3 reasons why Kentucky basketball can win the 2024 National Championship

Kentucky basketball turns its eyes to the 2023-24 college basketball season, searching for a 9th NCAA Tournament Championship.

It will be a dozen years since Kentucky basketball last won the national championship. However, the Wildcats remain a constant threat to cut down the nets, thanks to awesome recruiting from John Calipari and the coaching staff.

Impatience is growing, as the Wildcats also haven’t been to a Final Four in nine years. That’s tied for the second-longest drought in Kentucky basketball history, meaning the ‘Cats are due a long run in the NCAA Tournament very soon.

Of course, a lot has changed since 2015, and especially since the magical 2012 season. Some of the best in high-school hoops are now opting to skip college and head to the G-League. Those are the type of talented players Kentucky basketball is used to getting.

NIL is also taking over college athletics. While it can be perceived as a good and a bad thing at the same time, it is without a doubt having an impact on recruiting. For programs like Kentucky, however, it’s usually a positive thing.

And then there’s the transfer portal. It’s the new form of recruiting that forces coaches to adjust. Admittedly, coach Cal hasn’t been great with it, but he hasn’t done a poor job either. It’s a tricky game to play.

Regardless, the brand of Kentucky basketball will always be a title contender at the start of every season. That’s especially true with the quality of players UK has consistently brought into Lexington under Calipari.

This season, in particular, the talent level is above-average, even by Kentucky standards. While the roster is far from finished, the nucleus is there, and it looks to be a team that can compete at the highest level, and have a shot at cutting down the nets in Phoenix.