Kentucky basketball: Predicting the starting lineup for 2018-19

There is no way that John Calipari can start Nick Richards at center the Kentucky basketball team next season. Cal pseudo-benched Richards this past season. Regardless of foul trouble, Richards found his way to the bench after about 5 minutes of game-play.

Jarred Vanderbilt, if healthy, will be the starting center of the Kentucky basketball team next season. To call Vanderbilt a center is not accurate, but in the age of position-less basketball, he would occupy the 5-spot.

Vanderbilt thrived when he, Washington and Kevin Knox were on the floor at the same time. Vanderbilt got the majority of his buckets on putbacks or dunks. He’s not a spot-up shooter, and does most of his damage within 5 feet of the rim.

So while not the typical size of Calipari’s dominant big men of the past, Vanderbilt operates in much the same way. Vanderbilt is a big-bodied interior player who can bang with bigger players and step out to defend more athletic bigs.

As was mentioned earlier, if EJ Montgomery signs with the Cats, he’ll occupy the center position. In that scenario, Vanderbilt and Washington would likely still be in the starting lineup, and Gabriel would be the sixth-man off the bench.