17. Kentucky (2-0)
Everything is new in Kentucky this season, as Mark Pope replaced John Calipari as head coach of the Wildcats. The program has been functioning at a high level in recent years, albeit without most postseason success, and Pope hopes to take it to the next level yet again. Virtually every face in this Wildcats rotation is brand new, with the staff leaning heavily on the Transfer Portal, and the results have been satisfying to this point.
Wright State came to town on opening night and left disappointed, as Kentucky put together a 103-62 win back on Monday. Otega Oweh led the scoring with 21 points, while Koby Brea added 18 points off the bench with great shooting. Saturday brought another great offensive performance, with the Wildcats winning 100-72 against Bucknell. Brea again was phenomenal, leading the charge with 20 points off the bench as the Wildcats shot 48% from the field.
Kentucky has a roster dripping with veteran talent, experience, and potential. It’s all about how this team comes together and how Pope figures out his rotations. The first week of the season wasn’t a significant challenge, but the Wildcats showed significant promise, scoring 100 points in each performance. The level of difficulty spikes up significantly next week, as the Wildcats head to the Champions Classic for a Tuesday night duel with Duke.