I know that sounds like a stupid question for Kentucky fans, because I am pretty sure the standard is and always will be a national championship in the Bluegrass State.
Experience is definitely a key for any Calipari Kentucky team and one would think that will always play a factor at least early on in the season.
Does that change the expectations by it’s players or fans?
My guess the players for the blue and white are thinking #9 and it sounds like Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports is thinking the same way as he answers[URL=”http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/08/27/rothstein-files-sec-offseason-notebook/”] five questions entering the SEC:[/URL]
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[COLOR=#2C2D2E][FONT=Arial][B]1. WILL A LACK OF EXPERIENCE AFFECT KENTUCKY?[/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
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Maybe in the first month of the season, but it shouldn’t be a real factor in February and March. Unlike last year when the Wildcats had three grizzled veterans in Darius Miller, Terrence Jones, and Doron Lamb, this year’s Kentucky team doesn’t have one single player that logged significant time during [URL=”http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/04/03/rothstein-files-5-observations-from-kentuckys-ncaa-title-win-over-kansas/”]last year’s run to the national championship[/URL]. With that said, Kyle Wiltjer did play spot minutes for John Calipari’s team a season ago and NC State transfer Ryan Harrow started for the Wolfpack two years ago. Another key piece is Wright State transfer Julius Mays, who averaged 14.1 points per game last season in the Horizon League. With Wiltjer, Harrow, and Mays, Kentucky has three players from different backgrounds that now they come together in Lexington with the same goal — getting the Wildcats back to the Final Four.
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Rothstein also looks at this year’s incoming UK freshman:
[QUOTE][COLOR=#2C2D2E][FONT=Arial][B]2. JUST HOW GOOD IS THIS CROP OF KENTUCKY FRESHMEN?[/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#2C2D2E][FONT=Arial]They’re outstanding but they’re probably not as hyped as the last few recruiting classes. 6-10 center Nerlens Noel [URL=”http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/04/12/rothstein-files-five-questions-after-signing-day-in-college-basketball/”]was the number one prospect in the Class of 2012 [/URL]and Alex Poythress and Archie Goodwin are two dynamic wings that can score ball at will. Unlike the past few years where Calipari has brought in a dynamic lead guard, there is no true floor general in this year’s crop of incoming Wildcats. The real sleeper of this group according to several people in Lexington is Willie Cauley, a 6-10 big man who should be ready to play immediately.
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I know it is football season, but I am looking forward to basketball just to see how good this new group is.
