Kentucky’s 2023-24 men’s basketball roster is officially set and with that, the Wildcats can be evaluated as a complete roster.
Zvonimir Ivisic, a 7-foot-2 versatile big man from Croatia, was the final piece to the puzzle, signing with the Wildcats earlier this week.
While the college basketball season is still three months away, fans and media got a Kentucky preview when the Wildcats went 4-0 at GLOBL Jam in Toronto this summer, taking home a gold medal.
Related: What Kentucky’s non-conference schedule looks like today
Related: Calipari on Ivisic: “He is an elite shot blocker”
The unblemished trip was a success but there are still questions surrounding the Wildcats entering the season, primarily the health of the frontcourt. Ugonna Onyenso and Aaron Bradshaw are both recovering from foot surgery due to injuries they suffered during the off-season.
But the addition of Ivisic and West Virginia transfer Tre Mitchell gives John Calipari options while Oneyenso and Bradshaw continue to work their way back before the start of the season.
When it comes to preseason rankings, the Wildcats are all over the place. Some members of the national media are high on Kentucky while others are not so much.
ESPN’s Dick Vitale released his preseason rankings last week, where he ranked Kentucky No. 13, the second-highest-ranked team from the SEC trailing Tennessee at No. 10.
“I want to see what John Calipari does with another youthful squad that includes two of the four highest-ranked newcomers in Justin Edwards and D.J. Wagner, to go along with three others ranked in the top 40,” Vitale wrote in his post to ESPN.com.
Related: John Calipari Officially Announces the Addition of Zvonimir Ivisic
In addition to Tennessee and Kentucky, Vitale included Arkansas (14) and Texas A&M (17) as ranked teams from the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky opponents Kansas (1), Gonzaga (9), North Carolina (15), and Miami (16), are also listed in Vitale’s preseason projections.
Below are the Top 10 teams in Vitale’s rankings. You can check out Vitale’s entire Top 25 by clicking here.
1. Kansas Jayhawks
2. Duke Blue Devils
3. Purdue Boilermakers
4. Michigan State Spartans
5. UConn Huskies
6. Marquette Golden Eagles
7. Houston Cougars
8. Creighton Bluejays
9. Gonzaga Bulldogs
10. Tennessee Volunteers
