#10 Kentucky Wildcats Predictions: 2010/2011 NCAA Future Lines
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MySportsbook.com Odds to win NCAA title – 20/1
NCAA Basketball – Kentucky Preview
Key players added – Eloy Vargas, Terrence Jones, Brandon Knight, Doron Lamb, Stacey Poole, Enes Kanter (maybe)
Key players lost – John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson
How do you come back from losing 5 players that were all taken in the first round of the NBA draft including #1 pick John Wall? Well, Kentucky will have to do just that and they will have to do what they did last season, which was to rely on unproven yet ultra-talented freshman. Head coach John Calipari has his work cut out for him this season trying to go far with young players and very little veteran leadership.
When coach Calipari was asked to compare this season’s team and last season’s team he stated, “The biggest thing is we’re not playing last year’s team. We’re playing against ourselves.”
The one thing that is different from last season is that the young kids do not have a veteran player like Patrick Paterson was last season. However, the Wildcats had, perhaps, the best recruiting class in the nation including highly touted freshman guards Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb. I mean, you can tell how good Kentucky’s recruiting class is since they are the pre-season 10th ranked team and their leading returning scorer only averaged 6.5 ppg last season.
The eligibility issues of 6’11” Enes Kanter from Turkey is still in limbo as the season draws near, but if he can play it makes Kentucky just that much better. UK could really use his size to take over for DeMarcus Cousins inside, as he averaged 15.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg, and 1.8 blocks per game. If Kanter cannot play then former Florida transfer Eloy Vargas will have to be THE man in the middle.
Incoming freshman Terrence Jones is 6’8”, but he is more comfortable playing outside on the wing, but can help in the rebounding department, which the Wildcats will need. Kanter may be the key guy, as if he can play Kentucky will have an imposing inside game and if he cannot the Wildcats may be a little thin in the middle. 
The only returning starter is Darius Miller. He is the leading returning scorer, as he averaged only 6.5 ppg last season so it is obvious the young studs have to carry the offensive load. DeAndre Liggins returns and can help off the bench, but last season he only averaged 3.8 ppg.
How the season plays out for Kentucky may come down to how the freshman guard duo of Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb play. Both players are very talented, quick, and can score in bunches. In a recent pre-season exhibition trip to Canada the duo combined to score 128 points in 3 games, so you know they have the offense. Knight was only 4/15 from 3-point land in those exhibitions and he will have to shoot the rock well from beyond the arc this season.
Last season the Wildcats were the highest scoring team in the SEC and ranked 2nd in the conference in defense. They will likely play an up-tempo game again with the new guards running the show. The bar is set pretty high, as last season’s young Wildcats went 35-3 and advanced to the Elite 8.
The young Wildcats will be shown a baptism by fire, as UK plays a pretty tough early season schedule. Sure, they do have some cream puffs before SEC play begins, but they also play Oklahoma, at North Carolina, Notre Dame, Indiana, and at Louisville.
The 2010/2011 season will be an interesting one for Kentucky, as they have the talent, but lack experience.
Surprising stat: Kentucky is the most successful team in the history of college basketball with 2,203 wins and they have won the SEC title 45 times.
Strengths: Youth and guard play. Not many teams will be able to keep up with Kentucky and the guards of Lamb and Knight are both scorers that can break anybody down off the dribble.
Weaknesses: Veteran leadership and possibly inside play. Veterans are needed when times get tough and UK simply does not have that. They will not be as good inside if it is ruled that Kanter cannot play because he accepted money playing pro ball in Turkey.
Big Dance? Very likely and they will probably get a high seed if their freshman lead them to a good season.
Kentucky Win total prediction for 2010-11
Around 26-28 wins, but if the young guns play well and gel together a 30 win season is a legit possibility.
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One reply on “Kentucky Wildcats Predictions: 2010 CBB Future Lines”
They will not be as good inside if it is ruled that Kanter cannot play because he accepted money playing pro ball in Turkey.