Once again Kansas and Kentucky enter the season sitting either at the top of the rankings or hovering close by. The Wildcats open the 2014 season as the preseason No. 1 team while the Jayhawks rank in at No. 5. As usual, both teams lost a lot of talent to the NBA Draft, the most important being Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid from the Jayhawks, but programs like this simply reload making their first season matchup a must-watch event.
The Jayhawks have played one game this season. They won by 10 points to UC Santa Barbara, but most of their big names only saw the court for a handful of minutes in preparation for this game against Kentucky. The Jayhawks have a lot of experience on the roster this season including forward Perry Ellis and Frank Mason III who both opted to return instead of heading to the draft. However, it is freshman like Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre that have people excited.
Kentucky might have the most depth entering the year. Aaron and Andrew Harrison highlight the starting five along with returning star Willie Cauley-Stein. The Wildcats are already 2-0 on the season after defeating Buffalo on Sunday. Through two games, Kentucky is averaging 78.0 points per game while grabbing 48 rebounds and putting up 17 blocks. Their depth and overall talent make them an easy pick for the preseason No. 1 team, but can john Calipari's group of youngsters carry it throughout the season without any real senior depth?
The matchup between Kansas and Kentucky features the two most winningest programs in NCAA history. They have combined for 30 Final Fours with a handful of championships among them. This will be the fourth meeting for Bill Self against Calipari. Self won the 2008 National Championship over Calipari, but the Wildcats defeated the Jayhawks in a Final Four. Kentucky is predicted to run away with this game in the second half, but the Jayhawks will keep things close considering their ranking.
