NCAA Basketball: Preseason top 25 power rankings for 2022-23 season

It’s been over a decade since the reigning NCAA Basketball Player of the Year returned for another season and Kentucky is the beneficiary. Oscar Tshiebwe was one of the best impact transfers in recent memory, averaging 17.4 ppg and 15.2 rpg last season. The rebounding numbers led the nation and the big man had 10+ boards in all but two games.

Tshiebwe can easily repeat those performances, including his 30-point effort against Saint Peter’s in the NCAA Tournament. He’s not the only All-SEC guard on the roster, as point guard Sahvir Wheeler was third in the country with 6.9 apg, as well as 10.1 ppg in scoring. The backcourt has some new faces next to Wheeler, starting with incoming five-star freshman Cason Wallace. He’s a quality combo guard that can defend at a high level and also play off the ball. Also set to play off the ball is Iowa transfer CJ Fredrick, who missed last year with an injury but shot 46% from three-point range in the two years prior.

Another transfer newcomer is Antonio Reeves, who averaged 20.1 ppg last season at Illinois State. He was 47% from the field and 39% from three-point range and had multiple 30+ point games. He can play the three-spot, as well as incoming five-star combo forward Chris Livingston. The only weakness he has is consistent shooting from deep but he’s a good defender and can score around the basket.

Two key frontcourt returning players are Jacob Toppin and Daimion Collins, two guys that were part of the rotation last season but could have larger roles. As good as Tshiebwe was, having more frontcourt depth is never a bad thing.

A lot of teams brought back their respective star centers but none were as productive as Tshiebwe, which gives them as high a floor as any NCAA Basketball team. The question is whether or not there’s enough shooting outside of him and Wheeler that’ll make them capable of winning it all.