The Kentucky Wildcats have just ended their 2022-2023 season after losing to Kansas State, ending their season early. Despite being seeded 6th in the East Region, the team was unable to clinch the victory in Greensboro. Oscar Tshiebwe, who led the Cats with 25 points and 18 rebounds, put up a valiant effort, with 9 rebounds coming from the offensive glass. Tshiebwe was also 8-for-13 from the field. Tshiebwe, a senior with one year of eligibility left, had previously spent two seasons with West Virginia and was the National Player of the Year with Kentucky last season. Does he stay or go?
However, it is expected that Tshiebwe, along with most of Kentucky’s seniors, will be leaving the team. The senior group also includes Jacob Toppin, Antonio Reeves, Sahvir Wheeler, CJ Fredrick, and walk-on Brennan Canada. During postgame interviews, coach Calipari guessed that none of these seniors will be returning next season.
Most of these seniors came to Kentucky from other universities, with Fredrick transferring from Iowa, Reeves from Illinois State, Tshiebwe from West Virginia, and Wheeler from Georgia. In recent years, the Cats have been very active in the transfer portal. Cason Wallace will be leaving for the NBA Draft, so there is a possibility that the team may lose nearly all of their offensive production and replace it with incoming freshmen.
But, is that likely? We’ve seen a slew of players come back and play before when the Florida Gators returned most of their starters for a run at another title.
Opinion: Here is what we think will likely happen.
Tshiebwe: Tshiebwe tests the waters. Realizes he will go late second round and may not go at all and will have to play his way into the league. NIL money keeps him on the team for another season at Kentucky. With NIL he’s likely to not give up too much money by passing on the NBA and staying. BBN would love to have him back. He’d go down as one of the greatest and most beloved Wildcats in Kentucky history. He would benefit from coming back one more year and working on his offensive game. He’s coming back in my opinion. If he doesn’t and chooses to go into the League then he should focus on rebounding and be a banger and Rodman style player. He has questionable footwork and his offense needs work. But, he has hoses on his hands that suck in rebounds like a hoover vacuum. If given a shot at the next level he could excel as a utility guy.
Wheeler: Gone. He’ll never wear a Wildcat uniform again. Calipari wasn’t telling us the truth on his situation but that is another story. He won’t get any playing time next year going up against Wagner. He’ll take advantage of his COVID year and choose another destination. He’s a good kid, just got outplayed and his minutes diminished. He’ll have a career overseas. Long shot for the NBA and that’s giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Wallace: Gone. He’s NBA bound. Top 10 pick. In 3 years he’ll be an NBA All-star. He’s built for the league. Teams will love him. He’s steady and plays both ends. He’s a Tyrese Maxey with more of a Chauncey Billups body. Long term NBA player. Stud!
Fredrick: Gone. He won’t see any playing time behind anyone coming in in this next recruiting class. Long shot is that he stays and becomes a locker room guy. But, my gut tells me he’s gonna go somewhere else, improve his draft stock and try to get into the NBA.
Toppin: He’s a 50/50 guy at this point. NIL changes things for players. He could stay if Tsheibwe stays. Hard to say for sure. Can go late 2nd round in the NBA draft or could go un-drafted altogether and have to play his way into the League. He has tremendous upside but is a project and will likely fall into the G-league and could fizzle. If he improves his mid-range game and gains confidence he’s gonna be a beast. Needs about 15-20 pounds to bang with the big boys at the next level. He may take advantage of his COVID year and may come back.
Reeves: Hard to say on this one. Likely to at least test the waters. If an NBA team takes a shot on him, he’s a liability on some levels. Mediocre on defense. BUT, the NBA loves shooters. If he puts on some weight and adds 15 pounds he could be someone to watch at the next level. I think he stays one more year at UK, puts on 15 pounds and becomes the 2-guard next year to run wing man with Wagner with Thiero as his backup. It would be fun to watch. When he’s on its’ fun to watch. BBN loves shooters and he is that guy when he gets on a roll.
Ware: He’s coming back. He’s a glue guy. He’s got too much time in at UK to go anywhere else. He still needs a lot of work. Coaches love him and he could play an important role on next years squad. He could see limited minutes next year backing up one of the bigs. I like him. I turn him into the team assassin and encourage him to be the enforcer and bang more with his limited minutes.
Thiero: Coming back. Needs confidence. Could learn a lot behind Wagner and possibly Reeves (if he comes back). Had shown some flashes of fearlessness on the court but when the pressure was on he was trying to get rid of the ball like it was a hot potato. He’s got family history with Cal. He’s lucky he got on this team and worked his way into some minutes this year. He’s staying. Probably a three year player, at least, before he moves to the NBA. He’s got all the attributes of an NBA player just hasn’t quite tapped into his full game or developed the killer mentality.
Canada: Gone. Didn’t see any minutes. Not an impact player. Might go somewhere else, maybe mid-major and get some minutes. Can’t see him getting into the NBA but he could turn into a lifer in basketball. He has the pedigree.
Livingston: Staying. Unsung hero. Will be a glue guy next year. Needs to step into a leadership role next year. Does all the dirty stuff that doesn’t show up in the stat sheets. Gonna be a great player at the next level. Disciplined. Has a huge upside. Has the NBA body. If he works on his mid-range game and keeps banging he’s a top 10 NBA pick next year. He saw enough playing time this year that he’d be foolish to leave, even with all the talent coming in next year. In fact, I could see him leading the Cats next year if most of the seniors move on this year.
Onyenso: Coming back. Give this guy to me for a summer and I’d turn him into a beast. Someone needs to work with him. Raw talent is there. Needs 20 pounds on his frame. Seems patient and understands it’s not his time. Coachable. He’s top 10 NBA pick next year if he does his homework and keep his nose clean. Long, athletic, runs the court, a bit sloppy with the hands, decent footwork. TONS of potential. Work on a 10 foot turnaround or a jump hook and he’ll be hard to stop next year. Do I think it will happen? It could but I don’t think the UK staff puts the work in on this kid. They’ll just let him develop on his own which I don’t think is the right thing to do. He’s the wild horse in the stall that doesn’t realize what he’s got until someone pushes him down the chute and into prime time.
Collins: Should leave for greener pastures. He’s gonna get lost in the shuffle especially if Oscar and Toppin decide to stay and, if Ware stays. He’s had some family issues that derailed him this year and that, understandably, effected his game. He needs about 30 pounds on that frame. Elite player. Elite athlete. Great shot blocker. Huge upside if he works at it. I say he leaves.
The Other Guys: Nothing here.
Fortunately, the Cats have recruited three of the top four players and four of the top five players in the Class of 2023. DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards are expected to come in and fill the void for the Wildcats. With their talents, coupled with 7-foot center Aaron Bradshaw, and the addition of some transfer portal recruits, the Cats should be able to bounce back despite losing most of their production.
It will be a challenging task for Coach Calipari to develop the incoming freshmen, especially since the NCAA has been trending away from one-and-done teams being the pinnacle of college basketball.
Can Cal turn the program around? He’s gonna have a ton of talent and plenty to work with but I’m not sure he has it in him any longer and BBN is becoming impatient. BBN is getting tired of the lip service. I think Cal should move on and hand the reigns to someone that can return the program to the promised land. While Cal’s a great recruiter, his track record of being a good player development coach, in game coach or a good X’s and O’s coach is not good.
What say you?
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