Top storylines to watch as Kentucky basketball practice begins today
Kentucky basketball season is (unofficially) here, as the team took the floor for the first practice of the fall on Wednesday.
After a summer of pick-up games, scrimmages, drills and basic fundamental instruction, official preseason practice for the team starts today. Practice starts today, followed by UK Pro Day on Oct. 10, Big Blue Madness on Oct. 15, Media Day on Oct. 20, Blue-White Game on Oct. 22, exhibition games on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5, and then the official season-opener on Nov. 9.
To put it simply, basketball season is not just around the corner, it’s here now, and only ramping up beyond this point.
As we move into October and the fanbase starts familiarizing itself with the 2021-22 roster leading up to the season, what are the top storylines to keep a close eye on? What are the names to know? What about strengths and weaknesses?
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Who emerges at point guard?
A team that finishes 9-16 on the year isn’t limited to one individual flaw, but easily the most glaring of the 2020-21 group was its lack of production at point guard. Dribble separation, shooting, court vision, and playmaking at the position were missing from the start of the season, and none of John Calipari’s quick-fix ideas throughout the year proved to be winning formulas.
This year, however, Kentucky has two new faces in five-star freshman TyTy Washington and All-SEC transfer Sahvir Wheeler to run the show. Davion Mintz – who found brief success running point to close out last season – is also expected to earn minutes at the one, with Davidson transfer Kellan Grady also having experience at the position.
The main position battle will be between Washington and Wheeler. Will one emerge as the clear-cut starter? Does Calipari like the idea of the two playing together in a three-guard lineup with one of Mintz or Grady playing off-ball? Will it be one of the main point guards with Mintz in the off-ball role and Grady on the wing?
Post-summer rumblings indicate Washington, Mintz and Grady are the favorites to start in the backcourt, but preseason practice is a whole new ball game. The next few weeks will be telling.
Can someone make the jump?
Kentucky is returning Mintz, Keion Brooks Jr., Jacob Toppin, Dontaie Allen and Lance Ware from last year’s roster. All showed spurts of production – some quite a bit of it, actually – but the group as a whole lacked consistency.
After a complete summer of workouts and training with the strength and conditioning staff, Kentucky needs a next-year leap from at least a few in that group. Mintz and Brooks were the most productive last season, so significant jumps from either – the former due to stability and familiarity with the system and the latter due to physical growth – would be game-changers for the program. Buzz of a junior leap for Brooks is already spreading in Lexington.
Toppin was always seen as a long-term potential piece. Is the long, athletic forward ready to turn that potential into production? Will he be more than a pure athlete and find consistency in his jumper? His trainer says it’s been a point of emphasis in workouts this offseason.
Ware has emerged as a vocal leader during summer camps around the state, but how will that translate to the court? He shined in small doses as a rebounder and effort player. Will the offense catch up to his motor?
Allen had the highest highs of anyone with absurd shooting and scoring displays, but struggled at times elsewhere on the floor. Can he become more than just a shooter as a redshirt sophomore?
The who isn’t really that important. UK just needs one or two to make significant next-year leaps while the others see continued development. The early speculation favors Brooks to fill one of those spots.
Is there enough in the frontcourt?
Oscar Tshiebwe is expected to anchor the middle, with Ware and Daimion Collins serving as the other primary pieces at center. Calipari is moving toward a four-out offense that will feature four perimeter players – so he says, at least – to maximize versatility, shooting, and spacing. Brooks, Toppin, and Bryce Hopkins are Kentucky’s options there.
Six players to fill two positions. On the surface, the numbers work out just fine.
Keep in mind, though, Calipari went all-in on five-star forward Jalen Duren this summer and the program also had exploratory talks with Illinois superstar Kofi Cockburn when he entered the transfer portal this summer. Duren ultimately decided to sign with Memphis and Kentucky passed on Cockburn – despite strong interest from the All-American center – due to roster fit, but conversations were had with both players.
Was that out of concern more help was needed or was it simply an embarrassment-of-riches dream for the staff? Calipari will tell you it was the latter – one was a then-No. 1 recruit and the other was a consensus All-American – but it’s worth asking.
Tshiebwe earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors back in 2019-20 after averaging 11.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest as a freshman at West Virginia. He’s an instant double-double threat every time he steps on the floor. But how much more to his game is there at this level? Can he be more than a clean-up specialist who thrives on putback dunks and layups? Does UK need more than that?
Brooks has shown spurts of brilliance in two years as a Wildcat, but can he make the jump in year three many expected going into his sophomore year before injuries slowed down his growth? Does he have true star ability? Calipari’s four-out offense complements his game quite well, so it’s on the table.
Those seem to be the two “guarantees” in the frontcourt. From there, though, there are questions.
Toppin has missed the entire month of September with a minor shoulder issue, allowing Hopkins to emerge as a serious frontcourt option. Optimism is high within the program that the freshman forward will be an early contributor. How will Toppin respond coming back from injury? How will the two split reps?
Collins is raw and must bulk up, but the natural tools are there and potential is clear. Ware has the higher floor, but will the staff value the higher ceiling? Out of 12 scholarship players, something’s got to give when it comes to playing time. And with so many unknowns, the question of quantity or quality presents itself.
Injury news
Toppin is working his way back from a minor shoulder issue, while CJ Fredrick is on the cusp of returning following offseason leg surgery.
Fredrick underwent surgery on a preexisting leg injury in July, one that expedited his return and minimized the risk of future issues down the road. Though unrequired, it was the lone option that guaranteed his availability for the season-opener in November.
The Iowa transfer began training last week and is in the process of ramping up his on-court work. He’s expected to return as a full participant in practice in the next week or so, well in advance of UK’s exhibition and regular-season matchups.
Toppin is more of an unknown, but the expectation remains that he will be back in the coming weeks, as well.
Day one of practice is in the books. Now the real fun begins.
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