Kentucky Basketball: Which SEC team poses the biggest threat to the Wildcats in 2017?

The Auburn Tigers

This choice is based squarely on Austin Wiley’s performances in the USA U19 campagn in the 2017 FIBA World Cup. Wiley, standing 6-foot-11 is a versatile big who can score the basketball with key consistency. The Auburn Tiger started each game for Team USA and averaged a double double. He finished the World Cup averaging 10.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. When it comes to Kentucky, front court depth is something of a concern. There is talent but not necessarily heigh and beef down low. Nick Richards is unproven at the moment but has the size to match up with Wiley, but after that, there’s not much going on potential match-ups. As the country’s eleventh ranked recruiting class in 2016, those players will be ready to step up this season.

Bruce Pearl has a good thing going at Auburn. The Tigers return their top scorer in Sophomore Mustapha Heron. Heron is also a former five star recruit. Also returning sophomores, Danjel Purifoy and Jared Harper return as both averaged double digit points a season ago. The Tigers have a super group of Sophomores who could surprise many in 2017.