2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Team Previews—Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats have become the epitome of a one-and-done culture for talented freshmen, but head coach John Calipari has become the master of utilizing his talent one year at a time. Talent doesn’t always win championships, but when it’s placed into the right system year after year, it’s tough to beat.
Odds to Win (By GTbets.eu):
2013 NCAA Tournament: 5 to 1
2013 SEC Tournament: 9 to 5
Calipari’s success last year has helped dismantle the notion that he can’t win the big game, and he’s looking to take that same success and translate it to the 2012-13 season.
Last Year’s Results
The Kentucky Wildcats were the best team in all of college basketball last season; no question about it. The team went a perfect 16-0 in conference play, and they posted a remarkable 38-2 record overall. Their only losses of the season came against now-No. 1 Indiana back on Dec. 10, and against Vanderbilt on March 11.
This team completely dominated their way through the NCAA tournament. With an average victory margin of almost 11 points per game, Kentucky rolled through the competition en route to a championship season.
Roster Changes
As a result of last year’s success, the Wildcats have lost an incredible six players to the NBA. Most teams would be devastated by such a drastic change, but most teams don’t have the No. 2 recruiting class heading into the 2012-13 season.
Nerlens Noel is the No. 1 recruit in the nation, and at Kentucky next year, he’s projected to be the next Anthony Davis. His offense isn’t quite as versatile at this point, but his defense is going to be among the best in the country. Living up to Davis’ freshman season is going to be tough, but if Noel can refine his game at the collegiate level, he could find himself as a top pick in the 2013 draft.
Right behind Noel are five-star recruits Alex Poythress and Archie Goodwin. Poythress is a 6’7” forward who can make his presence felt both inside and out, and Goodwin is a 6’5” shooting guard who can be a threat to score from day one. The team is also adding a four-star recruit in Willie Cauley and NC State transfer Ryan Harrow. [ad-6571516]
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Key Players
Despite losing so many stars from last season’s roster, the team returns sophomore Kyle Wiltjer, who could prove to be a leader among the freshmen this season. He only averaged five points per game in 2012, but his minutes will increase from his 11.6 last year. He is a 6’10”, 239-pound forward, but his presence is going to be felt on the perimeter, where he shoots 43.2 percent from behind the arc. Fellow sophomore Ryan Harrow will be an impact player, as he takes over for current Chicago Bulls point guard Marquis Teague.
Then of course there’s the freshmen. Noel and Poythress are both projected lottery picks in next year’s draft, and they are going to step in and make a difference right away. If they don’t live up to expectations, this team could struggle; but if they come in and play like veterans—as last year’s group did—than this team is going to be among the best in the country.
Key Games
The first two games of the season take place on a neutral stage against an underrated Maryland team and the contending Duke Blue Devils. These games are going to be a good look into how this young team plays together, and while we can expect them to grow drastically throughout the season, they’re going to set the stage early against tough competition. Their non-conference schedule doesn’t get any easier, as they go on to play No. 22 Notre Dame, No. 19 Baylor and No. 2 Louisville all before the New Year.
In conference, the team’s biggest challenge is going to be No. 10 Florida. The Missouri Tigers will also be tough all year long, but the Gators will be out for revenge following their 0-3 record against Kentucky last year.
2013 Prediction
With such a different roster than last season, projecting a championship is a bit of a gamble. The players coming in are going to be very good, but they’re also just freshmen who could very well play like first-year prospects. That being said, the talent is there, and they’re going to at least compete for a title under coach Calipari.
Last year’s championship team was a special squad. While you can’t expect this year’s team to be as NBA-ready, you can expect Calipari to mold the group to his system. This team is a good bet to win the SEC, and there will be very little stopping them from making another Final Four appearance en route to a potential back-to-back championship season.
