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Kentucky Basketball: 3 reasons the Wildcats win the 2017-18 National Championship

By Frank Spencer

Apr 3, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari during practice for the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari during practice for the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Championship semi-final game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kentucky Basketball
Jan 7, 2017; Arlington, TN, USA; Hamilton Heights Hawks Shai Gilgeous-Alexander guard (2) goes to the basket against Arlington Tigers Luke Wiseman guard (13) during the game at Arlington High School. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

2. There are options on the Bench.

No matter how Coach Calipari organizes his set rotation of players, there will be options on the bench. Bench scoring and improved floor presence on defense from reserves will spell big things for this team. Possible bench options include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, an athletic guard who can score the basketball as well as Jemarl Baker. Baker is an underrated shooter from California who committed quickly to the Wildcats just a few short months ago.

Baker provides a deep ball threat when he is on the floor. A Jamal Murray type player, Baker will be a weapon in Cal’s arsenal. Whether or not Baker or Alexander will make it to the starting lineup is to be determined, right now the consensus is that these two will come off of the bench.

MUST READ: Realistic Expectations for the 2017-18 Season

Also, the two “veterans” on the team, Wenyen Gabriel, and Sacha Killeya-Jones may provide some experience off of the bench. Unless there has been some great improvement in these two individual’s game, one could imagine that they would be reserves to begin the season. Also, one of the top players in the class may be starting the game on the bench. The debate should be between PJ Washington or Jarred Vanderbilt to get the starting nod. Of course, Calipari could always entertain the fact that both Washington and Vanderbilt start in the front court leaving Nick Richards to come off of the bench.

Nobody really knows Cal’s thinking. But, its an absolute fact that Kentucky will be picking from a cupboard of weapons each day to include in their game plans.

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