The college basketball season is finally underway, and there are any number of sets of rankings that people use to try and rank the team. On Thursday, ESPN analyst Jay Bilas released “The Bilas Index” with his thoughts on the subject.
Kentucky basketball just made the top 25 in the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25. However, Bilas likes the Wildcats a bit more. He has them as the number 15 team overall.
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Bilas points out the influence of Mark Pope as a big reason for their ranking, as well as their experience:
(Mark) Pope is an offensive genius, and there will be 3s raining down in Rupp all season. Pope is a positive influence and thinker, but he does not have a superstar or surefire NBA draft pick on this completely new roster. What he has is loads of very good, very skilled players who can shoot the ball, and that will be nothing but fun.
Bilas specifically pointed out the shooting ability of Jaxson Robinson and Koby Brea, while lauding Otega Oweh as a defender. He had plenty to good to say about this year’s Wildcats, and clearly thinks highly of their potential.