Kentucky Basketball: Why Wildcats will be better than Louisville in 2020-21

Kentucky Basketball’s fast-break potential

From their guard spots all the way down to their rim protectors, the Wildcats seem like a team destined to find success once released defensively by a steal or intrigued by an unset defense, scoring frequently with fast-break onslaughts. Clarke and Boston both established new standards for the speed typically expected at the guard position this year, moving seemingly at different levels than everyone around them on their highlight tapes.

But more importantly, Kentucky’s big men move well enough to run the break as well. As an always appreciated versatile power forward, rising sophomore and likely starter for next year Keion Brooks showed his ability to run with the break and threaten as a frightening alley-oop finisher. With such skills displayed as a freshman, watch for him to develop them even further going into his second year, running beside Clarke and Boston while continuing to soar high for crowd-igniting lobs.

Jackson, who seems certain to occupy the starting center position, moves well for a larger guy as well. His athleticism combined with his already above-average speed for a center helps him join his Wildcat teammates as another runner, forming a starting five that sees all its players bring at least one or two features to the table primed to help out on the fast break.

On the other hand though, while Louisville refrains from appearing as a slow-moving team by most standards, once matched up against Kentucky, they seem a bit more second-fiddle, resembling the equation presented earlier when comparing their recruiting classes.

Often trailing his teammates on the break last year unlike Brooks, senior big man Malik Williams may struggle to keep up with Brooks and the fresher, more athletic Jackson while they dart to the rim. Although Samuell Williamson showed off some adequate speed last year certain to come with him as he transfers into a starting role at the power forward spot, his undersized height at 6’7, unfortunately, makes his speed almost a non-factor when going up against Kentucky’s bigs, and leaves him as a candidate to potentially end up on poster for all the wrong reasons.

JJ Traynor might find success at the power forward, and with his speed above average for a power forward, he offers the Cardinals their best chance to serve influentially on the fast break. But for him alone to stop Brooks and Jackson seems like a lot to ask from a freshman who might not even play significant minutes.

We all know often just one or two fast-break plays change a game’s momentum and potential outcome, so given the weapons which they possess regarding this department, Kentucky notches another slight edge over Louisville.