Jodie Meeks' Departure Could Hurt Kentucky Worse Than Expected

While the college basketball world is still gushing over this new group of Wildcats, they're mistakenly writing off another one of Kentucky's biggest changes.

Despite the fact that Jodie Meeks will remain in the NBA draft, experts, analysts, and fans all have this Kentucky team going to the Final Four. While the potential and talent is still there, the Wildcats' Final Four chances took a real hit.

This group comes in with all the potential and talent in the world, but they'll have to do more than just possess talent. Meeks gave the Cats an experienced scorer, tried and true against the SEC's best. His free throw shooting will be missed in close games—just ask coach John Calipari.

While this group can undoubtedly score, finding that consistency won't be as easy as sticking three first-year players into the lineup. With a much more skilled group, Meeks would have been one of the deadliest three-point shooters in the nation. Now, this new group will have to prove they can consistently hit from downtown. 

That Meeks was so good last year with such an offensively challenged team spoke volumes about his scoring prowess. With this new group taking attention away from him, he was poised to take this team as far as it could go. Now, they'll have to look to a new leader.

As the best returning player from last year, Patrick Patterson will step into that role by default. How he embraces that responsibility and pressure may ultimately decide just how far this Kentucky group goes.

Still, Patterson can't do it alone. These new kids will have to deliver, and fast.

While there is no doubt this team is tourney-bound, anything less than a trip to Indianapolis will be considered a disappointment. These fans won't be satisfied with a "good" season.  For Kentucky and its fans to reach their dream destination, a new Jodie Meeks will have to emerge.