Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook editor Chris Dortch has Kentucky ranked No. 3 in his preseason poll behind Indiana and Louisville. Once again Kentucky is picked to win the Southeastern Conference for coach John Calipari even though Blue Ribbon has Florida No. 8 in its preseason poll.
“This team can’t possibly be as good as last year’s team, but I’ve heard it favorably compared with Cal’s second team at UK, which of course made it to the Final Four,” said Dortch.
He shared these other thoughts on the Cats, who will start their season with Big Blue Madness on Oct. 12.
Question: Where does Blue Ribbon see Kentucky fitting in the national championship race this year?
Dortch: “I believe a third straight Final Four appearance is possible as long as the Cats buy into defense and rebounding. This team may not be able to score as well as last year’s, but if Julius Mays and Kyle Wiltjer, both 40 percent 3-point shooters, can shoot that well again, who knows?”
Question: Who is the most intriguing player on the Kentucky roster this year?
Dortch: “Willie Cauley-Stein. Can you imagine that dude, at 7 feet, coming at your if you’re a 5-9 cornerback? He played wide receiver for his high school, so you know he’s a great athlete. I’ve been told he’s ahead of Nerlens Noel (who of course missed 16 days of summer practice), and that he’s more advanced offensively than the coaches thought. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Cauley-Stein and Noel together on the floor.”
Question: Who is perhaps the underrated player who could determine UK's final success in a much bigger way than most expect?
Dortch: “I think Cauley-Stein may be significantly better than people thought and can help Noel lock down the inside while also getting his share of points around the basket.”
Question: What would be your biggest concern about UK going into the season?
Dortch: “Lack of experience. People tend to forget that last year’s team had Darius Miller, without whom Kentucky wouldn’t have won the national championship, and Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb, two future first-round draft choices who had Final Four experience.”
Question: What makes you feel the best about UK going into the season?
Dortch: “Once again, the sheer talent of their top six players. It’s as good as anybody’s.”
Question: Can Calipari continue to exceed expectations on and off the court at UK?
Dortch: “After you’ve won the national title, you can’t exceed any other ceiling in the college game. Can he win it every year? No. But let’s put it this way. If he continues to recruit the way he has, Kentucky will have a chance to win it every year, and really, the only other programs you can say that about are Duke and North Carolina. Not to disparage other programs, but even Kansas and Michigan State, great as they are, aren’t in that category.”
Question: Finally, how can fans get Blue Ribbon Yearbook?
Dortch: “If people want the book, go to www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com. The iPad version of the book goes on sale Thursday and the printed version should ship out by Oct. 12. We’re in our 32nd printing and now. With Street and Smith’s having gone by the wayside, we are the oldest preview guide and the ‘Bible’ of college hoops.”
“This team can’t possibly be as good as last year’s team, but I’ve heard it favorably compared with Cal’s second team at UK, which of course made it to the Final Four,” said Dortch.
He shared these other thoughts on the Cats, who will start their season with Big Blue Madness on Oct. 12.
Question: Where does Blue Ribbon see Kentucky fitting in the national championship race this year?
Dortch: “I believe a third straight Final Four appearance is possible as long as the Cats buy into defense and rebounding. This team may not be able to score as well as last year’s, but if Julius Mays and Kyle Wiltjer, both 40 percent 3-point shooters, can shoot that well again, who knows?”
Question: Who is the most intriguing player on the Kentucky roster this year?
Dortch: “Willie Cauley-Stein. Can you imagine that dude, at 7 feet, coming at your if you’re a 5-9 cornerback? He played wide receiver for his high school, so you know he’s a great athlete. I’ve been told he’s ahead of Nerlens Noel (who of course missed 16 days of summer practice), and that he’s more advanced offensively than the coaches thought. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Cauley-Stein and Noel together on the floor.”
Question: Who is perhaps the underrated player who could determine UK's final success in a much bigger way than most expect?
Dortch: “I think Cauley-Stein may be significantly better than people thought and can help Noel lock down the inside while also getting his share of points around the basket.”
Question: What would be your biggest concern about UK going into the season?
Dortch: “Lack of experience. People tend to forget that last year’s team had Darius Miller, without whom Kentucky wouldn’t have won the national championship, and Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb, two future first-round draft choices who had Final Four experience.”
Question: What makes you feel the best about UK going into the season?
Dortch: “Once again, the sheer talent of their top six players. It’s as good as anybody’s.”
Question: Can Calipari continue to exceed expectations on and off the court at UK?
Dortch: “After you’ve won the national title, you can’t exceed any other ceiling in the college game. Can he win it every year? No. But let’s put it this way. If he continues to recruit the way he has, Kentucky will have a chance to win it every year, and really, the only other programs you can say that about are Duke and North Carolina. Not to disparage other programs, but even Kansas and Michigan State, great as they are, aren’t in that category.”
Question: Finally, how can fans get Blue Ribbon Yearbook?
Dortch: “If people want the book, go to www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com. The iPad version of the book goes on sale Thursday and the printed version should ship out by Oct. 12. We’re in our 32nd printing and now. With Street and Smith’s having gone by the wayside, we are the oldest preview guide and the ‘Bible’ of college hoops.”
