WBN Kentucky Wildcat Basketball Roundtable: What are your thoughts and projections on the season so far?
By Paul Jordan
I realize that after yesterdays game, John Calipari may be reaching for the Maker’s Mark right about now. I certainly am. But as for now, Kentucky is 5-5 in the SEC and there are six games remaining. I thought it would be a good time for the roundtable to take a good look at the preseason expectations and how the Wildcats have fared and what we can expect for the rest of the season. Do keep in mind, that some of the responses for this weeks roundtable were in before the Vandy game, With that in mind, let’s take a look at this week’s WBN Roundtable:
How does this Wildcat season so far compare to your pre-season expectations (knowing that we may not have Enes Kanter?)
Greg Edwards, Wildcat Blue Nation: I felt all along, like many others including Cal, that we would have Kanter. So I have to say that his not being a part of the team was my biggest disappointment for the season. As far as it’s impact on the season goes, I am not leaning too far one way or the other on that one. You play with what you have, and Cal thought we would have enough. Obviously with this many losses we would have liked to be deeper, but that in and of itself would be no guarantee of a different outcome.
Glenn Logan, A Sea of Blue: I think Kentucky has been better than I expected without Kanter, mainly because of the emergence of Josh Harrellson as a serviceable center. I fully expected this team to lose 10 games prior to the SEC tournament (and they still could, I guess) without Kanter in the middle.
Jonathan North, Wildcat Blue Nation: My pre-season expectations was a 6 loss team with some trouble with depth because of not having Kanter. I looked through the schedule and I picked out the games I thought we would lose (those included at Florida and Vanderbilt)but I figured we would have some trouble in conference but win out with a 1-3 seed in the NCAA tournament. They are way worse than I thought they were going to be. Honestly the losses to Florida/Vandy/Georgia road games don’t really bother me, we dropped some games we shouldn’t have and now could be looking at a potential 10 loss season.
Brian Eldridge, Kentucky Sports Report: I thought this team would lose about eight or ten games going into the year. There is a good bit of talent on the roster, but eventually youth will catch up with you. Lack of inside presence has really hurt Kentucky on both ends of the court, despite Josh Harrellson’s inspired performance this year. With Kanter, I thought the sky was the limit, but that goes to show just how important he was to Kentucky.
Ken Howlett, A Sea of Blue: With Kanter I thought this Kentucky team was a top 10-caliber squad, without Kanter, I thought UK was a top 15-20 team.
Paul Jordan, Wildcat Blue Nation: I think I expected maybe six to eight losses for the season without Kanter, but I did expect a better road performance. I thought that the Sweet 16 would be a given however. To be honest, we are a bit below where I projected. I certainly expected a better SEC record and the Alabama and Mississippi losses were big disappointments. I think we were a bit spoiled with last season and this year we are discovering that freshmen will play like freshmen at times.
What or who has been your big surprise of the season for the Wildcats?
Greg Edwards, Wildcat Blue Nation: My biggest surprise this season is a two-fold one. And it involves the two guys who are carrying the load for Kanter. Josh Harrellson has made an amazing transformation. He has come so far that it simply befuddles me. On the flipside of that coin however, is Eloy Vargas. I cannot fathom why he has not gotten any better than he has.
Glenn Logan, A Sea of Blue: The biggest surprise, aside from the play of Josh Harrellson, is what an efficient scorer Doron Lamb turned out to be. Lamb has a nice combination of skills, and has a really remarkable ability to score either off the bounce or as a spot-up shooter.
Jonathan North, Wildcat Blue Nation: The biggest surprise for me was Kanter not getting to play. I really thought all year that Kanter would be playing by conference and when he didn’t that was a huge surprise. The other is how poorly we’ve played on the road and the none whatsoever contributions by Stacy Poole.
Kent Spencer, WTVQ Channel 36: Josh Harrellson is clearly the biggest surprise. What did he show us in Canada over the summer that said against major competition he would be this good? I didn’t see anything. The transformation he made in such a short amount of time has been nothing short of remarkable. He wasn’t very good early in the season especially against teams with quality big men (UCONN and North Carolina). The way he’s played his role, and simply done his job has meant a ton for this team. I know he’s struggled some in SEC play but I think the game against Tennessee gives everyone hope for the rest of the season that his lull is behind him.
Brian Eldridge, Kentucky Sports Report: As I mentioned before, Josh Harrellson’s play this year has been my biggest surprise. He’s come a long way from being the guy that people thought Calipari should have “cut” when he came to UK. Josh has played hard and been a solid contributor, holding down the middle for this team. Without him, UK would be MUCH worse off this season.
Ken Howlett, A Sea of Blue: Doron Lamb is better than I thought he would be, and Brandon Knight is running the point about as well as any freshman as I’ve ever seen. On the flip-side of those positive surprises is the inconsistent play of Darius Miller. I rea
lly thought Miller would step-up and become an offensive force for this team, giving them another 15 point per game guy.
Paul Jordan, Wildcat Blue Nation: What about DeAndre Liggins? I know we expected a turnaround this year, but this guy has done a total transformation as he has become the top defender on the team and also is the heart and soul of this team. I have always been a supporter of DeAndre and he makes me so proud the way he busts his ass. I would have to say that I am also surprised at the real lack of a bench. I thought that Vargas would be a adequate bench player and that either Jon Hood or Stacey Poole would be contributing meaningful minutes at this point.
What are your predictions for the rest of the season and possible NCAA seed?
Greg Edwards, Wildcat Blue Nation: I think the Cats are going to win out the rest of the regular season, and make a good showing in the SEC Tournament. I expect them to get a 3 seed for the NCAA’s and possibly a 2 seed, depending on how everyone else does the rest of the year. In my opinion this year, a 2 seed will serve as well as a 1 in this year’s tournament, because after the top 2-3 teams there is a huge logjam for the 4-15 spots in the country. And no one is ever truly as good as their hype.
Glenn Logan, A Sea of Blue: I think we will finish second in the SEC overall regular season, but will win the SEC auto-bid by winning the tournament. I figure UK for a 4-seed in the NCAA tournament if they manage that.
Jonathan North, Wildcat Blue Nation: At this point IF the Wildcats win out and win the SEC tournament I really think it’s still possible to get a 3-4 seed with our strength of schedule and RPI with winning the conference tournament, I know we have seven losses but the NCAA selection committee is supposed to look at a body of work. Our body of work involves losing five really close games on the road. If we drop any more games, even in the conference tournament we drop to that five seed range where we play that dangerous 5-12 match up.
Kent Spencer, WTVQ Channel 36: As for the rest of the season I believe Kentucky is still a Sweet 16 team. Intensity and energy have hurt the Cats on the road in conference. I don’t think those will be problems in the NCAA Tournament. The fear of foul trouble biting Kentucky in the tournament is very real because they’re just not deep enough to withstand a few guys sitting for an extended period of time. However, we all learned the hard way last year if you can just make it to the Elite 8, anything can happen. Just ask West Virginia.
Brian Eldridge, Kentucky Sports Report: I’m seeing Kentucky as a four or five seed at best right now, but really, I don’t think Kentucky is that far from being on the NCAA bubble. Kentucky needs a winning record in the SEC and they will struggle to get that and a Thursday win in the SEC Tournament.
Ken Howlett, A Sea of Blue: I think the ‘Cats will win the remainder of their home games, plus the road contest at Arkansas, and probably lose on the road at Tennessee (but a win in Knoxville wouldn’t floor me). With the SEC Tournament being in Atlanta, a place UK usually does very well, I look for the ‘Cats to at least make it to Sunday. Talent-wise, I think Kentucky is as gifted as anyone in the SEC, including Florida and Tennessee, and on a neutral floor I like UK’s chances. If the ‘Cats go 5-1 for the rest of the conference season, and make it to Sunday of the SEC Tournament, I look for them to receive a 4 seed in the Big Dance. If they lose prior to Sunday of the tourney, a 5 is very possible, and as I see it, likely. Of course, there are a myriad of circumstances which may arise above and beyond the control of the ‘Cats, which could adversely effect their seeding. But, by the same token, the movement of the teams around UK could also help the ‘Cats come Selection Sunday.
Paul Jordan, Wildcat Blue Nation: You know what? This team is 14 points away from being 21-3, 9-1 in the SEC, and a solid number two seed at least. With that in mind, I think we have to get the breaks and a few bounces have to start going our way and I think we can go 6-0 the rest of the way. Now if we can get a number two seed in the SEC Tourney, we can win it. If we have to play on Thursday, I don’t see a Tourney title with 6 guys playing four games in four days. If we can get that two seed, I would say SEC Title game at the least. As for the seed? I am thinking a 6-0 record or even a 5-1 record can give us 22-8 regular season mark at worst and two tourney wins get us 24-25 wins and a number four seed.
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