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NCAA basketball power rankings: Way-too-early college basketball Top 10 for 2021-2022

By Mike Phillips

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins defends a shot by Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 30: Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins defends a shot by Hunter Dickinson #1 of the Michigan Wolverines during the first half in the Elite Eight round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 30, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

9. NCAA Basketball Rankings: Kentucky Wildcats

Much like their blue-blood brothers at Duke, Kentucky suffered through a lost season and missed the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari (admittedly) put together a brutal non-conference schedule that his latest class of fabulous freshmen wasn’t prepared for, burying the Wildcats before SEC play even started.

The mix in Lexington simply wasn’t right from the jump but the good news with Calipari’s approach is that next year’s recruiting class offers more opportunity. While Brandon Boston, Isaiah Jackson and Terrence Clarke all are going pro, Kentucky does have a few key returning players to help the new class, especially Keion Brooks.

That class is loaded with talent as five-star center Damion Collins is set to be a force in the middle while four-star power forward Bryce Hopkins and four-star point guard Nolan Hickman should contribute right away. The recruiting class also has more star potential if the Wildcats can land another impact freshman such as Jaden Hardy, Baldwin or Keels.

The transfer portal should also pay dividends for Calipari, who has already secured a commitment from former Davidson star Kellen Grady to come to Kentucky as a grad transfer. The full offseason should also benefit the Wildcats, who look poised to return to prominence next season.