By Keith Taylor
Kentucky Today
The votes are in and Kentucky was picked to finish eighth in the Southeastern Conference men’s basketball media poll released Monday.
Alabama was picked to win the league title, ahead of Auburn, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, LSU, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt in that order.
First-year Kentucky coach Mark Pope said he will rely on his team’s veteran transfers to carry the Wildcats in his first season at the helm.
“We have one of the most experienced teams in the history of Kentucky basketball and and we don’t have a single player on the team that’s ever worn a Kentucky jersey,” he said. “… It’s going to be, where can we lean? Can we lean on our experience? Can we lean in on our togetherness instead of succumbing to the fact that none of us have ever experienced Kentucky individually or together? So that’s the battle.
“I have a lot of faith in our guys. I think right now we have enough capital in the bank that I think we can withstand some hits and stay together.”
Kentucky is ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll, also released on Monday. Alabama is No. 2 behind No. 1 Kansas and ahead of No. 3 and two-time defending national champion UConn.
Auburn (11), Tennessee (12), Texas A&M (13), Arkansas (16), Texas (16), Florida (21) and Ole Miss (24) also are ranked in the AP poll to start the season.
Kentucky guard Jaxson Robinson was an All-SEC third-team selection, while Alabama guard Mark Sears was a preseason pick to win Player of the Year honors.
Robinson played for Pope at BYU and averaged 14.2 points per game for the Cougars last season. He was named Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year last season.
“Jaxson Robinson has been one of the most improved players in the country for two straight years and is barely scratching the surface of his potential,” Pope said earlier this summer. “His growth trajectory is incredible. He is an elite-level shooter, is increasingly dangerous off the bounce and at the rim, and has the potential to become a big-time playmaker.
“Jaxson guards with length and balance and understands how important it is to build strong relationships with his teammates. On a personal level, I’m so excited I get to finish his college journey with him in pursuit of Kentucky’s ninth national championship.”