In March 2000, Kentucky had just nine scholarship players available in an NCAA Tournament second-round loss to Syracuse, and coach Tubby Smith vowed never to be caught short-handed again.

        Fifteen months later, he had reached the opposite extreme. Going overboard on recruiting and perhaps surprised when both Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans resisted jumping to the NBA, Smith found himself with 16 scholarship players, three over the maximum.

        Time for some creative accounting: Smith convinced guards Todd Tackett and Cory Sears and forward Marquis Estill to relinquish their scholarships but remain on the team. (Tackett later left the team to pursue a professional baseball career.)

        Estill, who averaged 7.3 points and shot a team-best 60.3 percent from the field in his rookie season, is probably the country's best walk-on.

        UK now boasts an embarrassment of riches — and untold expectations.

        Athlon forecasts a national championship. Lindy's, Street & Smith's and Slam pick UK No.2 behind Duke. Blue Ribbon rates UK third, Dick Vitale and CNNSI.com have it fourth, and The Sporting News says fifth.

        Prince (16.9 points, 6.5 rebounds), the reigning Southeastern Conference player of the year, is a first-team All-America pick by The Sporting News, Street & Smith's and Athlon. Even without injured sophomore center Jason Parker (8.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg), UK has probably the deepest and strongest frontcourt in the country.

        Some key questions:

        What's the status of Parker?

He tore the ACL in his right knee June 24 and underwent surgery. The prognosis was for a four- to six-month rehabilitation, so UK is cautiously optimistic he'll be back in time for conference play.

        Who's going to play point guard?

Gerald Fitch or Cliff Hawkins, with Hawkins probably getting the first shot. “When (Hawkins) comes back next year for us, he has to be the quarterback and run this team for us,” Smith said this spring.

        Hawkins is a streak shooter who failed to score more than three points in UK's final seven games last season. Fitch was one of the SEC's top rookies, but he has never played point guard.

        Can Hawkins play more than 20 minutes per game?

His stamina has been questioned, but it's asthma that causes him to tire. He averaged only 11 minutes a game last season, though that number should rise this season. Smith might like to hand the reins to a single player, but Hawkins' condition could necessitate a two-headed attack.

        What's the probable starting lineup?

Marvin Stone at center, Prince at power forward, Bogans at small forward, Fitch at shooting guard and Hawkins at the point. Or perhaps Estill starts at power forward, with Prince and Bogans shifting out a spot and Fitch coming off the bench. Further adjustments would be made if and when Parker returns.

        How prominent will Erik Daniels be?

The Princeton High School grad was a mild surprise last season, shooting 56.6 percent and averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds. But no one ahead of the 6-foot-7 sophomore graduated, so his minutes may be similar to last year's 13.2 average. Who's the key player?

Jules Camara. The rangy, 6-11 forward is back after missing last season for a DUI conviction. To keep sharp, he played this August for the Senegal National Team in the African Games, a World Cup qualifying event.

        The quick-jumping, long-armed Camara can create defensive mismatches.

        Will the newcomers have an impact?

Rashaad Carruth and Josh Carrier should. UK has lacked a dependable 3-point shooter in recent seasons, but these freshmen — especially Carruth — will fill that void. How's the schedule?

The usual bear, with some notable highlights. Lindy's rates the Dec.29 visit from Louisville — and former UK coach Rick Pitino — as the top college game this winter, with the UK-Duke game Dec.18 at the Meadowlands a close second. Few would disagree.