Basketball Preview: The Weak Spot

Michael here... Kentucky is on everyone's top ten list, and in some's top two or three, and its easy to see why. We have two Player of the Year candidates in Patrick Patterson and John Wall and one of the best recruiting classes of all time to support them. In addition to Patterson, we have a strong returning core, especially Darius Miller and DeAndre Liggins. Meanwhile, we have a top-tier coach in John Calipari, which brings his exciting brand of dribble-drive basketball to the Bluegrass State. What we don't have is a proven shooter, and this is our only weakness... but it's a big one.

Gone from last year's team is Jodie Meeks. You might remember him and his 24 points per game average, including three games with 40 or more. He by far lead the team in three-point shooting and no one else was even close. In second place was Michael Porter, the highly criticized point guard that has since decided against returing to the program. So our top two three-point shooters from last year's team are no longer with us, and there are no returning players known for their jump shooting abilities, except for perhaps Darius Miller, who might have some potential in that role.

The freshmen class isn't filled with shooters either. Wall and Bledsoe are known for the ability to both pass and get to the rim but not for outside shooting. Cousins and Orton are expected to stay around the rim, as well. This leaves Jon Hood and transfer Darnell Dodson as potential shooters, but both are unproven at this level. This will cause opposing teams to show the Cats alot of junk zone defenses, packing it in around Patterson and Cousins, and daring the offense to shoot it from outside. Had Jodie Meeks stayed, that would have been just fine, and Kentucky truly would have been without any major weaknesses and probably considered the number one team in the country; but without him, it remains to be seen how the Cats will shoot the ball. If they do find a shooter or two who can knock it down on a somewhat regular basis, this team will be hard to beat.