Kentucky can actually shoot this season
This could change everything for a program coming off back-to-back shocking results, with a 9-16 2020-21 campaign followed by a loss to Saint Peter's Peacocks in the first round of last season's NCAA tournament as a 2-seed.Kentucky has shot below 35% from 3 for three consecutive seasons. But in Monday's lopsided 95-63 win against Howard, Illinois State transfer Antonio Reeves (6-for-12) and CJ Fredrick (2-for-5), who sat out last season due to injury, helped the Wildcats finish with a 46% clip from the 3-point line. Jacob Toppin continues to improve, while five-star recruits Chris Livingstonand Cason Wallace look ready to contribute early. If Kentucky gets healthy (it was without Tshiebwe, Wheeler and Daimion Collins on Monday) and stays hot from beyond the arc, the Wildcats could evolve into America's most challenging matchup.
"It's hard to play us zone," Kentucky coach John Calipari said after Monday's win. "When you have an Oscar, he's going to go and grab these balls we're not getting." -- Medcalf
Overreactions, takeaways and observations from Day 1 of the 2022-23 men's college basketball season
Jon Scheyer and Kyle Neptune won in their debuts, Nick Smith Jr. and Dereck Lively II missed theirs, Baylor set a record -- and we're just getting started.
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