2009-2010 Kentucky Predictions
2008-09 Record: (23-14, 8-8 SEC East)
Coach: John Calipari (1st year)
Assistants: Jon Robic, Orlando Antigua, Rod Strickland
Ret. Starters/Lost: 3/2

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Overview: Kentucky got rid of Tubby Smith because he couldn’t recruit and wound up with Billy Gillispie, who couldn’t coach or recruit. Now they get John Calipari, who brings in one of the greatest classes of all time and the only thing for left for Coach Cal to do is win the big one. That may happen here, tough they could be a year away. Barring another NCAA investigation, this should be a team that gets better as the year goes on. John Wall (6-4, 195) was the prized recruit of a great class. He’s a point guard who can elevate, score, rebound and dish it off. He’ll be one-and-done and likely the first pick in the draft unless there’s an elite big man coming up, which there doesn’t appear to be early on. Freshman Eric Bledsoe (6-1, 190) can score and play the point. He’s the ultimate combo guard and will play right away. Aqt small forward, sophomore Darius Miller (6-7, 223) is one of thew few returning players, who averaged 5.3ppg last season and provides a great athlete with good size at the wing. Calipari was left one gift (legal) and that was the return of PF Patrick Patterson (6-9, 235), one of the top big men in the SEC. Patterson, who return to Kentucky and spurned the NBA Draft, averaged 17.9ppg and 9.3rpg last year with 2 blocks per game. He’s not really a center, but the Wildcats have a big horse inside to protect him. Freshman DeMarcus Cousins (6-11, 260) is a very skilled player who can be as good as he wants to be. Rivals had him as the number two prospect in the country. Kentucky has a lot of talent off the bench, led by wing Darnell Dodson (6-7, 215), a sophomore who went to Miami-Dade C.C., after originally signing with Pittsburgh in 2007. He can start for just about any team in they country. Center Daniel Orton (6-1, 255)is another top recruit who signed when Gillispie was coach and remained with the team. It’s scary to have two young big men who can play right away, but you have to wonder if he’ll be happy being the caddy for Cousins if he returns next season.

Outlook: You can never have too much talent, but the key will be how Calipari molds the young stars into a team. That’s always tough when you have so much talent who could be looking ahead to the next level.

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