2017-18 record: 26-11, 10-8 in the SEC
Head coach: John Calipari
Tenure at Kentucky: 10th season
Career coaching record: 678-202
Home court: Rupp Arena
Starters: G Quade Green, G Immanuel Quickley, F Reid Travis, F Nick Richards, F P.J. Washington
Bench: G Keldon Johnson, G Ashton Hagans, F E.J. Montgomery, G/F Zan Payne, G Tyler Herro
Overview: Despite losing three of its top scorers from last year's team to the NBA in Kevin Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamidou Diallo, Kentucky has reloaded and should once again be one of the top teams in the nation. The Wildcats boast the nations' No. 2 recruiting class according to ESPN, reeling in four top-25 prospects in Keldon Johnson, E.J. Montgomery, Ashton Hagans and Immanuel Quickley. Perhaps the team's biggest acquisition, however, is Stanford graduate transfer Reid Travis, who averaged 19.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest for the Cardinals last season.
Relative to the average Kentucky team, the Wildcats have a lot of returning experience with Green, Richards and Washington all a staple of the starting lineup last season in addition to Travis' four years as a starter at Stanford. This experience will be key for Kentucky's tough nonconference slate.
In addition to opening the season against Duke Nov. 6 in Indianapolis, the Wildcats will face Seton Hall and North Carolina at neutral sites, host Utah and Kansas, and travel west to a hostile environment at Louisville. Calipari's squad will have to learn quickly in order to avoid dropping four or five contests prior to 2019, but the experience could be crucial for the team's success down the stretch through the SEC and NCAA tournaments in March.
One thing that needs to go right: Travis effortlessly fits into Kentucky's offensive scheme, and coupled with the size of Washington and Richards dominates opponents on the interior.
One thing that could go wrong: Green is the Wildcats lone efficient shooter and the starting lineup is unable to generate consistent offense, which could lead to an early NCAA tournament exit.
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Digital Strategy Director for Vol. 115, Michael was previously Sports Editor for Vol. 114 and Assistant Blue Zone Editor for Vol. 113. Michael is a senior majoring in Statistical Science and is interested in data analytics and using data to make insights.