Kentucky Basketball: How Badly Do the Wildcats Need Noel and Muhammad?

Nerlens Noel and Shabazz Muhammad, the nation's top two recruits, will make their college decisions known Wednesday evening on ESPNU. Noel is considering Kentucky, Georgetown and Syracuse, while Muhammad is considering Kentucky, Duke and UCLA.

With both blue-chip recruits considering the reigning national champion Kentucky Wildcats, John Calipari will be sweating this one out. His Wildcats could potentially lose every major contributor from this year's title team.

In other words, the Wildcats need Muhammad and Noel in the worst way.

Kentucky currently has the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, according to Scout.com. Kentucky will bring in 5-star shooting guard Archie Goodwin, 5-star small forward Alex Poythress and 4-star center Willie Cauley.

These three players are all very talented, especially Goodwin and Poythress. 

However, they are not Muhammad or Noel.

Muhammad's commitment would nullify the pending loss of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Muhammad is a pure slasher with a ferocious dribble-drive game. He is a violent finisher around the rim with a developing perimeter game, he scores in bunches and always wants the ball in big situations.

Like Kidd-Gilchrist, Muhammad is a gym rat with a winning attitude. He does the little things and gets after it on both ends of the floor.

Bringing in Noel could soften the loss of Anthony Davis. Noel will not have Davis' immediate impact, but he is cut from the same cloth.

Noel's shot-blocking ability will translate right away. He has exceptional instincts and a long wingspan. His 6'10'' frame needs to fill out, but his raw ability is through the roof.

Noel's offensive repertoire is a work in progress, but the potential is there. He is an excellent athlete with the willingness to get better through hard work.

Repeating Kentucky's 2012 magic is unlikely, even if Muhammad and Noel decide to come to Lexington.

The 2012 squad bought into Calipari's system and poured their hearts out at both ends of the floor. Losing Kidd-Gilchrist, Davis and Terrence Jones seems inevitable at this point. Marquis Teague and Doron Lamb also could declare, and Darius Miller is graduating.

The 2013 Wildcats will need major production and leadership if they want to compete for another title, and Calipari will have a rough 2013 season without a commitment from at least one of these two stud prospects.