This season's Kentucky Basketball team will enter the new millenium and I know of no better way to do it than as the National Champions. As any UK fan knows this would be the goal no matter what the year and generally there are those who predict a title each and every year, but obviously it doesn't happen that way. The latter half of this decade has been very successful for the Wildcats; 4 Final Four appearances, resulting in 2 titles and a runner-up. This was accomplished despite the fact that KY lost a significant portion of their scoring and on the floor leadership after each of the years from '96 to '99. The Wildcats had players waiting in the wings to step up and take over where their departing teammates had left off. Last season's squad fell just short of returning to the Final Four for a fourth straight time, but in all honesty it was not a major surprise; just disappointing after coming so close. Once again the Cats face the task of replacing a large amount of their offense from last year. Scott Padgett, Wayne Turner, and Heshimu Evans, all starters, ended their careers as seniors. Michael Bradley, the starting center most of the year and Ryan Hogan both decided to transfer after the season ended. Basically this amounted to about 64% of the team's points and 50% of their rebounds. If that sounds bad it could have been worse! Jamaal Magloire had decided to enter his name in the NBA draft, but changed his mind and returned. Still, even with Magloire back, it could be a rough season for KY.

The Wildcats will be a young, talented, but inexperienced team. It is debatable how important experience is in the long run, but one thing is for sure, you don't hear coaches bragging about their player's lack of playing time. However, in today's climate of players leaving early, the all-star caliber senior is becoming a rare thing. So it may well be that talent can overcome the pitfalls of inexperience. Looking at the team it would appear the Cats should have a strong inside game this year. With Magloire returning in the middle will be sophomore Jules Camara, who will see time at the forward position also and freshman Marvin Stone. Stone was highly recruited by almost all the major powers. KY also has freshman Marquis Estill, a 6'9" big man who can be a presence on the interior, unfortunately he is only a partial qualifier and will not be eligible to play. He will be allowed to practice with the team and that will be a huge benefit not only for his future, but also for the Wildcat players who will be taking the floor. The importance of quality practice bodies can't be overlooked. The forward positions will be manned by soph. Tayshaun Prince who UK will be relying on to carry a significant portion of the scoring load. The tall, slim Prince showed signs last season of what the future could hold. He has good range from outside the 3 point line and began to show the ability to put the ball on the floor and drive on his man. This is an element of the Cat's game that must be taken advantage of. KY did not get to the free throw line nearly as much as they should have last year. Also at forward will be junior college transfer Nate Knight. Knight averaged 14.5 points and 8.9 rebounds a game at Utah Valley State College last season. Knight is somewhat of an unknown at the moment, but if Tubby Smith likes him that's good enough for me. As was stated before Jules Camara will see time at forward, probably more so than at center. The Cats are in a position of being able to use 4 of  the 5 inside players at either the forward or center position should the circumstances call for it. KY is toying with the idea of using football player Derek Smith at the forward spot after his season is over; as of this moment no firm decision has been made on that. Smith's addition would not be just adding another body to the bench, he was one of the top high school basketball players in KY. He actually received a number of scholarship offers at the round-ball sport.

At first glance UK would seem to have a deep bench at the guard position, but this could be the element of this team that is most critical. The big question is who will run the point? Wayne Turner's ability to slash and drive to the basket is going to be difficult to replace. It's one thing to take the ball to the hole, it's quite another to finish when you get there. The heir apparent is coach's son Saul Smith. There have been many who have questioned Saul's ability to play the point guard spot, but he would seem to be about the only choice for the moment. This summer Smith toured overseas with the SEC All-Star Team, this had to be extremely beneficial for him. If nothing else just the opportunity to practice against the top players in the conference has to help. There is speculation that freshman Keith Bogans may be good enough to start at the point position before the season is over; regardless Bogans will see time there, whether it be as a starter or sub. At the off guard spot Desmond Allison returns. Allison started the last half of the season and in my opinion will most likely be this team's leading scorer. Hopefully he, along with Prince will be the Cat's most consistent outside shooters. J.P. Blevins, Todd Tackett and Steve Masiello round out the rest of the guard squad. Blevins and Tackett saw very little playing time last season, but both need to produce when their times come and believe me it will come. At some point, somewhere in this season's schedule they will have to enter the game at an important moment, when that time comes they need to take advantage of it. Sometimes it's the small contributions that these seldom used players make when called on that can be the difference. As for Steve Masiello, everyone is pulling for him to become this year's version of Cameron Mills and it very well could happen.

It would appear this UK team will be a strong inside squad. They should have a long bench, but sometimes this can be deceiving. It all depends on how the new players adjust to the college game. It's true that everyone on this team should be able to provide quality minutes, but that old word chemistry will decide that. As I said before, the guard position is the big question mark for this team. But college basketball is a funny thing, it could turn out when the season gets under way something entirely different will pop up as a problem and the guards will be just fine. Once again the KY schedule takes a back seat to none. The NIT in November, then in December it's Indiana, Maryland, Louisville, Michigan State, Georgia Tech and that's just the highlights for the month. The SEC will be as tough as ever; Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas should all compete for the title. Alabama has a top recruiting class coming in and who knows, maybe even Tennessee will live up to recent expectations. I don't see an NCAA title in my crystal ball for this year's team; it is entirely possible that UK could win another SEC Championship and SEC Tournament title. It will be stiff competition in the conference, but it usually is; everybody seems to get 5-10 points better when they see Kentucky on their opponents jersey. I believe UK's youth may be a little more then they can overcome this season, but lookout in 2001, the Wildcats should be loaded for bear. It is not out of the realm of possibility for KY to reach the Final Four this year, when you get that far anything can happen. Tubby has said that he would like to see this team quicken the pace, nothing would delight me more then to see the Cats getting back to the fast paced style that made them so successful in the 90's. I think they have players to do it, so all that is left is to get on with it.
 

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