It’s seven months away but where does Kentucky rank in ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 for 2015-16?
Believe it or not, the Wildcats are expected to be No. 1 yet again.
Here’s what ESPN says about the Cats next season:
1. Kentucky Wildcats
Call this the benefit of the doubt. We know Kentucky will be good. We’re not quite sure how good. But if recent history is any indication, they will deserve to start the season with a No. 1 ranking, almost by default, almost regardless of how many of the current Wildcats declare for the NBA draft in the coming days.
Almost. Defensive star Willie Cauley-Stein is headed to the NBA draft, and he’ll likely be joined by potential top pick Karl-Anthony Towns, probable first-round pick Trey Lyles and sophomore guards Aaron and Andrew Harrison. The question is what happens from there. Could Devin Booker, a prototypical NBA shooting guard, surprise everyone and stay? Does Dakari Johnson, who might have sneaked into the first round last summer but now looks like a second-round lock, decide to return again? What about raw, freaky leaper Marcus Lee?
Here’s what we are (almost) sure Kentucky will have: Point guard Tyler Ulis (whose size limits his NBA potential), senior forward Alex Poythress (who lost his junior season to a torn ACL and needs to return to make NBA scouts feel safe again), and, of course, the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, including No. 3 overall prospect Skal Labissiere, No. 13 overall prospect Isaiah Briscoe on the wing, and, knowing John Calipari, at least another NBA prospect (or five). Figuring out what form UK’s final 2015-16 roster will take is impossible at this early date. There are just too many discrete possibilities to work through.
But when you’re John Calipari? When you’ve been the preseason No. 1 in two straight Novembers, been to four Final Fours in six seasons, turned a wide swath of the NBA into your personal alumni association, and you have this combination of possibilities? The benefit of the doubt is the least we can do.
Virginia is No. 2 in the early rankings and North Carolina comes in at No. 3. Iowa State and Maryland round out the top 5.
