Kentucky named CBB's most underrated program in 2022-23

Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston, Jacob Toppin, Sahvir Wheeler, Oscar Tshiebwe — Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

Kentucky basketball enters the 2022-23 season ranked No. 4 overall in the AP Top 25. Still, the Wildcats are the most underrated team in college basketball, says CBS Sports’ Kyle Boone.

In a ranking of the most overrated and underrated programs going into the season, Kentucky came in as the top team in the latter category, joining Baylor and Creighton on the list.

As for the most overrated teams in college basketball, North Carolina sits atop the list, followed by Kansas and Indiana.

Here’s what Boone had to say about your beloved Wildcats, praising the likes of Antonio Reeves and Cason Wallace while singling out Jacob Toppin, CJ Fredrick and Daimion Collins as breakout candidates:

Underrated
Kentucky
AP Top 25 preseason ranking: 4
The injury (and subsequent surgery) for reigning national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe is a concern worth monitoring, but if healthy, Kentucky is the clear No. 1 preseason team for me. UK added a ton of shooting to address concerns from last year (Antonio Reeves and Cason Wallace can ball) and it should have some breakout vets who could be difference-makers like Jacob Toppin, CJ Fredrick and Daimion Collins.
CBS Sports

Last season, Boone listed Kentucky in the opposite category, saying the Wildcats were “experienced, and should be competent, but there’s far more questions than answers for a team that’s getting major preseason respect as a top-10 team.”

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At their best, the Wildcats looked like a clear title contender, a team with a unique combination of size, scoring and defense, anchored by college basketball’s consensus National Player of the Year. Injuries, though, crumbled the team’s chances down the stretch, with UK failing to win the SEC and losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

How will Boone’s assessment of the Cats look this time next year?

It should be noted that advanced analytics favor Kentucky entering the season, as well, with the program opening as the No. 1 team in college basketball in the initial KenPom rankings.

The Wildcats came in at No. 1 overall in the 2023 Pomeroy Ratings, leading the way with a +29.77 adjusted efficiency margin to go with the No. 2 adjusted offense (114.4) and No. 3 adjusted defense (84.7).

Not a bad way to start the season.