2020–21 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
s
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record9–16 (8–9 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaRupp Arena
2020–21 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 5 Alabama†16–2 .88926–7  .788
No. 10 Arkansas13–4 .76525–7  .781
LSU11–6 .64719–10  .655
Tennessee10–7 .58818–9  .667
Florida9–7 .56315–10  .600
Ole Miss10–8 .55616–12  .571
Missouri8–8 .50016–10  .615
Kentucky8–9 .4719–16  .360
Mississippi State8–10 .44418–15  .545
Georgia7–11 .38914–12  .538
Auburn*7–11 .38913–14  .481
South Carolina4–12 .2506–15  .286
Texas A&M2–8 .2008–10  .444
Vanderbilt3–13 .1889–16  .360
† 2021 SEC tournament winner
* Ineligible for postseason due to self-imposed postseason ban.

The 2020–21 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team represented the University of Kentucky in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Lexington, Kentucky, for the 45th consecutive season at Rupp Arena, with a capacity of 20,545. The Wildcats were led by John Calipari in his 12th season as head coach and play in the Southeastern Conference.

The Wildcats season was marred by inconsistent stretches. Its worst season since 1988–89, the team also suffered its worst winning percentage since the 1926–27 season. The Wildcats got off to an ugly 1–6 start (the worst since 1911) and never recovered. They finished the season with a 9–16 overall record and 8–9 in conference for 8th place. Their season came to an end when they lost to Mississippi State 74–73, ending their year also not participating in the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2012–13 season.

The season also marked the worst season that John Calipari had coached since 1988–89, when he was in his first season as head coach of Massachusetts.

Previous season

The Wildcats finished the season 25–6, 15–3 in SEC play to win the SEC regular season championship. They were set to be the No. 1 seed in the SEC tournament with a bye to the quarterfinals. However, the SEC Tournament was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] Kentucky was announced as the league's champion following the cancellation of the tournament and, therefore, received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.[2] However, shortly thereafter, the NCAA Tournament was also canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[3]

Offseason

Coaching changes

Departures

Name Position Year at
Kentucky		 Alma mater (year) Reason for departure
Kenny Payne Associate head coach 11th Louisville (1989) Hired as assistant by the New York Knicks[4]

Additions to staff

Name Position Year at
Kentucky		 Alma mater (year) Previous Team
Bruiser Flint Assistant coach 1st Saint Joseph's (1987) Indiana
Jai Lucas Assistant coach/Recruiting Coordinator 1st Texas (2011) Texas

Player departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason left
Ashton Hagans0Guard6'3"198SophomoreCovington, GeorgiaDeclared for the 2020 NBA draft
Tyrese Maxey3Guard6'3"198FreshmanGarland, TexasDeclared for the 2020 NBA draft; selected 21st overall by the Philadelphia 76ers
Immanuel Quickley5Guard6'3"188SophomoreHavre de Grace, MarylandDeclared for the 2020 NBA draft; selected 25th overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder
Kahlil Whitney2Guard6'6"190FreshmanRoselle, New JerseyLeft team at midseason and later declared for the 2020 NBA draft
Johnny Juzang10Guard6'7"214FreshmanLos Angeles, CaliforniaTransferred to UCLA
Nate Sestina1Forward6'9"234Graduate StudentEmporium, PennsylvaniaCompleted athletic eligibility; graduated from Bucknell in 2019
E. J. Montgomery23Forward6'10"228SophomoreMarietta, GeorgiaDeclared for the 2020 NBA draft
Nick Richards4Forward6'11"247 JuniorKingston, JamaicaDeclared for the 2020 NBA draft; selected 42nd overall by the New Orleans Pelicans

2020 recruiting class

On July 27, 2019, Brandon Boston Jr. committed to play basketball for the University of Kentucky over offers from Florida and Duke. Boston was the first commitment to the 2020 recruiting class, and the #2 ranked shooting guard in the 2020 class by 247 sports.

Cam'Ron Fletcher, from St. Louis, Missouri, was the second commitment in the Kentucky 2020 recruiting class. He committed to Kentucky on August 4, 2019, and chose Kentucky over Michigan State.[5] He is a consensus four-star player by the four main recruiting services and is ranked #36 overall by 24/7 Sports.

Power forward Lance Ware, from Camden, New Jersey, was the third commitment in the Kentucky 2020 recruiting class. He committed to Kentucky on September 12, 2019, and chose Kentucky over Ohio State. He is a consensus four-star player by the four main recruiting services and is ranked #32 overall by Rivals.

Two days later, on September 14, 2019, SF Terrence Clarke from Brewster Academy pledged to Kentucky. Clarke is one of the most highly regarded prospects in the 2020 class, with most services ranking him among the top five players overall.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Brandon Boston Jr.
SG		 Norcross, GA Sierra Canyon (CA) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jul 27, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 96
Cam'Ron Fletcher
SF		 St. Louis, MO Vashon (MO) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Aug 4, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 83
Lance Ware
PF		 Camden, NJ Camden (NJ) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Sep 12, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 87
Terrence Clarke
SG		 Boston, MA Brewster Academy (NH) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Sep 14, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 95
Devin Askew
PG		 Sacramento, CA Mater Dei (CA) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Oct 17, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 91
Isaiah Jackson
PF		 Pontiac, MI Waterford Mott (MI) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Nov 16, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:5/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 89
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 1st  247Sports: 1st  ESPN: 1st
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Kentucky 2020 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com.
  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

Incoming transfers

Preseason

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Jacob Toppin0F6'9"194SophomoreBrooklyn, NYRhode Island
Davion Mintz10G6'3"196Graduate StudentCharlotte, NCCreighton
Olivier Sarr30C7'0"237SeniorToulouse, FranceWake Forest

In-season

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious SchoolYears EligibleDate Eligible
Oscar Tshiebwe34C6'9"260SophomoreLubumbashi, DR CongoWest Virginia3[lower-alpha 1]October 1, 2021
  1. ↑ Due to a special NCAA ruling, the 2020–21 season does not count against the eligibility of players in all NCAA winter sports, including basketball.

Roster

2020–21 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
F 0 Jacob Toppin 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)194 lb (88 kg) SoRhode Island Brooklyn, NY
G 2 Devin Askew 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)198 lb (90 kg) FrMater Dei Sacramento, CA
G 3 Brandon Boston Jr. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)185 lb (84 kg) FrSierra Canyon Norcross, GA
G 5 Terrence Clarke 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)194 lb (88 kg) FrBrewster Academy Boston, MA
G 10 Davion Mintz 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)196 lb (89 kg) GSCreighton Charlotte, NC
G 11 Dontaie Allen 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)198 lb (90 kg) RS FrPendleton County Falmouth, KY
F 12 Keion Brooks Jr. 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)205 lb (93 kg) SoLa Lumiere School Fort Wayne, IN
G 13 Riley Welch (W) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg) SrUC Irvine Littleton, CO
F 14 Brennan Canada (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)198 lb (90 kg) SoGeorge Rogers Clark Mount Sterling, KY
G/F 20 Zan Payne (W) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)215 lb (98 kg) RS SoLexington Catholic Lexington, KY
F 21 Cam'Ron Fletcher 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)215 lb (98 kg) FrVashon St. Louis, MO
F 23 Isaiah Jackson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)206 lb (93 kg) FrWaterford Mott Pontiac, MI
G 25 Kareem Watkins (W) 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)145 lb (66 kg) FrKingsway Regional Camden, NJ
C 30 Olivier Sarr 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)237 lb (108 kg) SrWake Forest Toulouse, FRA
F 55 Lance Ware 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)223 lb (101 kg) FrCamden Camden, NJ
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: October 21, 2020

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
November 25, 2020*
6:00 p.m., SECN		 No. 10 Morehead State W 81–45  1–0
  15 – Boston Jr.  7 – Boston Jr.  4 – Tied  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
November 29, 2020*
1:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 10 Richmond L 64–76  1–1
  20 – Boston Jr.  11 – Sarr  2 – Tied  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
December 1, 2020*
9:30 p.m., ESPN		 No. 20 vs. No. 7 Kansas
Champions Classic		 L 62–65  1–2
  12 – Boston Jr.  12 – Jackson  2 – Tied  Bankers Life Fieldhouse (0)
Indianapolis, IN
December 6, 2020*
5:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 20 vs. Georgia Tech L 62–79  1–3
  22 – Clarke  12 – Jackson  6 – Mintz  State Farm Arena (0)
Atlanta, GA
December 12, 2020*
12:00 p.m., CBS		 Notre Dame L 63–64  1–4
  22 – Sarr  7 – Sarr  4 – Mintz  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
December 19, 2020*
2:00 p.m., CBS		 vs. No. 22 North Carolina
CBS Sports Classic		 L 63–75  1–5
  17 – Mintz  8 – Mintz  3 – Askew  Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (0)
Cleveland, OH
December 26, 2020*
1:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Louisville
Battle for the Bluegrass		 L 59–62  1–6
  19 – Mintz  7 – Tied  3 – Askew  KFC Yum! Center (3,281)
Louisville, KY
SEC regular season
December 29, 2020
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 South Carolina Postponed due to COVID-19 issues Rupp Arena 
Lexington, KY
January 2, 2021
6:00 p.m., SECN		 at Mississippi State W 78–73 2OT 2–6
(1–0)		  23 – Allen  12 – Ware  6 – Askew  Humphrey Coliseum (1,000)
Starkville, MS
January 5, 2021
7:00 p.m., SECN		 Vanderbilt W 77–74  3–6
(2–0)		  24 – Sarr  7 – Sarr  3 – Askew  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
January 9, 2021
5:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Florida W 76–58  4–6
(3–0)		  13 – Tied  6 – Tied  4 – Brooks  O'Connell Center (2,324)
Gainesville, FL
January 12, 2021
9:00 p.m., ESPN		 Alabama L 65–85  4–7
(3–1)		  14 – Jackson  6 – Tied  2 – Tied  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
January 16, 2021
2:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Auburn L 59–66  4–8
(3–2)		  11 – Mintz  6 – Tied  3 – Askew  Auburn Arena (1,824)
Auburn, AL
January 20, 2021
7:00 p.m., SECN		 at Georgia L 62–63  4–9
(3–3)		  18 – Boston Jr.  13 – Sarr  4 – Askew  Stegeman Coliseum (1,638)
Athens, GA
January 23, 2021
6:00 p.m., ESPN		 LSU W 82–69  5–9
(4–3)		  18 – Boston Jr.  15 – Jackson  4 – Askew  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
January 26, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 at No. 9 Alabama L 59–70  5–10
(4–4)		  12 – Tied  5 – Tied  4 – Mintz  Coleman Coliseum (2,055)
Tuscaloosa, AL
January 30, 2021*
8:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 5 Texas
Big 12/SEC Challenge		 Canceled due to COVID-19 issues Rupp Arena 
Lexington, KY
February 3, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN2		 at No. 18 Missouri
Rescheduled from Feb. 2 due to COVID-19 issues		 L 70–75  5–11
(4–5)		  18 – Mintz  10 – Tied  4 – Askew  Mizzou Arena (3,033)
Columbia, MO
February 6, 2021
8:00 p.m., ESPN		 No. 11 Tennessee L 71–82  5–12
(4–6)		  23 – Brooks Jr.  11 – Brooks Jr.  4 – Askew  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
February 9, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN		 Arkansas L 80–81  5–13
(4–7)		  17 – Boston Jr.  10 – Sarr  6 – Askew  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
February 13, 2021
1:00 p.m., CBS		 Auburn W 82–80  6–13
(5–7)		  18 – Jackson  11 – Jackson  4 – Tied  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
February 17, 2021
7:00 p.m., SECN		 at Vanderbilt W 82–78  7–13
(6–7)		  18 – Mintz  9 – Tied  5 – Brooks Jr.  Memorial Gymnasium (164)
Nashville, TN
February 20, 2021
1:00 p.m., CBS		 at No. 19 Tennessee W 70–55  8–13
(7–7)		  16 – Jackson  14 – Brooks Jr.  4 – Askew  Thompson-Boling Arena (4,191)
Knoxville, TN
February 23, 2021
7:00 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2		 Texas A&M Canceled due to COVID-19 issues Rupp Arena 
Lexington, KY
February 27, 2021
4:00 p.m., CBS		 Florida L 67–71  8–14
(7–8)		  21 – Mintz  5 – Jackson  3 – Askew  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
March 2, 2021
9:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Ole Miss L 62–70  8–15
(7–9)		  16 – Brooks Jr.  8 – Brooks Jr.  8 – Mintz  The Pavilion at Ole Miss (895)
Oxford, MS
March 6, 2021
12:00 p.m., ESPN		 South Carolina
Makeup from Dec. 29 postponement		 W 92–64  9–15
(8–9)		  21 – Boston Jr.  10 – Jackson  7 – Mintz  Rupp Arena (3,075)
Lexington, KY
SEC Tournament
March 11, 2021
12:00 p.m., SECN		 (8) vs. (9) Mississippi State
Second round		 L 73–74  9–16
  23 – Allen  5 – Tied  8 – Mintz  Bridgestone Arena (1,733)
Nashville, TN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Rankings

On January 18, 2021, Duke fell out of the AP Top 25 ranking for the first time since February 8, 2016. This broke a 59-year streak and marked the first time since December 25, 1961 that the powerhouse trio of Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina were all out of the Top 25 ranking.[6]

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP1020———————————————Not released
Coaches99^RV———————————————

^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.

References

  1. ↑ "2020 SEC Tournament canceled Thursday amid coronavirus pandemic concerns". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  2. ↑ "SEC announces league champion after canceling 2020 SEC Tournament". Saturday Down South. March 12, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  3. ↑ "2020 NCAA Tournament canceled due to growing threat of coronavirus pandemic". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Payne Accepts Assistant Coach Position with New York Knicks" (Press release). Kentucky Wildcats. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  5. ↑ Wheatley, Nick (August 4, 2019). "Cam'Ron Fletcher commits to Kentucky". A Sea of Blue. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  6. ↑ Cassandra Negley (January 18, 2021). "Duke, UNC, Kentucky all outside of men's AP Top 25 for first time since 1961". Retrieved January 20, 2021.
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