NBC tabs UK a preseason top-5 team and predicts starting lineup

The 2019-2020 Kentucky Wildcats are going to be yet another extremely talented team with a chance of winning it all.

With Ashton Hagans and Immanuel Quickley already announcing that they will be returning for a sophomore season, Cal is set to have one of his best backcourts we have seen in his time at Kentucky.

Not only will next year’s team have some experience on it, they are also adding some talented freshmen in Tyrese Maxey, Kahlil Whitney, Keion Brooks, and Dontaie Allen. On top of that, Cal went out and is bringing in another grad transfer in Nate Sestina.

A lot can change between now and the start of the 2019-20 season, but NBC Sports took the time to give an early ranking and predict the starting lineups.

In their rankings, the Wildcats came in at No. 3, just behind Michigan State and Michigan while being just ahead of Gonzaga and Virginia to finish out the top five.

However, with the potential of other returning players for next season, the starting lineup could go in many different directions, but as of right now, NBC expects the Cats’ starting sive will be Tyrese Maxey Ashton Hagans, Kahlil Whitney, Keion Brooks, and EJ Montgomery

We are still waiting on the final decision from Nick Richards on if he will enter the NBA Draft, and some big time recruits still have decisions to make. Montgomery is also testing the NBA waters, though he’s essentially said he’ll be back if he’s not a first-round pick.

With that being said, the starting lineup could change drastically between now and then, but if what they predict ends up being the lineup, then I think we should all be very excited for what this team can be capable of doing next season.