From national champions to a first round knockout in the NIT. The Kentucky Wildcats dominated the college basketball scene last season as they cruised to a 38 – 2 record and a national championship. This season was slightly different with the Wildcats finishing with a record of 21 – 12.
After losing six players to the NBA Draft, including star player Anthony Davis, the Wildcats had a tremendous amount of rebuilding to do. This season’s recruiting class was led by Nerlens Noel, a 6’ 10” freshmen that was ranked number one in the nation by both ESPN and Scout.com. Before the college basketball season began, the Wildcats were expected to make another run at a national title. They were the number one ranked team preseason, largely due to the incoming freshmen class headlined by Noel.
As the season began it became evident that this year’s Kentucky team lacked the cohesiveness that last year’s team enjoyed. The Wildcats were far from dominant and when Nerlens Noel tore his ACL on February 12th the team began to struggle down the stretch as they posted a 4 – 6 record after Noel’s injury.
Kentucky failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament and as a result was sent to Moon Township, Pennsylvania to play the Robert Morris Colonials. At times the Wildcats looked disinterested in the game and at one point in the second half they trailed Robert Morris by 13 points. Kentucky was able to come back and tie the game but eventually lost by two as Mike McFadden knocked down a pair of free throws with 8.7 seconds left to play.
Kentucky fans envisioned another NCAA Tournament birth, a visit to the Final Four and even another National Championship. But the immense turnover on the team’s roster had a much larger impact than people imagined. The Wildcats hope to rebound next year with another phenomenal recruiting class coming in. But this year proves that in order to win they must play disciplined, team basketball.
Chris Hunt is a sports writer who resides in Charlotte, N.C.
