CBS Sports ranks Kentucky No. 2, picks Cats to win SEC

We’re in the thick of the college basketball preseason, which means all of the national outlets are releasing their previews. This morning, ESPN’s staff named Kentucky their national championship favorite and Oscar Tshiebwe their favorite for SEC Player of the Year.

CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander also unveiled his ranking of the top 101 teams in college basketball today. Kentucky is No. 2 behind North Carolina. Norlander has the Cats winning the SEC. Here’s his breakdown:

One blue blood at No. 1, another at No. 2. A great way to stroll into November. John Calipari should have a somewhat-deep team adorned by wing play. Before that, of course we must speak of the non-wing of note: reigning Naismith National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe (17.4 ppg, 15.1 rpg) returns at center and will be aiming to somehow improve upon his absurdly dominant junior season. (Tshiebwe recently had minor knee surgery, by the way. TBD if it will restrict him in November.) He’ll be flanked by breakout-candidate supreme and fellow senior Jacob Toppin, in addition to change-of-pace diminutive PG Sahvir Wheeler.

This is Kentucky, so you know the freshman talent is worth watching. The biggest name is Cason Wallace, who will start at the 2. Chris Livingston is another newbie, and he’s the favorite to start at small forward. If that happens, and Daimion Collins is the sixth man, UK might have the best — and certainly most athletic — first guy off the bench in the country. Expect a team that defends with a variety of looks and scores in spurts. The Wildcats’ No. 4 ranking in the preseason AP Top 25 marks UK’s 940th week out of 1,241 weeks since the poll began in 1949. Kentucky has more appearances than any other school; UNC is second, followed by Duke, Kansas and UCLA.

CBS Sports

Gonzaga, Kentucky’s opponent on Nov. 20, is third. Here’s where all of the Cats’ opponents this season rank:

• 3. Gonzaga
• 5. Arkansas
• 7. UCLA
• 10. Tennessee
• 12. Kansas
• 17. Alabama
• 27. Michigan
• 29. Auburn
• 31. Texas A&M
• 32. Michigan State
• 34. Florida
• 55. Ole Miss
• 62. LSU
• 87. South Carolina
• 93. Georgia
• 97. Mississippi State
• 100. Louisville