For the first time since 2006, Kentucky will be participating in the Maui Invitational and hopes to avenge some bad demons where last time there they went 1-2, losing a squeaker to UCLA, and being blown out by Memphis. UK, though, did win the Maui back in 1993.
So let’s take a look at this years draw and our potential opponents.
Starting with UK’s first round opponent…
OKLAHOMA– The Sooners are coming off of a rough year going 13-18 and finishing a disappointing 4-12 in the Big 12. They started the season last year ranked with high aspirations under Jeff Capel, but things didn’t pan out the way they wanted. To make things worse, their top 4 scorers, Willie Warren, Tony Crocker, Tommy Mason-Griffin, and Tiny Gallon, all don’t return. So clearly, this isn’t last years team. OU has some decent talent with good Freshmen Cameron Clark, and Calvin Newell, and returnees Andrew Fitzgerald, and Steven Pledger. With Oklahoma’s pretty good recruiting class, Capel should have the Sooners competing again in the future. But not this year, as UK should dominate OU as they have both more talent and more experience than Oklahoma.
HOW COULD UK PLAY THEM– First-round matchup
WASHINGTON– The Huskies are ranked in the top 20 in the country and bring to the table, both talent and experience. The Huskies return virtually everyone from last years sweet sixteen team, except their best player from last season Quincy Pondexter. They return size in Matt Bryan-Amaning, and a host of good guards in Venoy Overton, Abdul Gaddy, and Isaiah Thomas. UW also brings in a pretty good recruiting class headlined by Terrence Ross, Aziz N ‘Diaye, and redshirt freshmen CJ Wilcox. All in all, they have good size, guard play, experience, and talent. The preseason Pac-10 champions will give UK all they got, not just for physical reasons, but for emotional reasons as well because they feel UK “robbed” Terrence Jones from their finger tips. The added pressure would make a UK vs. UW game great.
HOW COULD UK PLAY THEM– If UK were to win and UW were to win, or if both lost, the two teams would face off.
VIRGINIA– The Cavaliers are coming off of an inconsistent season under then-first year coach Tony Bennett, finished 15-16. Now in his second season, Bennett is looking for better things and he started it by hitting the recruiting trail this past season bringing in two ESPNU Top 100 recruits in KT Harrell and James Johnson. Those two players are going to help ease the losses of four of their top five leading scorers from past season, including a stud in Sylven Landesberg. Their second leading scorer from last season, Mike Scott, got off to a hot start this season scoring 18 points in Virginia’s opening game drubbing of William and Mary. If UK were to face this UVA team in Maui one would think UK would win with relative ease as Coach Bennett simply doesn’t have enough talent on the roster to compete for an entire 40 minutes.
HOW COULD UK PLAY THEM– If UK were to win, and UVA were to win, then the two programs would face off, or if both teams lose they would play.
UCONN- The perennial power, UCONN, had a down season last year as they missed the tournament finishing with a 17-15 record and a 2nd round loss in the NIT. This season looks to be a rebuilding year for the Huskies after losing three key contributors to last years team in Jerome Dyson, Stanley Robinson, and Gavin Edwards. If the Huskies are going to be competitive this season, they are going to have to rely on the ultra-quick Kemba Walker and the development of rising star Alex Oriakhi. Walker starred in a recent win Vermont scoring career-high 42 points. Also, Oriakhi was a beast in UCONN’s opening victory over Stony Brook in scoring 11 points and grabbing an eye-popping 18 rebounds. The Huskies also brought in a decent recruiting class headlined by swingmen Jeremy Lamb and Roscoe Smith. Those two should help ease the losses from last season. If UK were to play these Huskies I would expect a solid victory by the ‘Cats simply because UCONN doesn’t have enough weapons to match all of Kentucky’s terrific playmakers.
HOW COULD UK PLAY THEM– If UK were to win their first two games and UCONN were to win their first two games, then the ‘Cats would face the Huskies in the championship. Or if both teams were to for some reason lose their first two games then they would play in the 8th place game (Highly unlikely that scenario occurs), or both could win then lose, or lose then win.
WICHITA STATE– The “Mid-Major” of the tournament is coming off of an up-and-down season in which they started out 20-5 looking to potentially make the tournament, but fizzled out during the stretch losing 5 of their last 9 and falling short of the tournament. The Shockers ended their season with a loss in the first round of the NIT. This year, though, looks much more promising returning everyone but their leading scorer Clevin Hannah. The Shockers are the heavy favorites to win the Missouri Valley Conference and kicked off their 2010-11 campaign with a 12 point win over Texas Southern. Wichita St. could definitely be a team that shocks (pun 100% intended) some people this season and potentially in this tournament. They are very balanced this season (four players in double figures), and 11 players played over 10 minutes in their first game so their depth will be tough to prepare for. Guards David Kyles and Toure’ Murry are set to lead this team into Maui. If Wichita St. were to play UK, I would like UK’s chances due to our athleticism and shooting ability. But don’t sleep on this team.
HOW COULD UK PLAY THEM- See UCONN above.
CHAMINADE– No preview necessary.
HOW COULD UK PLAY THEM- UK and Chaminade would have to lose their first two games, because honestly, Chaminade isn’t winning two games to get to the finals.
MICHIGAN STATE– The #2 ranked Spartans are coming off of a Final Four, and have bigger dreams for this season. Michigan St. has it all in a nut shell. Size, speed, talent, experience, depth, and a fantastic coach. Kalin Lucas looks to make an All-American push, Durrell Summers and Delvon Roe are both terrific swingmen that have ESPN #1 play potential, they’ve got Derrick Nix and Draymond Green to take on the low post, and Sparty brought in some fresh talent in Keith Appling and Adreian Payne. Then they’ve got Tom Izzo on the bench. It’s hard to think this team won’t make a late charge in March. Luckily for UK, Sparty is known to have bad starts to their seasons so if this Michigan St. team hold true to past teams, UK could potentially grab a win here.
HOW COULD THEY PLAY UK– See UCONN
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