There are a number of confusing teams in college basketball – none more confusing than Kentucky. The wildcats are undoubtedly the most confusing.
Saturday provided the latest example.
Final score: UK 117, Alabama 95.
Just three days after a 75-74 loss at LSU, the Wildcats shot 63.1% from the field and posted a 22-point win against an Alabama team that boasted the sport's top-ranked offense and sole possession of first place in the SEC standings. And that’s how it’s been in John Calipari’s program all season. The Wildcats lose one game at home to Wilmington, two games later they beat North Carolina on a neutral site. On a Saturday, the Wildcats lose their third straight game at Rupp Arena for the first time in school history, and two Saturdays later they lead Alabama by 37 points – yes, Kentucky actually leads Alabama by 37 points with just over eight minutes left rubs – and embarrasses the Crimson Tide in a way that the Crimson Tide often embarrasses other teams.
Justin Edwards was the star of this film.
The five-star freshman, ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports, has struggled for most of this season, averaging just 8.9 points in 22 minutes per game. The 6-foot-8 winger ranks sixth on the team in scoring and seventh in minutes per game. He made significant errors in most mock drafts. But against Alabama, Edwards was fantastic. He took 10 shots, made all 10 and finished the game with 28 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 29 minutes. It was only the second time since Christmas that Edwards spent at least 25 minutes on the pitch.
“It felt so good to go out there and show that I could play the way I did,” Edwards said. “It means a lot to me because [my teammates] believe in me.”
Is it time to believe in the Wildcats too?
Perhaps.
They've always been the most talented team in college basketball with the most future NBA draft picks on the roster – but they're still just 6-7 in the first two quadrants, with a Q3 loss to Wilmington also on their record stands. They have lost four times at home this season, twice against teams not currently ranked. If they're bad, they're bad. And at least compared to most expectations, they've been bad for most of this season.
But Calipari has been through this before.
He also had a highly talented squad in 2014, a largely but shaky team that finished 12-6 in the SEC and was ranked No. 8 by the selection committee. Then the NCAA Tournament began and Kentucky defeated Kansas State, Wichita State, Louisville, Michigan and Wisconsin to advance to the national championship game. To be clear, I'm not necessarily predicting anything similar. But I insist that the talent is there to do something similar, and I will never completely rule it out, no matter what happens between now and Selection Sunday, simply because of the talent that is available.
Kentucky is No. 21 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings updated Sunday morning, with Purdue remaining No. 1 for the fifth straight day. The Wildcats' next game is Tuesday at Mississippi State.
Top 25 and 1 rankings
Biggest movers
Rk | teams | Change | Rcrd |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | — | 24-3 | |
Zach Edey finished with 25 points and seven rebounds in Thursday's 96-88 win over Rutgers. The Boilermakers' next game is Sunday at Michigan. | |||
2 | — | 25-3 | |
Cam Spencer finished with 25 points and four rebounds in Saturday's 78-054 win over Villanova. The Huskies' next game is March 3 against Seton Hall. | |||
3 | — | 24-3 | |
Jamal Shead finished with 12 points and 10 assists in Saturday's 82-76 win at Baylor. The Cougars' next game is Tuesday against Cincinnati. | |||
4 | — | 21-6 | |
Dalton Knecht finished with 24 points and seven rebounds in Saturday's 86-51 win over Texas A&M. The Vols' next game is Wednesday against Auburn. | |||
5 | — | 21-6 | |
Tamin Lipsey finished with 14 points and six assists in Saturday's 71-64 win over West Virginia. The Cyclones' next game is Wednesday against Oklahoma. | |||
6 | — | 20-6 | |
Kam Jones finished with 34 points and two steals in Wednesday's 105-71 win over DePaul. The Golden Eagles' next game is Sunday against Xavier. | |||
7 | — | 21-6 | |
Cormac Ryan finished with 18 points and a block in Saturday's 54-44 win at Virginia. The Tar Heels' next game is Monday against Miami. | |||
8th | — | 20-7 | |
Steven Ashworth finished with 20 points and seven rebounds in Tuesday's 85-66 win over UConn. The Bluejays' next game is Sunday at St. John's. | |||
9 | — | 21-6 | |
Hunter Dickinson finished with 20 points and seven rebounds in Saturday's 86-67 win over Texas. The Jayhawks' next game is Tuesday against BYU. | |||
10 | 2 | 21-6 | |
Caleb Love finished with 30 points and five assists in Saturday's 91-75 win over Washington. The Wildcats' next game is Wednesday at Arizona State. | |||
11 | 1 | 19-8 | |
Yves Missi was one of five players on the field in Saturday's 82-76 loss to Houston. The Bears' next game is Monday at TCU. | |||
12 | 3 | 21-6 | |
Chad Baker-Mazara finished with 25 points and four assists in Saturday's 97-76 win at Georgia. The Tigers' next game is Wednesday at Tennessee. | |||
13 | 3 | 21-5 | |
Kobe Elvis was two of 11 players from the field in Wednesday's 71-67 loss to George Mason. The Flyers' next game is Tuesday against Davidson. | |||
14 | 3 | 22-5 | |
Great Oobor finished with 17 points and seven assists in Tuesday's 68-63 win over San Diego State. The Aggies' next game is Tuesday at Fresno State. | |||
15 | 2 | 21-6 | |
Duke allowed the Demon Deacons to shoot 60.4% from the field in Saturday's 83-79 loss at Wake Forest. The Blue Devils' next game is Wednesday against Louisville. | |||
16 | 2 | 21-7 | |
Jaedon LeDee finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday's 73-41 win over Fresno State. The Aztecs' next game is Tuesday against San Jose State. | |||
17 | 2 | 20-7 | |
Coleman Hawkins finished with 30 points and five steals in Saturday's 95-85 win over Iowa. Illinois' next game is Wednesday against Minnesota. | |||
18 | 4 | 19-8 | |
Alabama allowed the Wildcats to shoot 63.1% from the field in Saturday's 117-95 loss to Kentucky. The Crimson Tide's next game is Wednesday at Ole Miss. | |||
19 | 8th | 21-7 | |
Jaylen Wells was three of 12 players in Saturday's 73-61 loss to Arizona State. The Cougars' next game is Thursday against USC. | |||
20 | 2 | 22-5 | |
BJ Mack finished with 17 points and two assists in Saturday's 72-59 win at Ole Miss. The Gamecocks' next game is Wednesday at Texas A&M. | |||
21 | NO | 19-8 | |
Justin Edwards finished with 25 points and eight rebounds in Saturday's 117-95 win over Alabama. The Wildcats' next game is Tuesday at Mississippi State. | |||
22 | 1 | 19-8 | |
Will Richard finished with 21 points and three assists in Saturday's 77-64 win over Vanderbilt. The Gators' next game is Wednesday against Missouri. | |||
23 | 2 | 23-6 | |
Mitchell Saxen finished with 20 points and seven rebounds in Saturday's 88-62 win over San Diego. The Gaels' next game is Thursday at Pepperdine. | |||
24 | — | 18-9 | |
Tyler Wahl finished with 18 points and six rebounds in Tuesday's 74-70 win over Maryland. The Badgers' next game is Tuesday at Indiana. | |||
25 | NO | 19-8 | |
Rivaldo Soares finished with 20 points and three rebounds in Saturday's 84-82 win at Oklahoma State. The Sooners' next game is Wednesday at Iowa State. | |||
26 | NO | 19-8 | |
Emanuel Miller finished with 18 points and six assists in Saturday's 75-57 win over Cincinnati. The Horned Frogs' next game is Monday against Baylor. | |||