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 Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Defining moments from 2019-20 season

Champions Classic victory over Michigan State

As is often the case with Kentucky basketball, there were questions about how Calipari’s team would start the season. However, they answered the call early as they opened the season against No. 1-ranked Michigan State in the Champion’s Classic.

Behind a coming-out party for freshman Tyrese Maxey (26 points, five rebounds), the Wildcats were able to secure a gritty victory over the Spartans. And while Tom Izzo’s group ended up not being the juggernaut many believed them to be, it was a strong start for the Wildcats that seemingly answered any early-season questions.

November upset loss to Evansville

Just one week after silencing any early critics with the win over Sparty, Kentucky climbed to No. 1 the polls only to raise more questions than were present previously with a loss to Evansville, a team projected to finish near the bottom of the Missouri Valley Conference (which they did eventually, going 0-18 in the conference). It was all of the fears of Big Blue Nation come to life with one of the most shocking upset losses imaginable.

Overtime rivalry win over Louisville to cap off 2019

After the shocking defeat at the hands of the Purple Aces, Kentucky seemed as if they might’ve righted the ship as they won six consecutive games. But with two straight losses to Utah and Ohio State and December, they needed to find their footing. The fact that then-No. 3 ranked Louisville, the Wildcats’ biggest rival, was coming to town next made that much more difficult, however.

Kentucky was far from perfect against the Cardinals as they squandered an eight-point halftime lead as Louisville forced overtime. But the Wildcats rebounded, buoyed by a combined 45 points from Maxey (27) and Quickley (18), in overtime to pick up a crucial victory to set the tone as SEC play fastly approached.

Leap Day triumph over Auburn

Kentucky opened up conference play strong, even with a bad loss to South Carolina, as they went 7-1 in January. However, their chances in the SEC took a hit to start February as they lost by nine points at Auburn. That made the Feb. 29 rematch with the Tigers all the more critical. Luckily, the Wildcats handled business in that game, outlasting Auburn in a 73-66 victory that clinched the SEC regular-season title for Kentucky.