Jeff Goodman lists Kentucky at No. 6 in final preseason rankings

Kentucky is ranked No. 4 overall in the preseason men’s basketball AP Poll. Andy Katz listed the Wildcats at No. 3 in his preseason rankings for NCAA.com. ESPN and CBS Sports also have UK inside the top five at No. 4.

It’s not a consensus, though, that Kentucky is deserving of the top five going into the 2022-23 season. Stadium’s Jeff Goodman released his final preseason rankings this week, with the Wildcats coming in just outside the top five at No. 6 overall.

His thoughts? UK is solid, sure, but outside shooting remains in question — though Antonio Reeves and CJ Fredrick certainly help in that regard. It also helps when you have the reigning National Player of the Year anchoring the middle in Oscar Tshiebwe.

Here’s what Goodman had to say about the Cats:

6. KENTUCKY

BACK: C Oscar Tshiebwe (17.4 ppg, 15.1 rpg), PG Sahvir Wheeler (Sr., 10.1 ppg, 6.9 apg), F Jacob Toppin (Sr., 6.2 ppg), F Daimion Collins (Soph., 2.9 ppg), F Lance Ware (Jr., 1.5 ppg), CJ Fredrick (Jr., – injured)
GONE: G TyTy Washington (12.5 ppg), SG Kellan Grady (11.4 ppg), F Keion Brooks Jr. (10.8 ppg), G Davion Mintz (8.5 ppg), G Dontaie Allen (2.2 ppg), F Bryce Hopkins (2.1 ppg), G Shaedon Sharpe (Redshirted)
ADD: G Cason Wallace (No. 8), SF Chris Livingston (No. 11), G Antonio Reeves (Illinois State, 20.1 ppg), G Adou Thiero, F Ugonna Onyenso

Obviously, the return of the National Player of the Year, Tshiebwe, was huge. But the question that remains is perimeter shooting. Illinois State transfer Reeves will be impactful in that area and so will a healthy Fredrick. John Calipari should still have enough talent to be among the top teams in the country with a handful of returnees and the addition of a pair of top-10 freshmen.

Stadium

Check out his complete preseason top 25 below:

1. North Carolina
2. Gonzaga
3. Houston
4. Creighton
5. Baylor
6. Kentucky
7. Kansas
8. UCLA
9. Virginia
10. Texas
11. Indiana
12. Duke
13. Arkansas
14. Tennessee
15. Oregon
16. Auburn
17. TCU
18. Villanova
19. Alabama
20. Iowa
21. Dayton
22. Ohio State
23. Saint Louis
24. Arizona
25. Illinois

What are your thoughts, BBN? Does Kentucky deserve to be higher?