Kentucky basketball: 2019-20 season review and 2020-2021 early preview

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 25: Guard Ashton Hagans #0 and head coach John Calipari of the Kentucky Wildcats during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on January 25, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

Top players from 2019-20 season

Immanuel Quickley

The SEC Player of the Year, there’s little question who Kentucky’s MVP this past season was as Immanuel Quickley took up the mantle and thrived in Lexington. He took a tremendous step forward from his freshman to sophomore season and was the most consistent force for Calipari.

While he was third on the team in minutes, Quickley averaged a team-high 16.1 points along with 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 42.8 percent from 3-point range. But more than that, the guard’s ability to show up every night was immensely important as he scored in double figures in the final 20 games of the year.

Tyrese Maxey

Maxey’s arrival in Calipari’s program was highly touted as the freshman was expected to have a big impact. And he showed right away in the Champions Classic with a 27-point outburst that was indeed going to be the case.

On the whole, Maxey averaged 14.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while often taking over as a playmaker. The only thing holding him back, however, was efficiency and consistency. He shot under 30 percent from long-range and went through bouts of struggling to find his rhythm. But when he was locked in, the argument could be made no one on the roster was better than Maxey.

Nick Richards

There’s no question Kentucky was a guard-dominant team in the 2019-20 season, meaning they derived the bulk of their success from their backcourt player. Having said that, junior forward Richards was the unsung hero, putting up 14.0 points (second on the team), 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game while shooting just shy of 65 percent from the floor. His efficiency and all-around contributions were key for the Wildcats being able to compete with anyone.

Ashton Hagans

Every piece of the puzzle in Lexington was key but Ashton Hagans was the straw that stirred the drink. While he was only fourth on the team in scoring at 11.5 points per game, he led Kentucky in assists at 6.4 per game while also posting 3.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.

Hagans was not a particularly efficient scorer nor an elite-level passer. However, he proved capable in both areas while also establishing himself as a top-tier perimeter defender in college basketball. He took an indefinite leave of absence for the final game of the regular season but, had he returned, he’d have been the driving force for the Wildcats.