2011 - 2012 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Preview

Jan 22, 2012

Who Says Kentucky's Noel is Overrated?

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Posted by Dennis Berry in College Basketball Opinion

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Last week ESPN's Jay Bilas and Chad Ford broke some of the "Nation's Most Overrated Prospects" (yes that is an ESPN insider link, sorry). It is a long series throughout the college basketball season that looks ahead to the 2013 NBA Draft.

SEC Sports Fan is predicting that Kentucky will be the top team in the SEC this season. We also think they'll go far in March Madness. You can read exactly why we are predicting that at our 2011 - 2012 Southeastern Conference Basketball Predictions and Preview.

Use the links on the schedule below to buy your Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Tickets.

Well, unlike the Regular Season Kentucky - UNC game, this time UK won when it counted. And UK returns to the Final Four for the first time in 13 years. Here's a preview that picks UCONN. We say, Go Wildcats!! Update, sorry, UK lost to UCONN; still a great season for the Cats! Here's our complete SEC b-ball 2011 Review and 2012 Preview.

Kentucky is an interesting team to try and place, due to its ability to recruit 5 star players and only have them stay one year before making the leap to the NBA. Because of this, I have Kentucky at number 2 in my countdown, simply because of the unproven nature of its roster. This is in no way a knock on their talent levels, as they are finally reaching the levels that Kentucky fans everywhere can be proud of.

John Calipari is a master when it comes to recruiting; after all, not just anyone could lure the likes of John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins to a program that had been underperforming for the past few seasons before Calipari took over. Now, he looks to have reloaded Kentucky's roster again with talents such as Enes Kanter and Brandon Jones, both of whom look to be NBA Draft picks after the season. It is easy to see why Kentucky holds the number 1 ranking in recruiting with Calipari at the helm.

The one major concern about this upcoming season is whether or not Kentucky can keep up with the Likes of the Florida Gators, who return all 5 of their starters from last year. It will be a classic clash of experience against talent when the two teams meet during the season. I wouldn't expect the season to end with them only playing twice either; both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament could be potential meeting places as well.

I see Kentucky as one of those teams that will become a force to be reckoned with as the season moves along, and the young players find time to mesh. This is a team that could be extremely dangerous come tournament time, and I would look for them to beat a couple teams in the NCAA Tournament that they are not supposed to, only to lose to a powerhouse like Duke in what could be and Elite Eight or even a Final Four appearance.

The ability to have success is out there for the Wildcats, but they play in a brutal SEC East that is loaded with talented teams. Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Georgia all look dangerous, and South Carolina could very well surprise some people as well. I would look for this division to come down to the final few games, which is where Kentucky could really shine.

Read all about Why Scratch is the Kentucky Mascot and Why Kentucky picked blue and white as its color?

Check out our Kentucky and Vanderbilt Players Go Opposite Way on NBA Draft and Bobby Knight Should Blam NBA not Calipari.

You won't find many surprises in our 2011 college basketball recruiting rankings Yes, Kentucky is #1 again. Check them out.

For the first time since 1969 Kentucky and Indiana won't be playing basketball against each other next season. Read more at Kentucky - Indiana Rivalry Put on Hold.

• Big Opportunity for Indiana


• Kentucky-Louisville Rivalry


• 2009 - 2010 UK B-ball Preview


• Best All-Time College Basketball Coach


• Best All-Time College Basketball Program


• Best All-Time College Basketball Team


• 2008 - 2009 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball


• 2007 - 2008 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball (Great Kentucky Basketball Pictures)


• John Calipari Biography -- Current UK coach


• Billy Gillispie Biography -- Former UK coach


• Adolph Rupp Biography -- Former Kentucky Coach


• Kentucky Basketball History


• Best All-Time SEC Basketball Team


• Biggest SEC Basketball Rivalry


• Top All-Time SEC Basketball Coach


• Top All-Time SEC Basketball Player


• Top All-Time SEC Basketball Program


• Top SEC Basketball Fan Attendance School


• University of Kentucky Lexington Trip

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