LEXINGTON, Kentucky (AP) — Concern among the ardent Kentucky fan base was evident as the Wildcats fielded just seven players on scholarship and coach John Calipari to fill a slate that lost to 2022 consensus National Player of the Year Oscar Chipui among eight departures.
A month’s work on the recruiting path and transfer gate yielded a full line-up, albeit later than expected. As a result, the Hall of Fame coach will have one of his youngest teams in recent memory as a result, but manpower isn’t a concern — even with 7-foot quarterback Aaron Bradshaw sidelined for the time being.
As has been the case throughout Calipari’s 15-season tenure, the Kentucky Challenger will take the growing pains of integrating another high-profile recruiting class with the rest. That process starts this week, in fact.
“We have a lot of playmakers on the team looking out for each other,” said fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves, Kentucky’s leading scorer among the seven returnees at 14.4 points per game. “I think that’s the only major difference from last year.”
Although menu turnover is an annual ritual for Calipari, this year’s makeover stands out for the number of arrivals and departures and the accompanying fanfare.
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The two-time All-American Chipui (16.5 points, 13.7 rebounds), now with the Indiana Pacers, is one of four rookies left this spring, although guard Casson Wallace and forward Chris Livingston were the ones who were drafted in the NBA last month. Four more were transferred from Team 22-12 last year, including Gen. Sahvir Wheeler, who is now in Washington.
Calipari already had the best freshman class in the country, with Bradshaw (12.1 points, 9.4 rebounds) expected to provide the inside presence that was lacking even as Chibuye excelled at both ends of the floor. He’s out after undergoing foot surgery last month, an absence that may initially throw more responsibility on freshman like 6-foot-8 Justin Edwards, Rob Dillingham (6-2) and fellow guard D.J. Wagner (6-3), Grandson of former Louisville great Milt Wagner. Kentucky also added 6-9 Jordan Burks and 6-5 Joey Hart recently.
“It’s unfortunate for him, but we had guys who couldn’t come in the summer and they came back and did great,” Calipari recently said of Bradshaw without providing a timeline for his return.
The uncertainty about Reeves’ return to school created additional anxiety about experience and leadership. Reeves’ return quelled that concern and Calipari earned a key starting spot in 6-9 former West Virginia forward Trey Mitchell, an alumnus who moved on from Morgantown after head coach Bob Huggins quit after being pulled over for drunk driving last month.
Huggins now insists he hasn’t quit, but Mitchell is in Lexington and eager to start playing with the coach who recruited him in high school and through several stops in the gate.
“Coach Cal obviously has a proven track record that speaks for itself,” said Mitchell, who posted 11.7 points and 5.5 rebounds last season for the Mountaineers. “When she entered the gate and he reached out to her, it was an opportunity that was kind of hard to miss.”
At the very least, Reeves and Mitchell provide the veteran mentoring needed as the underclassmen adjust to college basketball. They’ll get some help from sixth-year freshman-11 Oguna Onneso and 6-6 guard Adou Thiero, who has added noticeable muscle.
A mix of young and old(er) is what Calipari would like, and he wasn’t surprised the assembly took longer.
“We’ve always been in a strong position,” said the coach. “I never panicked about anything. The best teams I’ve coached had good young players and some veterans. … We waited for Jamal (Murray), we waited for different guys and got them later. And it was all played out.”
Kentucky gets its first chance to see how things stack up without Bradshaw at this week’s tournament in Toronto. The Wildcats will open on Wednesday against Germany in the four-team event that includes Canada and Team Africa.
As much as players strive to win, the goal is to build chemistry which they hope will pay off next March.
“It will be good for us,” said Wagner. “Being on the field for the first time and learning from each other as we have been in practice against good competition, it will be fun.”
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