Kentucky Wildcat Basketball: Where do we go from here?

Going into last season there were few prognosticators picking Kentucky to reach the 2011 Final Four. That didn’t mean they didn’t believe they could make it. But most people expected this team to be a step down from the 2010 team that was loaded with NBA lottery picks.

Additionally, people didn’t think the 2010 recruiting class, while excellent, was as good as the 2009 class, nor did it have a John Wall or DeMarcus Cousins.

The final straw was Enes Kanter being declared ineligible. When he was declared permanently ineligible by the NCAA, the team seemed to sink somewhat and they wound up losing several road games in the SEC.
Ultimately Kentucky made it through the doldrums of the regular season, finishing strong and ripping their way through the SEC tournament. Then the Wildcats knocked off two higher seeds to reach the Final Four.
An uneven season to say the least, but the team overachieved considering their deficiencies. So what’s next for the Wildcats?

Speculation still centers on what some of the underclassmen will do.

Will DeAndre Liggins go pro? There’s a possibility. He hasn’t declared, but Liggins is a new father and he may feel that he needs to get out there and make some money. Even if he doesn’t get into the NBA, the European leagues pay well and Liggins could flourish there.

Will Terrence Jones declare? I’m of the school of thought that Jones needs another year. He needs to refine his post game and learn to pass out of double teams. Jones also needs to become a more consistent threat and use his face up ability against bigger opponents, but he could learn all of that in the NBA.

Finally, could we have seen the last of Brandon Knight in that awful shooting performance against Connecticut? Knight had one of the best freshman seasons for any Kentucky player, ever. Yet the lasting memory of him could be jacking up jumper after jumper in the national semi-final. Knight needs to work on his handle, his strength and his defense. His handle is paramount to his success in the NBA, because he won’t play off the ball in the league.

So while Kentucky could conceivably lose three underclassmen contributors, plus Josh Harrellson, the recruiting class coming looks outstanding.

The least publicized of the four man class is Kyle Wiltjer who is an inside outside threat with an old-school type of game. Wiltjer can hurt you from the perimeter and from the post. With added strength, he’s an all-conference and possible All-American type player.

Marquis Teague comes in as one of the best floor generals in the nation. Teague can get into the lane and create for others as well as finish over bigger players. While Teague isn’t a consistent three-point shooter, he can make enough to keep the defense honest. And should Brandon Knight return, Teague and Knight could be the best backcourt in the SEC from day one.

Michael Gilchrist has been regarded as one of the best players in the country regardless of class for a couple of seasons. When you watch him play, it’s easy to see why. There’s nothing on the court he can’t do. Gilchrist is a defensive stopper, a force on the glass and a great passer. His weakest point is his scoring offense, more specifically his jump shot. However, Gilchrist is a hard worker and can likely build upon those weaknesses, given the time.

The most celebrated prospect in Kentucky’s 2011 class must be Anthony Davis. The 6-foot-10, 215-pound forward was only 6-foot-2 about 18 months ago. Davis rebounds, block shots, scores and does virtually everything spectacularly. Davis should be the consensus number one high school player in the nation this season. In three all-star games, Davis has been a force each time and standing out among the nation’s best players.

When Kentucky adds these four players, in addition to the returning players, the Wildcats look like a team that is a threat to reach the Final Four again next season. Should Jones and Knight return, anything less than a Final Four would be considered a disappointment.

No matter what happens, though, the next addition of the Kentucky Wildcats will be a fun team to watch develop.

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