probabilities so as to add substance to its resume.
It’s arduous to see the Wildcats doing any higher than possibly 2-4 or 3-3 towards Arkansas (two video games), Tennessee (two video games), Auburn and Kansas. Kentucky appears to be like destined for the NCAA Tournament bubble, and I’ll take a swing on the Wildcats touchdown a spot in the First Four as different blue bloods corresponding to Indiana, Michigan State and UCLA have in recent times. — David Cobb
