2011-12 Kentucky Basketball Preview

2010-11 Results

Overall: 29-9 (15-0 H, 4-7 A, 10-2 N)
SEC: 10-6 (8-0 H, 2-6 A)
Conference Tournament: 3-0, won title
Postseason: 4-1, lost in national semifinal

John Calipari led his third different school to the Final Four (UMass, Memphis) last year, putting Kentucky back in a spot where it has become accustomed. The team won a couple close games in the tournament before losing by a single point to eventual champion Connecticut. Four Wildcats went on to be drafted by the NBA.

Roster

Returning Starters
Terrence Jones
Doron Lamb
Darius MIller

Returning Lettermen
Jon Hood
Jarrod Polson
Stacey Poole
Eloy Vargas

Other Returning Players
None

Newcomers
Twany Beckham
Anthony Davis
Ryan Harrow
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Brian Long
Sam Malone
Marquis Teague
Kyle Wiltjer

Head Coach
John Calipari, third year

Key Losses

The three lost starters from last year’s team all were drafted by NBA teams last summer.
Brandon Knight led the team in scoring (17.3 ppg) and assists (159) while playing 36 minutes per game.

DeAndre Liggins finished fifth on the team in scoring (8.6 ppg) but led the team in steals (45) and was second in assists (96).

Josh Harrellson was sixth on the squad in scoring (7.6 ppg), was second in rebounding (8.7 pg) and blocks (57) and third in steals (35) while shooting 61 percent from the floor.

Schedule

http://www.ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/kty-m-baskbl-sched.html

2011-12 Preview

Kentucky tends to be one of those programs that reloads more than rebuilds. And with Calipari using primarily an eight-man rotation and five of those eight returning this year, Kentucky’s sky-high expectations should hold steady again in 2011-12. This team is deep and quick in the backcourt, but seems to be a little thin in experience up front.

Backcourt

Sophomore Doron Lamb is the top returning backcourt scorer for the Wildcats (12.3 ppg), leading the team in 3-point percentage (49 percent) .

Senior Darius Miller was fourth in scoring last year (10.9 ppg), led the team in free-throw percentage (85 percent) and listing third in blocked shots (43) and third in 3-pointers made (58) and second in percentage (44 percent).

Junior Jon Hood averaged 0.8 points and 0.7 rebounds in about five minutes per game.

Sophomores Jarrod Polson and Stacey Poole combined for 10 points and 10 rebounds in spot action in 33 combined games.

Junior Twany Beckham averaged 2.2 points per game during his time at Mississippi State before transferring, and sophomore Ryan Harrow carded 3.3 ppg while at North Carolina State.

Frontcourt

Sophomore Terrence Jones is the top returner overall, leading last year’s team in rebounding (8.8 pg) and blocked shots (72) while listing second in scoring (15.7 ppg0) and steals (43).

Senior Eloy Vargas averaged 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game over about eight minutes per game.

Other Resources on Wildcat Basketball

More SEC Basketball Predictions

Kentucky Wildcats	Florida Gators	Vanderbilt Commodores	Tennessee Volunteers
Alabama Crimson Tide	Mississippi State Bulldogs	Ole Miss Rebels	LSU Tigers
Arkansas Razorbacks	Auburn Tigers	Georgia Bulldogs	South Carolina Gamecocks

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