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Kentucky Basketball: 10 predictions for the Wildcats 2017-18 season

By Taylor Sturm

LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 28: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives insturctions to his team against the Kansas Jayhawks during the game against at Rupp Arena on January 28, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 28: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives insturctions to his team against the Kansas Jayhawks during the game against at Rupp Arena on January 28, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LEXINGTON, KY – JANUARY 28: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives insturctions to his team against the Kansas Jayhawks during the game against at Rupp Arena on January 28, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY – JANUARY 28: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives insturctions to his team against the Kansas Jayhawks during the game against at Rupp Arena on January 28, 2017 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

The 2017-18 college basketball season is quickly approaching, and we broke down 10 predictions for the Kentucky Wildcats’ upcoming campaign.

Last season, the Kentucky Wildcats won an impressive total of 32 games before losing to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Elite Eight of the 2017 NCAA Tournament. Their regular season included wins over then No. 7 North Carolina and the then No. 13 Michigan State Spartans, as well as close losses to the then No. 11 UCLA Bruins, then No. 10 Louisville Cardinals, and then No. 2 Kansas Jayhawks.

All season long, the Wildcats were on the verge of greatness but failed to really kick things into gear until they lost by 22 on the road to the Florida Gators in early February. From that moment on, Kentucky would win 14 straight games that included an SEC regular season title, SEC Tournament Championship, and wins over Northern Kentucky, Wichita State, and UCLA in the NCAA Tournament.

Sure, it will have been disappointing to lose to North Carolina by just two points in the Elite Eight after beating them earlier in the season, but the 2016-17 campaign should be considered a success based on sweeping the SEC regular season title and SEC Tournament Championship, as well as that Sweet 16 win over UCLA.

Heading into the 2017-18 season, however, expectations will be even higher. Kentucky has what it takes to do exactly what they did last season and more, and fans expect it of the elite program. It’s been two whole seasons since they went to the Final Four – which is far too long for one of the top basketball programs in college basketball history.

So what does the 2017-18 college basketball season have in store for John Calipari and the Wildcats? We have 10 predictions for the upcoming season here.

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