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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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NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats looks on during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 22: Head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats looks on during the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 22, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

At least one major player stays for the 2018-19 season

If there is one clear criticism of Kentucky basketball, it is that they usually have to reload every season.

Kentucky performs best when a couple of their stars from the previous season return to add some veteran leadership to the young, elite incoming recruits. This seems like a “duh” type answer, but take a look at some of their best recent seasons.

In 2011-12, when the Wildcats won the National Championship, Kentucky returned Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb.

In 2013-14, when the Wildcats were National Championship runners-up, Kentucky returned Alex Poythress and Willie Cauley-Stein.

In 2014-15, the Wildcats returned Alex Poythress, Willie Cauley-Stein, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Derek Willis, and Dakari Johnson from their prior elite recruiting class.

Even when the returning players did not play much, they still performed better with them on the roster.

Do I know which player will stay? Of course not, and I don’t even want to guess. The lure of the NBA is strong, and I don’t blame players for leaving.

However, with so much talent on this roster, there will be a player (or two) who believes they can increase their draft stock and potentially win a National Championship if they return, and I think this leads to a big name coming back to Lexington for at least their sophomore season.

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