Kentucky Basketball: Wildcats' Keys to a Strong Regular-Season Finish

It's hard to believe there's just a month left in the regular season for Kentucky basketball. 

The Wildcats are still trending toward an undefeated regular season, but there have been plenty of close calls in conference play. If Kentucky wants to continue to be the most dominant team in the country, it needs to finish strong this last month.

Let's take a look at some keys to a strong regular-season finish. 

Get Trey Lyles Back

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Trey Lyles has missed the last two games due to an undisclosed illness. There's a chance he'll miss more time in the future, including the game at Florida this week. 

Kentucky needs Lyles back on the court, and quickly. First off, he provides a unique threat that no one else on the roster can for the Wildcats: He's a 6'10" small forward who is nearly automatic when it comes to the mid-range jumper. 

On top of that, the return of Lyles will let Kentucky head coach John Calipari return to a true platoon system. With the emergence of Dominique Hawkins in the starting five, Calipari can sub five-in and five-out, as he prefers to do this season. 

Kentucky is a better team when Lyles is healthy, and the Wildcats need him to be on the court for a strong finish. 

More Consistency from Andrew Harrison

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Andrew Harrison has plenty of talent. There's a reason he was a McDonald's All-American and rated as the best point guard in the class of 2013. However, many Kentucky basketball fans have felt let down by the 6'6" Texas native.

Then the Georgia game happened. Harrison filled up the stat sheet for 23 points, seven assists and just one turnover in 31 minutes of action. 

Harrison has found some consistency over the last two weeks. Whether it's his pairing with Tyler Ulis, which allows Harrison to play off the ball more, or just a matter of finding his groove, he has been a different type of player.

If he can continue to play this way, Kentucky will be even tougher to beat. His size allows him to finish at the rim better than most point guards, and if he's hitting outside shots, Harrison will be on the short list of best college point guards. 

Not Letting Teams Back in Games

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Yes, Kentucky has blown away some opponents, most notably UCLA and Missouri. But there have been too many close calls, especially the recent one against Georgia.

The Wildcats were up 18 points on Georgia in Rupp Arena. The Bulldogs were also missing their best player in Marcus Thornton. However, Georgia was able to make a run and keep the game too close for comfort. 

The Wildcats cannot be satisfied when up double digits. Sure, they can roll through the SEC against weaker talent, but in the NCAA Tournament a team can take advantage of that. If Calipari can get his team to continue to hold down the gas pedal, the regular season will be a cakewalk.