Kentucky picked to finish third in SEC by CBS Sports

There are just 20 days until the official start of college basketball season. In turn, outlets across the interwebs are sharing their preseason predictions. Yesterday, CBS Sports published its SEC basketball preview. While Kentucky was not the panel’s pick to win the league, Gary Parrish said the Cats are the biggest storyline in the SEC because it’s been eight years since John Calipari led them to a Final Four, a longer drought than at UMass or Memphis.

“No SEC coach is dealing with more pressure entering this season than John Calipari, who guided Kentucky to four Final Fours in his first six seasons but has now failed to get back there in eight consecutive years,” Parrish wrote. “Twenty-two different schools have made the Final Four since the last time Kentucky made the Final Four — among them fellow blue bloods Duke, Kansas, North Carolina and UCLA, but also traditional mid-majors Florida Atlantic and Loyola Chicago.”

Oof, that 22-school stat hurts.

“It’s something Calipari will carry with him until he gets the Wildcats back to the Final Four,” Parrish continued. “Whether he can do it this season will largely be determined by heralded freshmen like Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner, Aaron Bradshaw and Robert Dillingham. There’s no denying that the Wildcats are talented enough to be among the best teams in the country. The only question is whether veterans Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell will provide them with enough experience to actually be one of the best teams in the country.”

Only one member of the CBS Sports panel, Kyle Boone, picked Kentucky to win the SEC. Tennessee and Texas A&M were the most popular choices. One writer, David Cobb, had the Cats finishing sixth in the league. When you compile all of those predictions, the panel has Tennessee finishing first, Texas A&M second, Kentucky third, and Arkansas fourth.

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Justin Edwards named SEC Preseason Freshman of the Year

It’s clear that if Kentucky’s going to do anything special this season, the freshman class will play a big part. One member of that top-ranked class stands above the rest not just in Lexington, but the SEC. Justin Edwards was CBS Sports’ pick for SEC Preseason Freshman of the Year, “an obvious choice.” Edwards is also No. 1 on CBS Sports’ 2024 NBA Draft Big Board.

“Edwards is the highest-rated recruit entering the SEC and a strong contender to be the No. 1 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-7 wing projects as a difference-maker on both sides of the court who will give UK a chance to make the Final Four before becoming Calipari’s latest one-and-done lottery pick. UK’s DJ Wagner and Rob Dillingham, Auburn’s Aden Holloway, and Arkansas’ Baye Fall are other players who could compete for FOY honors. But, heading into things, Edwards is the obvious choice.”

That wasn’t the only recognition Edwards received on Monday. The five-star wing was named Preseason Third-Team All-American by Jon Rothstein, Kentucky’s lone representative in the group.

“Edwards is a joke. Arguably the top player in the 2023 class, this 6-7 lefty seems to excel in every single facet of the game. The most underrated thing about this Philadelphia native? How hard he competes on every possession. There’s no 50/50 plays when Edwards is on the floor — they’re always 90/10 in his favor.”

I think that calls for some Justin Edwards highlights, don’t you?

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