The talk and comparisons of the 2010-11 team to the talented 35-3 Elite 8 class from last year is well underway and will be well documented throughout the season.
What to expect from this years team depends on the health and development of the youth brought in by Coach Calipari. But the Coach seems to always find a way to get the best from the individual player and those individual players as a team. Expect nothing less from this years roster.
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Our best case scenario is simple, undefeated and hanging the eighth banner in the rafters of Rupp.
[URL=”http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/14549/best-caseworst-case-sec”]ESPN[/URL]’s perception was a little different but worth the read. I debated with the only person I can ever win against, myself, about the posting order of the two opinions.
In the end, the big boys won out. Here’s what Channel 140 on my DISH Network has to say about the Cats…
[QUOTE][B]Best case[/B]: It’s always difficult to predict how a young, unproven batch of talented recruits is going to play, but Kentucky fans got a glimpse of this team’s potential in its torrid run through three Canadian exhibition games in August. Brandon Knight looked particularly impressive. If all goes well, Knight will be the latest in John Calipari’s remarkable streak of star point guards, and Kentucky will find itself at the top of the SEC for the second straight season.
[B]Worst case:[/B] For all of Kentucky’s talent, this year’s Wildcats aren’t a particularly deep team. Calipari and company are still waiting for the NCAA clearinghouse to approve forward Enes Kanter’s eligibility. If Kanter doesn’t get eligible — or, perhaps, even if he does — Kentucky could be relying on a handful of supremely talented youngsters (Knight, Doron Lamb, Stacey Poole, and injured forward Terrence Jones) to carry considerable loads. Can they do it? [/QUOTE]If all goes well, Kentucky should secure it’s 13th SEC East Championship and the programs 45th Regular Season Championship. Anything can happen at Catlanta and the SEC Tourney, but it seems we can expect the Cats to be the favorite to claim their 27th tourney title.
Going well counts on three items; Kanter has to be cleared by the NCAA, failure to do so creates a large hole offensively, defensively and on the boards, Terrence Jones must get an stay healthy and the Cats have to avoid season ending injuries.
In the area of depth, a healthy team will be plenty deep. Kanter, Vargas, Jones, Miller, Liggins, Knight and Lamb are all solid players and could start for just about anyone, throw in what should be solid minutes from Harrellson, Hood and even Poole and the Cats are plenty deep.
The flow of the season is likely to be a dramatic change from last years 18-0 start. Don’t expect that, in fact it doesn’t seem fair for the Nation to expect anything close. This season, like last season, should be one of consistent improvement as the season progresses.
Knight is a super replacement at the point and should be ready to take the floor General reigns, Miller and Liggins appear to be ready to become major contributors both from the production level and the leadership role, Terrence Jones and Enes Kanter will become beast’s as the season progresses, throw in the scoring ability of Lamb and an improvement in the Dribble-Drive as the season progresses and the Cats should once again be the 800lb Gorilla in the SEC…
Go Cats!!!
