Kentucky Wildcats
Overall Rank: #11
Conference Rank: #3 SEC
Once Coach Matthew Mitchell was able to get Kentucky to a high level a decade ago, they have been amazingly consistent. Pegging the Wildcats for a third or fourth place finish in the SEC is always a safe idea. This season should be no different. Five of the team’s top seven scorers from last season’s 22-8 team are back and that is a great place to start for a Kentucky team hoping to win the SEC for the first time since 2012.
2019-20 Record: 22-8, 10-6
Coach: Matthew Mitchell
Coach Record: 281-125 at Kentucky, 311-154 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Sabrina Haines, Guard, 9.7 ppg
Jaida Roper, Guard, 7.8 ppg
Amanda Paschal, Guard, 5.2 ppg
Ogechi Anyagaligbo, Forward, 3.6 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Rhyne Howard, Junior, Guard, 23.4 ppg
Chasity Patterson, Senior, Guard, 11.5 ppg
KeKe McKinney, Senior, Forward, 6.5 ppg
Blair Green, Junior, Guard, 5.8 ppg
Tatyana Wyatt, Senior, Forward, 5.5 ppg
Emma King, Sophomore, Guard, 1.4 ppg
Kameron Roach, Junior, Guard, dnp last season
Key New Players
Dre’una Edwards, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Utah
Treasure Hunt, Freshman, Guard
Nyah Leveretter, Freshman, Forward
Olivia Owens, Sophomore, Center, Transfer from Maryland
Erin Toller, Freshman, Guard
Robyn Benton, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Auburn, not eligible
Jazmine Massengill, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Tennessee, not eligible
Projection:
Rhyne Howard has had two amazing seasons at Kentucky. Her third could be even better. Last season the 6-2 guard averaged 23.4 points and 6.5 rebounds. She is a prolific shooter and all-around scorer and Kentucky will rely on her to take all of their clutch shots. Howard will get some help though. KeKe McKinney and Tatyana Wyatt will once again start in the frontcourt. Neither are major scoring threats, but the senior duo has plenty of experience and McKinney is the team’s top shot blocker. On the perimeter, point guard Chasity Patterson missed the first semester last season after transferring in from Texas, but was a great scoring threat off the bench once eligible. Transfers Olivia Owens and Dre’una Edwards are a couple great pickups for the Wildcats. Owens did not see much playing time at Maryland due to injury, but the 6-4 center was a big time recruit coming out of high school. Edwards spent her freshman campaign at Utah where she earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year accolades behind 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. A trio of talented freshmen, highlighted by the brilliantly named Treasure Hunt, will give Kentucky the depth they need to make a decent NCAA Tournament run.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 72.5 (40th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 60.2 (78, 3)
Field-Goal Percentage: 41.3 (102, 9)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.3 (257, 10)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 8.4 (21, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 36.3 (23, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.4 (94, 4)
Rebound Margin: -2.4 (250, 11)
Assists Per Game: 13.8 (118, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.0 (14, 2)
Madness 2020 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#21 Treasure Hunt
#109 Nyah Leveretter
#123 Erin Toller
