Kentucky Basketball: Biggest Lessons Learned in SEC Play so Far

Well, Kentucky basketball is living up to the hype and expectations that were set before the season started.

Currently sitting undefeated and 4-0 in conference play is exactly where many people thought the Wildcats would be as of January 20.

However, it's how Kentucky has gotten the 4-0 record that might be surprising. Opening up SEC play with a home overtime win against Ole Miss and a double-overtime road win over Texas A&M was not what Kentucky fans were hoping to see.

But, bouncing back last week with a 49-point victory and a 22-point win showed just how talented this team is.

While we've seen two close games and two blowouts, Kentucky fans have been able to learn from each game. Let's take a look at those lessons learned in SEC play so far.

This Team Enjoys Playing Together

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When Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison, Dakari Johnson, Alex Poythress, Marcus Lee and Willie Cauley-Stein all announced they were returning to school, many wondered how the chemistry would fit between those six veterans and four incoming McDonald's All-Americans. 

Well, we have our answer, and it's one that Kentucky fans had hoped for in the beginning of the season. These guys truly enjoy playing with each other and watching the success of their teammates. The Wildcats are currently 20th in the country in assists per game, averaging over 16 each time they step on the court.

There's balanced scoring, and outside of Aaron Harrison at Texas A&M, there has yet to be a game where someone just hogs the shooting.

There are currently five players with at least 105 field-goal attempts on the year—that doesn't include Karl-Anthony Towns, who is fourth on the team in scoring.

Opposing Fans Will Attend This Game

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If you tuned into Kentucky's road games against Texas A&M and Alabama, you noticed how the stands looked packed. That's because Kentucky will sell out every game on the road this season.

Alabama was 35th in the country last season in attendance, averaging 10,754 people per game at Coleman Coliseum. However, when the Wildcats came to town, attendance was up nearly 5,000, selling out the place that fits 15,383.

There are two reasons why Kentucky will continually play in front of sold-out crowds on the road.

The first is opposing fans want to see the Wildcats play in person. This is the most known basketball school in the SEC and arguably the best team in over 20 years in the conference. If there happens to be an upset, they want to say they saw their team defeat the Wildcats.

The second factor is Kentucky fans travel well. During a game, chants of "Go Big Blue" often break out. If you look at the picture above, there are pockets of blue shirts scattered throughout the crowd.

The Platoon System Works If Healthy

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When Alex Poythress went down with a torn ACL, there were questions about what Kentucky head coach John Calipari would do with the platoon system he was hellbent on keeping.

Well, he scratched it in favor of subbing four for five and leaving one player on the court. Following the double-overtime win at Texas A&M, Calipari went back to the traditional platoons. He inserted sophomore reserve Dominique Hawkins—known for helping shut down Nik Stauskas in the Elite Eight—into the starting five. 

This led to a 49-point victory against Missouri—a game that didn't feel that close. The harmony was there between the players, and you could see the new enthusiasm coming from the bench when they weren't on the floor. 

But now Hawkins is out with an undisclosed injury. He was forced to sit out the Alabama game, and it's unclear if he'll miss more time.

The one thing that is clear is without Hawkins or Poythress, the Wildcats can't stick with the platoon. Derek Willis doesn't have the talent to play in the platoon system, and the Wildcats are better off with just a nine-man rotation.

Devin Booker Has Emerged as MVP of the Team

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Willie Cauley-Stein is in the thick of the National Player of the Year race and deservedly so. However, it's been freshman Devin Booker who has been the MVP of Kentucky in SEC play.

In conference play, Booker is averaging 12.8 points per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and only turning the ball over once in four games.

On top of that, he's provided valuable defense, something we saw at the end of the Ole Miss game, when he forced bad shots by the Rebels due to his 6'6" size. 

For the first time since the 2012 season with Doron Lamb, Kentucky fans have a feeling every shot taken by Booker is automatic. He's provided a true threat from behind the arc, forcing opposing teams to honestly think twice about playing zone defense.