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The Kentucky Wildcats have exceeded most experts (outside of the state of Kentucky) predictions for performance during the 2009-10 NCAA basketball season, as Coach Cal has relied upon starting 3 freshmen most of the season. Kentucky’s three star freshmen, John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, and DeMarcus Cousins have started most of the season along with Patrick Patterson, and Darius Miller. Darnell Dodson has started at times in place of Miller and once for Eric Bledsoe. The following are the starters averages through the Sweet 16 of the 2010 NCAA Tournament for the 2009-10 Kentucky Wildcats basketball team.

2010 Kentucky Wildcats Basketball Starting Lineup

2010 Kentucky Wildcats Starter – Point Guard – John Wall

John Wall was named the NCAA freshman of the year, SEC player of the year, SEC Freshman of the year, and to the first team all-SEC Team this season. Wall is averaging 16.6 ppg and 6.6 apg on the season. During the NCAA Tournament his scoring has been down a tad averaging 13 points a game but his assists per game have increased to just under 9 apg. He may lose the 2010 Naismith Award to Ohio State’s Evan Turner (just due to the number of future NBA players on Kentucky’s squad that results in a depression of his per game numbers), but Wall has been a consensus #1 pick in the 2010 NBA draft for the majority of the 2009-10 NCAA basketball season.

2010 Kentucky Wildcats Projected – Power Forward – Patrick Patterson

Patterson bypassed the 2009 NBA draft although he was projected to be a first round pick. He came back to improve his outside game, finish his degree, and to finally participate in a NCAA Tournament. Patterson has accomplished all of the above. He has been the team leader of the Wildcats this season with being the only junior starter. Patterson’s scoring and rebounds are down a tad this season at 14.5 ppg and 7.3 rpg, but he has demonstrated an ability to hit from 3 this year as well as to guard players on the wing. Patterson is currently projected to be a first round/low lottery pick in the 2010 NBA draft. Patterson was named to the first team All SEC Team and to the SEC all-defensive team this season.

2010 Kentucky Wildcats Projected Starter – Center – DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins has not disappointed this season. He was named to the first team All SEC team and the All Frshmen team. For the season to date, he has averaged just under a double-double at 15.1 ppg and 9.9 rpg. He also gets just under 2 blocks a game, and he does all this with only playing 23.4 minutes per game. Cousins play his freshman year has been likened to former SEC big man, Shaq. With his improvement in play this season, Cousins has improved his draft odds on most 2010 NBA mock drafts to a high lottery pick.

2010 Kentucky Wildcats Starter – Small Forward/Wing Guard – Darius Miller

Darius Miller has had ups and downs this season. When he has been hot, the Wildcats have been almost unbeatable. As Miller continues to improve, look for him to be one of the leaders on the 2010-11 Wildcats roster. For the 2009-10 season, he has averaged 6.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, and 1.6 apg while shooting 35% from 3. He had a career high of 20 points against Wake Forest in the 2^nd round of the 2010 NCAA tournament and has scored in double figures 7 times this season.

2010 Kentucky Wildcats Starter – Shooting Guard – Eric Bledsoe

Bledsoe gets lost in the press a bit due to playing with Cousins and Wall, but when he’s been hot, he has been almost unstoppable. He averages 11.4 ppg this season with shooting just under 40% from 3, and gets just under 3 assists per game and 1.4 steals a game. Bledsoe was named to the 2010 All SEC Freshman team. Bledsoe has started showing up in some 2010 NBA mock drafts, but its unknown whether he will declare in 2010 or return for his sophomore season to improve his draft status as the primary point guard for the Wildcats.

2010 Kentucky Wildcats Starting Line-Up:

PG: John Wall

SG: Eric Bledsoe

SF: Darius Miller

PF: Patrick Patterson

C: DeMarcus Cousins

Haven’t seen the John Wall Dance? We’ve collected some of the John Wall dance videos on the web for you to check out.

The Kentucky Wildcats have returned to prominence faster than most would have thought after the hiring of Coach John Calipari last spring being awarded the #1 seed in the NCAA East region. The Wildcats finished the season, 32-2, and 14-2 in SEC regular season play winning the SEC regular and conference tournaments. The Wildcats only two losses were on the road at South Carolina, 68-62, and at Tennessee 74-65. Kentucky would split the regular season matchup with South Carolina and won 2 of 3 against Tennessee. Coach Calipari is 25-11 in 11 NCAA Tournament appearances.

Coach Cal started his tenure at Kentucky going 19-0 before the Wildcats suffered their first loss. Loaded with the nation’s #1 recruiting class and PF Patrick Patterson, Kentucky has demonstrated that they have one of the most talent laden teams in college basketball. The Wildcats top three freshmen get the most press with John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Eric Bledsoe all averaging double figures in points to go with Patterson’s 15 point per game and 7+ rebounds per game averages. The Wildcats have ranked in the top ten in rebounding margin and blocked shots per game this season.

Star guard John Wall is projected to be the #1 NBA draft pick in the 2010 NBA draft and is averaging 17 ppg and 6.4 apg. He is complimented by guard Eric Beldsoe who averages 10.8 ppg and 3.0 apg but is capable of 20+ ppg when he gets hot. DeMarcus Cousins is averaging a double-double on the year at 15.4 ppg and 10.2 rpg and 1.8 bpg. Darius Miller and Darnell Dodson have started to split time starting on the wing. Each averages around 6 ppg, and each is capable of 20+ points when they get hot from 3. Other key reserves include forward Daniel Orton in the paint and DeAndre Liggins at the 2 or 3 guard position.

On the season, Kentucky averages 79.7 ppg and gives up 65.6 ppg. They shoot just under 48 percent from the floor while holding opponents to 38.3 %. Kentucky hits 6 3′s a game and averages 34.9% from beyond the arc, however, they go through hot and cold spells with the 3 ball. When they are on, the games have resulted in blow-outs. When they are not, the Cats rely on rebounding and defense to makeup the difference. At times this season, Kentucky has been turnover prone with having just at a 1.0 assist to turnover margin on the year. As a team, they are a bit better than Coach Cal’s 2008 NCAA runner-up team at Memphis shooting 68.3 % from the free throw line.

After the first round, Kentucky will face either Texas or Wake Forest in the 2^nd round. Talent-wise, they should make the 2010 Final Four, but will need to emphasize defense and rebounding to overcome their tendency to slump at the 3 point shot in the tourney.

One more afternoon of basketball, and we’ll be all set for the CBS Selection Sunday show and the announcement of the 2010 NCAA Tournament bracket. We saw the West Virginia Mountaineers win their first Big East Tournament, Washington avoid any more NCAA bubble talk with a win over Cal in the PAC 10 final, and Houston become a surprise Tourney team with an upset of UTEP in the Conference USA final today.

Other notables on Championship Saturday include Minnesota’s trouncing of Perdue in the Big Ten semifinals, Kentucky handing Tennessee its worse loss in Bruce Pearl’s tenure, and the Jayhawks roll in the Big 12 final on their way to what many expect to be an overall #1 seed in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

Other Notable Saturday Tourney News:

- Ohio defeated defending champion, Akron to win the MAC in OT, 81-75

- SDSU defeated UNLV to win the MWC and give the conference a probable 4 NCAA Tournament teams

- Arkansas Pine Blue defeated Texas Southern to win the SWAC and their first-ever NCAA Tourney appearance.

- Vermont defeated Boston University to take the America East Crown.

- UC Santa Barbara defeated Long Beach State to win the Big West and make their first NCAA Tournament since 2002.

- New Mexico State upset Utah State to win the WAC.

- Sam Houston State defeated Stephen F. Austin to win the Southland Conference title.

2010 Conference Tournament Results

2010 ACC Basketball Tournament

Duke takes on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the ACC Tournament championship. If Duke wins the game, they will likely obtain a #1 seed for the 2010 NCAA Tournament. If they lose the championship game, then West Virginia or potentially Ohio State (if they win today) could get the #1 seed. The other 3 #1 seeds (Kansas, Kentucky, and Syracuse) are considered locks.

2010 Big Ten Basketball Tournament

Minnesota is likely in the 2010 NCAA Tournament, but with the number of upsets that occurred on Saturday in the mid-majors, they will need a win over the Ohio State Buckeyes to feel comfortable about their chances for getting into the tourney. If Ohio State wins and Duke loses, they could find themselves as a potential #1 seed in the tourney.

2010 SEC Basketball Tournament

Mississippi State needs to upset Kentucky to be assured of a spot in the 2010 NCAA Tourney. They gained a lot of ground with their win over Vanderbilt on Saturday, but the at-large field could be too large now with Washington defeating Cal in the PAC-10 championship and Houston upsetting UTEP in the Conference USA Tournament for State to be a lock for the tourney without a win.

2010 Bracketology Bubble

Last Four In
Georgia Tech, Mississippi State , Minnesota, Wake Forest

First Four Out
Illinois, Memphis, Ole Miss, Florida

Next Four Out
South Florida, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Arizona State University

2010 Bracketology Seeds

#1 Seeds
Kansas, Syracuse, Kentucky, Duke

#2 Seeds
Kansas State, Ohio State, West Virginia, Temple,

#3 Seeds
Michigan State, Purdue, New Mexico, Butler

#4 Seeds
Wisconsin, Villanova, Baylor, Tennessee

#5 Seeds

Gonzaga, Maryland, Georgetown, Pittsburgh,

#6 Seeds
Texas A&M, Xavier, BYU, Vanderbilt

#7 Seeds
Richmond, Oklahoma State, Florida State, Virginia Tech

#8 Seeds
Missouri, Marquette, Notre Dame, Northern Iowa

#9 Seeds
California, Wake Forest, Louisville, Mississippi State

#10 Seeds
UNLV, UTEP, Georgia Tech, San Diego State

#11 Seeds
Old Dominion, Utah State, St. Mary’s, Washington

#12 Seeds
Minnesota, Siena, Cornell, Texas

#13 Seeds
Murray State, Houston, Oakland, Clemson

#14 Seeds
Montana, Ohio, Wofford, UC-Santa Barbara,

#15 Seeds
Morgan State, Sam Houston State, East Tennessee State, North Texas

#16 Seeds
Lehigh, Vermont, Winthrop, Arkansas-Pine Bluff(Play-In Game), Robert Morris (Play-In Game)

2010 Bracketology by Conference

Big East (8), Big 12 (7), ACC (7), Big Ten (6), SEC (4), A-10 (3), MWC (4), WCC (2), PAC 10 (2), Conference USA (2), WAC (2)

2010 Conference Tournament TV Schedule

2010 Conference Tournament Schedules

America East – Vermont (Clinched Tourney Bid)
ACC – Duke, Maryland, Wake Forest, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech
Atlantic Sun – East Tennessee State (Clinched Tourney Bid)
A-10 – Temple, Xavier, Richmond
Big East – Syracuse, Georgetown, Marquette, Louisville,Villanova, West Virginia (Clinched Tourney Bid), Pittsburgh, Notre Dame
Big Sky – Montana (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Big South – Winthrop (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Big Ten – Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota
Big XII – Kansas (Clinched Tourney Bid), Baylor, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas
Big West – UC-Santa Barbara (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Colonial – Old Dominion (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Conference USA – UTEP, Houston (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Horizon – Butler (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Ivy – Cornell (Clinched Tourney Bid)
MAAC – Siena (Clinched Tourney Bid)
MAC – Ohio (Clinched Tourney Bid)
MEAC – Morgan State (Clinched Tourney Bid)
MVC – Northern Iowa (Clinched Tourney Bid)
MWC – BYU, New Mexico, UNLV, San Diego State (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Northeast – Robert Morris (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Ohio Valley – Murray State (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Pac-10 – California, Washington (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Patriot – Lehigh (Clinched Tourney Bid)
SEC – Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State
Southern – Wofford (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Southland – Sam Houston State (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Summit – Oakland (Clinched Tourney Bid)
Sun Belt – North Texas (Clinched Tourney Bid)
SWAC – Arkansas Pine Bluff (Clinched Tourney Bid)
WAC – New Mexico State (Clinched Tourney Bid), Utah State
WCC – Gonzaga, St. Mary’s (Clinched Tourney Bid)

March 13^th Bracketology

March 9^th Bracketology

March 6^th Bracketology

March 5^th Bracketology

Preseason Bracketology

March 1^st Bracketology

March Madness Predictions: Bracket Tips