Get to Know the Ku Basketball Roster for the Upcoming Season
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The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team is looking to add another championship to their already impressive resume. Get to know the team’s roster for the upcoming season
2019-20 Roster
Melanie Stokes is in her first year as the Head Coach of the Kentucky women’s Basketball team Coach Stokes came to UK from Mississippi State where she was the head coach for six seasons. During her time at MSU, she led the Bulldogs to four NCAA tournament appearances, two Women’s National Invitation Tournament appearances and one WBI appearance. Prior to her time at MSU, she served as an Assistant Coach at LSU, Tulane, South Carolina and Charleston.
The 2019-20 Kentucky women’s basketball roster is comprised of 12 players, including 10 returners and two newcomers. The returning group is led by seniors Ogechi Anyagaligbo and Jaida Roper, who are both looking to make an impact in their final season with the Wildcats.
Rounding out the senior class are Taylor Murray and Maci Morris. Murray, a guard from Duluth, Georgia, is coming off a junior season in which she averaged 11.2 points per game and shot 40 percent from three-point range Morris, a forward from Bell County, Kentucky, is a two-time All-SEC honoree who averaged 13.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season.
The junior class is anchored by Keyla Snowden, who is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign in which she averaged 9.1 points and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 41 percent from three-point range. Also returning for the Wildcats are Abigail Meffert, Dorie Harrison Baton Rouge – Head Coach Nikki Fargas announced today that assistant coach Lisa Stockton has been named Director of basketball operations for the LSU women’s basketball team effective immediately. Stockton just completed her 25th season as Head coach at Tulane University after announcing her retirement last month… Lauren Moses. This group will be joined by transfer Batouly Camara (Connecticut) and freshman Rhyne Howard (Cleveland State).
The Wildcats will look to make their 32nd NCAA Tournament appearance in school history this season and their first since 2015-16 when they take the court in 2019-20
New Additions
The Kentucky Wildcats men’s Basketball team is gearing up for another season, and fans are eager to see how the team will perform. This year, the roster includes several new additions. Here’s a look at the new players who will be suiting up for the Wildcats this season.
Freshman guard Devin Askew is one of the most highly anticipated recruits in Kentucky’s recruiting class The 6-foot-3 Los Angeles native is a five-star recruit according to ESPN and was ranked as the No. 17 overall player in the 2020 class. He’s known for his defensive prowess and his ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc.
Another freshman guard, Cam’Ron Fletcher, is also expected to make an impact this season. The 6-foot-6 St. Louis native was a four-star recruit according to ESPN and was ranked as the No. 48 overall player in the 2020 class. He’s known for his athleticism and his ability to score in a variety of ways.
Forward Lance Ware is a transfer from Rutgers who will be eligible to play this season after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. The 6-foot-9 New Jersey native averaged 8.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Rutgers before deciding to transfer to Kentucky. He’s expected to provide some much-needed frontcourt depth for the Wildcats this season.
Kentucky will also have some experience in the backcourt with returners such as Immanuel Quickley, Ashton Hagans, and Tyler Herro leading the way. Quickley was Kentucky’s leading scorer last season, averaging 16 points per game while Hagans led the team in assists with 5.2 per game. Herro was Kentucky’s third-leading scorer last season, averaging 14 points per game while shooting nearly 41 percent from three-point range.
Key Departures
The Ku Basketball Roster for the upcoming season is loaded with talent, but there are a few key departures that will need to be replaced. among them, Devonte’ Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk were both four-year starters who played pivotal roles in the team’s success. Their contributions will be missed, but there are plenty of talented young players ready to step up and fill the void.
Here’s a look at the key departures and who will be expected to fill their shoes:
-Devonte’ Graham: The departure of Graham leaves a big void in the backcourt. He was not only a four-year starter, but he was also one of the best scorers in school history. His replacement will be junior Marcus Garrett, who averaged 5.9 points per game last season.
-Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk: Mykhailiuk was another four-year starter who played a vital role in the team’s success. He was a sharpshooter from beyond the arc and his contributions will be missed. His replacement will be freshman Quentin Grimes who is one of the top recruits in the country.
-Mitch Lightfoot: Lightfoot was a key reserve for the Jayhawks last season and his departure leaves a big hole in the frontcourt. His replacement will be sophomore Silvio De Sousa, who averaged 2.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last season.
Returning Players
The upcoming college Basketball season promises to be an exciting one, and the Kentucky Wildcats will be looking to make noise after a strong showing last year. Here’s a closer look at the roster of returning players who will be suiting up for the Wildcats this season.
Forward PJ Washington returns for his junior season after declaring for the NBA draft but opting to return to Kentucky. Washington is a versatile player who can score inside and out, and he will be counted on to be a leader for this team. Forward Reid Travis also returns for his senior season and he will provide a steadying presence in the post. Travis is a physical player who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work, and he will be a key piece in Kentucky’s quest for a championship.
In the backcourt, guard Tyler Herro returns for his sophomore season after an impressive freshman campaign. Herro is a sharpshooter who can also put the ball on the floor and create his own shot, and he will be counted on to provide scoring punch for the Wildcats. Guard Immanuel Quickley also returns for his sophomore season and he will look to build on an up-and-down freshman year. Quickley is a talented scorer who has unlimited potential, and he will be looked to as someone who can take Kentucky over the top this season.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Bill Self
Associate head coach Kurtis Townsend
Assistant Coaches: Norm Roberts and Jerrance Howard
Schedule
The 2019-2020 men’s college basketball season will be here before you know it, and the Kentucky Wildcats will be looking to make another run at a National Championship head coach John Calipari has put together another talented roster, and the team will have its sights set on winning it all in 2020. Here is a look at the Ku Basketball Schedule for the upcoming season
Rivalries
rivals, Kansas Jayhawks ku basketball, Kansas State Wildcats, missouri tigers
The Kansas Jayhawks have some historic rivals, chief among them the Kansas State Wildcats the Missouri Tigers and, to a lesser extent, the Iowa State Cyclones.
The Jayhawks and Wildcats have been playing each other since 1902 and is one of the oldest rivalries in college basketball The two teams have met every year since 1909 and there have been some memorable games between them over the years.
Kansas and Missouri have also been playing each other since 1902, although their annual meeting was discontinued after Missouri left the Big 12 Conference in 2012. The two teams met again in 2017 for the first time in five years and the game was electric.
Iowa State joined the rivalry in 1925 when they began competing against Kansas in basketball. The Cyclones are another team with a history of upsets against the Jayhawks.
Championships
The University of Kentucky men’s basketball team is the winningest NCAA Division I Basketball Program in history. The Wildcats have won 2,293 games, 31 conference championships 51 Eastern Conference tournament championships, and 138 NCAA tournament games. Kentucky has played in 57 NCAA tournaments (second-most all-time), 26 Final Fours (third-most all-time), and 15 NCAA championship games (second-most all-time). The Wildcats have been to more NCAA tournaments than any other team in NCAA history.
The team has also been regular season conference champions 42 times and conference tournament champions 34 times. UK owns the two longest winning streaks in NCAA Division I history with 129 consecutive wins from 2015 to 2018 (ended by an overtime loss to UCLA) and 154 consecutive wins from 2014 to 2017 (ended by a loss to Indiana). The Wildcats set an NCAA Division I record with 38 consecutive wins at home from 2015 to 2018. The team’s current head coach is John Calipari
History
The Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team is an American college basketball team that represents the University of Kentucky Kentucky is the most successful NCAA Division I Basketball Program in history in terms of both all-time wins (2,263) and all-time winning percentage (.764). The Wildcats are currently coached by John Calipari
Kentucky has played in 37 NCAA Division I Men’s basketball championships second only to UCLA’s record of 11 national titles. UK has also made 24 Final Fours (tied for 3rd most all-time), 12 National Championship game appearances (tied for 2nd most all-time), and 7 NCAA championship wins (tied for 2nd most all-time behind only UCLA’s 11). Furthermore, UK is second only to UCLA in total NCAA tournament wins with 142.
The Wildcats have also been very successful in recent years making the Final Four four times in the last twenty years, winning the National Championship twice (in 1996 and 1998), and appearing in the title game six times since 1992.
Fans
As the college basketball season rapidly approaches, it’s time to start getting to know the Ku Basketball Roster This year’s team is full of talented young players who are sure to make an impact on the court. Here’s a look at some of the standout players fans can expect to see in action this season: