Kentucky MBB ranked No. 9 in updated ESPN "Way-Too-Early" Top 25

Kentucky’s roster for 2021-22 has stayed the same ever since Davion Mintz announced on July 1 that he was returning to play a fifth season of college basketball. The Wildcats had the opportunity to add players such as five-star center Jalen Duren and Illinois transfer Kofi Cockburn, but ultimately missed out on both. Even still, the roster heading into 2021-22 is going to be incredibly deep and loaded with upperclassmen.

Over at ESPN, Jeff Borzello updated his “Way-Too-Early” Top 25 rankings for the upcoming season. In it, there was only one big mover, and that was the Memphis Tigers, who shot all the way up from unranked to No. 7, leapfrogging Kentucky, who was pushed back from No. 8 to No. 9.

Check out the BEST OF THE BEST ! Memphis is on the move in Way-Too-Early Top 25, but how far? – via @ESPN App https://t.co/fSw50uzr9B

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) August 31, 2021

The entirety of the previous Top 25 only moved one spot to make room for Memphis. Tigers head coach Penny Hardaway has recently secured massive commitments from two of the top recruits from the class of 2022, five-stars Jalen Duren and Emoni Bates, who both recently reclassified to 2021 and will be eligible to play this fall.

But switching back over to Kentucky, the ‘Cats have consistently been in Borzello’s top 10 since Mintz announced his return. Here’s what he had to say about UK:

On paper, the five I’ve listed below as Kentucky’s projected starting lineup would seem to make the most sense, with one potential issue: shooting. Sahvir Wheeler led the SEC in assists and was one of the best playmakers in the league, but he made 22.8% of his 3s last season. TyTy Washington has 6-foot-4 size and was a five-star recruit, but in five games at the Geico Nationals and the NIBC Invitational last season, he shot 25.7% from 3. Keion Brooks Jr. brings versatility and experience, but he has made 11 3-pointers in 47 career games. Davidson transfer Kellan Grady is a terrific shooter, but it wouldn’t surprise me if John Calipari went with Iowa transfer CJ Fredrick or senior Davion Mintz for long stretches alongside Grady on the wings. Fredrick was one of the best shooters in college basketball over the past two seasons, making 47% of his 3s. Mintz made the most 3s on the Wildcats last season, and he is a career 36% 3-point shooter. It might be difficult to bench Wheeler or Washington, but the offense could flow better with two shooters.

Projected starting lineup:

Sahvir Wheeler (14.0 PPG, 7.4 assists per game at Georgia)
TyTy Washington (No. 12 in ESPN 100)
Kellan Grady (17.1 PPG at Davidson)
Keion Brooks Jr. (10.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG)
Oscar Tshiebwe (8.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG at West Virginia)

Jeff Borzello, ESPN

As for the rest of the top 10, Borzello has them as follows:

1. Gonzaga
2. Kansas
3. UCLA
4. Villanova
5. Texas
6. Purude
7. Memphis
8. Michigan
9. Kentucky
10. Baylor