Kentucky Wildcats
Overall Rank: #42
Conference Rank: #8 SEC
Kentucky started last season relatively well. But when the schedule got tougher, the Wildcats stopped winning games. Starting on December 8th, the team lost ten of 11 games and they were never much of a threat to reach the NCAA Tournament after that. But there were some decent SEC wins along the way and Coach Matthew Mitchell returns seven players who averaged at least ten minutes per game last season. This group is now much more experienced and that should lead to more wins and potentially an NCAA Tournament berth.
2017-18 Record: 15-17. 6-10
2017-18 Postseason: None
Coach: Matthew Mitchell
Coach Record: 256-117 at Kentucky, 286-139 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Alyssa Rice, Center, 6.6 ppg
Makenzie Cann, Guard, 6.3 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Maci Morris, Senior, Guard, 17.3 ppg
Taylor Murray, Senior, Guard, 11.5 ppg
KeKe McKinney, Sophomore, Forward, 4.7 ppg
Dorie Harrison, Sophomore, Center, 6.7 ppg
Tatyana Wyatt, Sophomore, Forward, 6.6 ppg
Jaida Roper, Junior, Guard, 4.9 ppg
Amanda Paschal, Junior, Guard, 4.7 ppg
Kameron Roach, Sophomore, Guard, 1.6 ppg
Key New Players
Ogechi Anyagaligbo, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Stony Brook
Blair Green, Freshman, Guard
Rhyne Howard, Freshman, Guard
Sabrina Haines, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Arizona State, not eligible
Nae Nae Cole, Junior, Center, Transfer from NC State, not eligible
Projection:
Maci Morris and Taylor Murray will again be the top scorers for Kentucky. Morris, a 6-0 senior guard, is one of the most consistent shooters in the country. She hit 47.5 percent of her shots from beyond the arc and 48.4 overall. That is some impressive shooting and do not be surprised if Morris pushes towards an average of 20 points per game. Murray averaged 11.5 points per game last season and she is poised for a big senior season as well. The point guard is very dangerous attacking the basket and even better on the other end of the floor. Juniors Jaida Roper and Amanda Paschal provide plenty of experienced depth on the perimeter. The frontcourt has a trio of promising sophomores in KeKe McKinney, Dorie Harrison and Tatyana Wyatt. McKinney started 17 games as a freshman, averaging 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds. Harrison will be the team’s top shot blocking threat and is also emerging as a decent interior scoring threat. With Ogechi Anyagaligbo and a couple of talented incoming freshmen, this is a Kentucky team that has a lot of depth. If enough of the underclassmen can step up their game, the Wildcats should be right in the mix for a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 68.1 (107th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.7 (186, 9)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.5 (83, 7)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.1 (231, 11)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 6.0 (159, 7)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.8 (29, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.4 (78, 4)
Rebound Margin: 1.0 (155, 9)
Assists Per Game: 13.3 (162, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.2 (47, 4)
Madness 2018 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#21 Rhyne Howard
#52 Blair Green
