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SEC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2023-24 season

By Matt Melton

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: Mark Sears #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to scoring a three point basket against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first half during the finals of the 2023 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: Mark Sears #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to scoring a three point basket against the Texas A&M Aggies in the first half during the finals of the 2023 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images) /
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Kentucky Wildcats guard Antonio Reeves (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

5. Kentucky Wildcats

We begin the top five of our 2023-24 SEC basketball preseason power rankings at No. 5 with Kentucky, as the Wildcats enter year No. 15 under head coach John Calipari.

The Wildcats are coming off a strong season overall, as Kentucky finished last year with a 22-12 overall record, as well as a 12-6 mark in SEC play. This would also be Kentucky’s second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, as they reached the Round of 32.

As with every season, Kentucky will have to replace multiple names off a team that averaged 74.5 PPG, while also allowing 67.8 PPG to opponents, with no name bigger than that of former SEC and National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe, who averaged 16.5 PPG and 13.7 RPG a year ago. In addition to Tshiebwe, others have also moved on such as Jacob Toppin, Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston, CJ Fredrick, and Sahvir Wheeler, translating to six of Kentucky’s top seven scorers that will not be back this season.

Headlining the returning talent for Kentucky this season is the 2022-23 SEC Sixth Man of the Year in Antonio Reeves, who averaged 14.4 PPG a year ago, and will feature alongside a list of additions that includes the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for the 2023 cycle. Included in that group are four five-star freshmen in Justin Edwards, Aaron Bradshaw, DJ Wagner, and Rob Dillingham, along with the Wildcats also having added an experienced newcomer in West Virginia transfer Tre Mitchell.

The Wildcats will officially open their 2023-24 season at home November 6 against New Mexico State.

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