[Aslan]

Now that the entire roster is set and the non conference schedule has been released its time for predictions.
What say you?

More than likely the starting 5 will look like this.

1. Harrison(a quality point guard!!!!!)
2. Harrison
3. Poythress(assuming last year will be used as motivation, if not..-->)/Young
4. Randle(SEC player of the year, will be in race for many POY awards)
5. WCS(going to have a breakout year IMO, possible all american) This will be what, like his 3rd year of balling basketball ever. He will improve his draft stock without a doubt, finally getting to play alongside a quality guard.

Bench
Young/Poythress depending on who starts
Lee
Johnson
Wiltjer
Willis
Hawkins
Polson
Hood

Record: 35-5 National Champs of course.
Loses to: Michigan St, @ UNC, @ Florida, @ Vandy, @ Tenn

[Stardust]

^ I think you are spot on. I'll go so far as saying the team on paper is a Final Four team, meaning it is as good as the first three teams. The Cats are as deep as the '96 team, but experience has proven to be the final ingredient to win a National Championship. This team has it's Jones and Lamb from an experience standpoint, but there is no Miller on the team as the glue. Is it needed, only time will tell. Arguing for a team on paper in May is easy. But it's hard to not justify that this is the most talented team top to bottom since 1996. Let's roll out the basketballs and see it all gel together.

[cuppett777]

^ I think you are spot on. I'll go so far as saying the team on paper is a Final Four team, meaning it is as good as the first three teams. The Cats are as deep as the '96 team, but experience has proven to be the final ingredient to win a National Championship. This team has it's Jones and Lamb from an experience standpoint, but there is no Miller on the team as the glue. Is it needed, only time will tell. Arguing for a team on paper in May is easy. But it's hard to not justify that this is the most talented team top to bottom since 1996. Let's roll out the basketballs and see it all gel together.

maybe Kyle can become a Miller this yr and next..

[Steve Kuberski]

Kyle will be more like a Cameron Mills.

[jbwill2]

UK may not even be the best team in their conference this year. Florida should be very tough, and we know they will be well-coached/prepared.

Question: UK seems to be the favorite to win the national title, but if you had to bet on either UK or the field at this point, which would you choose?

[Warthog]

Uk 36-4

[RunItUpTheGut]

Kyle will be more like John Smith.

In other words, he will suck again, and with all this talent, he wont see the court much.

[RunItUpTheGut]

UK 39-1

National Champs
SEC Champs
Only loss will be in the SEC regular season.

[cuppett777]

Kyle will be more like a Cameron Mills.

i hope not,lol

[Patch]

UK will lose a couple of regular season games, bad as I hate to say that, just like Cal's first team did, and let's not forget how loaded that team was, not only with incoming players but Patterson was on that team too. But by the end of the regular season I think this team could be a bear to deal with, loaded at every position and I think Randle will be an excellent leader too. 35-5, SEC regular season, tourney and NCAA Champs.

[Steve Kuberski]

Will be favored to win it all and should be. Have more talent than anybody else in the country. Must get to Final 4 or it will be a very disappointing year.

[RunItUpTheGut]

^
With all due respect, anything less that a championshipis a dissapointing year every year.

[Aslan]

^I don't agree every year, but this year, anything less would be disappointing with the hype and talent surrounding this team.
I really think people are overlooking James Young. Smooth lefty, athletic, pure scorer, decent passer. Most likely will be our 6th man. I'd love to see him push Harrison for that starting spot.

[Ballers]

Well uks best chance at getting 40-0 will be this year. I'll say we lose 3 games.

[Steve Kuberski]

If you have the most talent , and don't win it, it's obviously a disappointment. Maybe not as bad as this year's disaster, but a disappointment,\.

[honestjchsfan]

Now that the entire roster is set and the non conference schedule has been released its time for predictions.
What say you?

More than likely the starting 5 will look like this.

1. Harrison(a quality point guard!!!!!)
2. Harrison
3. Poythress(assuming last year will be used as motivation, if not..-->)/Young
4. Randle(SEC player of the year, will be in race for many POY awards)
5. WCS(going to have a breakout year IMO, possible all american) This will be what, like his 3rd year of balling basketball ever. He will improve his draft stock without a doubt, finally getting to play alongside a quality guard.

Bench
Young/sPoythres depending on who starts
Lee
Johnson
Wiltjer
Willis
Hawkins
Polson
Hood

Record: 35-5 National Champs of course.
Loses to: Michigan St, @ UNC, @ Florida, @ Vandy, @ Tenn

By the end of the year Johnson will be starting at center. He is not the athlete the WCS is but he is more skilled and will demand a double team. I also don't see Poythress starting.

[PaintsvilleTigerfan]

Michigan State will more than likely be a L.

North Carolina will be rough on the road the first road game for this young team.

Then in conference you will take everyone's best shot.

I see 2-3 losses, but when this team gels its over.

[Aslan]

By the end of the year Johnson will be starting at center. He is not the athlete the WCS is but he is more skilled and will demand a double team. I also don't see Poythress starting.

I don't agree with the Johnson comment. I think WCS is in line for a HUGE year. He had a good freshman year considering he played behind Noel most of the year and didn't have a quality guard on the team. This year he'll have three. On the Poythress comment, if he plays unmotivated like he did last year, he'll barely see the floor, and I'd agree. But I believe(more like hope), he gets it together.

[cuppett777]

any of the new guys made it there yet?

[toussaints]

this team is talented enough to win the national championship, but with everything louisville, michigan, michigan state, and ohio state has coming back, i'm not going to put them in the national championship just yet.

[judgementday]

I am excited for the season to begin...

Yesterday I was in the Joe Craft Center and observed Coach Cal coming in. His office overlooks the training court and my daughter happened to be in there at that time for VB and he watched some of the game.

Wasn't a big deal to her but it was for me.

I hope that these Sunday hours help us to the championship game this year!

[vundy33]

Anyone that thinks Dakari Johnson will ever start over Willie Cauley Stein at center for UK either doesn't know what they're talking about or just isn't paying attention, lol. Johnson is a hell of a player, but WCS is just better, plain and simple.

I think we'll have a 2 loss season, much like the 11-12 year. Unlike alot here, I don't think we lose to Michigan State. I don't even think it will be all that close in the last 10 minutes. My 2 losses for us are at North Carolina and a bit of a fluke SEC game, like at LSU or at Mizzou. Both will have good teams, but the home court advantage, like Mizzou has which is one of the best in the country, will help push one of those types to an upset I think.

Could easily have a few more losses of course. This will be the best the SEC has been overall in quite a while. I'm excited, wish the season would hurry up and get here.

[1-3-1-press]

Should have a good year with an amazing and super talented freshman class coming. Going 40-0 on paper is easy but on the court much tougher than what most think. My prediction UK wins 25+ games and no NIT bid.

[LeeCoUKFan]

40-0 National Champs!

[cuppett777]

now with Kyle gone,whos going to be there 3 point threat?if they not have any like Lamb,this team wont win it all...

[64SUR]

now with Kyle gone,whos going to be there 3 point threat?if they not have any like Lamb,this team wont win it all...

Cuppett 777 can you shoot the 3 if you can sit on the end of the bench and enjoy the ride go cats :lmao:

[RunItUpTheGut]

now with Kyle gone,whos going to be there 3 point threat?if they not have any like Lamb,this team wont win it all...

To be quite honest, Cal must have something in mind.
Why do you think Wiltjer transferred? He wasnt going to play anyways.

[zaga_fan]

45-0

[cuppett777]

To be quite honest, Cal must have something in mind.
Why do you think Wiltjer transferred? He wasnt going to play anyways.

i am sure he does,but the team with Wall,they had no outside threat and it cost them,surely a team with all this talent can do more than just score in the paint or drive to the rim,let hope anyway..

[RunItUpTheGut]

^
Wiltjer was an okay shot....but that was it. Poor defense, soft as a pillow, and when he went cold, he went very cold.

I think many will be surprised how many of these frosh will be able to shoot the ball.
This is a very good team. A team that Wiltjer would have seen 2 or 3 minutes a game playing for.